Daily Archives: August 15, 2022

Evolution of Islam in Kazakhstan: How Modern Kazakh Muslims Balance Their Religious Identity, the Soviet Legacy and National Traditions – Astana Times

Posted: August 15, 2022 at 6:29 pm

Editors Note: In the run-up to the seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions to be held on Sept.14-15 in Nur-Sultan, The Astana Times starts a series of articles on the diversity of spiritual life in Kazakhstan. We shall profile different religions and denominations starting with the most practiced one in the country Islam.

NUR-SULTAN For more than 1,000 years, Islam has influenced the history and culture of Kazakhstan far more than one might expect from the first alphabet to the language, customs, and literature. The traditional form of Islam developed along with the national customs molding into a regional form of the religion, adapted to local traditions.

Grand Mosque in Nur-Sultan, the largest mosque in Central Asia that can accommodate up to 30,000 people. Photo credit: tengrinews.kz

Seven plus decades of an atheist legacy under the Soviet Union also left its mark on how Islam is viewed among the Kazakh Muslim population today, which makes the history and evolution of Islam in the region as a worth exploring topic.

Muslim population in Kazakhstan

The Muslim population makes up a large percentage of the Kazakh people. According to the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Information and Social Development of Kazakhstan, out of 3,834 religious entities registered in Kazakhstan, 2,695 or 70 percent are Islamic entities, belonging mainly to the Sunni branch.

The 2009 Kazakh census data also showed that 70 percent of the 16 million people in Kazakhstan considered themselves Muslim.

Being the majority in Kazakhstan, Muslims live in harmony with representatives of other religions. The upcoming seventh Congress of Leaders of the World and Traditional Religions that is going to take place on Sept. 14-15 in Nur-Sultan, shows how interreligious dialogue and peace was always a priority for Kazakhstan.

A Brief history of Islam in Kazakhstan

The presence of Islam in the territory of Kazakhstan dates back to the 10th-century Karakhanids, a fiefdom that ruled Central Asia from the 10th to the 13th century. During the Karakhanid dynasty, Islam acquired the status of the state religion.

Before Islam spread to the southern sedentary regions of present-day Kazakhstan, the population followed other religions, including Tengrism and Zoroastrianism, which featured elements of shamanism and ancestor worship.

A great contribution to the spread of Islam among the nomadic population of South Kazakhstan was made by Khoja Akhmet Yassawi, an 11th-century Sufi poet and mystic, who wrote his famous work Diwani Hikmet (Divine Wisdom) as a journey to the light of knowledge, diligence, upholding the truth, honesty, and virtue:

Be gentle and polite wherever you go,

Be a confidant to those in need,

Be close to God on the day of Mahshar (Judgement Day).

I ran away from arrogant people (the authors translation),

Yassawi described the importance of having a virtuous character along with the faith in God.

Khoja Akhmet Yassawi Mausoleum located in Turkestan was included in the UNESCO list of the worlds cultural heritage in 2003.

One of the first codes of law, Zheti Zhargy (Seven Charters), adopted by Tauke Khan in the 18th century was a significant step towards the introduction of Islam into public life and legal practice. The norms of administrative, criminal, and civil law recorded in this document were largely based on the provisions of Islamic Shariah law.

In the 19th-20th century, reading and writing among the Kazakh population was mostly taught by mullahs. The Russian empire also contributed to the increase in literacy by sending Tatar mullahs into the northern parts of Kazakhstan.

Arabic script was the major writing script of many prominent Kazakh writers and poets. The first Kazakh alphabet, which was systematized by Kazakh scholar Akhmet Baitursynuly in 1912, was based on Arabic letters.

Up to this day the Kazakh saying knows alif as a wand is used to refer to an illiterate or uneducated person (alif is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet that looks like a wand).

The Islamic legacy and practice were largely forgotten during the Soviet period when an atheist agenda was spread.

Muslim revival in independent Kazakhstan

Since gaining independence many Muslims in Kazakhstan are gradually reviving the religious practices, the five pillars of Islam, which start with a declaration of faith, followed by daily prayers, charity, fasting, and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca if physically and financially capable.

Dana Yespenbetova, a woman whose grandparents and parents witnessed the Soviet period, says the Soviet Union legacy affected how religion was viewed. It was all mixed up, she said, referring to the fact that there was a disparity between what the ancestors have taught her family and the state agenda.

According to her, now she has a chance to revive what was forgotten and as an adult to reintroduce herself to religion.

Even though I had all the pillars of religion introduced to me as a child, at some point in my life I had to study in depth more about my own religion, so I would say that I converted back to Islam once I learned about it more. It has been a couple of years since I took religion more seriously and tried to practice it because I understand the benefits it brings to my life, she said.

