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Archive for August, 2012

17 Aug, 2012

Mr. Netanyahu, before you bomb Iran, say goodbye to everyone you know – Haaretz

Mr. Netanyahu, before you bomb Iran, say goodbye to everyone you know. Say goodbye to everyone you love. You know you won’t be able to protect all of them from the retaliation that will surely come. Everyone you know is a target. Everyone you love is in range. via Mr. Netanyahu, before you bomb Iran, […]

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17 Aug, 2012

U.S. Iran Sanctions Threaten Ties With Russia: Official – RIA Novosti

Relations between the United States and Russia may suffer as a result of new, wide-ranging U.S. sanctions introduced against Iran, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Monday. “Washington should…be aware that our bilateral relations will be seriously affected if the applied American restrictions affect Russian economic players that interact with their Iranian counterparts in […]

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17 Aug, 2012

The Middle East showdown to influence the world order | Russia Beyond The Headlines

R.G.: What is the probability of Israel, with or without U.S. support, launching a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities? Y.P.: The U.S. does not want it to happen in the run-up to the presidential elections. It is restraining Israel. But one has to bear in mind that there are different forces and different positions within […]

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17 Aug, 2012

U.S. Keeps Russia on ‘National Threat’ List – RIA Novosti

U.S. President Barack Obama has extended a legal act that lists Russia, among 16 other states, as a national threat, and allows for the freezing and confiscation of assets in the United States. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act IEEPA is a federal law authorizing the U.S. president to regulate commerce after declaring a national […]

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17 Aug, 2012

China, India, Russia, Bangladesh New Targets of Tobacco Industry, Survey Shows

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The world’s largest tobacco use survey, published today in The Lancet, underscores the enormity of the global tobacco epidemic – especially in low- and middle-income countries that are being targeted by the tobacco industry – and the urgent need for countries to implement proven strategies that reduce tobacco use […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Gallup Poll Shows Mixed Public Image of U.S. Travel, Airline Industry Sectors

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Princeton, NJ, 16 Aug 2012 – The U.S. travel industry enjoys a largely positive image among the U.S. public but has suffered a small decline in its image ratings between 2011 and 2012. On the other hand, the U.S. airline industry is more negatively than positively perceived but has made a slight gain in its […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Survey: Percentage of U.S. Workers Living Paycheck to Paycheck Reaches Recession-Era Low

CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Fewer American workers are reliant on their next payday to make ends meet, according to a new CareerBuilder survey. Forty percent of workers report that they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck, a slight decrease from 42 percent in 2011. This year’s figure marks a recession-era low, continuing a […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Oppenheim Law Exposes Wall Street’s ‘Dirty Dozen’ Banks

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Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) August 16, 2012 – Confidence in Wall Street is at an all-time low. It’s no wonder considering how many Wall Street executives continue to display poor moral leadership, according to real estate attorney and Yahoo! Homes blogger Roy Oppenheim. “Despite what seems like a daily barrage of banking scandals, leaders like […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Army suicides hit terrifying peak — RT

This year to date, 116 confirmed or suspected suicides have been recorded – twenty-one more than at the same juncture last year. In July alone, thirty-eight soldiers were either confirmed or believed to have killed themselves. The self-inflicted death rate among active duty soldiers has increased by 22 percent this year, and for the first […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Afghan War veterans in danger of mysterious degenerative brain disease — RT

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy cannot be diagnosed or adequately treated yet, Col. Dallas Hack of the Army’s Combat Casualty Care Research Program tells the Huffington Post, and scientists say that they think brain injuries developed during battle might bring up the likelihood of CTE occurring, which is characterized by bursts of anger and depression, and is […]

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17 Aug, 2012

Pew Survey: Further Decline in Credibility Ratings for Most U.S. News Organizations

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Pew Research Centre, 16 August 2012 – For the second time in a decade, the believability ratings for major news organizations have suffered broad-based declines. In the new survey, positive believability ratings have fallen significantly for nine of 13 news organizations tested. This follows a similar downturn in positive believability ratings that occurred between 2002 […]

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17 Aug, 2012

American Summer Travel Seen Favouring Road Over Air

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WILMINGTON, Del.-August 15, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–When it comes to spring and summer travel, the open road is still king, according to the latest edition of the Chase Freedom Lifestyle Index, a barometer of consumer trends based on aggregated Chase Freedom cardholder spending data. While overall spending on travel has remained flat since 2011, road trip purchases, […]

