31 Dec, 2012

Bruneian, 91, Recalls How He Survived Hiroshima Atom Bomb

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 31 December 2012 (17 Safar 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

30 Dec, 2012

A Message From the Chair of Jewish Voice for Peace

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This is what I know: Each of us has the power to change – and when we do, the world changes, too. I know this because I changed. My name is Rebecca Subar, and I’m the Board Chair of Jewish Voice for Peace. It’s a role that would have seemed ridiculous 30 years ago when I […]

30 Dec, 2012

NY Subway Murder: Anti-Muslim Ads Lead to Horrendous Hate Crime

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Washington, DC | www.adc.org | December 30, 2012 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is appalled and shocked at the horrendous murder of Sunando Sen, who was pushed onto the tracks of an elevated subway station in Queens, NY and crushed by an oncoming train, on Thursday, December 27.  ADC extends deepest condolences to the […]

30 Dec, 2012

Hays Japan Talent Trends for 2013: Outbound Growth Reshaping Talent Management

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Tokyo, Dec 11, 2012 – (JCN Newswire) – According to Hays Specialist Recruitment Japan KK (“Hays”), Japan’s continuing push for outbound economic growth is fueling changes in the way businesses source and manage talent, and this is expected to continue well into 2013 and beyond. In a switch from new graduate hiring leading to lifetime […]

30 Dec, 2012

Oliver Stone to RT: ‘US has become an Orwellian state’ — RT

Imtiaz Muqbil

Oliver Stone: One million top security clearances. That is a pretty heavy number. In other words, we are living in a fish pond and I think the sad part is that the younger people accept that. They are used to the invasion. And that is true, how can we follow the lives of everybody? But […]

29 Dec, 2012

China Seeks to Build People’s Gross National Happiness

Yan Bing, Pang Sheng, Zhou Yongbing

December 27, 2012, (People’s Daily Overseas Edition) – 2012 has been an eventful year for China and the rest of the world. Many topics are worth noting, including the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chinese dreams, Mo Yan’s Nobel literature win, the remote national college entrance examination, and aircraft carrier style. […]

29 Dec, 2012

Shanghai to be China’s Second Duty-Free Shopping Region

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December 27, 2012, Shanghai Daily / Xinhuanet – SHANGHAI is to become the second region on the mainland to allow duty-free shopping for individuals traveling domestically, part of the city’s efforts to become an international trade center, according to a guideline that takes effect on January 1. “The city will explore tax rebates on departure […]

29 Dec, 2012

China Outlines Economic Policies for a Promising 2013

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(Beijing Review) December 27, 2012 –  As the end of the year is drawing near, Li Xuesong breathed a sigh of relief, for China’s economy had finally bottomed out and began to rebound after a slowdown spanning seven seasons. It is still hard to say how long the rebound will last. At the conference analyzing […]

29 Dec, 2012

Gallup’s Top 10 U.S. Wellbeing Discoveries in 2012

Gallup Polls Media Release

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 28, 2012 — Gallup in 2012 published nearly 100 unique articles about Americans’ health and wellbeing. Through its daily surveys, conducted year-round, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index uncovers new insights and provides the most up-to-date data available on Americans’ mental state, exercise and eating habits, healthcare coverage, physical health, and financial wellbeing. The […]

25 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: 2012 Online Marketing Survey & 2013 Predictions Report

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Sydney, Australia (PRWEB) December 24, 2012 – Think Big Online ran an online marketing survey from November to the first week of December in an effort to understand how businesses are using online marketing. The results of the survey have now been collected and compiled into the 2012 Online Marketing Survey & 2013 Predications Report. […]

25 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: EU Unveils Job-Creation Manifesto for 2013

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Brussels, European Commission News Release, 24 12 2012 – The Commission sets out its plans for 2013, with a focus on returning the EU to growth and getting people back to work. Around 50 new initiatives (click on the link to download free) are to be tabled during the year and the first part of […]

25 Dec, 2012

The Burial Of Bethlehem – By Prof William A. Cook

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23 December, 2012 – Countercurrents.org “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2) A few days ago I received this plea from Samuel Dowell, a cry from the […]

24 Dec, 2012

Middle East ‘No Longer Needs Western Expat Talent’

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 24 December 2012 (10 Safar 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

18 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: Site Foundation Forecast for the Motivational Events Industry

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The Site International Foundation has released results of the latest Site Index Annual Survey. The Site Index compiles and compares data over a number of years to track changes and forecast trends in the motivational events industry. This third year of the study measures movement in key indices as well as introduces new topics of discussion. “The […]

