Mount Snowdon

AwimAway have launched their first official fundraising event 'Trek 4a Cheque' in continuation of Harish Kohli's independent charitable ventures. Join Harish and the AwimAway team on an adventure to Snowdonia in north Wales and follow Harish to the summit of the tallest mountain in England and Wales- Mount Snowdon.
Get sponsored for the challenge and help to raise money for two fantastic children's charities, one at home- 'Sophie's Appeal', and one abroad- 'A Wa Po'.
Trek 4a Cheque to Mt Snowdon is on Saturday September 5th 2009. AwimAway have organised coach travel and basic accommodation to cost a total of £34. All information can be found at AwimAway.com- send in your sign-up form today to secure your place as spaces are limited.

Obama attention on Mexico

In a bid to fight the drug cartels, to restrict drug trafficking and limit the amount of violence that spills over the border, President Obama’s administration has ordered around 500 agents and representatives to Mexico’s north-western borders.
The government has said it will increase the amount of US officials working within Mexico, raise the number of border agents, and pay for law enforcement along the south-western border.
Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton leaves for Mexico today to begin meetings on the drugs and violence issues.

Everest Base Camp

Join the first ever 'AwimAway Exclusive' trek to Everest Base Camp on October 14th 2009. I will lead the trek, in my 'spiritual homeland', through majestic Himalayan scenery to the infamous Everest Base Camp. We will submerge into Himalayan life and culture, learn about the geography and climate of the region, and relish the challenges en route.
I will utilise my leadership and mountaineering expertise to assist you in this unique adventure, and can personally guarantee you an unforgettable travel experience.

Canadian Seal Hunt

Canada’s controversial annual seal hunt has begun in Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence whilst Animal Rights Activists and international bodies have continued to rally against imported seal products.
According to MSNBC news, the groups claim that the hunt is ‘cruel, difficult to monitor, ravages the seal population and doesn't provide a lot of money for sealers’. Even though it remains ‘the largest marine mammal hunt in the world’, it is claimed that the seal industry is ‘dying’ and thus ‘change is due’.
The hunt is defended by sealers and the Fisheries departments as a ‘good source of income for isolated fishing communities, humane and well-managed’.
Currently, the total allowable catch for the year is set to 280,000. In 2006 the 335,000 catch brought in around $25 million. The seal blubber is mostly used for oil, and seal pelts are generally used for the fashion industry in Norway, Russia and China
The Netherlands, Belgium and the USA ban seal products, many European Union countries do not import Canadian seal products, and Russia has recently stated it will ban baby-seal hunting

Rising sea levels in the Maldives

BBC News has today reported how the Maldives is beginning a fight against global warming, namely rising sea levels. Some 80% of the archipelago is less than one metre above sea level, and coastlines are already creeping further inland. Houses are crumbling and there are very real fears that in the near future, some islands will have to be abandoned to the sea.
The country has a natural defence system in the form of coral reefs, though a sudden and sharp rise in sea temperature wiped most of it out around ten years ago. Marine Biologists are now making attempts to cultivate coral in research centres to gain knowledge on its protective role to hopefully implement as a defence to the region in the future.
Currently, temporary defences are being made via the dredging of sand from lagoons, and discussions are centring on whether to replicate the processes imposed onto Hulumale island- the whole island has been raised with sand, concrete and shingle.
President Mohamed Nasheed has recently stated that he hopes the Maldives will, within 10 years, become solely reliant on renewable energy sources, thus becoming the world’s first carbon neutral country. Although such progression will cost somewhere in the region of $1 billion, it is hoped that such a move will encourage further global action toward the preservation of the environment.

Dubai guides beahviour

Last weekend Dubai announced its new guidelines for public behaviour, in an attempt to further balance the native culture and values with the recent insurgence of western tourism, norms and behaviour.
Although not yet law, media outlets detailed the list of no-no’s- covering dancing and playing loud music in public, pubic displays of romantic affection, dress codes (especially for women), swearing, and drinking alcohol outside licensed premises.
Dubai holds a unique position in the contemporary world: it is the place where a conservative Islamic East meets a liberal West. Dubai has often been the centre of controversy as it struggles to contend with the mix of cultures and public behaviour whilst representing itself as ‘the place to be’ for western tourism and enterprise. Recent headlines have centred on a British couples’ prosecution for having sex on a Dubai beach, and, offence has been taken to the more revealing dress of visitors.
It is unlikely that the restrictions will have any impact on the many resorts and nightclubs of Dubai.

Celebrations in Pakistan

There were celebrations in Pakistan on Monday, as supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League learned Iftikhar Chaudhry was to be reinstated as chief justice in Islamabad. The government made the announcement in response to the consistent protests by political, legal and civic activists demanding his reinstatement. Pakistan’s previous military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf removed Chaudry from office in 2007 as he was considered a threat to his authority.
Chaudhry’s supporters welcome his return with relief and hope. The parties, music and cheer that have acknowledged his return symbolise the figure of hope he has become for a people. To a country that is facing severe economic hardships and a growing Islamic fundamentalist insurgency, Chaudhry is a ray of hope for preserving and affirming justice and fair treatment.

Teenagers smuggle weapons onto Qantas flight

Travelmole has today reported that two boys aged 14 and 11 were able to smuggle stolen weapons onto a Qantas flight from Karratha to Perth on Monday. The youngsters allegedly had handguns, pistols, knives, 3000 rounds of ammunition and a variety of other weapons in their checked-in luggage which the “explosive trace detection” X-ray machines failed to pick-up.
They were arrested as they attempted to board a flight to Queensland.

'Shoe-Thrower' jailed for 3 years

Muntandhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who in December threw shoes at former US president George W. Bush, has today been jailed for three years. He was charged with ‘assaulting a foreign leader’.
In the immediate aftermath of the shoe-throwing, the reporter was detained in custody where he has since remained.
The judge rejected Zeidi’s defence lawyer’s argument that the ‘charge is invalid as Bush was not in Baghdad on an official visit’.

15 killed by teenage gunman

A 17-year–old high school graduate yesterday went back to his old school in Winnenden, Germany and, during morning class, opened fire in three classrooms. Nine female students and three female teachers were killed instantly. Three other men were killed as the teenage gunman fled the scene.
Police said there appeared to be no immediate motive of the killer, though they are suspicious of the proportion of females murdered. Ammunition was left at the school, suggesting more killings may have occurred had the police not responded so quickly.

“Smallest Whale Shark Ever Recorded”

Whale sharks frequent the east coast of the Philipines in December through to May- they are placid creatures that can grow to the size of a bus.
Thus, maritime officials and activists in Pilar were astounded when they rescued one the size of a forearm. Dubbed “arguably the smallest living whale shark in recorded history”, the 15-inch-long animal may be an indication that the coastline is a birthing ground for the species. If this is found to be true, the WWF have suggested that such ‘spawning grounds’ could become protected. Very little is known about whale sharks breeding and few baby whale sharks have ever been found.

Cuban Restrictions Relaxed

U.S. Congress yesterday passed a bill that relaxes some of the previous restrictions placed on the communist island of Cuba. As soon as Obama signs it into law, Cubans will be better able to import agricultural and medical goods, and Cuban-Americans will be able to visit their families in Cuba for longer than 2 weeks, and annually as opposed to once every 3 years.
The Cuban exile community in Miami received the news with mixed reactions- with many welcoming the move toward closer relations with Washington, and other anti-communists opposing the relaxation of sanctions.