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17 Aug, 2012

More Attrition in PATA Management

Bangkok – PATA management ranks are set to dwindle further with the upcoming departure of Mrs Ben (Benjakallayanee) Montgomery, Regional Director – Greater Mekong, at the end of September following the PATA Travel Mart in Manila. Mrs Ben, 38, will join Centara Hotels and Resorts as Director, Strategies Management as of 1 October 2012. Her […]

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16 Aug, 2012

Kashmir desperate for the return of tourists after two decades of violence – The Guardian

Two years ago, the old city in Srinagar was the sort of place police would only venture into wearing full body armour. A stronghold for violent separatists agitating for an independent Kashmir, it was the centre of ugly uprisings that left more than 100 people dead, buried along with dreams of peace in the mountainous […]

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16 Aug, 2012

Jeremy Hunt told: don’t pretend London 2012 Olympics helped tourism – The Independent

Small businesses have responded furiously to claims by the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, that the Olympics were “a very good period” for tourism. Travel organisations and shopkeepers around London and many working in tourism outside the capital described the period of the Games as one of their worst and questioned how easy it would be […]

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16 Aug, 2012

Thousands of Rohingya helpless after violence – Al Jazeera English

Monsoon rains have done little to dampen heated ethnic tensions in Myanmar’s northwestern Rakhine state, where dozens have died in tit-for-tat attacks over the past two months. Scars of the conflict are visible in the charred blocks of land, where entire villages were burned to the ground by angry mobs armed with knives and metal […]

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16 Aug, 2012

Palestinian children ‘abused’ in Israeli jail – Al Jazeera English

The children imprisoned here are most often taken from their homes between midnight and 5am. Most don’t even see it coming. In one case, in Beit Ummar near Bethlehem, Israeli soldiers detained a Palestinian boy after reportedly taking some of the house’s doors off their hinges. Most of the children detained live close to “friction […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Lessons Not Learnt: Arab Americans Report More Attacks on Places of Worship

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Washington, DC (www.adc.org) August 15, 2012 – The American-Arab Anti-Discriminaton Committee (ADC), reports a dramatic surge of violent activity and harassment directed at places of worship, less than two weeks after the tragedy that occured at the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. In total there has been nearly a dozen cases of attacks and […]

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15 Aug, 2012

China’s Private Firms Plan Overseas Investments, the “Going Out” Strategy

People's Daily Overseas Edition, Author: Tian Li

August 15, 2012 – Recently, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), together with 12 government departments under the State Council including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly issued “The Implementing Opinions on Encouraging and Guiding Private Enterprises to Actively Develop Overseas Investment (The Opinions),” the first comprehensive policy […]

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15 Aug, 2012

People’s Daily: World trade faces downside risks

People's Daily Online

Beijing, August 14, 2012 – World trade growth has slowed abruptly in 2012 due to the European sovereign debt crisis and slowdown in emerging economies, according to the 2012 Global Trade and Investment Report released by the Japan External Trade Organization on Aug. 9. The World Bank believes that developing countries have contributed to more […]

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15 Aug, 2012

M&A deals in China decline in first half 2012 – China Daily

By Yu Ran (China Daily)

August 15, 2012 – China’s merger and acquisition activity dropped significantly in the first half of 2012, mainly because of the still sputtering global economy, especially in Europe, according to the midyear M&A review released by PricewaterhouseCoopers on Tuesday. The review showed a 33 percent decline in announced deals and a marked 10 percent decline […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Melbourne Etihad Stadium deal extended – Khaleej Times

Etihad Airways has signed a new multi-million dollar agreement to extend to 2019 its naming and marketing rights for Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, the city’s premier sports and entertainment venue. The five-year extension was announced in Melbourne today by James Hogan, President and Chief Executive of Etihad Airways, and Ian Collins AM, Chief Executive of the […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Study links UK recession to 1,000 suicides – Khaleej Times

A painful British economic recession, rising unemployment and biting austerity measures may have driven more than 1,000 people in England to commit suicide, according to a scientific study published on Wednesday. The study, a so-called time-trend analysis which compared the actual number of suicides with those expected if pre-recession trends had continued, reflects findings elsewhere […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Israel ready for 30-day war after Iran strike: minister – Ahram Online

Israel is prepared for a 30-day war on multiple fronts should it decide to strike Iran, and is “ready as never before” for such a clash, the outgoing home front defence minister said Wednesday. In an interview with the Maariv newspaper, Matan Vilnai said Israel was ready to face the consequences of a clash with […]

