by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | culture, greenland, heritage, indigenous, traditions
Aviaja Rakel Sanimuinaq is an Inuk from Greenland who serves as both a shaman and a spiritual healer. Adorned with traditional Inuit facial tattoos, she assists individuals in connecting with their forebears to mend historical traumas.
During my upbringing, it was quite normal for me to discuss the relationship with spirits,” Sanimuinaq remembers. “However, my mother advised me not to mention it as it could be perilous. I couldn’t grasp her reasoning since I hadn’t encountered the repression endured by my forebears.
Today, she is part of an expanding group of Greenlanders who are embracing their Inuit roots and spiritual traditions.
Describing the importance of her tattoos, she explains, “Each pair of lines represents our realm and the spiritual dimension. The gap between these lines symbolizes the unknown.”
Even though around 90% of Greenland’s population identifies as Inuit, the majority are members of the Lutheran Church, a religion brought by Danish missionaries over three centuries ago.
“The sanctity of Christianity remains holy in my view, just like Buddhism and Hinduism do. My profession holds equal importance for me too. This is how I see things—our culture’s emergence along with ours as a community should involve recognizing the legitimacy and equality within our cultural framework,” explains Sanimuinaq.
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In recent times, there has been an increasing refusal to accept the colonial heritage imposed by European missionaries, who dismissed Inuit customs by deeming them heathen.
“The generations present here today are those who truly think that we have the ability to heal,” she states.
Yet another ‘charm offensive’ from the USA
Greenland remained under Danish colonial rule until 1953, at which point it transformed into a province. It achieved home rule in 1979, and three decades later, it evolved into a self-governing territory. Nonetheless, Denmark continues to oversee the island’s external and defense matters.
The recent comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland have drawn considerable interest. In his remarks, he stated that using military power to take over the island wouldn’t be off the table, emphasizing that asserting U.S. dominance over it is crucial for America’s national security. He similarly stressed this point about Puerto Rico.
In the meantime, Usha Vance, who is married to US Vice President JD Vance, along with US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, plan to tour Greenland next week prior to the upcoming local elections.
As reported by local media, their schedule features a trip to the capital city of Nuuk, participation in a dog sledding event in Sisimiautown which is Greenland’s second most populous municipality, and possibly visiting the country’s sole United States military installation located in the northern region.
However, as the focus remains on the island and its mineral wealth, this increased scrutiny is simultaneously intensifying calls for self-determination. More people in Greenland feel emboldened to voice their concerns regarding the inequities brought about by past colonial governance.
Included among them is Inuk singer-songwriter Naja Parnuuna, who has fully adopted her pre-Christian Indigenous roots.
I once felt that being a Dane was considered trendier,” she explains, “or that speaking Danish seemed more impressive than actually practicing our own customs, which I found somewhat awkward.
Via her melodies, she has rediscovered her origins and inspires others to follow suit.
“I started to understand the significance of embracing one’s origins or even my own background. That’s why I believe it’s crucial to revive this awareness so that our community, and us as individuals, can rediscover self-love,” she states.
For Sanimuinaq, this cultural resurgence is about rediscovering their Inuit heritage.
“The Inuit voice has not been heard. We have remained incredibly secluded for centuries,” she states. “It’s essential for us to free ourselves and seize the platform. To take charge and lead our own path. This is what fills me with hope.”
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | controversies, international travel, malaysia, news, passports and international travel
PETALLING JAYA: Wisma Putra stated today that no additional travel limitations for Malaysian citizens abroad have been introduced, contrary to claims made in a video circulating on social media platforms.
The foreign ministry issued a statement denying that eight countries had recently introduced new visa restrictions for Malaysians, calling such claims “misleading.”
“The ministry affirms that this allegation is completely unfounded,” it stated.
“So far, there haven’t been any modifications to the visa policies impacting Malaysian travelers in the aforementioned countries.”
The public must refrain from sharing unchecked details and should consistently consult official channels for precise and current travel updates.
The statement also noted that a police report has been filed and the footage was forwarded to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for additional scrutiny.
The video claimed that nations including Australia, Canada, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates have imposed stringent travel limitations specifically affecting individuals with Malaysian passports.
