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Yemenat
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yemenat
Volgograd
Our second destination, according to the itinerary, was the city of 'Volgograd,' located over a thousand kilometers from the capital, Moscow. The name 'Stalingrad' became widely known during World War II, as it witnessed some of the most significant battles, lasting approximately six months according to various sources. The human casualties reached around two million, leading some to classify it as one of the bloodiest battles in the history of warfare. It is essential, from a contrasting perspective, to highlight some of the horrors of those wars and the catastrophic results they leave behind. During World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of 'Hiroshima' and 'Nagasaki,' resulting in an immediate death toll of over 120,000, with more than double that number succumbing later to the effects of nuclear radiation, not to mention the injured. Most of the victims were civilians, and over 90% of the buildings and infrastructure in both cities were destroyed. Wars are terrifying and grotesque in ways that surpass imagination, and sometimes even perception. A Japanese woman who survived one of the nuclear explosions recounted her experience: 'I was twelve years old… I saw a flash like lightning, or what seemed like tens of thousands of lightning strikes lighting up at once, followed by a tremendous explosion. Suddenly, darkness enveloped the place. When I regained consciousness, I found my hair wilted, my clothes torn, my skin peeling off my body, my flesh exposed, and my bones visible. Everyone was suffering from severe burns, crying and screaming, wandering like a procession of ghosts. Our city was cloaked in utter darkness after it had just been alive.' (Source: Wikipedia) * * * In this context, we can take a moment to raise an objective critique with an ethical and humanitarian dimension concerning wars, including the conflict we are experiencing here in Yemen. It is one of the dirty wars we endure while the world's conscience remains unmoved, failing to act seriously to stop it, even though it could have prevented it from occurring in the first place. We pause here before the questions raised by Dostoevsky's novel 'Crime and Punishment': Why do we condemn the miserable student who kills the usurer in the narrative, yet not condemn the leader who sends his soldiers to death for the sake of his own glory? Why does Napoleon have the right to kill, and America the right to drop nuclear bombs, while Raskolnikov is not permitted to kill the usurer, who with her wealth could free him—and perhaps many others—from poverty? Why do we find ourselves inclined, while reading the novel, to side with Raskolnikov, the murderer of the usurer, urging him to surrender himself for justice and moral reasons? We hear the call: 'Awake… rise this very moment, stand at the crossroads, and bow… kiss the earth you have defiled. Then, kneel before the world on all fours, and proclaim loudly to everyone… Yes, yes, I have killed.' Yet, we do not demand that those who have slaughtered thousands, hundreds of thousands, and millions do the same as Raskolnikov! Why do we advocate for Raskolnikov's costly penance through hard labor for the rest of his life, while refraining from demanding punishment for those who have driven countless human beings into the hell of wars, death, and famine? What about those who have destroyed their own peoples, impoverished them, or oppressed them for ideological reasons, believing they possess absolute truth, or claiming they are the rightful owners of justice, with their actions deemed legitimate and beyond reproach? What of those who orchestrated wars, nurtured them out of greed, vengeance, or the desire for glory, or to reclaim lost glory? These questions are not intended to justify crime in any form, but rather to inquire: Why this profound absence of justice? Why does justice not reach the grand criminals as it does the lesser ones? What we need is justice for all. We require justice that addresses the major criminals before the minor ones, to deter crime and limit the atrocities being committed, ensuring that the scales and standards of justice we seek remain intact. In this regard, we can also speak of the genocide of the Native Americans, the indigenous peoples of America, and the subjugation of those who remain. We can discuss the war crimes committed by the United States in Vietnam, Iraq, and elsewhere, as well as the war crimes perpetrated by the French in Algeria and the Turks against the Armenians. All such wars involve perpetrators who refuse to compensate those nations or even apologize for the horrific wars these countries have waged against them. * * * Returning to the city we visited, awarded the title 'Hero City,' it was included in our itinerary due to its significant military history during World War II, as it marked a turning point in the war, altering the balance in favor of the Soviet Union. 