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15 Aug, 2012

ASEAN Religious, Cultural Harmony As Critical As Economic Integration – Prof Yusuf

Bangkok – The religious and cultural heritage of ASEAN countries is one of its major tourism assets. Ways to safeguard it from becoming a social and geopolitical liability will be discussed at a seminar on religious pluralism in ASEAN to be organised for the first time at Assumption University in Bangkok between Aug 23-24. Funded […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Key British Airports report 4.1% fall in July traffic, partly due to Olympics

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London, 14 August 2012 (BAA media release) – 9.6m passengers passed through BAA’s five airports in July 2012, down 4.1% on July 2011. This included a drop of 4.4% at Heathrow to 6.6m passengers. The drop was more pronounced in the second half of the month and it is likely that the Olympics played a […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Bargain with Big Brother: Facebook app to offer customer deals by spying — RT

A planned targeted advertising system can mine your Facebook pictures to identify you, and automatically check you in to a business you’re visiting. It will then offer you personalized deals and coupons, creators say. ­Dubbed ‘Facedeals,’ the system is the brainchild of advertising agency Redpepper, based in Nashville, Tennessee. It uses Wi-Fi-equipped cameras to compare […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Please exhale: Israel is not going to attack Iran : IPS Writers

An Israeli (or American) attack would very likely leave the situation much worse than it was before taking military action. Israel’s security would not be improved; in fact, it might be imperiled by the negative response of even Israel’s closest allies. And Iran’s creeping approach to nuclear capability might turn into a sprint. This awareness […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Israel takes bigger gambles to push Obama into Iran attack – IPS Writers

Many analysts have believed for a long time that the Israeli strategy has been more about pushing the US into an attack on Iran rather than actually setting the stage for an Israeli one and this past week seems to support that theory. The election season has been widely viewed as one where President Obama […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Celebrating With The People Of Pakistan By N. Jayaram

Warm-hearted the people of Pakistan most reputedly are. Countless have been the accounts I’ve read over the past many decades, by Indian journalists, academics, civil society activists, film-makers as well as people in the official establishment, of immense generosity that was showered upon them in the Pakistani street as well as in air-conditioned altars of […]

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15 Aug, 2012

Impunity At Home, Rendition Abroad – Countercurrents.org

After a decade of intense public debate over torture, in the last two years the United States has arrived at a questionable default political compromise: impunity at home, rendition abroad. This resolution does not bode well for future U.S. leadership of an international community determined to end the scourge of torture. Italy’s prosecution of two-dozen […]

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14 Aug, 2012

‘Muslim for a Month:’ Tourists take Islamic ‘pray-cations’ – CNN.com

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Muslim for a Month, run by Bowler’s NGO World Weavers, is part of a new breed of cultural immersion tourism being dubbed “pray-cations.” It promises travelers a rich, meaningful experience, by exposing them to religious beliefs and practices “in a country where spirituality is still very much alive,” he said. Bowler, a Thailand-based Australian, has […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Survey Reveals Consumer Attitudes Towards Mobile Marketing

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – August 14, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE)–StrongMail, a provider of email marketing and cross-channel marketing solutions for enterprises, today announced the results of a commissioned mobile marketing survey conducted on its behalf by Forrester Consulting in June 2012. Titled “Consumer Perceptions of Mobile Marketing for StrongMail,” 322 general population consumers responded, providing […]

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14 Aug, 2012

The Top 10 Document Management Innovations in History

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CINCINNATI – August 14, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE)–To help celebrate its 10-year anniversary as the leading document management provider, Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) announced the top 10 innovations in document management throughout history. The list highlights key inventions and developments that have shaped the way information is stored, organized and destroyed throughout history. “The past 10 […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Most Mass Shooters Pass Background Checks – Alternet

Even though Tucson’s heavily armed citizenry failed to stop Jared Lee Loughner’s rampage last year that killed six people, including a US district court judge, and almost killed former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz), the gun lobby pushes for the right to carry firearms on college campuses, in state parks, in coffee shops, on trains, in […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Get Ready for a Catastrophic War: Israel Likely to Strike Iran Before November Elections – Alternet

What the Israeli leader worries most about is the possibility that a second-term Obama would feel much freer not to commit U.S. forces on Israel’s side. A second-term Obama also might use U.S. leverage to force Israeli concessions on thorny issues relating to Palestine. If preventing Obama from getting that second term is also part […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Israeli rhetoric lays the groundwork for an attack on Iran – baltimoresun.com