18 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: UN Asia-Pacific Economic and Social Survey 2012 Year-end Update

UN ESCAP Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section

Bangkok, 14 December 2012 – Development in Asia and the Pacific is increasingly being affected by the ongoing slowdown in the global economy as well as structural problems within the region’s economies, according to latest United Nations macroeconomic projections and policy advice released here today. Growth in the developed world continued to slow during 2012 […]

18 Dec, 2012

Malaysian Jurist’s Message to America: Deal With Your Own Culture of Violence

Prof Chandra Muzaffar

Kuala Lumpur, 17 December 2012 – The whole world condoles with the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. It is a terrible tragedy: 27 people dead, 20 of them six and seven year-old kids. It is the worst school massacre in the history of the United States. Senseless, […]

18 Dec, 2012

USA Land of disposable people – Pravda.ru

While the USA goes around the world expounding on the virtues of its way of life, it is obvious that those in charge place little value on human life. They are willing to kill thousands, even millions, for profit, for power, for money, for oil and resources. An inordinate amount of the national budget is […]

17 Dec, 2012

To Cut Greenhouse Gases, Indonesia Plans 25 Trash Banks by 2014

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

 A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 17 December 2012 (03 Safar 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

16 Dec, 2012

China to continue property controls in 2013

Xinhua

BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) — China will continue its property market control policies next year, according to a statement issued Sunday after a two-day central economic work conference held in Beijing. The country will step up the construction and management of low-income housing, as well as the renovation of run-down areas, according to the conference, […]

16 Dec, 2012

Indian Leaders Discuss Economic Future in the face of Headwinds, Downturns

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Two speeches by the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Mr P Chidambaram on 15 December and 14 December discussed the state of the Indian economy, the challenges posed by the global downturn and the efforts being made to keep the economy chugging. Following are the texts of the two speeches. […]

16 Dec, 2012

India’s Restive Regions Get Bulk of Funding for Tourism Projects

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, (14 Dec 2012) – Jammu and Kashmir, and the restive Northeastern States of India have received by far the bulk of the funds for  Projects sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism since 2009, according to the following fact sheet released by the Ministry. The projects are relating to Product/Infrastructure Development […]

16 Dec, 2012

Suspect Suspended in Air India Charters Cabin Crew Roster Malpractice Probe

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Ministry of Civil Aviation, 14-December, 2012 –  Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ajit Singh has taken a serious note of the complaints of irregularities, corruption and malpractices in the Cabin Crew Roster Section of Air India Charters Ltd. (AICL) and has ordered penal action against the officials involved. When a complaint in this regard […]

16 Dec, 2012

India, Pakistan Move to Ease Visa Curbs, Boost Bilateral Business and Trade

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New Delhi, Ministry of Home Affairs, 14-December, 2012 – Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde, Home Minister of India and Mr. A. Rehman Malik, Pakistan Interior Minister jointly operationalized the new Visa Agreement between India and Pakistan on 14 December, 2012 at New Delhi. However, the Visa-on-Arrival will come into effect from 15 January, 2013 and the Group […]

16 Dec, 2012

Indian, Chinese Real Estate Giants Sign US$1.5 billion Tie-up Deal

By Wang Ying in Shanghai (China Daily)

Shanghai, 15 Dec 2012 – The Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, a well-known commercial property developer, has decided to cooperate with Reliance Group, a large conglomerate led by the Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, to develop real estate projects in India. A worker at Wanda Plaza in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province. Dalian Wanda Group has […]

16 Dec, 2012

2013 CFO Outlook: Worry about the “Fiscal Ciff”, Curbs on Travel Costs

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– December 11, 2012 – With an eye toward seizing opportunities in 2013, a majority of senior finance executives in the U.S. plan to invest in their companies to drive growth and expect to achieve higher revenues and profits next year. In fact, a new American Express survey of 200 U.S. CFOs and […]

16 Dec, 2012

Workers in 10 Countries Call for an End to the Silencing of Workers at Walmart

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MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 14, 2012 – US Walmart workers were joined by Walmart workers in nine countries on Friday to call for an end to Walmart’s attempts to silence workers for speaking out for changes at the world’s largest employer. As Walmart workers and community supporters marched in front of a Walmart store in Miami, workers […]

15 Dec, 2012

PATA, Saved By A Crisis-Free Year, Lays Plans for 2013

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Saved from collapse by the absence of a global crisis in 2012, the Pacific Asia Travel Association is looking ahead to 2013 with fingers crossed.  Specific plans falling into place could help it turn the corner and regain financial stability. An annual conference has been set for Bangkok between April 26-30, the annual […]