'Volgograd' is its old name, changed in 1925 to 'Stalingrad.' After Stalin's death and the decline of 'Stalinism,' as labeled by his successor Nikita Khrushchev, the city reverted to its original name 'Volgograd,' closely associated with the Volga River, stretching along the right bank of the river for 30 kilometers Oh my God… What is that I see in the distance?! Who is this woman whose head touches the sky, wielding a sword against the heavens? What is her story? Which artist crafted this masterpiece? How did he accomplish it? And how long did it take to achieve this magnificent form we behold? The first thing that captivates you upon arriving at the outskirts of the city is the grand memorial visible from afar—a statue of a woman brandishing a sword, known as 'Motherland,' perched on a high hill. It stands as a towering figure, overlooking the city with majesty, dignity, and valor. At that time, this statue was the tallest sculpture in the world, reaching a height of 85 meters, erected in memory of the victims of the Battle of Stalingrad, fought between the Soviet Union and Germany in 1942 and 1943. The statue of the woman holding the sword became a symbol of the city. Among the city's landmarks is what is known as the 'Celestial Sphere,' along with memorials, statues, museums, theaters, concert halls, and artworks. It is also home to factories, facilities, and urban development, as well as the Volga River, the largest and most abundant river in all of Europe. The name 'Volga,' according to sources, means 'river of the east,' a title bestowed by the river basin's inhabitants since ancient times, stretching over 3,500 kilometers. As for 'grad,' associated with the river's name, it means 'city.' * * * Under the Celestial Sphere, we took our seats. The lights were dimmed… An extraordinary phenomenon transported us to a realm of wonder and amazement. I forgot I was seated in a chair; I forgot who I was and where I came from! I felt as if I were swimming in space, like a star, a planet, or an astronaut. I became lost in the cosmos, disoriented by the vastness around me, until I lost my sense of self and the familiar directions of east, west, north, and south. Everything here revolved… spinning around me until I felt dizzy. An entire hour was spent soaring among stars, planets, galaxies, and universes—a cosmic knowledge that I shall remember for the rest of my days. * * * We visited the Panorama Museum, which depicts the 'Battle of Stalingrad' during World War II, showcasing a summary of resilience and valor, and the glory of victory. Amid the many epics and heroics captured in photographs, statues, and remnants of war, what caught my eye were the impressive portraits of the Allied leaders—Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. These were the victorious heads of state who gathered post-war to divide the world among themselves. The world became a dominion for the victors; territories were laid out on the table as spoils of war and influence, igniting a new kind of struggle among them—a Cold War that lasted for decades. Many nations paid heavy and costly prices, and some continue to pay for the victors even to this day. Even many 'deceived' communist parties in European countries like Britain and France were shocked by the results of this division, stunned to feel abandoned, realizing that the spoils of war were shared among the victors. It was jarring to see great principles reduced to mere empty words when it came to plunder. The reality was starkly different, as the world was carved up among the victors of this catastrophic and horrific war against the peoples of the earth. We also visited the remnants of a building known as 'Pavlov's House,' which witnessed an extraordinary and legendary resistance against the occupiers. A bastion of defenders stood valiantly against the invaders, engaging in fierce battles for control. Ultimately, those who held out triumphed, and the building still retains many of its walls that narrate the legend of resistance and resilience of this heroic city—a scene reflecting the ferocity of war and the bravery of its defenders.
The Herald Scotland
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Now here's a funny thing about summer in Scotland...
Reader Gareth Mitchell was visited by a pal from the Middle East who was taken aback by the amount of daylight we have at this time of year. He approvingly described this phenomenon by saying: 'In your summer it gets late late.' Brought to book Bibliophile Jenny Fawkes belongs to a book group and the other day one of the members asked if anybody had read any of the great Russian novels. One lady said that she had read Dostoevsky's magnum opus Crime and Punishment. 'Any good?' asked Jenny. After a moment's contemplation, the lady replied: 'Put it this way. My crime was buying it in the first place. And my punishment was forcing myself to finish the horrible thing.' Facing the music More highfalutin' culture. At a dinner party attended by reader Brian Fogarty a pompous prat of a pontificator was prattling on about his love of the theatre. At one point this discursive dullard mentioned that he especially adored opera and had recently been to see a performance of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro. Before he could start using words like "mezzo-soprano" and "libretto" one of the other diners valiantly interrupted his florid flow to say: 'Well, I'm a lawyer. So I happen to prefer the prequel… The Prenuptial Agreement of Figaro.' What's up, doc? Health-conscious reader Richard Davies went for a check-up with his GP. Says Richard: 'The doc advised me to take less salt, so I took his advice with a pinch of it.' Gordon Casely says: 'Baby carrots carried aboard a Tesco lorry must constitute such a dangerous cargo that we travellers need to be warned about them.' (Heaven knows what warning is needed for fully-grown carrots…) (Image: Contributed) Bog awful? The other evening reader Paula Jones was enjoying a Classic Movie Night at home with her boyfriend, and they were watching the quirky Johnny Depp flick, Edward Scissorhands. Neither of them had previously seen it. After it was finished, Paula asked her chap if he had been suitably entertained. 'Not sure,' he admitted, adding: 'The entire time it was on, I just kept thinking, how does this guy go to the toilet without doing himself a serious injury?' Spend, spend, spend Excellent advice from reader Keith Stevenson, who says: 'It doesn't matter how old you are. Buying snacks for a road trip should always look like an unsupervised 10-year-old was given a £50 note.' Bird-brained badinage An unlikely tale from reader Eric Ward, who gets in touch to tell us: 'I got banned from Edinburgh Zoo for making a parrot laugh. It's Polly tickle correctness gone mad.'