The key question is whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will interpret the presidential campaign rhetoric as an open invitation to provoke hostilities with Iran, in the expectation that President Obama will feel forced to jump in with both feet in support of our “ally” Israel. Since there is no […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Global Drought Conditions Raise Threat of Next Crises: Rising Food Prices & Water Wars

The long-forecast global water wars are about to become a reality. A 17% shortfall in India’s monsoon rains so far this year is only one indicator of a looming global drought that could trigger ripple-effect problems worldwide. These include increased prices of food crops, speculative activity, growing socio-economic and geopolitical tensions and environmental disasters as […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Free White Paper Highlights Best Practices for Integrating Short- and Long-Term Disability

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BOSTON – August 13, 2012 – (BUSINESS WIRE)–Seven best practices for integrating short- and long-term disability programs to lower costs for employers and improve service for employees are highlighted in a new Leadership Series white paper published by the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) and sponsored by Liberty Mutual Insurance Group Benefits. The white paper, […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Australian Household Budget Tracker Helps Monitor Spending

Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Canberra, 13 August 2012 – ASIC’s 2012 spending clock estimates the average Australian household will spend $69,166 on general living costs in 2012. This amounts to $1,290 per week.[1] Yet only 54% of people know exactly what their money is spent on. [2] This information supports the release of ASIC’s new suite of tools to […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Arabs at the Olympics: Could have been better – The Jordan Times

Most Arabs are preoccupied with conflicts — be they internal or external — and have little or no time to indulge in sports. Nation building is a continuing process in many Arab states, with very few having attained their political, economic and social objectives. Still, one would have expected at least the Arab countries that […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Bloody Spring by Uri Avnery – Media Monitors Network (MMN)

“The European imperialist powers, Britain and France, which broke up the all-inclusive Ottoman Empire after World War I, had scant respect for the diversity of their new acquisitions. However, they both adopted the principle of “divide et impera”. The French excelled in it.” via Home / Headlines / Bloody Spring – Media Monitors Network (MMN).

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14 Aug, 2012

Iran War: Countdown to Israel Doomsday – Media Monitors Network (MMN)

Governor of the Bank of Israel Stanley Fischer says that Iran strike spells security and financial crisis and that the entity is gearing to deal with recession. “The primary responsibility of each country is to maintain its security. It is possible to describe situations of widespread war which would be very difficult to deal with. […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Justice for All: Alexander Cockburn, Palestine, and U.S. media

With his scathing intellect, engaging talent, far ranging knowledge, and quick humor, the Oxford-educated Cockburn could have become a celebrated, wealthy journalist – the kind whose lucrative articles are consistently published in top journals, whose best-selling books are reviewed widely throughout the media, and whose commentary is in demand by the top television and radio […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Germany refocuses on neo-Nazi threat – The Washington Post

In Germany, “our institutions didn’t have right-wing terrorism on their screens,” Sebastian Edathy, a member of Germany’s Parliament who is leading an inquiry into the intelligence failures, said in an interview. “Society has focused over the last 10 years on the threat of Islamist extremism, but this is not the only extremist threat that we’re […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Police: Gunman opened fire from inside Texas house and killed officer serving eviction notice – The Washington Post

Police say a gunman was being served an eviction notice before he opened fire from inside a home near Texas A&M and killed a law enforcement officer. College Station Assistant Police Chief Scott McCollum says Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann was among three people, including the gunman, killed in a shootout at the house Monday. […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Tourism department facelifts famous gondola cable car in Kashmir – Hindustan Times Travel

The Department of Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is undertaking a facelift the Gondola Lift to boost tourism in the state. The Kashmir Valley attracts foreign tourists and the Gondola in Srinagar is Asia’s highest and longest cable car – about 3980 meters above sea level -, which had been generating revenue in millions every […]

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14 Aug, 2012

In Malaysia, earning less than your wife can be hazardous to your well-being – Indian Express

The Welfare Department of Malaysia received 25 reports from men who were abused by their wives or girlfriends last year, 32 in 2010 and 14 in 2009. Most cases were reported in Selangor, followed by the Federal Territory, and the offences included threatening injury, causing physical harm, emotional abuse and locking up the men. via […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Sex ratio influences choices made by men and women: study – Indian Express