15 Dec, 2012

Soviet-style disintegration awaits US: Gorbachev

The last head of state of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, has warned the US of an imminent Soviet-like collapse if Washington persists with its hegemonic policies. Speaking at a Thursday conference on the future of the Middle East and the Black Sea region in the Turkish city of Istanbul, Gorbachev noted that […]

13 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: IATA Study Sees Travel Distribution Transformed by 2017

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Geneva (IATA Media Release) 13 Dec 2012 – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the publication of an independent study identifying major trends that are transforming the travel distribution landscape. The Future of Airline Distribution – A Look Ahead to 2017 was commissioned by IATA and written by Henry H. Harteveldt, co-founder of Atmosphere […]

13 Dec, 2012

Five Tips to Eliminate Stress This Holiday Season

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ATLANTA-December 11, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–The holidays should be a time of peace and joy, at least according to the seasonal greeting cards. But the holiday season can also be a time of stress, beset by money worries, frenzied to-do lists and family tension. Stress can have a negative impact on your health, resulting in increased blood […]

13 Dec, 2012

Chinese Young Consumers Boost Online Shopping Spree

Edited and translated by Liang Jun, Huang Beibei and Ma Xi, People's Daily Online

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online / China Youth Online), December 12, 2012 – Cui Wanzhi, a 36-year-old man, owns four stores on Taobao and one store on Tmall, two websites operated by the Alibaba Group. On this years’ Singles Day, November 11, Cui’s five online shops realized some 35,000 transactions worth millions of yuan. But his […]

13 Dec, 2012

Americans Living Longer but Getting Sicker – Survey

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MINNETONKA, Minn.-  December 11, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Americans are living longer due to several medical advances, but unhealthy behavior and preventable illness threaten quality of life, according to United Health Foundation’s 2012 America’s Health Rankings®. While premature, cardiovascular and cancer deaths have declined since 1990 by 18.0 percent, 34.6 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, Americans are experiencing troubling […]

13 Dec, 2012

10 Ways a Vacation Can Help You Live Longer – Travelocity.ca

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TORONTO- December 11, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Whether you believe in the Mayan calendar prediction that the world is ending on December 21, 2012, or you’re feeling the pressure of the upcoming holidays, Travelocity.ca wants to help you live life as stress-free as possible. The holidays can bring much joy, but they can also cause great stress, so Travelocity.ca […]

13 Dec, 2012

77% of Brand Marketers Have Blended Work and Personal Lives – Pitney Bowes Survey

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STAMFORD, Conn.-December 11, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Where do you keep your smart phone when your head hits the pillow at night? Is it within arm’s reach or tucked away in another room? According to a survey conducted by Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE: PBI) at the Direct Marketing Association’s DMA: 2012 Conference & Exhibition, 69 percent of 175 […]

13 Dec, 2012

Twelve Habits For a Healthier 2013

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PASADENA, Calif.-December 12, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Kaiser Permanente Southern California wants you to take a 12 minute break and think about how you’re going to achieve total health this New Year to become a better you! Total health means taking care of the mind, body and spirit. How we feel both mentally and spiritually influences our overall […]

13 Dec, 2012

One in Four U.S. Employees Plans to Work During 2012 Holiday Vacation – Survey

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DENVER- December 12, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Holiday vacations usually mean lazy days spent lounging around a fire, eating big dinners with family and friends, and maybe even hitting the slopes or escaping to a secluded tropical beach. But for some it also includes responding to work emails, catching up on lingering projects, and keeping the boss at bay. […]

13 Dec, 2012

In Bad Economy, Cost is All That Counts, Airline Perks Matter Little, Qualtrics Survey Shows

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PROVO, Utah-December 12, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Qualtrics,  a global provider of enterprise data collection and survey software, today released the results of a Holiday Travel Survey that show a continued staggering economy is forcing big discounts to the top of the wish list for this year’s holiday travellers. Qualtrics partnered with Research Now to survey more than […]

13 Dec, 2012

India Sets Visa Rules for Pakistan Cricket Fans

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Ministry of Home Affairs, 11-December, 2012 — Central Government has granted permission for hosting the India-Pakistan Cricket series involving 3 One day internationals and 2 Twenty-20 matches from 25th December, 2012 to 6th January, 2013 in India. It has been decided that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would send 50 VIP tickets […]