Yespenbetova is part of the younger generation of Kazakhs who are making a conscious decision to be Muslim, and not just because it is part of the Kazakh heritage.

The first Friday prayer at the opening of the Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Central Asia. Photo credit: muftyat.kz

I struggled to pray consistently, said Yespenbetova talking about the second pillar of Islam. But I am learning Arabic, and that helps me to understand the verses of the Quran that I recite during the prayers. So it is not just about memorizing the verses, but understanding them by heart.

harity, the third pillar of Islam, is one of the most widespread religious practices in Kazakhstan.

Islam distinguishes between obligatory alms, which is called zakat, and other voluntary forms of charity or as locals call it sadaka. Zakat is calculated as a percentage of a persons total net worth.

According to Nazerke Token, a 28-year-old mother of three, who has been practicing Islam for many years, sadaka is the easiest way to get involved with Islam. It is done out of good heart, help each other, be kind to each other. No matter if you make prayers or not, you can always express your kindness through donations, she said.

This year I donated zakat. Previously, I used to give weekly sadaka to low-income families and various charity organizations and funds. I still try to donate weekly even small amounts of my income, she added.

She also highlighted the generosity of the Muslim people around her. I saw a lot of generous people in our country. Aid funds for millions of tenge are collected and closed rather quickly, she said.

Though Islams fourth pillar, fasting, can be exceedingly hard for people, Yespenbetova and her family fast during the month of Ramadan. My father and I have been fasting for over a decade now, she said.

The last pillar pilgrimage or hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.

There are records of Kazakh Muslims that performed pilgrimages as early as the 19th century traveling on horses and camels. Kunanbay, the father of Abai Kunanbaiuly, one of Kazakhstans greatest poets, is said to have performed a pilgrimage to Mecca, which took him two years, back in the 19th century. He also built a house in Mecca with his own funds.

Abai wrote about his fathers trip in the following verses:

Built a waqf (meant for donation) house in Mecca,

He lit the house with a candle.

To the path of one God,

He spent the cattle ruthlessly, (the authors translation)

This year, some 4,000 Kazakh citizens attended Mecca for the first time after the pandemic to perform the Hajj in July.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also performed an umrah (a lesser pilgrimage) in Mecca and was honored to enter the Kaaba (a holy shrine) as part of his official visit to Saudi Arabia in July of 2022.

On July 24, President Tokayev performed umrah (a lesser pilgrimage) in Mecca, the holiest shrine of Islam. He was honored to enter the Kaaba, its doors are opened for distinguished guests on exceptional occasions. Photo credit: Akorda

The imprint of Islam in language and customs can still be seen today. There are many common words, some relate to education, others to culture, for example, kitap (book), ustaz (teacher) and adebiyet (literature).

During early childhood, Kazakh men undergo the tradition of circumcision, which also has Islamic roots. In general, the majority of Kazakh families adhere to Islamic traditions in marriage and burial ceremonies.

Disparity between culture and religion sometimes creates a vision that one can be too religious if they practice pillars of Islam that are not a part of Kazakh culture.

Yespenbetova shared her own experience with that. Some families take it as an extreme concern if any of their kids start praying five times or learning about Islam or girls decide to cover their heads, which is quite confusing to the younger generation and to everyone who wants to practice it the right way. Islam does not accept changes, but somehow our society tends to pick whatever is convenient for them, she said.

Despite that, Yespenbetova carries on with her practices. I guess it is a journey of each person and it is only between the person and God, she concluded.

Kazakhstan is a secular country, where people have the freedom to choose a religion and practice it. According to the Committee on Religious Affairs, there are 2,693 mosques in the country. On Aug. 12, an opening of the Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in Central Asia that can accommodate 30,000 people, took place in Nur-Sultan and was attended by First President Nazarbayev.

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Letter to the editor: Grow food or starve – The Bakersfield Californian

Posted: at 6:29 pm

Many of our politicians, environmentalists, foundations and now "woke" corporations are beholden to the globalist goals of the UN and World Economic Forum. Do we have to add the nefarious activities of the teachers' unions to control our children? Too often the CEOs of hundreds of woke companies live in fear of retaliation and loss of job if they dare come against their atheist globalist one-world government schemes. Even our 4th Estate is reluctant to report facts or conduct an occasional investigation that would expose and document what we already suspect.

We used to sound like conspiracy theorists until this evil enterprise has now grown into arrogant reality. The loss of dams and irrigation water drained to the sea leads to dust bowl conditions and loss of many in the grand profession of farming is tearing us apart. Sadly, they have been successful at all levels, even brainwashing our children as they strive to break down the nuclear family by scaring them with global warming. That is a bald-faced lie! If anything, we are in a long-term cooling cycle as oft-repeated ice core samples from Antarctica prove. A million years worth of repeated heating and cooling cycles. The globalists' entire foundation is based on lies, lies and more lies.