In a study of about 600 people, when male college participants were told there was a scarcity of women on their campuses and in other areas of their lives, they were willing to pay USD 6.01 more on average for Valentine’s Day gifts and USD 278 more for an engagement ring than men who were […]

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14 Aug, 2012

A Q Khan calls Pak elites ‘foreign agents’ – Indian Express

In a no holds barred attack on the Pakistani government, Khan voiced his support for the judiciary which is engaged in a bitter tussle with the government over reopening of graft cases in Switzerland against President Asif Ali Zardari. “Our elites toe the American line and behave like foreign agents. Some have dual nationalities, some […]

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14 Aug, 2012

Going from love to love across the India-Pakistan border – Dawn.com

It is unfortunate that travelling restrictions deprive many Indians and Pakistanis to enjoy the rich culture and heritage of both the countries, however even these setbacks fail to deter people like myself from yearning for a day when it would be possible for Pakistanis and Indians to travel across the border without any limitations or […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Visitors to UK be made more welcome – Business News, The Independent

The Government is considering wholesale changes to the tourist visa regime to capitalise on the Olympics effect which has sparked interest in visiting Britain. Proposals are being looked at to simplify and shorten visa applications to bring Britain more closely into line with European countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement, which lets visitors […]

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13 Aug, 2012

15 Cancer Symptoms Men Shouldn’t Ignore

Experts say that men could benefit greatly by being alert to certain cancer symptoms that require a trip to the doctor’s office sooner rather than later. But when it comes to scheduling doctor visits, men are notorious foot-draggers. In fact, some men, would never go to the doctor if it weren’t for the women in […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Employee-owners boost success: cleveland.com

There is a proven mechanism currently available to U.S. companies to improve productivity and competitiveness and, in so doing, slow the job exodus. A financial structure exists that has allowed a large number of companies to offer their entire work forces a huge incentive to enhance both productivity and profitability: ESOPs — Employee Stock Ownership […]

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13 Aug, 2012

New Social Network to Track Every Time You Help Someone

“We have launched a revolutionary new social network oriented around the concept of Karma, what goes around, comes around,” said Ross Bays, managing director for Karmafied.com. “On what is being called The Karma Network, users create a profile for free, connect with their friends, and then begin granting good or bad karma to everyone they […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Track The Scammers Not The Scam, says Verify1st

Online shoppers have been urged to go beyond the established practice of checking websites against known scams if they want to properly protect themselves against online scammers. Online shoppers have a new high-tech tool to fight against online scams. Katrina McKinnon, co-founder of the recently launched Verify1st.com, warns that the ease with which internet scammers […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Time to Rebel! Five Ways We Can Break the Big Banks’ Death Grip on the Economy

Let’s be honest. Many people are feeling a little hopeless and cynical about whether anything can change how Wall Street banks run roughshod over the economy and our democracy. We’ve marched, rallied, sat-in and thousands have been arrested–and yet bankers have remained unrepentant, unpunished, unindicted and seemingly untouchable. But the wheels of history are turning […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Drifting Away From Our Ideals: truth-out.org

A society can continue for a very substantial period along a path characterized by ever greater divergence between the core values and ideals that give it legitimacy and the institutions and practices that create and constitute the everyday realities its citizens experience. Plausibly, a society could continue indefinitely on such a course—though clearly, cynicism and […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Criminalizing Dissent – Chris Hedges’ Columns – Truthdig

The Justice Department’s definition of a potential terrorism suspect under the Patriot Act is already extremely broad. It includes anyone with missing fingers, someone who has weatherproof ammunition and guns, and anyone who has hoarded more than seven days of food. This would make a few of my relatives in rural Maine and their friends, […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Sales & Marketing Jobs Top Salary Scales in Gulf, Survey Shows

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DUBAI, August 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Neither the international financial downturn, nor the economic impact of the Arab spring over the past year have taken the shine off salaries for gulf jobs in the past year. The 2012 Gulf Business salary survey of Middle East jobs was calculated by taking the average salary across the […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Conference on the Changing Roles of Women in a Global Economy

The California Women’s Conference is historically the largest gathering of women in the country, boasting a network of successful female entrepreneurs, education and community support committed to the betterment of women. The Women Of Global Change, headed by Shellie Hunt, Founder and CEO, will join the star-studded event hosted at the Long Beach Convention Center, […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Analysis: Are Israelis tough enough for a long war with Iran? : Reuters

For Israel to carry out a long-threatened strike on Iranian nuclear sites, it would have to overcome dissent within its governing coalition reflecting public fear of igniting an unprecedented missile war. via Analysis: Are Israelis tough enough for a long war with Iran? | Reuters.