The report stated that the measures included extended screening processes upon entry, specific visa conditions, and extra financial obligations for travelers from Malaysia.
The video also claimed that these limitations were part of “a broader trend of global pressure on Malaysia,” with Malaysian travelers being used as “unaware pawns.”
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | culture, faith and religion, news, religion, society
KUALA LUMPUR – The World #QuranHour 2025 successfully brought together Muslims from around the globe for contemplation and recitation of Surah Al-Saff, a passage rich with profound messages relevant to our current times.
The event, initiated by the founder of Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF), Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub, celebrated its tenth anniversary with an emphatic plea for solidarity and resilience among Muslims.
At the event held today, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Religious Affairs, Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme. The focus was on ‘bunyan marsus,’ which refers to building a strong and well-organized structure.
Al-Saff refers to lines or formations, and in verse four of this surah, the idea of ‘bunyan marsus’ is emphasized, representing a strong and well-structured arrangement.
“This theme holds significant importance, particularly in our current situation, as it emphasizes the need for solidarity and fortitude within the Muslim community,” he stated to journalists during the World #QuranHour 2025 event conducted at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Mosque of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Gombak today.
Na’im stressed that Surah Al-Saff ought to act as a guiding principle for leaders, ‘umara’ (rulers), ‘ulama’ (scholars), and the whole Muslim community.
He mentioned that the purpose of the event was to encourage people to return to reading the Quran, fostering unity and camaraderie particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
He additionally highlighted the link between the theme and the challenges encountered by individuals in Palestine, notably those in Gaza.
The message conveyed through “Bunyan Marsus”—a term signifying robust organization—is a potent appeal urging Muslims across the globe to come together in safeguarding Palestinian rights and battling against their subjugation by Zionist forces.
“This is precisely why unity and solidarity, drawing inspiration from Surah Al-Saff, have been selected as the main theme for World Quran Hour 2025,” he stated.
This year, World Quran Hour 2025 was themed around ‘Preserving the Ummah,’ highlighting the significance of solidarity in maintaining Islamic faith under Allah SWT.
The 10th edition of the World Quran Hour 2025 program gathered numerous participants via in-person presence at the primary location, live TV transmissions, and online streaming.
Moreover, this year’s event saw registrations from 1,370 sites within the nation, alongside 25 venues located in 19 different foreign nations.
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | budgets, fiscal policy, government, news, politics and government
Rachel Reeves
Is anticipated to unveil several billion pounds in expenditure reductions during her Spring Statement on Wednesday as she rushes to find ways to save money.
The Chancellor plans to tighten the budget for certain government departments as she aims to address a significant deficit in public funds.
At her
Budget
In October, Ms Reeves set aside nearly £10 billion as ‘buffer room’ in accordance with her fiscal guidelines.
However, fresh data from the Office for Budget Responsibility indicate that these gains have now vanished due to slow economic expansion and increasing lending expenses.
The Chancellor has already managed the implementation of cuts amounting to £5 billion from the increasing UK welfare budget, which involves restricting eligibility for disability benefits.
She has also been required to approve plans for slashing Britain’s foreign aid budget.
aid budget
, in order to finance an escalation in defense expenditure to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027.
However, additional reductions are anticipated later this week, as Ms Reeves has ruled out any further ‘tax and spend’ policies following her £40 billion series of tax increases last October.
Data from public spending for the previous fiscal year indicates that a significant portion of tax money went towards social benefits, government retirement funds, and financing the National Health Service.
For instance, an individual earning approximately £37,000 per year in the United Kingdom would anticipate that about £1,920 of their taxes go towards welfare, £1,592 goes to the NHS, and roughly £1,013 funds state pensions.
Use our interactive tool below to check where your own taxes go…
Mrs. Reeves is already aiming at welfare as part of her effort to achieve savings, following Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall’s announcement of proposals to tighten benefit conditions the previous week.
In the period of 2023-24, the government continued to allocate more funds towards debt interest payments compared to spending on education.
In the previous fiscal year, police and transportation were also significant spending categories. Moreover, billions of pounds were allocated to environmental initiatives, housing projects, as well as libraries, museums, and sports facilities.
The UK continues to make contributions to the EU under the terms of the Brexit agreement, and even though these payments have been reduced multiple times recently, £7.2 billion was still allocated for international assistance.