Yemenat
14-06-2025
- General
- Yemenat
Hunger
Despite the presence of an internal section in the 'Proletariat' school and dormitories for all its students, the food was poor, lacking in quality and quantity. It was insufficient to fill our stomachs, especially with hundreds of students, some of whom missed their designated meals because the cooked food ran out before reaching the last student in line. The queue for meals was long, often witnessing scuffles among students due to the crowd or attempts by some to cut ahead. At times, when I missed dinner, I had to venture to the 'Diemen' trees surrounding the school to quench my hunger. Sometimes my dear friend, the kind-hearted and self-accepting Mohammed Abdul Malik Hussein, accompanied me. Together, we shared unforgettable memories, some of which I will delve into later. Occasionally, I would go to a nearby state-owned farm to study under the shade of its lush trees, stealthily plucking a few limes to sprinkle on our beans, which would ignite our appetites. Although the food was scarce, adding lime made even the little we had delightful. Yet, it barely satisfied half of what our stomachs required. In our first year, we arrived during the season for planting jujube trees, and we would go to bed hungry at night as the hours stretched heavily upon us and our empty bellies, ravaged by the ferocity of hunger. Our patience wore thin as we had nothing to deceive our stomachs, which knew us all too well, protesting and crying out in hunger's sharp pangs, while desolation surrounded us, save for a farm a twenty-minute walk away. The tents of dried sesame stretched across vast areas unlike any we had ever seen, and we resembled little birds, satiating our small crops from the abundant harvest, or alleviating the hunger that tormented us, robbing us of sleep at night and exhausting us throughout the day. The farm was neither fenced nor enclosed; its bounty was open, and the safety felt genuine. What we gathered was hardly worth mentioning, just enough to stave off our hunger, ease the tremors in our hands, and grant our weakened legs a semblance of resilience. Were we thieves that day? Or was our rebellion justifiable? Or was it merely the necessity of hunger compelling us? * * * Sometimes the line between propriety and crime is as thin as a hair, merging with everything around it until we can barely see it or distinguish it from our surroundings. It often confuses us, much like the crime intertwined with other acts in 'Raskolnikov,' the protagonist of Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment.' Yet, our motives were stronger, and our crime, if we consider it such, was lesser. Still, I find myself asking after all these years: Were we righteous or were we criminals? What we did mirrored the actions of thieves, yet we acted solely out of necessity. Did they not say that 'hunger is a disbeliever'? Did some not proclaim, 'If poverty were a man, I would kill him'? And did the proverb not state, 'Poverty eradicates all virtues'? What then, when both afflictions joined forces against us? Hunger is a heavier burden than disbelief, and perhaps disbelief is not what many perceive it to be. Some have referred to it as 'sweet disbelief,' while others have called it 'disbelief of grace,' and the 'grace' here is still debatable. There exists a variety of disbelief that does not reach the blatant form, and the blatant disbelief has a Lord who punishes its bearer. * * * Why do issues of hunger and poverty, despite their overwhelming and ever-expanding presence, fail to occupy the same level of consciousness and importance among those who create them as they do in reality? Why this dissonance in awareness, where the rampant tyranny of hunger is met with meager and demeaning aid, the cost of which is recouped by its providers through a thousand means and paths? Why do the religious elites and groups distort awareness and concepts, misrepresent issues, and deviate from the paths of justice, even as they witness poverty and hunger, and the famines plaguing the world? Even worse, they seek to combat all of this with what they call zakat or 'charity'! Why do the religious and political groups in Yemen abandon their afflicted people, suffering both from their negligence and the war? Why do they forsake their moral responsibilities and legal obligations as de facto authorities, which impose upon them the duty of care for the residents and communities under their control? One of the most pressing duties is to pay the salaries of workers and employees in the state administrative apparatus, as well as retirees and beneficiaries of social security—everyone affected by hunger and ravaged by famine in a war that has reached horrific depths, its effects extending throughout. Yet, they seem to desire its continuation. As soon as political Islamist groups gain power and become de facto authorities, they abandon almost all the functions of the state, turning instead with determination to the appalling practices of looting and corruption, focusing their efforts on taxes, extortion, and humiliating their people while squandering their rights, dignity, and freedom.