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13 Aug, 2012

Security at its highest since 9/11 at Islamic Center : Dayton Daily News

Malik, 72, blamed some of the hatred toward Muslims on “baseless accusations” being made by politicians who say a majority of the violence in the United States is caused by radical Muslims. “That just stirs up the fear and hatred toward the Muslim community,” he said. “They don’t know them. They only know what they […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Racial Profiling at Boston Airport, Officials Say – NYTimes.com

More than 30 federal officers in an airport program intended to spot telltale mannerisms of potential terrorists say the operation has become a magnet for racial profiling, targeting not only Middle Easterners but also blacks, Hispanics and other minorities. Read more: Racial Profiling at Boston Airport, Officials Say – NYTimes.com.

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13 Aug, 2012

The Convert: This American Life

In 2006, a new convert showed up at a mosque in Orange County, California, eager to study the Koran and make new friends. But when he started acting odd and saying strange things, those friends got suspicious. To them, he was Farouk al-Aziz. But his real name was Craig Monteilh, and he was working undercover […]

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13 Aug, 2012

The Palestine Romney doesn’t know – The Washington Post

Palestinians have no say in our economic development. Every resource — water, land, soil, minerals, airspace, humans — is controlled and commandeered by Israel, which then deigns to sell us back a small portion. In the West Bank, for example, Israeli settlers consume on average 4.3 times the amount of water as Palestinians. In the […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Abolishing War: One Last Step – MichaelMoore.com

The U.S. military is bigger than ever, in more nations than ever, more privatized than ever, more profitable than ever, more secretive than ever, more at odds with more of the world than ever, and more recklessly than we’ve seen in decades antagonizing both Russia and China for no good reason whatsoever. Read more: Abolishing […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Veterans For Peace: Solution to Nuclear “Crisis” with Iran is not Sanctions and War, It is a Middle East Free of All Nuclear Weapons

This is nothing but a clear declaration of economic war on Iran. These devastating sanctions are not an “alternative” to war; they are part and parcel of a war aimed at forcing a regime change in Iran as an integral part of the US plan for a “Greater Middle East.” Let us not forget the […]

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13 Aug, 2012

PressTV – Drumbeat for war on Iran

Evidence supporting is analysis is absent. Rhetoric substitutes for reason. Acting responsibly isn’t considered. Convince Israelis and others to go along with what may harm or destroy them. Forget about rationality and safety. Just act. Disregard consequences. If public opinion expresses opposition, ignore it. If failure looks more likely than success, gamble and chance it […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Saudi female athletes: Heroes in London, ‘prostitutes of the Olympics’ at home — RT

Attar and Shaherkhani’s mere participation is seen as a huge victory because it was the first time Saudi Arabia sent female athletes to the Olympic Games. The move is seen as a milestone toward meeting the International Olympics Committee’s (IOC) goal of sex equality and 50/50 participation at the Games. But many in Saudi Arabia […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Russian Civil servants to study tolerance — RT

Russian public servants responsible for national policies may soon be obliged to take special courses on the “harmonization” of interethnic relations. The idea may be implemented as part of the strategy for the development of Russia’s national policy, which is currently being drawn up, writes Izvestia daily. Read more: Civil servants to study tolerance — […]

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13 Aug, 2012

In Afghanistan, heritage is best left underground – ArabNews

Below ground, the relics are protected from endemic looting, illegal smuggling and the corrosive effects of freezing winters. “There is looting on a large or small scale at 99.9 percent of sites,” says Philippe Marquis, director of a French archaeological delegation in Afghanistan. Middlemen pay Afghans $ 4 to $ 5 a day to dig […]

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13 Aug, 2012

PressTV – Israelis protest against possible military strike on Iran

Carrying signs condemning any strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the protesters gathered outside Minister for Military Affairs Ehud Barak’s residence on Sunday and called on him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, DPA reported. The demonstrators accused the officials of acting belligerently and pushing for war with Iran, saying the consequences of such action […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Increasing stereotypes threaten European unity – ArabNews

“National resentments in Europe are rising to dramatic levels,” said Vincent Forest, a London-based economist with the Economist Intelligence Unit. “By taking so much time in solving the economic crisis, the Europeans are creating a political and social crisis.” Read more: Increasing stereotypes threaten European unity – ArabNews.