13 Dec, 2012

Turkey supports Palestine to join UN agencies: Palestinian FM

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RAMALLAH, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) — Turkey will support Palestine, now a non-member observer state in the United Nations, to join other bodies of the international organization, Palestinian Foreign Affairs Minister Riad al-Maliki said Wednesday. Turkey offered the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) a team of experts to advise on legal and political dimensions and what steps […]

13 Dec, 2012

Five Unbelievably Creepy Surveillance Tactics | Alternet

Since the erosion of Americans’ civil liberties depends on high levels of public apathy, some of the most dangerous privacy breaches take place incrementally and under the radar; if it invites comparisons to Blade Runner or Orwell, then someone in the PR department didn’t do their job. Meanwhile, some of the biggest threats to privacy, […]

13 Dec, 2012

China: U.S. “Double Standards Harmful to Mideast Peace”

People's Daily Online Editorial

December 12, 2012 – The international conference concerning the establishment of a free zone of nuclear weapons or other mass destruction weapons in the Middle East was originally scheduled to be held in Helsinki from Dec. 18 to Dec. 20. The international community wants to help reduce security threats in the Middle East and inject […]

13 Dec, 2012

China Upgrades Rights for Foreigners Who Get Residency

By CHEN XIN

BEIJING, Dec.12 (Xinhuanet / Chinadaily.com.cn) —  Foreigners who obtain permanent residency will have the same pension, employment and property rights as Chinese citizens, under new regulations announced on Tuesday. Access to schools for their children will also be on par with Chinese citizens the rules endorsed by central government departments in September state. The only rights […]

13 Dec, 2012

Sunflower brings beauty, profit to small town in central Thailand

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BANGKOK, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) — At this time of the year, Chong Sarika, a small town in Lopburi province, some 150 kilometers north of this capital city, comes alive as the golden hue of sunflowers that are in bloom covers the entire town. The small town in central Thailand is now dubbed as the ” […]

12 Dec, 2012

Parents ‘should drink alcohol less in front of their children’ – The Independent

Parents should drink less in front of their children if they want to prevent their offspring becoming binge drinkers, a new report suggests today. The authors of research by the think-tank Demos said it was “not enough” for parents to wait until their children were in bed before opening the bottle, because their interviews suggested […]

12 Dec, 2012

Campaign To Avoid Infant Formula: 86 Nations Pledge to Protect Every Feeding Mother

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New Delhi, December 10 (World Breastfeeding Conference News Release): After the three day-long extensive conference, 86 countries including more than 100 representatives from 50 Governments, 30 UN representatives and 150 civil society groups successfully concluded the future strategies to put breastfeeding on the global agenda and pledged to protect every feeding mother. The Valedictory ceremony […]

12 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: ILO Report on Global Employment Trends for Women 2012

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GENEVA, 11 December 2012 (ILO News) – Women face higher unemployment rates than men globally, with no improvements likely in the coming years, according to an International Labour Organisation report. The ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Women 2012 (click on the link to download free) looks at gender gaps in unemployment, employment, labour force participation, vulnerability, […]

12 Dec, 2012

ASEAN, BRICS Surge Set to Help Thai Tourism Cross 20 Million Mark

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Significant increases in arrivals from the ASEAN countries, China, Russia and India have helped the Thai tourism industry chalk up 19.7 million visitors in January-November 2012, up 13.57% over Jan-Nov 2011, according to latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism & Sports. Brazil and South Africa, the remaining two BRICS countries which […]

11 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: Accenture Global Consumer Survey

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec 5 2012 – In 2012, one in five consumers switched companies they buy from, including wireless phone, internet service, and retailers, according to new research released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN). This marks a five percent increase in switching over 2011 levels. However, the eighth annual Accenture Global Consumer Survey also found […]

11 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: AirPlus Survey Outlook 2013

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ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE) — December 05, 2012 – In the latest edition of The Wire…from AirPlus, 97 corporate travel managers from the United States and Europe share their opinions about the issues that will most impact the corporate travel industry in 2013.  The Wire…from AirPlus is a monthly pulse report for the business travel industry […]

11 Dec, 2012

Chinese Official Hopes India Will Not Be “Wooed Or Ordered By Anyone Else”

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BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) — Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo has given an interview to the resident correspondent in Beijing from Press Trust of India, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The full text of the interview is as follows: Editor’s Note Future relations between India and China will be a critical factor in […]

