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June 7, 2016

Germany: Merkel rejects Turkey′s ′incomprehensible′ comments amid Armenian genocide row

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has rebuked Turkey over accusations made against German lawmakers of Turkish origin. Ankara hit out after Berlin passed a resolution declaring the 1915 Armenian massacre, "genocide."

Speaking during a joint news conference with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev (pictured above, left) in Berlin on Tuesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated comments made by her spokesman Steffen Seibert on Monday June 6, 2016, saying that lawmakers in Germany's lower house of parliament are "freely elected without exception."

"The accusations and statements which have been made by the Turkish side are incomprehensible," Merkel said.

"It was clear with the passing of the resolution that there is a difference of views between the majority of the Bundestag and the Turkish side," said Merkel, stressing that she would push for direct talks between Turkey and Armenia.

Read more: Merkel rejects Turkey′s ′incomprehensible′ comments amid Armenian genocide row | News | DW.COM | 07.06.2016

The Netherlands: Brits in the Netherlands consider 'going Dutch' to beat a Brexit -

A number of worried British nationals in the Netherlands who fear losing pensions and residency rights if Britain votes to leave the European Union have told DutchNews.nl they are considering taking Dutch nationality.

 ‘We do not have Dutch nationality but are considering doing so, since the outcome of the forthcoming EU referendum in Britain is up in the air,’ David Hall, who has lived in the Netherlands for 46 years, told DutchNews.nl. ‘Our status in the Netherlands could become an issue.’

On Tuesday 06/06/2016 prime minister Mark Rutte said in an interview with the BBC that the Netherlands, and other European countries, would have to bring in restrictions for British nationals if Britain brought in immigration controls for EU citizens. ‘It would be unavoidable, inevitable, for us,’ Rutte said. Embarrassed

Read more: Brits in the Netherlands consider 'going Dutch' to beat a Brexit - DutchNews.nl

June 5, 2016

Religion - Christianity: European churches say growing flock of Muslim refugees are converting

"Chris,t who died for us on the Cross so we could live"
A growing number of Muslim refugees in Europe are converting to Christianity, according to several Church reports in Europe, which have conducted mass baptisms in some places.

Reliable data on conversions is not available but anecdotal evidence suggests a pattern of rising church attendance by Muslims who have fled conflict, repression and economic hardship in countries across the Middle East and central Asia.

Complex factors behind the trend include heartfelt faith in a new religion, gratitude to Christian groups offering support during perilous and frightening journeys, and an expectation that conversion may aid asylum applications.

At Trinity church in the Berlin suburb of Steglitz, the congregation has grown from 150 two years ago to almost 700, swollen by Muslim converts, according to Pastor Gottfried Martens. Earlier this year, churches in Berlin and Hamburg reportedly held mass conversions for asylum seekers at municipal swimming pools.

The Austrian Catholic church logged 300 applications for adult baptism in the first three months of 2016, with the Austrian pastoral institute estimating 70% of those converting are refugees.

At Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral in the UK, a weekly Persian service attracts between 100 and 140 people. Nearly all are migrants from Iran, Afghanistan and elsewhere in central Asia.

One in four confirmations conducted by the bishop of Bradford, Toby Howarth, over the past year were of converts from Islam. Most were Iranian and most of those were asylum seekers.

Mohammad Eghtedarian, a curate at Liverpool Cathedral and a refugee from Iran who converted to Christianity and was later ordained, said the church was helping people to develop their faith and to apply for refugee status. “These two are intertwined. Most people apply for asylum on the basis of their religion,” he said.

His own journey, from the Iranian city of Shiraz to the UK, took him through half a dozen European countries, by truck, train and on foot. Destitute and terrified, he was offered practical and emotional support from Christians along the way.

Before being granted asylum, Eghtedarian spent four months in Tinsley House detention centre, near Gatwick airport. “Every day was challenging and beautiful. Challenging because I didn’t know if they would deport me; beautiful because I was in the Lord’s hands. I promised the Lord: if you release me, I will serve you.”

Now he devotes himself to helping other refugees. “People are desperate. They spend a lot of money and waste a lot of money. They are vulnerable, abused and sometimes [they have been] raped.” The experience of being a refugee was degrading and dehumanising, he said.

