Monthly Archives: May 2017

Middle East, Society, Terrorism, United States

US President: We’ll end terror and bring peace to world

TERRORISM

US-SAUDI-ISLAMIC-SUMMIT-TRUMP

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Arab leaders to do their share to fight “Islamist extremism”

President Donald Trump has urged Muslim countries to take the lead in stamping out terrorism instead of relying on America to crush their common enemies.

Mr Trump has used his first foreign visit to rally the Muslim world to join America and mark the ‘beginning of the end’ for extremists.

Speaking at the Arab-Islamic American Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the birthplace of Islam – he urged Muslim rulers to ‘drive out’ Islamist terrorists.

He said the unprecedented summit of more than 50 leaders could lead to world peace. ‘With God’s help, this summit will mark the beginning of the end for those who practise terror and spread its vile creed,’ said President Trump.

‘At the same time, we pray this special gathering may someday be remembered as the beginning of peace in the Middle East and maybe even all over the world.’

The President urged Christians, Jews and Muslims to join in peace – including ‘peace between Israelis and Palestinians’.

His comments, made after signing an £84billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, contrasted with ones he made about Muslims while he was a presidential candidate, when he said: ‘I think Islam hates us. There’s a tremendous hatred there.’

He also caused global anger when he came to power with his threat to ban many Muslims from entering the United States. But in Riyadh, he said evil could only be overcome if the ‘forces of good are united and strong’.

He vowed to meet ‘history’s great test’ by conquering extremism with nations that have suffered most.

President Trump said: ‘Terrorism has spread across the world. But the path to peace begins right here, on this ancient soil, in this sacred land. America is prepared to stand with you in pursuit of shared interests and common security.

‘But nations of the Middle East cannot wait for American power to crush this enemy for them.’ The speech is seen as a reset of his approach after previous comments caused concern among Muslims.

Calling it a ‘new chapter’, he said he was not there to ‘lecture’ them or impose the American way of life.

He did, however, urge the Islamic world to do its duty, adding: ‘Muslim nations must be willing to take on the burden if we are going to defeat terrorism, to meet history’s great test and conquer extremism. Muslim-majority countries must take the lead.’

Instead of being a clash between the West and Islam, he said, it was ‘a battle between good and evil’, adding: ‘Drive them out of your places of worship, your communities, your Holy Land and the Earth.’ He warned terrorists: ‘If you choose the path of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be fully condemned.’

He said the region had been ‘held at bay by bloodshed and terror’.

The President also blamed Iran for supporting and aiding ‘unspeakable crimes’ in Syria, and said Iran had unsettled the Middle East and was the key road block to peace.

He did not repeat the phrase ‘radical Islamic terrorism’, which he has used before and offends Muslims.

The US and six Gulf states are also expected to co-ordinate efforts to stop funding for extremists.

During a nine-day tour, Mr Trump will have visited Israel to meet prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. He will also see Pope Francis, meet NATO leaders in Brussels and attend the G7 in Sicily.

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Books, Health, Medical, Science

New studies reveal why running won’t damage your knees

RUNNING SCIENCE

YOUR excuse for not wishing to run or jog may have just been debunked.

Experts say running is not actually bad for the knees – a view held by many who love to pound the pavements.

Studies show there is no link between running and osteoarthritis, and the exercise may even strengthen cartilage.

A new book entitled Running Science says, “couch potatoes” have around a 45 per cent greater risk of osteoarthritis compared to those who run.

It states that runners place eight times their body weight on to each leg with every step.

Although that is three times as much as when walking, we take wider strides when running, so there is reduced contact time with the ground.

This means the pressure on the knees is broadly similar.

The book’s consultant editor, Professor John Brewer, of St Mary’s University in London, said runners should increase intensity of the exercise gradually, wear the right shoes and run on different terrains.

He said: “The human body is designed to run… although the knees will be under stress when running, the body will adapt to this stress and develop cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments that are stronger as a result of running – protecting the knee rather than damaging it.”

Osteoarthritis of the Knee.

Running Science, published last week, says that damage to joints is a “common excuse” for not running.

However, a chapter written by independent physiotherapist Anna Barnsley states: “The good news is that the converse appears to be true.”

She cites studies showing that although runners develop bony growths in their knees, there is no evidence of narrowing of the joint space, which would indicate degeneration.

The agony of osteoarthritis is caused when cartilage is no longer there to cushion the joints from the impact of walking or other exercise.

However, the book states that regular running probably increases the amount of this natural protection.

That could be because exercise helps people lose fat, which can damage cartilage.

Running also prompts blood flow and cell regeneration in the knees.

The advice follows a study by Baylor College of Medicine in the United States, which analysed knee X-rays of 2,683 participants.

The study found that 22.8 per cent of those who had been runners had signs of knee osteoarthritis, compared to 29.8 per cent of non-runners.

Running Science also noted that runners may have a genetic predisposition to osteoarthritis – meaning exercise is not necessarily to blame.

Running Science

Running Science is published by Ivy Press for £20.

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Britain, Government, Society, Technology

DVLA confirms development of electronic driving licence

DIGITAL DRIVING LICENCE

phone-driving-licence

                                                 Digital driving licences will soon become a feature on smart phones.

Mobile phones and driving make an awkward combination – it is illegal to use a phone while driving – but, the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) is planning to bring the two closer together with the introduction of digital driving licences.

It’s thought digital licences would be stored in phones’ virtual ‘wallets’, just as credit and debit cards can already be saved. When asked to present their driving licence by a police officer or official, a quick finger or thumbprint would release the licence to the phone’s display.

Oliver Morley, the DVLA’s CEO, said the organisation was making “good progress” with the prototype digital licence back in December 2016, while in March 2017 he confirmed the idea was “included in the government digital strategy.” When asked on social media whether there was a timeframe for the introduction of digital licences, Mr Morley said there was, but he wouldn’t be drawn on precisely when this would be.

Security will be a key priority for the digital licence, but given the development and success Apple and Android Pay have enjoyed, it’s thought some of the DVLA’s work has already been done for it. A service analyst and mobile device expert for Auto Express, said: “Security has taken a significant step forward to support digital payments on phones, so the framework is in place for other secure applications, such as a digital driving licence.”

Even with established and rigorous security paradigms in place, however, there will still be people who don’t like the idea of storing their driving licence on their phone, as well as those who don’t even own a smartphone capable of doing so. For those individuals, reassurance will be found in the fact that when it arrives, the digital driving licence will act as an “add-on.”

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