Wednesday, January 02, 2019
Tuesday, January 01, 2019
Documentary: Portugal's Moorish Legacy
While in Spain, the seven centuries of Muslim rule is very well-known, in Portugal it typically goes unnoticed. Despite being overlooked at times, the Islamic occupation, known as its Moorish past, has had a huge impact on Portugal.
The Muslims invaded present-day Portugal in the year 711 and established their capital in what is modern day "Silves". A significant part of this documentary takes us to Silves, which is still one of the best places in Portugal to see the influence of the Muslim period. Silves was the main access route to the inland areas of the Algarve, and the Silves castle, which was built by the Almoravid Arabs in the 11th century, is the best-preserved and most significant castle in the region. One of Portugal's main tourist attractions are its the beautiful beaches in the Algarve region. The name Algarve itself is derived from the Arabic word "al-Gharb", meaning the West. Portugal was the most Western part of the Muslim Empire and it was officially referred to as al-Gharb al-Andalus, meaning West of Al-Andalus. Nowadays Al-Andalus is often referred to as Muslim Spain, or Islamic Iberia.
It is not just the physical monuments which make Portugal’s Muslim past evident, but you can also find it in the country’s language and culture, even though the entire Reconquest centred around getting rid of Islamic influence altogether. Some Arabic words have permanently entered the Portuguese language, words for sugar, rice, olive oil, lettuce, village, the West and many others. Even Portugal’s most popular holiday spot, Albufeira, gets its name from Arabic, having then been called (Albuhayra) which means the lake in Arabic. The journey also takes us to Sintra, among other places, where the massive Moorish Castle stands. It was built by Muslims between the 9th and 10th centuries, the castle was vital in order to protect its population.
The southernmost region of Portugal, was finally conquered by Christians and taken away from the Muslims in 1249, and in 1255 the capital shifted to Lisbon. Neighbouring Spain would not complete its Reconquista until 1492.
Mes voeux 2019 aux Français | Emmanuel Macron
Merkel wirbt in Neujahrsansprache für mehr Zusammenhalt
Theresa May’s New Year Message: Back Brexit Deal
tagesschau 20:00 Uhr, 31.12.2018
Labels:
Deutschland,
Silvester,
Tagesschau
Monday, December 31, 2018
Asia and Australia Usher in New Year with Huge Firework Displays
Friday, December 28, 2018
President Trump Approval At Record Low As Country Blames Him For Shutdown | The Last Word | MSNBC
What Is Trump's Strategy for Syria and the Region? l Inside Story
Trump used the opportunity to defend the withdrawal of troops from Syria saying it was made possible by the defeat of ISIL. But critics have condemned what they see as the president's increasingly isolationist foreign policy saying it will give ISIL a chance to re-group.
Trump says the work of US forces is complete, and regional forces will ensure ISIL remains dismantled. It's reported Trump also wants to reduce the number of US troops in Afghanistan from 14,000 to 7,000.
What is Trump's strategy for the region and what message is he trying to send?
Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Ali Al-Nashmi, Political Analyst; Peter Galbraith, Former U.S. Ambassador; Afzal Ashraf, University of Nottingham
Labels:
Donald Trump,
Inside Story,
Iraq,
Syria
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell
Saudi King Salman Announces Government Reshuffle | Al Jazeera English
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
The Real Jesus Christ | Biblical Documentary | Timeline
Labels:
documentary,
Jesus Christ,
Timeline
Monday, December 24, 2018
Pope Francis Uses Christmas Homily to Decry Modern Consumerism
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Pope Francis has assailed the “insatiable greed” of today’s consumerism, calling on people in his Christmas homily to make “sharing and giving” more a part of their lives.
“Mankind became greedy and voracious,” the leader of the world’s 1.3bn Catholics said in an address to thousands of followers in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City.
“In our day, for many people, life’s meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects.”
“An insatiable greed marks all human history, even today, when, paradoxically, a few dine luxuriantly while all too many go without the daily bread needed to survive.” » | Agencies | Monday, December 24, 2018
Einsamkeit - wenn keiner da ist | Nachtcafé
Labels:
Einsamkeit,
Nachtcafé
Markets Stage One of Worst Christmas Eves Ever, Closing Down More Than 600 Points as Trump Blames Fed for Stock Losses in a Tweet
As blue chips sank even deeper into the red after weeks of chaos, Trump tried to assign sole blame for the sell-off to the Federal Reserve, likening the central bank to a golfer who “can’t putt.”
“The only problem our economy has is the Fed,” the president said in a tweet. “They don’t have a feel for the Market, they don’t understand necessary Trade Wars or Strong Dollars or even Democrat Shutdowns over Borders. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who can’t score because he has no touch — he can’t putt! » | Thomas Heath & Philip Rucker | Monday, December 24, 2018
Clapper Blasts Trump's 'Appalling Arrogance' on ISIS
Labels:
CNN,
Donald Trump,
ISIS,
James Clapper
Sunday, December 23, 2018
The Real Problem Is the US-Saudi Relationship, Not Just Crown Prince MBS
Friday, December 21, 2018
Can the US Be a Dependable Ally? l Inside Story
His departure comes as Donald Trump ordered a withdrawal of US forces from Syria and suggestions he'll pull thousands out of Afghanistan too.
In his resignation letter, Mattis said he believes in treating allies with respect. Trump’s announcement certainly took the US's friends by surprise and left many wondering if the US is a dependable ally.
So with Mattis gone, who will now try and control an unpredictable president?
Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: David DesRoches, Professor of Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University and Former Director of NATO Operations at the Pentagon; Habib Wardak, Founding Member of Transparency Afghanistan and National Security Analyst; Andreas Krieg, Assistant Professor at the Defence Studies Dept., King's College London and Specialist on Jihadist Groups in the Middle East.
Labels:
Afghanistan,
Donald Trump,
Inside Story,
James Mattis,
Syria,
USA
Jim Mattis Resigns as White House Unravels from Within | Morning Joe | MSNBC
Labels:
James Mattis,
Morning Joe,
MSNBC
Clapper: Americans Are Less Safe with Mattis' Exit
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