Johannes, another Iranian, left Tehran for Vienna. Born into a Muslim family, the 32-year-old – who was previously called Sadegh – began questioning the roots of Islam at university. “I found that the history of Islam was completely different from what we were taught at school. Maybe, I thought, it was a religion that began with violence?

“A religion that began with violence cannot lead people to freedom and love. Jesus Christ said ‘those who use the sword will die by the sword’. This really changed my mind.”

Johannes began the process of converting to Christianity in Iran. He was ambushed with a group of others leaving a bible class but managed to escape and went into hiding. When the Austrian visa he had already applied for came through, he left the country.

Now waiting for the outcome of his asylum application, he has not told his parents of his conversion: only his sister knows his “secret”.

Authorities say there are about 90,000 Christians in Iran, though some human rights organisations put their number as high as 500,000. While Iranian law does not order the death penalty for converting from Islam to another faith, courts have handed down death sentences based on interpretation of Sharia law and legal opinions issued by religious leaders.

Last year, the Austrian bishops’ conference published new guidelines for priests, warning that some refugees may seek baptism in the hope of improving their chances of obtaining asylum.

“Admitting persons for baptism who are during the official procedure classified as ‘not credible’ leads to a loss in the church’s credibility across the whole of Austria,” the new guidelines say.

Since 2014, applicants interested in converting to Christianity with the Austrian church have to go through a one-year “preparation period” during which they are informally assessed. “There has to be a noticeable interest in the faith that extends beyond merely the wish to obtain a piece of paper,” said Friederike Dostal, who coordinates preparation courses in Vienna’s archdiocese.

“We are not interested in proforma Christians. You have to be able to register some kind of process of change in people.” In 5-10% of cases, she said, applicants broke off their course before they were baptised.

In Liverpool, Eghtedarian acknowledged that the factors leading Muslims to convert were often complex and multilayered. “People are desperate for a better life and sometimes they will lie for it – that’s understandable.”

The church had a difficult road to navigate, he said. “We have a mission to give them the message of Christ – a message of peace, salvation and freedom. The only person who knows what’s in people’s hearts is God. It is not for me to judge.”

At Liverpool Cathedral, there is an established process. People are registered when they first come to church in case evidence of attendance is needed for an asylum application. That may be followed by five sessions of baptism preparation and 12 sessions of confirmation preparation. “This way we get to know them and see how they’re involved in the life of the church,” said Eghtedarian.

If necessary the church will provide a “letter of attendance” for the immigration authorities and support them through the appeals process.

Asked if some people pretended to convert to Christianity in order to help their asylum applications, Eghtedarian said: “Yes, of course. Plenty of people. I do understand there are a lot of mixed motives. There are many people abusing the system – I’m not ashamed of saying that. But is it the person’s fault or the system’s fault? And who are they deceiving? The Home Office, me as a pastor, or God?”

Abuse took many forms, he added. “Don’t people abuse the tax system or the NHS? Look at MPs. And look at people who go to church to get their children into good church schools. Is there any difference, morally? You want to find the best school for your child, we want to find the best life for ourselves.

“We still try our best to serve people. Jesus Christ knew Judas was going to betray him but he still washed his feet. Thank God it is not my job to judge them.”

The Church of England does not collate figures on conversion. “This can be a delicate issue and we want to be sensitive to the backgrounds that people are from,” said Howarth.

“There are many reasons [for conversion] but among them is undoubtedly the mass movement of people and the increasing interconnectedness of the world,” he said. Conversions were happening across different faiths, he added, citing the example of black prisoners converting to Islam. “The world– and people’s identities – are being shaken up.

“When we do confirmations, we work hard to make sure the person is serious. We all have mixed motives. But if someone says ‘I believe this’, who are we to make windows into people’s souls? The only thing I can do is see if people are still there a year later – and often they are.”

Read more: European churches say growing flock of Muslim refugees are converting

Religion - Islam: Grand Mufti urges Muslims to forge unity, shun evil deeds

"Murder is great fitna (mischief) in Islam"
Mufti Azam Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah delivered Hajj sermons in Masjid-e-Nimra at Mount Arafat, urging Muslims to shun evil, forge unity and staunchly practice teachings of Islam, SAMAA reported.