Can you explain to the otherwise uninvolved grocery shopper why the shelves are sparse and the prices out of reach? Are they hungry enough to educate themselves and rise up? Unfortunately, by that time we'll all be in the clutches of the "global elite" who claim to be much smarter and goal-oriented toward the demise of 80 percent of us. After all, they just want to "save the planet" and make it their exclusive playground while survivors serve their needs with ever-failing resources and the loss of ingenuity of a captive people.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

Gerry Todd, Bakersfield

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I could not believe how bravely Salman Rushdie faced the threats to his life. Thats true courage – The Guardian

Posted: at 6:29 pm

That Salman Rushdie was nearly murdered at an event in New York while talking about whether the United States was a safe haven for exiled writers is an irony hed have rejected as too far-fetched in even his most fantastical novels. That he was talking at all at such an event with no personal security, no special precautions will have been a shock to many, given that he will always be best known, to his chagrin, not for something he did, but for something that was done to him, when the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him in 1989.

But even then, when the threats against him seemed to be at the most heated, he refused to be cowed, always looking straight ahead when he walked slowly from his hiding places to his security details car, never bowing his head, never scuttling. If you succumb to the fear, he writes in Joseph Anton, his memoir of that period, you will be its creature for ever, its prisoner.

One thing I feel, well, proud of, lets say, is if you knew nothing about my life, if all you had were my books, I dont think you would feel that something traumatic happened to me in 1989. I thought: be the writer that you want to be, he said when I interviewed him last year.

Yet I persisted in asking, to his irritation, questions about how the death threat had affected him. Because I couldnt see how it had: in person, he is warm, interested in everything and always one of the most fun people at a party. Only last week I sent him an email, and he wrote back at once, always happy to talk about anything (as long as its not the fatwa). He hates how the fatwa shaped perceptions of him as much as he resented how it shrank his life when he lived for a decade in hiding. It destroys my individuality as a person and as a writer. Im not a geopolitical entity. Im someone writing in a room, he said to me. And so, with great determination and courage, he retained his individuality by choosing freedom, with all the risks that entailed.

So the fact that Rushdie was speaking at a book event when he was attacked is entirely in keeping with the man. Even more characteristic was what he was speaking about: the rights of writers who face persecution. People who have endured far less than him have found themselves lured by the siren song of reactionary conservatism; Rushdies great friend Christopher Hitchens was not immune to it, and all that happened to him was he aged.

But Rushdies moral compass has never wavered, and he remains a fearless defender of the freedom of expression. In 2015, he was scathing about the authors who objected to PEN America honouring the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, months after the murderous attacks on its staff by Islamic extremists. Peter Carey condemned PENs seeming blindness to the cultural arrogance of the French nation, which does not recognise its obligation to a large and disempowered segment of the population. Rushdie, an atheist who was raised Muslim, retorted: What I would say to both Peter and Michael [Ondaatje] and the others is, I hope nobody ever comes after them.

Ignorant people have been trying to school Rushdie from the moment the extremists began to come after him. Looking back on news coverage from 1989, its striking how little sympathy there was for Rushdie then, on the left or the right. There was a general sense that he had brought this on himself because he had offended extremists. It would be extremely wrong to believe we live in more enlightened times now. Three years ago, a columnist in the Independent, who had not read The Satanic Verses, wrote, Rushdies silly, childish book should be banned under todays anti-hate legislation. Two years ago, Rushdie, along with JK Rowling herself no stranger to death threats was mocked for signing what is known as the Harpers letter, which argued against censorship on the left, as well as the right.

Theres a youthful progressive movement, much of which is extremely valuable, but there does seem to be within it an acceptance that certain ideas should be suppressed, and I just think thats worrying, he said to me. He has been thinking about these issues for longer than some of his critics have been alive. In 2005, he gave a speech, Defend the Right to Be Offended, in which he said, It seems to me to be a liberal failure to say that even though we dont understand what is upsetting those who say they are offended, we shouldnt upset them People have the fundamental right to take an argument where somebody is offended by what they say. This is not a very fashionable argument now, when Rowlings name is now considered analogous to Voldemort in progressive circles, and comedians such as Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle are physically attacked on stage because someone was offended by something they have said.