Given that Labour MPs are already displeased with the reductions in welfare and foreign aid, Ms. Reeves must proceed cautiously as she contemplates additional financial restrictions.
The Chancellor has confirmed that she will make reductions in the budget for Whitehall before presenting her Spring Statement, particularly focusing on cutting costs associated with running government departments.
She has detailed strategies to reduce civil service operational expenses by 15 percent by the end of the decade. Additionally, the Treasury is anticipated to introduce a fresh initiative against tax evasion.
Ms Reeves stated that Whitehall officials will be requested to identify savings of over £2 billion from administrative expenses, which would probably result in approximately 10,000 job losses.
However, trade unions have cautioned that the number might actually be closer to 50,000. Additionally, the Treasury is believed to require much larger cuts to achieve their financial goals due to declining growth projections.
The gap in the public funds might reach up to £15 billion, even after revealing plans to reduce benefit spending by £5 billion.
Even though budgets are anticipated to increase in actual value over the next few years, unprotected sectors will face reductions.
It has been asserted that the reduction in expenditures will amount to an average of 4.7 percent across most sectors, although the specific figures won’t be disclosed until the spending review scheduled for June.
Read more
by admin | Mar 25, 2025 | pensions, personal finance retirement, retirement, retirement planning, social security
The
UK
state pension
The retirement age will climb from 66 to 67 for both men and women by 2028. This increment will start phased implementation beginning May 6, 2026.
State pensions in the
UK
are examined at minimum every five years according to the 2014 Pensions Act. This evaluation takes into account elements like
increased life expectancy
.
People from Britain affected by the rise
state pension
Individuals will get a notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) prior to the implementation of this change.
You can view the
state pension
age-related schedules on the official government site
here.
You can find out your state pension age on the official government site.
here.
So what about the UK’s status?
pension
age compared to the rest of them
world
?
What are the maximum and minimum retirement age limits globally?
-
The nations with the oldest pension ages include Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, and Iceland, all set at 67 years old.
-
The nation having the minimum retirement age for pensions is Sri Lanka, set at 55.
Highest retirement ages
By 2024, the nations having the highest retirement ages for both genders will be Italy, Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Denmark, and Iceland, where the retirement age stands at 67 years old.
In Israel, the retirement age for men is set at 67 years old, whereas women have the option to retire at 63 years old.
Several nations have advanced retirement ages as well; these include the United States where the age stands at 66.7 years for both genders, Spain which has set this threshold at 66.5 years, and Portugal with an age of 66.3 years.
Lowest retirement ages
Only a few countries have a state retirement age below 60.
Sri Lanka boasts one of the lowest pension ages globally, set at 55.
Indonesia and Bangladesh have retirement ages of 58 and 59, respectively.
What is the amount of the state pension in the UK?
The UK state pension amounts to £221.20 per week. To qualify, you need to have contributed for at least 35 years.
National Insurance
(NI) contributions or acknowledgments required to qualify for the total sum.
To be eligible for any state pension, you need to have made National Insurance contributions for a minimum of 10 years. If your contributions range from 10 to 34 years, you will receive a portion of the total amount.
The sum might vary based on:
-
If your contract ended prior to 2016.
-
The total count of national insurance contribution years you’ve accumulated.
-
If you contributed to the Additional
State Pension
before 2016.
In April 2016, a new national pension scheme was launched. The specific program applicable to you hinges on whether you attained the state pension age prior to or following the introduction of this system.
If your National Insurance contributions began prior to April 2016, you get a ‘starting amount,’ which is whichever is the greatest among these options:
-
The total you were supposed to get with the previous system
-
The sum you would receive if the updated
State Pension
began right from when you first started working.
Generally, you can’t make an additional claim for state pension using your spouse or civil partner’s National Insurance credits unless specific conditions apply. If you’re widowed, however, you might qualify to receive part of their additional state pension accumulated before 2016.
What steps should you follow to claim your state pension in the UK?
Residents of the United Kingdom do not get their state pension automatically. Typically, you will receive a notification from The Pension Service around four months prior to attaining the state pension age. Following this, you have the option to apply for your pension through an online process, via telephone, or by postal mail.
You have the option to keep working past your state pension age without impacting the amount you will get.
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