Thursday, March 24, 2016

Former head of MI6 praises Islamic State governance

independent.co.uk : "Isis offers those living under its rule better governance in some respects than they received from the state before it took over. Corruption is far less prevalent, and justice, albeit brutal, is swift and more evenly applied. "

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Over 1,000 medically unfit drivers suspended

Khaleej Times: "Over 1,200 drivers have been suspended by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) after launch of the 'No Worries' initiative. However, the initiative has contributed to reducing heavy vehicle accidents rate by as much as 40 per cent."
This should give you an idea of how fare-free public transport could save lives and money. The problem is not unfit drivers, or distracted drives, or buzzed drivers. The problem is drivers.

Saturday, March 5, 2016

This is why US so desperate to manage Kurdish nationalism - oil.

rudaw : "In other oil-related news the Kurds have consolidated their control over Kirkuk’s oil by agreeing to sell oil pumped from Kirkuk province. One of the so-called disputed territories that came under complete Kurdish control after the Iraqi Army fled Islamic States’ advance across Northern Iraq in the summer of 2014.

Kirkuk crude is exported along with oil pumped from the rest of the Kurdistan Region through the Kirkuk to Ceyhan oil pipeline. Kirkuk’s governor Najmaldin Karim told Bloomberg on Wednesday that $10 million per month made from the sale of this crude will be placed in a bank account for his province.

However exports remain halted for the time being following the sabotage of part of that pipeline in the troubled southeastern Turkey last February 17."