“Islam is a complete code of life, it’s a perfect and definite religion of Allah, it teaches brotherhood among Muslims and provides spiritual, moral and social training,” said the grand Mufti while addressing millions of Hajj pilgrims.

The chief mufti urged Muslims to keep away from crimes, such as murder and other evil deeds.

“The murder is great fitna (mischief) in Islam. Our religion teaches the abidance of Allah and His Prophet… Islam prohibits obscenity as haram and sin… Oh Muslims! Be God-fearing, keep a control on yourselves,” he said.

“Oh believers! Murder of a single person is the murder of entire humanity, and the one who committed this act unduly shall burn in the hell forever.”

“Tyranny throws one in darkness whereas takwah (fear of Allah Almighty) leads one towards success,” he said while addressing the world’s biggest Muslim gathering.

The Mufti said un-Islamic forces are hatching conspiracies against Islam and Muslim countries. “Blood is being shed… Khawarij (those who seceded from the mainstream Islam) are still among the ranks of Muslims.”

The Mufti said Jihad is also an obligation of Islam which should be carried out as per true and definite teachings of Islam.

“Jihad is better than everything else in the way of Allah, it dispels fitna (evil/malicious acts) and fassad (anarchy/bloodshed), everyone of you should follow the teachings of Islam which is a perfect religion.”

Praying to Allah for betterment and falah (success) of the Muslim ummah, the Saudi religious cleric urged Muslims to observe patience in their lives in testing times, protect each other’s lives and properties and work together for the success and prosperity of Muslim societies.

Concluding his annual sermon, Mufti Abdullah prayed for the Muslims of Syria, where internal strife claims thousands of lives.

Nearly three million Muslims from across the world are in the holy cities of Islam for annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Read more: Grand Mufti urges Muslims to forge unity, shun evil deeds | World’s Islamic news agency online & Muslim news media- ULN

June 4, 2016

Suriname: Thousands protest against electricity, water price hike in Suriname

Suriname in turmoil: Desi Bouterse -Dictator turned President
For the second time in three weeks, thousands took to the streets of Paramaribo protesting against austerity measures from the Desi Bouterse led administration on Thursday.
Some protestors called for Bouterse to “go home” while others denounced price hikes for electricity and water.

The protest was organised by several worker’s unions and private sector organizations who have stated that harsher times are coming with another hike in the price of electricity coming in September this year and January 2017.

In a petition presented to speaker of the house, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the protestors claim that inflation has risen to 46 per cent, while the national currency is losing its value everyday due to an “incompetent monetary policy by the government”.

“Numerous public servants, pensioners, disabled persons and others who have become victims of the ongoing financial and economic crisis are serious financial problems and should be immediately compensated for the inflation”, protesters said in the petition.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a Stand-by Agreement of US$ 478 million to boost the government’s economic restructuring program amid a drop in commodity prices.

The IMF also announced that it will immediately disburse US$81 million as part of a two-year agreement.

However, Members of Parliament from the opposition voiced their anger in parliament on Tuesday, accusing the government of by-passing the legislative in its engagement with IMF to strike the loan agreement.

The restructuring program aims to strengthen Suriname’s public finances following a drop in prices for its principal commodities namely gold and oil.

According to the IMF the sustained drop in the prices of gold and oil has caused substantial external and fiscal deficits, and international reserves have declined significantly.

These negative external developments, combined with the closure of Suriname’s alumina refinery in late 2015, have pushed the economy into a recession. “Implementing the structural reform agenda is essential to ensure a prosperous future for Suriname,” the IMF said in a statement.



Read more: Thousands protest against electricity, water price hike in Suriname - News - JamaicaObserver.com

Soccer: Poland suffer rare home defeat at hands of Netherlands

A young Netherlands side gave Poland much food for thought on the eve of Euro 2016 by condemning them to a 2-1 defeat. 

The Poles came into the fixture having lost only once in their last 18 internationals, but goals from Vincent Janssen and Giorginio

Wijnaldum in each half extended Poland's run without a victory over the Netherlands - one that stretche back to May 1979.

Read more: Poland suffer rare home defeat at hands of Netherlands - International friendlies 2016 - Football - Eurosport

June 2, 2016

The Law Of The Jungle: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and the lure of the strongman - by Gideon Rachman

The rise of Donald Trump has been accompanied by predictable murmurs of “only in America”. But the Trump phenomenon is better understood as part of a global trend: the return of the “strongman” leader in international politics.