Rushdie has always stood against all this, and he stands for much more. It is completely devastating that he has been attacked. The rest of us should think how lucky we are that we only need to look to him to see what true courage looks like. And he should take enormous pride in knowing that he really is both the writer and the man that he wanted to be.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a letter of up to 250 words to be considered for publication, email it to us at observer.letters@observer.co.uk

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Javed Akhtar condemns stabbing of Salman Rushdie without mentioning Islamists: Here is how he had dog whistled about Satanic Verses in 2012 – OpIndia

Posted: at 6:29 pm

Hours after Salman Rushdie was brutally stabbed by a 24-year-old Hadi Matar in western New York, lyricist Javed Akhtar denounced the barbaric attack on the renowned novelist, however, there was a catch. He refused to name Islamists or the threat by Islamists that he has been living under for over 3 decades.

In a tweet on Friday (August 12), Akhtar tweeted, I condemn the barbaric attack on Salman Rushdie by some fanatic. I hope that New York police and the court will take the strongest action possible against the attacker. Interestingly, his tweet made no direct reference to the Islamist who orchestrated the attack. Javed Akhtar contended that the attacker was just some fanatic.

Although the lyricist was quite prompt in condemning the attack on Rushdie (without mentioning the Islamist attacker), it must be recalled that he had earlier dog whistled against the same novelist in 2012.

Salman Rushdie came into the limelight after his book The Satanic Verses was banned in 1988 by a host of countries, including India, under the garb of blasphemy. Javed Akhtar who otherwise pretends to be an atheist was deeply offended by the novels portrayal of Islamic characters.

In an interview with journalist Barkha Dutt on NDTV in April 2012, Akhtar was asked about his stand on Rushdie and his book. What Rushdie did is not decent. I am an atheist but there is certain decorum and basic decency in life he alleged.

He has written a novel. Its a work of fiction. In that, you take real historical people who are respected and revered by billions of people. You say very dirty things about them. What will you gain? Why are you doing this? the pretentious atheist remarked.

The lyricist went on to claim that books such as The Satanic Verses are counter-productive. He emphasised, You will make them more religious and fanatic. A fundamentalist who is against freedom of expression will have a very good argument against freedom of expression.

That book was in extreme bad taste. Without having any religious beliefs, I felt that. You cant do that, Javed Akhtar warned. Whenever Barkha Dutt pointed out that free speech also includes the right to offend, Javed Akhtar started drawing false equivalence.

Can I write anything against my neighbour? Can I call him a pimp and his house a brothel?, he inquired to thwart criticism directed towards Islam. To reinstate his secular and atheist credentials, Akhtar claimed that he was not against criticism of his religion based on scholarly work.

He also claimed to have defended the right of Salman Rushdie to take part in the Jaipur Literature Festival although he had not been vocal about it. The deliberate omission of the word Islamist from his tweet and his personal disdain for the novelist demonstrates that his condemnation is political tokenism at best.

It is a tendency among the cabal of left-liberals to do lip service and shed crocodile tears following Islamist attacks, despite creating a fertile land for such tragedies to follow.

On Friday (August 12), Salman Rushdie was stabbed during an event at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. The man involved in the attack was identified as 24-year-old Hadi Matar. A resident of Fairview in New Jersey, Hadi jumped onto the stage and attacked the novelist with a knife.

The accused reportedly had a pass for the event where Rushdie was invited to deliver a lecture.The authorities had also seized a backpack, belonging to the accused, from the crime scene. Theyclaimedthat the attacker might have been alone and have launched a probe to determine whether thats the case.

As per areportby New York Times, the local police have sought help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for determining the background and motives of Hadi Matar.Rushdies agent Andrew Wylie informed that he is still in a critical state.

He added that Rushdie was being put on ventilator support and that he could not speak. The news is not good. Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed, and his liver was stabbed and damaged, Wylie lamented.

The author of The Satanic Verses was reportedly provided immediate medical attention by an audience member named Rita Landman. She informed that Salman Rushdie received multiple stab wounds, one to his neck and another to his abdomen.

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Javed Akhtar condemns stabbing of Salman Rushdie without mentioning Islamists: Here is how he had dog whistled about Satanic Verses in 2012 - OpIndia

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Royal Caribbean Group announces proposed offering of senior unsecured notes to refinance near term debt maturities – PR Newswire

Posted: at 6:27 pm

MIAMI, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) (the "Company") today announced that it has commenced a private offering of $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2027 (the "Notes").

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay principal payments on debt maturing in 2022 and/or 2023 (including to pay fees and expenses in connection with such repayments). Pending such uses, the Company may temporarily apply the proceeds to repay borrowings under its revolving credit facilities or other borrowings.