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13 Aug, 2012

Australian Borrowers beat path away from big banks – SMH

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show all the growth in new lending to owner-occupiers in the past year was in refinancing. Every week, the banks and other lenders refinance $1 billion of existing loans at better interest rates, as borrowers freed from exit fees vote with their feet. via Borrowers beat path away from big […]

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13 Aug, 2012

War Wounds – NYTimes.com

If you want to understand how America is failing its soldiers and veterans, honoring them with lip service and ceremonies but breaking faith with them on all that matters most, listen to the story of Major Richards. via War Wounds – NYTimes.com.

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13 Aug, 2012

Sikh Coalition Briefing Paper: How to Talk to Your Children About Oak Creek Tragedy

The Sikh Coalition has collaborated with other national Sikh organizations to produce a one page summary to help parents and teachers address the needs of Sikh children dealing with the shock and confusion of the Oak Creek tragedy. Helping Your Children Understand the Wisconsin Tragedy – Click here to download >>  

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13 Aug, 2012

Indian managers in LG quit protesting against South Korean bosses – Xinhua

Several Indian managers have quit India’s largest electronics company, LG, in the past five months after the South Korean company brought in expats at key positions in India, a former senior manager said Sunday. Read more: Indian managers in LG quit protesting against South Korean bosses – Xinhua

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13 Aug, 2012

Picture Gallery: When women get drunk

How terrible! When women get drunk Click here: How terrible! When women get drunk – Gallery – MadMud

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13 Aug, 2012

Int’l Day of Prayer for Peace – 21 Sept

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The World Council of Churches calls on the churches and congregations around the world to observe an International Day of Prayer for Peace on 21 September. The day coincides with the International Day of Peace initiated by the United Nations. The participants are especially invited to pray and act together for a just peace in […]

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13 Aug, 2012

Say “No” to Displacement and Demolition in Susiya, West Bank – The United Church of Canada

The people of the village of Susiya, in the South Hebron Hills in the West Bank, are facing the imminent demolition of over 50 homes and other structures, forcibly displacing about 160 people. On June 13, 2012, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) distributed three maps to the people of Susiya, identifying three areas within the […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Press Release Makes Clear Who Will Profit From Drone Operations at National Borders

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs in border security missions around the world is expanding rapidly as nations apply lessons from NATO UAV operations to their border and national security needs. Read More: Research and Markets: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAV for Border Security – Global Market & Technologies Outlook – 2013-2021 | Business Wire.

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12 Aug, 2012

Is Opinionated Journalism Actually Better at Getting People Involved in Politics? – Alternet

A new study finds that opinionated reporting might be better at motivating the politically unengaged. Read more: Is Opinionated Journalism Actually Better at Getting People Involved in Politics? | Alternet.

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12 Aug, 2012

Why You Should Get a 3 Week Paid Vacation – Alternet

Most Americans only get two weeks off right now. But many don’t even take the full two weeks out of fear of losing their jobs. One in four gets no paid vacation at all, not even holidays. Overall, Americans have less vacation time than workers in any other advanced economy. Read more: Why You Should […]

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12 Aug, 2012

The Top Ten Differences Between White and Non-White Terrorists – Alternet

There is nothing you can do about white terrorists. Gun control won’t stop them. No policy you could make, no government program, could possibly have an impact on them. But hundreds of billions of dollars must be spent on police and on the Department of Defense, and on TSA, which must virtually strip search 60 […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Inaugural United States of Aging Survey Released, Free Download

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WASHINGTON & MINNETONKA, Minn. – August 08, 2012, (BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey from the National Council on Aging (NCOA), UnitedHealthcare and USA TODAY finds that most older Americans feel their best years are still to come, but not all are prepared for the health and financial challenges of aging. As millions of these adults will […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Cheap Flights Website Issues Its List of Top 10 Road Trips

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(PRWEB) August 11, 2012 — InsanelyCheapFlights.com released its list of top 10 road trips today. While it might seem strange that a company selling airline tickets would recommend road trips, the journeys described begin in destinations scattered across the globe. (Editor’s Note: The source of this collection was not stated but it is an interesting […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Why are Western media selectively blind? – People’s Daily Online