"Don't Forget - I am always Right."
Rather than leading the way, America has arrived late at this dispiriting party. Historians might one day highlight the year 2012 as the turning point. In May of that year Vladimir Putin returned to the Kremlin as president of Russia. A few months later Xi Jinping was installed as general secretary of the Chinese Communist party.

Both Mr Putin and Mr Xi replaced uncharismatic leaders — Dmitry Medvedev and Hu Jintao — and moved swiftly to establish a new style of leadership. Compliant media were encouraged to build up a cult of personality, emphasising the strength and patriotism of the new man at the top.

The trend that began in Russia and China quickly became visible in other countries. In July 2013 there was a coup in Egypt, which resulted in the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood and the emergence of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former army chief, as the country’s new strongman leader. The following year Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had already served 11 years as prime minister, was elected president of Turkey.

He immediately moved to strengthen the presidency, marginalized other leading politicians and cracked down on the media.

The Erdogan phenomenon demonstrates that democracies are not immune to the lure of the strongman. Mr Erdogan is an instinctive authoritarian but he won power through elections. Narendra Modi, who was elected prime minister of India in 2014, ran a campaign based around his own strength and dynamism, promising to reverse years of drift under the mild-mannered leadership of Manmohan Singh. In Hungary, Viktor Orban, an elected prime minister, has demonstrated strong authoritarian tendencies.

This global trend is gathering pace. Last week, the Philippines elected as president a populist wild man, Rodrigo Duterte — widely known as Duterte Harry — replacing the cautious technocratic, Benigno Aquino.

And then there is Mr Trump. Americans might flinch at the idea that US politics has anything in common with the Philippines or Russia. But, in fact, Mr Trump — who looks certain to secure the Republican presidential nomination — exhibits many of the characteristics of the current crop of strongman leaders, including Messrs Putin, Xi, Erdogan, Sisi, Modi, Orban and Duterte.

All these men have promised to lead a national revival through the force of their personalities and their willingness to ignore liberal niceties. In many cases, the promise of decisive leadership is backed up by a willingness — sometimes explicit, sometimes implied — to use illegal violence against enemies of the state.

“Duterte Harry” has played up his links with vigilante gangs. Mr Putin’s use of brutal tactics in the second Chechen war was well known to Russian voters. Mr Modi’s alleged role in a 2002 massacre in his home state of Gujarat was sufficiently controversial to get him banned from the US for many years.

Mr Sisi secured his grip on power with a massacre on the streets of Cairo. And, even in the law-governed US, Mr Trump has promised to torture terrorists and murder their family members.

Strongman leadership usually goes hand-in-hand with extreme sensitivity to criticism. In both the Putin and Xi presidencies there have been crackdowns on freedom of speech. In Turkey, Mr Erdogan has sued almost 2,000 people for defamation. Mr Trump misses few opportunities to insult the media and has said that he would like to make it easier for politicians to sue the press.

Typically, strongman leaders trade on feelings of insecurity, fear and frustration. Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan have portrayed Russia and Turkey as surrounded by enemies. Mr Sisi has promised to rescue Egypt from terrorism. Mr Xi and Mr Modi have capitalised on ordinary people’s frustrations with corruption and inequality. The Trump campaign has incorporated elements of all these themes, promising to reverse national decline and get tough with criminals and foreigners.

At a time when Barack Obama, the US president, and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, are both cautious, deliberative internationalists, the risk-taking nationalism of Mr Putin has attracted admirers in China, the Arab world and even the west.

Mr Trump and Mr Putin seem to have formed something of a mutual admiration society. Strongman leaders often get on very well — at least initially. But because their relationships are based on a shared style and swagger, rather than underlying principle, they also often fall out spectacularly.

Mr Erdogan used to have close relationships with Mr Putin and with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria but these have turned into bitter enmities. Further back in history, the 1939 pact between Hitler and Stalin gave way within two years to war between Germany and the Soviet Union.

The alarming truth is that the impact of strongman leaders is rarely confined within national borders. All too often, the undercurrent of violence that they introduce into domestic politics spills over on to the international stage.

Read more: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and the lure of the strongman - FT.com