Nothing contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security. The Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and outside the United States, only to certain non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state laws.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule135c under the Securities Act.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release relating to, among other things, our future performance estimates, forecasts and projections constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited, to: statements regarding revenues, costs and financial results for 2022 and beyond. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "driving," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would," "considering," and similar expressions are intended to help identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations, are based on judgments, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of the global incidence and continued spread of COVID-19, which has had and will continue to have an adverse impact on our business, liquidity and results of operations, or other contagious illnesses on economic conditions and the travel industry in general and the financial position and operating results of our Company in particular, such as: governmental and self-imposed travel restrictions and guest cancellations; our ability to extend the maturities of our existing bank facilities; our ability to obtain sufficient financing, capital or revenues to satisfy liquidity needs, capital expenditures, debt repayments and other financing needs; the effectiveness of the actions we have taken to improve and address our liquidity needs; the impact of the economic and geopolitical environment on key aspects of our business including the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, such as the demand for cruises, passenger spending, and operating costs; incidents or adverse publicity concerning our ships, port facilities, land destinations and/or passengers or the cruise vacation industry in general; concerns over safety, health and security of guests and crew; our COVID-19 protocols and any other health protocols we may develop in response to infectious diseases may be costly and less effective than we expect in reducing the risk of infection and spread of such disease on our cruise ships; further impairments of our goodwill, long-lived assets, equity investments and notes receivable; an inability to source our crew or our provisions and supplies from certain places; an increase in concern about the risk of illness on our ships or when travelling to or from our ships, all of which reduces demand; unavailability of ports of call; growing anti-tourism sentiments and environmental concerns; changes in U.S. foreign travel policy; the uncertainties of conducting business internationally and expanding into new markets and new ventures; our ability to recruit, develop and retain high quality personnel; changes in operating and financing costs; our indebtedness, any additional indebtedness we may incur and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness that limit our flexibility in operating our business; the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, the impact of higher interest rates and fuel prices; vacation industry competition and changes in industry capacity and overcapacity; the risks and costs related to cyber security attacks, data breaches, protecting our systems and maintaining integrity and security of our business information, as well as personal data of our guests, employees and others; the impact of new or changing legislation and regulations or governmental orders on our business; pending or threatened litigation, investigations and enforcement actions; the effects of weather, natural disasters and seasonality on our business; the impact of issues at shipyards, including ship delivery delays, ship cancellations or ship construction cost increases; shipyard unavailability; the unavailability or cost of air service; and uncertainties of a foreign legal system as we are not incorporated in the United States.

In addition, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently heightened by and will continue to be heightened by, or in the future may be heightened by, the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks.

Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Royal Caribbean Group

Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) is one of the leading cruise companies in the world with a global fleet of 64 ships traveling to approximately 1,000 destinations around the world. Royal Caribbean Group is the owner and operator of three award winning cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Together, the brands have an additional 10 ships on order as of June 30, 2022.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean Group

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The 5 Best Margaritaville Resorts in the Caribbean – Caribbean Journal

Posted: at 6:27 pm

Its hard to think of anyone who has better distilled the dream of island living than Jimmy Buffett. And Buffetts empire has expanded far beyond music, from the famous, ubiquitous Margaritaville restaurants and bars to a fast-expanding portfolio of branded resorts, including in the Caribbean.

Margaritavilles resort portfolio, which includes properties under several different sub-brands in the region, is a chance for travelers to experience the Margaritaville ideal in vacation form, from 5 OClock Somewhere bars to on-site breweries and splendid swim-up bars.

The latest expansion is the result of an alliance between Margaritaville and Karisma Hotels and Resorts, one that has led to a number of new brands (and several more new resorts currently in the pipeline).

Weve gathered our five favorite Caribbean resorts under the Margaritaville umbrella for you, including the companys freshest new all-inclusives, a unique boutique resort and even a vacation club.Whether youre a full-fledged Parrothead, a beach seeker or a Caribbean aficionado, youll find a group of well-run, thoughtfully-designed resorts that exemplify the best of the beach life.

Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma Cap Cana, Dominican Republic If theres a flagship Margaritaville resort in the Caribbean, its this 228-stunner in the tony Cap Cana enclave of the Dominican Republics tourism hub of Punta Cana. The resort, which is also home to 40 villas (all of which have their own private balcony pools), is set on the spectacular Juanillo Beach, with a signature St Somewhere Spa, a Gourmet Village with a number of restaurants and bars in a walkable format and even the only Landshark brewery in the Caribbean.

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The 5 Best Margaritaville Resorts in the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal

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Reimagining social protection systems in the Caribbean – World Bank Group

Posted: at 6:27 pm

In my discussion with the Caribbean leaders, food security comes up often. The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined food security on a global scale, and with the additional challenges exacerbated by Russias invasion of Ukraine, the impacts on the Caribbean are dire.