At the Olympic Games, the world is indeed flat. There are dozens of foreign coaches in Chinese delegation who help Chinese athletes gain a better understanding of world sports development while in table tennis and gymnastic competitions there are also some Chinese coaches who mentor Western athletes. In the Olympic arena, China has already reflected […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Vietnam Now World’s Top Coffee Exporter – Xinhua

According to the Association of Coffee and Cocoa of Vietnam ( VICOFA), due to the global and domestic economic downturn, coffee processors and consumers have diverted to Robusta coffee and this is where Vietnam has an advantage because it ranks top in the world in Robusta production. In addition, major coffee growing countries, like Brazil […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Xinhua: Strategic calculations behind U.S.-Iran confrontation on Syria

Syria is a heavyweight and key domino in the Middle East arena, while Iran is vital to global energy supplies. The two nations, and the Middle East at large, are unlikely to let outside powers like the United States to impose a future on them. After all, they need to shape their own future by […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Hoffa Statement on Romney Choice of Paul Ryan

The following is a statement by Jim Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters: “By choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney is doubling down on his campaign to make the American middle class poorer so the rich can get richer….. Read the rest: Hoffa Statement on Romney Choice of Paul […]

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12 Aug, 2012

EUROPA Culture Summit: Case for investment in culture as strong today as it has ever been, says Vassiliou

European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou: “Culture and the arts have the power to transform individual lives and help bring countries together. The over-arching aim of the European Union’s policy in this area is to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, to unlock the potential of culture for creativity and innovation, […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Americans’ Views of TSA More Positive Than Negative

The TSA in recent months has come under increased scrutiny, with some members of Congress calling for the agency to be privatized or disbanded. However, the current survey results, from Gallup interviewing conducted July 9-12, indicate that the average American has a more positive than negative impression of the TSA, even if the average American […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Book review: How Israeli school textbooks teach kids to hate – The Electronic Intifada

In an important new book, Palestine in Israeli School Books, Israeli language and education professor Nurit Peled-Elhanan …… examines 17 Israeli school textbooks on history, geography and civic studies. Her conclusions are an indictment of the Israeli system of indoctrination and its cultivation of anti-Arab racism from an early age: “The books studied here harness […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Vanuatu gives market power to small cocoa farmers – ABC Radio Australia

Andreas Lombardozzi, Managing Director, African Pacific Vanuatu Ltd: Even in terms of some fair trade certification, once that grower is certified under that relationship he doesn’t own that, he doesn’t have that data at hand, and so it is very difficult for him to say ‘Oh I’ve got Fair Trade but I want to sell […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Israel allows Egypt to use ‘terror-fighting’ gunships in Sinai – JTA

Editor’s Note: Egypt needs Israeli permission for this? Whatever happened to Egyptian sovereignty? JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Cabinet reportedly has agreed to allow Egypt to use gunships in the Sinai peninsula. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said Friday that the Egyptian government had asked Israel for its agreement to introduce attack helicopters to “fight terrorists” who […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Prepare for What Is Coming: ‘There is a Very Present Danger that is Facing Every American’

Mass electronic surveillance systems, tens of thousands of drones, riot police, the training of military assets for domestic policing, and the introduction of legislation and executive orders to respond to widespread national emergencies through martial law declarations are all pointing to the same thing. Elements within the government of the United States and the cabals […]

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12 Aug, 2012

The US Treasury’s Secret $2.4 Trillion Secret

Details about a secretive government program to bail out money-market mutual funds are finally coming to light. Acting without any explicit Congressional authority, the U.S. Treasury guaranteed in excess of $2.4 trillion of money market funds after the giant Reserve Primary Fund “broke the buck” following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. The program, which ended […]

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12 Aug, 2012

“I can’t dictate methods of Palestinian struggle”: Israeli boycott activist interviewed | The Electronic Intifada

Raised in Raanana, a town near Tel Aviv, Barkan has been arrested on many occasions and held in custody five times. Describing himself as a “privileged Jew,” he readily acknowledges that he has been treated far more leniently by the Israeli authorities than are Palestinians. At one demonstration in the village of Bilin, he was […]

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12 Aug, 2012

Appeal from U.S. Alternative Media: Learn the Lessons, Help Fight Right-Wing Lies

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Appeal from Don Hazen, Executive Editor, AlterNet Push Back against the Campaign Lies and Voter Suppression by the Religious Right and Radical Bully Billionaires We Need Your Help Right Now!! I know it is still the heat of summer, but our political future is being decided now. The radical right, with the Koch brothers and […]

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