Peter Singhatey

Blogger BlogThis! – Saved

January 17, 2016

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized International Security, Middle East, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

The Jan. 2 execution of Saudi Shiite cleric and political activist Nimr al-Nimr has escalated sectarian hostilities in the Middle East to dangerous new levels. Following the sacking of a Saudi embassy in Iran, Saudi Arabia has severed ties with Iran and expelled its diplomats. Tensions are running high, with apocalyptic rhetoric on all sides.

Marc Lynch

However, for all the fireworks, this escalation will probably not change much. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been engaged in a proxy war at various temperatures over regional order for many years. The Syrian peace process may be derailed, and even more weapons pour into its horrifyingly destructive stalemate, but few really believed in its prospects anyway. The war in Yemen will likely continue on the same current destructive course as before, where even the coming and going of a cease-fire affected fighting on the ground little. The campaign against the Islamic State may become a bit more complicated, but the Gulf states long ago shifted most of their military attention toward Yemen. The United States has not become any more likely to walk away from its painstakingly negotiated nuclear agreement with Iran.

Source: Blogger BlogThis! – Saved

Engine Failure And Dead-Stick Landing | Boldmethod

January 17, 2016

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Aviations, Gambia, Madox Air Sports, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey 1 Comment

Your engine just failed – what should you do?

In this video, the pilot successfully glides his Cessna 208 Caravan back to Earth for a dead-stick landing. Metal from the gearbox had passed through the compressor and free turbines, destroying several of the blades and causing catastrophic engine failure.

The pilot made a great landing, timing his approach and descent rate perfectly to make a smooth, safeemergency landing. Check it out, then pass it on.

Source: Engine Failure And Dead-Stick Landing | Boldmethod

W. African leaders seek ban on full-face veil to prevent attacks – Yahoo News

December 19, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Ban Full Face Veil, Gambia, International Security, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

West African leaders said Thursday they were seeking to “forbid” women wearing full-face veils in an effort to curb the growing number of female suicide bombers unleashed by Boko Haram jihadists. Losing swathes of territory to the Nigerian army, Boko Haram jihadists have since July started using young women and girls as suicide bombers by hiding explosives in their loose-fitting clothes. The radical Sunni group has also used the tactic in Cameroon, Chad and Niger — countries that have already enforced bans on veils this year.

Source: W. African leaders seek ban on full-face veil to prevent attacks – Yahoo News

Avoiding Spatial Disorientation On Your Next Instrument Flight | Boldmethod

December 10, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Aviation, feel the freedom, Flying, Madox Airsports, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Pilot 1 Comment

Flying through the clouds on an IFR flight can be one of the most exhilarating things you can do. There’s nothing quite like busting in and out of ‘the soup’. Even better, there’s no feeling quite like seeing the runway appear at the end of an instrument approach. But flying through the clouds is not without risk: between 5-10% of all general aviation accidents result from spatial disorientation, and of those accidents, 90% of them are fatal.

Why Disorientation Happens In The Clouds?

Your eyes are your primary sensory input when you’re flying. You look outside, you see which way the sky is pointing, and you adjust your airplane. But all of that falls apart when you’re in the clouds…

Source: Avoiding Spatial Disorientation On Your Next Instrument Flight | Boldmethod

How To Not Go Off The End Of The Runway, In 5 Easy Steps | Boldmethod

December 8, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Aviation, Gambia, Madox Airsports, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

If you’re like us, you’re not too interested in going off the end of the runway. Here are 5 simple steps to understand density altitude, and to make sure you have plenty of runway for your next takeoff.

1) What the heck is density altitude?

Density altitude is a measure of how ‘thick’ the air is, and it’s based on a few factors: atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity.

The technical definition of density altitude is “pressure altitude, adjusted for non-standard temperature.” What that really means is on hot days, the air is much ‘thinner’, or less dense, than it is on cold days.

Why does that matter? It’s a big factor in your airplane’s performance, because when the air surrounding your plane is less dense, it means your wings, propeller, and engine will have a lot less performance, and it will take you more time to get airborne during takeoff.

Source: How To Not Go Off The End Of The Runway, In 5 Easy Steps | Boldmethod

Syria air strikes: How we got to this point – BBC Newsbeat

December 3, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Conflict, International Security, ISIS, Middle East, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Syria Leave a comment

This is what Syria looks like now.

Source: Syria air strikes: How we got to this point – BBC Newsbeat

More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed, including nearly 12,000 children, according to the United Nations.

More than half of the county’s population have had to leave their homes.

Four million are living as refugees in other countries.

Others soldier on…

How Africa’s fastest solar power project is lighting up Rwanda | Environment | The Guardian

November 29, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Kenya, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, Rwanda, Solar Power Leave a comment

East African plant is completed in less than a year – creating jobs and setting the country on the path to providing half its population with electricity by 2017

Source: How Africa’s fastest solar power project is lighting up Rwanda | Environment | The Guardian

“Arise, shine for your light has come,” reads a sign at the entrance to the first major solar power farm in east Africa.

The 8.5 megawatt (MW) power plant in Rwanda is designed so that, from a bird’s-eye view, it resembles the shape of the African continent. “Right now we’re in Somalia,” jokes Twaha Twagirimana, the plant supervisor, during a walkabout of the 17-hectare site.

The plant is also evidence, not only of renewable energy’s increasing affordability, but how nimble it can be. The $23.7m (£15.6m) solar field went from contract signing to construction to connection in just a year, defying sceptics of Africa’s ability to realise projects fast.

The setting is magnificent amid Rwanda’s famed green hills, within view of Lake Mugesera, 60km east of the capital, Kigali. Some 28,360 solar panels sit in neat rows above wild grass where inhabitants include puff adders. Tony Blair andBono have recently taken the tour.

From dawn till dusk the computer-controlled photovoltaic panels, each 1.9 sq metres, tilt to track the sun from east to west, improving efficiency by 20% compared to stationary panels. The panels are from China while the inverters and transformers are from Germany.

The Gambia bans female genital mutilation | Society | The Guardian

November 29, 2015

Peter Singhatey Uncategorized Africa, Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, Gambia, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

President Yahya Jammeh outlaws practice that affects three-quarters of women in west African country

Source: The Gambia bans female genital mutilation | Society | The Guardian

“The Gambia has announced it will ban female genital mutilation (FGM) after the Guardian launched a global campaign to end the practice.

The president, Yahya Jammeh, said last night that the controversial surgical intervention would be outlawed. He said the ban would come into effect immediately, though it was not clear when the government would draft legislation to enforce it.

FGM involves cutting female genitalia – often when girls are young – to remove their labia and clitoris, which often leads to lifelong health complications, including bleeding, infections, vaginal pain and infertility. More than 130 million women worldwide are subjected to the procedure in Africa and the Middle East…”