This year, the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 40 % of the population or 2.8 million people - in the English-speaking Caribbean struggle to access adequate food and remain food insecure. Another WFP survey conducted in February found that 20 % of the respondents reported that they went without eating for at least a whole day in the previous month.

As staggering as these numbers are, the outlook might darken even further.

Ukraine and Russia account for almost 30 % of global wheat exports, almost 20 % of corn exports, and more than 50 % of the sunflower oil supply globally. As the exports stall, the food prices are on the rise. We are already seeing reports that wheat prices now are at a 14-year peak. Fuel prices have also reached their highest level since 2008, which are compounding the spike in prices of other goods and services.

The situation points to an urgent need to strengthen social protection systems in place to buffer economies and protect the most vulnerable in the Caribbean.

Social protection helps families, especially the poor and vulnerable, increase resilience, cope with crises and shocks, invest in the health and education of their children, find jobs, improve productivity, and find a way out of poverty.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit the Caribbean hard, countries deployed a series of social protection measures including emergency cash transfers, unemployment benefits, expansion of existing safety nets and others. These measures have helped significantly.

At the same time, the protracted impacts of the crisis and the need to continue providing support measures put an additional fiscal strain on governments. In this context, governments need to be as efficient as possible, while continuing to offer protection to the poorest and most vulnerable households.

In the short run, targeted support can be provided to the families in most need. While some of them have received much needed assistance, there are still chronically poor families who were left behind even before the pandemic these vulnerable households require immediate support.

Support can also be provided even if only temporarily to additional families who are not receiving social protection programs and became poor and food insecure due to the ongoing crisis.The increases in prices of basic goods and services would also require adjustments to the targeted cash benefits provided to the families in most need to at least maintain their purchasing power.

Caribbean countries should avoid the temptation of providing universal price subsidies. These subsidies can distort markets, rapidly deteriorate public finances, and tend to have limited poverty-reducing impacts.

In the longer term, for the social protection system to work better and to increase its capacity to respond to future shocks, Caribbean countries could consider addressing the following four key challenges:

1.Update poverty data and targeting mechanisms

Data on the poor in most of the Caribbean countries has not been updated in years. In some cases, especially in countries that are part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), data hasnt been collected in over ten years. The absence of new data makes it hard to quantify the number of people eligible for social assistance and limits targeting accuracy. As a result, even if governments want to invest in social protection measures, the expenditure might be inefficient, limiting its poverty-reducing impact. In this context, updating the data and making use of it to enhance targeting mechanisms can help strengthen the social protection systems.

2. Implement economic inclusion programs

While social protection measures, including cash transfers, have the power to boost human capital and resilience for the poorest people, they are not sufficient to address the potential multiple constraints that prevent the poorest and most vulnerable from climbing out of poverty. These other constraints could include lack of or limited skills, insufficient job opportunities, absence of assets, or inability to access markets and finance.To meet this challenge, governments can implement economic inclusion programs that include social protection, livelihoods support, and financial inclusion to really help the poor find long-term solutions.

3. Modernize the social protection system and increase its institutional capacity

Currently, most of the governments have outdated legal, policy, institutional, and operational frameworks, scarce human resources, and lack of social protection information systems. It is essential to modernize the social protection framework and continue building capacity to make systems more adaptive and responsive to future shocks. This includes upgrading social protection frameworks, improving inter-institutional coordination, enhancing human resources and capacities, modernizing procedures and information systems.

4.Strengthen social insurance and labor market programs

In the majority of the social protection systems of the Caribbean countries, some risks such as the risk of job loss are not covered, with Barbados and the Bahamas being the exception. Current mechanisms in place to protect labor income, such as severance payments, are ineffective to provide income protection in case of job loss, especially during a crisis. On the one hand, coverage of existing mechanisms must be expanded through formal employment, and on the other hand, additional social insurance schemes must be developed, including (Un)Employment Insurance, to improve workers protection mechanisms against shocks and to facilitate reemployment.

At the World Bank, we have supported emergency transfers and short-term social protection measures in several countries since the pandemic began, including in the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint. Lucia, and Saint. Vincent and the Grenadines.

We are also working closely with many Caribbean governments to address structural challenges. For instance, the World Bank is supporting OECS countries in data for decision making, including poverty data, and building institutional capacity. In Saint Lucia, we are working on updating the social protection policy and the development and implementation of an economic inclusion strategy. In Grenada, we are supporting the reform to establish an unemployment insurance scheme and the related employment services. In Jamaica, we are working to modernize the countrys social protection system and enhance its adaptive capacity.

The volatile context we are witnessing today signals that building strong social protection systems is more important than ever. If we come together as partners, we can reimagine and redesign social protection to increase resilience, opportunities, and equity in the region.

