Cyclists to use mass transport for free in Istanbul

Daily Sabah: "Upon the efforts of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Bicycle Transportation Platform, cyclists in Istanbul will be able to use public transportation for free, according to an announcement released by Istanbul's transport body IETT on Wednesday."

The future will look back and shake their heads

Hey guys, listen up, we got people sitting for hours in traffic jams. We gotta keep the oil flowing!

The collapse of Saudi Arabia is inevitable

Saudi Arabia is making huge gambles against the odds. Even dramatic reform may not save it.

Middle East Eye: "Yet the Saudi government has decided that rather than learning lessons from the hubris of its neighbours, it won’t wait for war to come home – but will readily export war in the region in a madcap bid to extend its geopolitical hegemony and prolong its petro-dominance."

Confused about who are allies and who are enemies in #Syria?

Here is a handy chart to keep up with the ever-changing alliances. Don't bother making a copy, it will be out-of-date soon.

All the major powers are tied to a corporate-capitalist system which is dependent on cheap energy. This system impoverishes millions in the competition for ever higher profit. They could just stop wasting oil by getting rid of cars in major cities. But that would hurt profits. They continue to waste oil and fight to control more.

But the Islamic State will not play by their rules and has exposed the split between the energy haves, and energy have-nots. In desperation the world powers are changing partners frequently.

Thousands Enter Syria to Join ISIS Despite Global Efforts

The New York Times: "WASHINGTON — Nearly 30,000 foreign recruits have now poured into Syria, many to join the Islamic State, a doubling of volunteers in just the past 12 months and stark evidence that an international effort to tighten borders, share intelligence and enforce antiterrorism laws is not diminishing the ranks of new militant fighters.

Among those who have entered or tried to enter the conflict in Iraq or Syria are more than 250 Americans, up from about 100 a year ago, according to intelligence and law enforcement officials."

#Islamicstate has everyone confused

Reuters: "Many Western countries have reacted with alarm to Moscow's increased military support for President Bashar al-Assad, whom they oppose. But the rise of a common enemy, Islamic State, has rendered divisions less clear."

Senior Saudi royal urges leadership change for fear of monarchy collapse

Middle East Eye: "On 4 September, a grandson of the late King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud wrote a four-page letter calling on the royal family to hold an emergency meeting to address concerns that the House of Saud may be losing its grip on power.

“We [have] got closer and closer to the fall of the state and the loss of power,” the letter read."

World powers, desperate to control oil, employ criminals in Iraq

 Iraq: Militia Abuses Mar Fight Against ISIS

hrw : "(Washington) – Iraqi government-backed militias carried out widespread destruction of homes and shops around the city of Tikrit in March and April 2015 in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Militiamen deliberately destroyed several hundred civilian buildings with no apparent military reason after the withdrawal of the extremist armed group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, from the area."

How to woo citizens to using #publictransit in Kuwait? Simple. Make it fare-free

Public transportation key to ending Kuwait traffic woes

Kuwait Times: "The increasing number of cars, old infrastructure and roads, as well as other problems, translate to the never-ending traffic congestions that people experience nowadays, said the official. Nasser also touched on the subject of wooing citizens to using public transportation, stressing that to do that, there should be a strong campaign to encourage Kuwaitis to use buses and other modes of public transportation."

Scenario for fall of Saudi Arabia to #IslamicState

• public impatience with war in Yemen
• confusion from shia uprising
• increased brutality by palace against civil unrest
• financial problems with oil strategy
• internal strife in the palace
• entry of US troops
• internal strife in the military
• voices of scholars from outside
• internal strife in the mosques
• armed attacks by rebels in certain areas
• armed strike from IS at north border
• coordinated VBIED attacks in key spots
• suicide mission at palace
• desertion of soldiers
• mass protests by sunnis
• exposure of US spies
• exposure of Iran spies

Labour MP calls for free public transport

MaltaToday : "Writing on her Facebook wall, she added that if public transport is funded by taxpayer money, this would translate into better air quality, increased hours of productivity “rather than biting our nails in traffic jams and sharp decrease in stress levels.”
The outspoken MP said that former operators Arriva “destroyed” the public’s faith in public transport and the current Spanish operators Autobuses de Leon “has so far failed to restore trust in the service in spite of subsidies and higher fares.”"

Many predicted that US bombing would spur the growth of #IS -- here is what happened

theatlantic.com

Teachers' union wants free public transport for students

MaltaToday : "“A free public transport pass could solve the school bus bullying problem, via surveillance by other passengers,” Bonello argued. 
While the White Paper only recommends a subsidised bus pass for secondary school students, Bonello thinks that it should be extended to include post-secondary and tertiary students. 
“A free bus pass will encourage tertiary students to catch a bus to school, rather than use their cars, therefore reducing traffic congestion and solving the university’s notorious parking problem."