11 Dec, 2012

ADB to Assist Member Nations in Implementing Islamic Finance Standards

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MANILA, 11 December 2012 (ADB News Release) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help grow access to Islamic finance in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan with a $750,000 technical assistance (TA) grant to help implement prudential standards developed by the Islamic Finances Services Board (IFSB). “Islamic finance can provide access to the unbanked and […]

11 Dec, 2012

Shanghai Joins Beijing in 72-hour Visa-free Stay for Transit Travellers

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BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhuanet and cntv.com) — Shanghai will allow transit passengers from 45 countries to stay in the city for up to 72 hours without a visa, following a similar announcement by Beijing. Shanghai’s municipal authorities said the transit policy was recently approved by the State Council. The city has already been offering certain […]

10 Dec, 2012

Al-Ahram Arts Centre Opens in Cairo With Century of Egyptian Art

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 10 December 2012 (26 Muharram 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. Watch Islamic Travel Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil’s landmark TEDx lecture on Peace through Tourism. Click […]

10 Dec, 2012

Indian Vice-President’s Lecture on “Virtue in Public Life” Tackles Corruption, Governance

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Following is the text of address by the Vice President of India, Prof M. Hamid Ansari at the Annual Bhimsen Sachar Memorial Lecture on ‘Virtue in Public Life’ organised by Servants of People Society & Bhimsen Sachar Memorial Committee here on 07 December, 2012: ============= I deem it a privilege to be invited to deliver […]

10 Dec, 2012

British rule was crime against humanity: author ‘corrects’ history – Hindustan Times

This is a powerful indictment of what passes off euphemistically as the benevolent Raj. British colonial rule of India and China (two countries under study), author Rajendra Prasad says, was nothing short of a terrible crime against humanity. In what is undoubtedly a path-breaking study, Prasad dives into newspapers, books, pamphlets, booklets, journals, confidential notes, […]

9 Dec, 2012

Bollywood favourite Sabyasachi pushes sari revival | GulfNews.com

As the platform-heeled models sashay past the flash of cameras to the sound of U2, Sabyasachi Mukherjee surveys the progress of his campaign to drag the sari from the back of the closet onto the catwalk. “Too many women think of the sari as something that is very backward and not cool,” said the award-winning […]

9 Dec, 2012

First Forum on BRICS Economies Charts Way Forward, Mulls Development Bank

(People's Daily Online)

Beijing, December 07, 2012  – The first Forum on the Economic Situations of BRICS Countries was held in Beijing on Dec. 4, and attended by about 200 diplomats, officials, experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs from 26 countries and regions. They had an in-depth discussion of the economic situations and prospects of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, […]

9 Dec, 2012

Work/Life Balance Incentives to Become as Coveted as Monetary Perks in 2013

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SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– December 06, 2012 — Fierce, Inc., leadership development and training experts, today announces its predictions for management and business communications for 2013. These predictions are based upon the company’s training experiences with organizations ranging from global Fortune-level businesses to startups and non-profits across the country. Fierce expects to see business communications and leadership methods continue to be dominated by the […]

9 Dec, 2012

College Grads Warned About Their Online Profiles, Digital Baggage Could Hurt Job Chances

AMSTERDAM & SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–College graduates in the U.S. who display drunken photos on their social media profiles reduce their chances of securing an interview by 84 percent, AVG Technologies’ latest Digital Diaries study reveals. The study of human resources professionals in the states, also found that more than 90 percent of them search for […]

9 Dec, 2012

UCLA Lists the Hot Jobs for 2013 in the U.S.

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LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)– December 05, 2012 – Some of America’s best jobs for growth, advancement and salary increases in 2013 are in informational technology, engineering, health care, finance, construction, and management, according to recent government and private industry reports. The key to success in 2013 and beyond, according to UCLA Extension, is a sound career […]

9 Dec, 2012

Health Net Offers Ways to Help Make 2013 a Year of Good Health

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 07, 2012 — Leading a healthy lifestyle tops many Americans’ lists of New Year’s resolutions. But exactly what defines good health? As calendars will soon be turning to 2013, Health Net, Inc.(NYSE: HNT) is sharing several important questions and answers that should be reviewed before embarking on any health-improvement program. “We all […]

9 Dec, 2012

Dentsu Announces “2012 Hit Products in Japan”: Smartphones Lead for 3rd Year in a Row

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–December 07, 2012 –Dentsu Inc. announced today the release of its “2012 Hit Products in Japan” report. Produced as part of a series that has been chronicling hit products since 1985, the latest report examines and generalizes major trends that represented the consumer mindset in 2012. It is based on an Internet survey of […]