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Reimagining social protection systems in the Caribbean - World Bank Group

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Turks & Caicos Travel Guide: The Caribbean Destination Every Celebrity Is Running To – The Zoe Report

Posted: at 6:27 pm

Tucked just below the Bahamas, the Caribbean nation of Turks and Caicos has been known to draw in celebrities far and wide. Ultra-luxury resorts on white powdery beaches surrounded by turquoise water, make the destination a staple for unparalleled luxury, explains Kristen Pike, founder and CEO of KK Travels Worldwide. As the countrys name suggests, the islands are categorized into two island groups: the Turks Islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay to the east, and the larger Caicos Islands archipelago of Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos, South Caicos, and West Caicos to the west. Spanning from Providenciales to South Caicos, half of Hollywood has called this destination home at one point or another with a star-studded Rolodex of celebrities like Donna Karan, Keith Richards, Gwyneth Paltrow, Prince and for good reason too. Thanks to the island's shallow bays and cays, Turks and Caicos boast some of the bluest waters in all of the Caribbean, explains one tour guide from Provo Tours.

Contrary to some of its neighboring star-studded islands, like St. Barths or Nassau Paradise Island, what Turks and Caicos lacks in nightlife it makes up for with top-ranked beaches, coastal cuisine, and water sports. Here, the latter reigns supreme, and youll often find the A-list crowd taking a sunset sail, a jet ski, or a snorkel out into open waters to meet the islands biggest celebrity, JoJo the dolphin a wild Atlantic bottlenose dolphin known for freely interacting with tourists. For a relatively small destination, youll be delighted to know that theres plenty to see and do, as well as plenty of hotels and rental options well suited for anyone looking for the full celebrity treatment. Heres how to explore the islands of Turks and Caicos like a superstar.

Starting with Providenciales, or Provo (as the locals call it), this island is the country's third largest island and most popular for tourism with Grace Bay beach being the biggest draw. Grace Bay beach has been voted the #1 beach in the world by many publications including the 2022 TripAdvisor's Traveller's Choice Award. In recent years, the beach's powdery white sands and clear bright blue water has become a hub for tourists and celebrities as it boasts an impressive collection of 5-star resorts and restaurants. Beyonc, Drake, and Michael Jordan have all been known to enjoy a stroll on the shore as well as stop into hotels like the Ritz Carlton for dinner at the Italian restaurant Casa Nonna or to hit up the on-site casino.

Blue Hills is one of the three original settlements on Providenciales, with one of the most scenic coastal drives. Home to beautiful beaches and plenty of conches, its a hub for the islands best snorkeling (called Smiths Reef), the Rock House hotel, conch shacks, and a local horseback riding stable. In fact, a few years ago when Provo hosted the Turks and Caicos Music Festival, Alicia Keys went horseback riding on this very beach passing the islands most infamous restaurant, da Conch Shack. John Legend and Chrissy Teigen took their kids to dine here on a recent vacation, where she wrote on an Instagram post, Get the spicy jerk, the dirty fries, and yes, the conch.

While Grace Bay Beach might be the most critically acclaimed, Chalk Sound National Park is arguably the most picturesque. Home to hundreds of tiny islands, an underwater cave, a submerged plane wreck, and the endemic Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana, this secluded lagoon plays host to some of the most vibrant turquoise blue water youll ever see. You can explore the park through the scenic boat tours leaving from the popular restaurant Las Brisas or by renting a car. In addition to the scenic million-dollar homes youll pass, you can feast your eyes on the beautifully pristine Sapodilla Bay and Taylors Bay beaches.

Next to the Bay, youre a short drive away from the Turks Head Brewery followed by the beautiful long and winding Venetian Road off of central Leeward Highway. This 4.7-mile road travels along the banks of Turtle Pond, Flamingo Lake, and Juba Sound, and ends at the Eastern point of Turtle Tail peninsula, where Princes former house is located in addition to other star-studded villas where celebrities like Rihanna and Olivia Munn have been known to vacation.

On the Western shore of Providenciales, nestled on the tip of a 5,000-acre nature and wildlife reserve, the islands most exclusive resort, Amanyara, plays host to a number of celebrities including Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Victoria and David Beckman, and LeBron James, to name a few. Derived from the Sanskrit words for peace and place, Amanyara borders the pristine reefs of the Northwest Point Marine National Park, explains Kristen Pike. With individual Guest Pavilions and villas tucked along the coast, this secluded haven boasts a contemporary yet tranquil design while embracing the sights and sounds of the turquoise sea. Its best suited for couples (or families) seeking relaxation and luxury in a secluded and beautifully designed Zen-like atmosphere.