Gulf Today
05-06-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
Bill opens the Gates to his wealth
All of us have heroes, but they keep changing. In school, it was my geography teacher. He was captivatingly anecdotal and a fantastic orator. When he spoke about the mountains, the rivers, the forests, it was as if we were being taken on a conducted tour of the world of nature. My other hero in school was my class teacher. He was a rare mix of authority and humility. He didn't believe in the power of spanking and allowed his smiles to rescue a tense moment. My last hero was our very popular football coach. He saw the lover of the game in me and encouraged me to play the game with passion. Then came college and with it new heroes. Even before I had reached the 100th page of Fyodor Dostoevsky's mind-blowing tale, Crime and Punishment, the Russian genius had become my new hero. Then pulsating youth fell for Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights. Bronte almost took the place of Dostoevsky. The situation forced me toadmire those who worked toreduce the bitterness I felt the same after I read Albert Camus's The Outsider, D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover and Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Well, one morning I woke up to discover that it was high time fiction made way for reality to take over. And in days, I realised that it was going to be bitter. The bitterness came in the form of lack of water, food scarcity, homelessness. Shockingly, one set of human beings enjoyed glittering dwellings, heavenly cuisines and aerated water. Another set was hit by killer droughts, unending starvation and roofless homes. The situation forced me to admire those who worked to reduce the bitterness. The fight against life's inconsiderate ways threw up Mother Teresa, Abdul Sattar Edhi and Ratan Tata. They became my heroes. But I was tempted to rethink my list when I heard that Bill had decided to open the Gates to his wealth to make life somewhat less bitter for some. Bill Gates pledged he would donate 99% of his tech fortune to the Gates Foundation, which will now close in 2045, earlier than previously planned. Gates pledged to give away almost his entire personal wealth in the next two decades and said the world's poorest would receive some $200 billion via his foundation at a time when governments worldwide are slashing international aid. The pledge is among the largest philanthropic gifts ever — outpacing the historic contributions of industrialists like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie when adjusted for inflation. Only Berkshire Hathaway investor Warren Buffett's pledge to donate his fortune — currently estimated by Forbes at $160 billion — may be larger depending on stock market fluctuations. 'It's kind of thrilling to have that much to be able to put into these causes,' Gates said in an interview. Therefore, they who, almost all, stopped me from drinking Coca-Cola (Coke Zero) were not fully right because Buffett inspired Bill. They are trying to can the bitterness.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dayo Wong and Sammi Cheng to collaborate in new Jack Ng film
4 June - As rumours circulated of a sequel to his hit 2023 film, "A Guilty Conscience", it was reported that Dayo Wong will be collaborating with director Jack Ng again, though not for the sequel of the movie. As reported on Mingpao, on 2 June, Edko Films announced that filmmaker Jack Ng will be reuniting with his lead actor in a new movie, which will also star Sammi Cheng. "We can finally announce to you that Edko Films plans to start shooting a comedy film directed by Jack Ng and starring Dayo Wong and Sammi Cheng. Fans, see you at the cinema!" the company stated. This will not be the first time Dayo and Sammi worked together in a movie. The comedian has guest-starred in the singer's 2014 comedy movie, "Temporary Family", playing her ex-husband. He also was the surprise guest at Sammi's 2016 concert, where he shared an anecdote about meeting the singer for the first time. "After saying hello, we started talking about books. Sammi asked me if I had read 'Crime and Punishment' by Dostoevsky. When I said I hadn't, she told me I wouldn't understand it anyway. That was the end of it. Our relationship basically ended there," he joked. (Photo Source: Mingpao, ST Headline, Sammi IG)