Found on the Southeast side of Providenciales, opposite Grace Bay, Long Bay Beach is home to a three-mile stretch of beautiful windswept white-sandy beach. As one of the worlds top kiteboarding destinations, this beach attracts kiters from all over the globe, including lessons for beginners eager to learn. Even if you prefer to stay on dry land, its peaceful to watch the kiteboarders from the beach. Especially if youre staying at The Shore Club or one of the many luxury vacation villas which have been visited by the likes of Niki Minaj and the Kardashians.

Just recently in March, rappers Drake and Jack Harlow were spotted jet skiing at this particular beach. You can rent jet skis by the hour from one of the local beach vendors and explore the bays abandoned shipwreck, where visitors can climb to the top of the boat and jump into the crystal clear waters, or stop by the Captain Oaks (floating) Tiki Bar for a drink and some of the best fried fish on the island or shall we say ocean.

Just a boat ride away from Provo airport, located between Providenciales and North and Middle Caicos, Parrot Cay is a great private island experience, says Pike, for those looking to vacation like a VIP. Among this thousand-acre island, youll find the COMO Parrot Cay Resort, a luxury resort made up of villas and private residences where celebrities like Keith Richards, Donna Karan, and Christie Brinkley own homes. These private residences have been known to house other celebrities like Nick Jonas, Justin Beiber, and Angelina Jolie, who also take full advantage of the famous full-service spa and well-being center at the Shambhala Retreat, located on the property of this tranquil cay.

If private islands, five-star resorts, and over-the-top luxury doesnt sell you for a visit, the warm and welcoming smile you get from the locals will. Even the wildlife is friendly, as youll most likely find JoJo the dolphin circling the bays and cays along with his partner and recent heir, baby Dreamer. An unforgettable name bestowed by an unforgettable island, making for one unforgettable experience!

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Turks & Caicos Travel Guide: The Caribbean Destination Every Celebrity Is Running To - The Zoe Report

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Live ‘Pirates’ Join Pirates of the Caribbean During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2022 at Walt Disney World – WDW News Today

Posted: at 6:27 pm

As part of the entertainment for Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, you can find some live pirates waiting for you when you visit the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction!

In the queue for the ride, pirates are found in different areas and interact with the guests.

In some places, the pirates are even using microphones while they banter with each other and with guests as they move through the queue.

You can even find pirates interacting with guests in boats as they pass through the ride itself! What a nice touch.

What is your favorite special character that makes an appearance at Mickeys Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Let us know in the comments!

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today onTwitter,Facebook, andInstagram.

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Live 'Pirates' Join Pirates of the Caribbean During Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2022 at Walt Disney World - WDW News Today

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (8-14 August 2022) as of 15 August 2022 – World – ReliefWeb

Posted: at 6:27 pm

Attachments

REGIONAL: DISASTER RISK MONITORING

COLOMBIA: FLOODS

Following large-scale flooding in Colombia's northern La Mojana region that has affected more than 165,000 people, OCHA is providing US$2 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to respond to the needs of 40,000 people. The allocation follows a 2021 disbursement for US$3 million that sought to provide assistance to more than 92,800 people. The allocation will support rapid response actions such as the delivery of food, medicine and medical equipment, health brigade deployments, public health monitoring and facilitating WASH access.

CUBA: OIL FACILITY FIRE

OCHA is providing an Emergency Cash Grant (ECG) for US$100,000 for relief items to support response to a massive fire at an oil storage facility in Matanzas, north-western Cuba. Firefighters have extinguished the fire at two of the facility's eight tanks and are working on a fire at a third tank. Officials say the fires no longer pose a threat to spread further or cause additional explosions.

The fire also prompted the evacuation of about 4,700 people and has led to at least 130 injuries and the deaths of 2 firefighters. Some 14 people remain missing. Authorities say there is evidence that environmental pollution indicators have decreased following initial reports that smoke from the fire contained poisonous gases and air pollutants.

ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON

The United States National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) adjusted their May 2022 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, which now projects a decreased likelihood of an above-normal season (originally 65 per cent, now at 60) and an increase in the likelihood of nearnormal activity from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.

The adjusted forecast nevertheless calls for 14 to 20 named storms, 6 to 10 of which might become hurricanes and 3 to 5 of which could become major hurricanes. Despite the slight reduction in projected activity, NOAA notes that there are several atmospheric and oceanic conditions that may yet favour an active season, including La Nia conditions forecast to remain for the rest of 2022, weaker tropical Atlantic trade winds, an active west African Monsoon and above-normal sea-surface temperatures in the Atlantic.

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Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (8-14 August 2022) as of 15 August 2022 - World - ReliefWeb

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