9 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: Ford Motors’ Inaugural Trend Report On Key Consumer Insights for 2013

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NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Ford is releasing its first-ever trend report, Looking Further with Ford, revealing predictions about consumer habits and behaviors expected to shape 2013 and beyond. From the return of trust in companies and brands to the rise of personal accountability, global data from Ford’s trend report suggest the year […]

9 Dec, 2012

EU Issues e-commerce Warning About Buying Games, Books, Videos or Music On-line

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Brussels, 6 December 2012, European Commission, Press release – Just in time for the holidays and gifts shopping season, the European Commission today publishes the results of an EU wide screening of websites selling games, books, videos and music which can be downloaded to a computer or mobile device. The check shows that over 75% […]

9 Dec, 2012

European Commission Issues New Guidelines to Remind Staff of Whistleblowing “Obligations”

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Brussels, 6 December 2012, European Commission Press release – The Commission has today adopted new guidelines on whistleblowing to encourage staff to come forward and report any information pointing to corruption, fraud and other serious irregularities that they discover in the line of duty. The EU already has some of the strictest whistleblowing rules in […]

9 Dec, 2012

Noam Chomsky: What the American Media Won’t Tell You About Israel | Alternet

December 3, 2012 – An old man in Gaza held a placard that read: “You take my water, burn my olive trees, destroy my house, take my job, steal my land, imprison my father, kill my mother, bombard my country, starve us all, humiliate us all, but I am to blame: I shot a rocket […]

9 Dec, 2012

120 Malaysian Volunteers Enter Gaza To Provide Aid

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Gaza Strip (Palestine), Dec 7 (NNN-Bernama) – One hundred and twenty Malaysians volunteers have entered the Gaza Strip as members of the Aman Palestin Solidarity Mission 2012 to deliver donations costing RM1.8 million. The volunteers, among them professionals, artistes and students, entered the Gaza Strip at 5.40 pm local time (11.40 pm Malaysian time) Thursday […]

9 Dec, 2012

Chinese Commentary: US Has No Right to Frequently Disturb the World

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(People’s Daily Online) December 06, 2012 – The U.S. Republican and Democratic parties have not made any substantive progress in the first round of fiscal cliff talks, arousing worries that the country may fall off the fiscal cliff. The stalled budget talks reflect significant differences between the two parties’ governance styles. Objectively speaking, U.S. politicians […]

8 Dec, 2012

Chinese ‘Top 10 Concerns’ Survey Reflects People’s Anxiety

Imtiaz Muqbil

HEFEI, ( Xinhua) 2012-12-07 – A survey on what Chinese men and women worry about these days has revealed a gender divide, as male respondents reported worrying about not having enough money while female respondents said they fret about aging. Twenty million Internet users responded to the survey carried out by Chinese search engine Baidu, which […]

8 Dec, 2012

The Demographic Challenge: Older Americans Worry About Being “Thrown Over Economic Cliff”

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Pennsylvania volunteers and staff today met with members of the state’s Congressional delegation and other key members of Congress involved in the lame duck discussions to avert a so-called “fiscal cliff.”  The AARP volunteers and staff urged the members of Congress not […]

8 Dec, 2012

An 116-Year-Old’s Secrets for Longevity

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12/6/2012 (Source: AARP Blog) – Besse Brown Cooper, who passed away at age 116 on Dec. 4 in Georgia, was remarkable not just because she was the oldest person on the planet, but because she was for long one of the healthiest. Cooper, who was born in 1896 in Tennessee and lived in a log cabin […]

8 Dec, 2012

National Geographic Unveils New Phase of Genographic Project: Grant Applications Sought

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WASHINGTON (Dec. 5, 2012)—The National Geographic Society today announced the next phase of its Genographic Project — the multiyear global research initiative that uses DNA to map the history of human migration. Building on seven years of global data collection, Genographic continues to shine new light on humanity’s collective past, yielding tantalizing clues about humankind’s […]

8 Dec, 2012

US$6 billion Election bill: What a Waste of Corporate Money

JURIST Guest Columnist Ciara Torres-Spelliscy

JURIST Guest Columnist Ciara Torres-Spelliscy of the Stetson University College of Law discusses the proposed statutory and regulatory reforms that could curb the rising levels of spending by corporations in political campaigns… Source: JURIST – Forum, Dec. 3, 2012, http://jurist.org/forum/2012/12/torres-spelliscy-campaign-finance.php . The US has just gone through its most expensive election ever. The projected price […]

8 Dec, 2012

Pew Research Center: Anti-Americanism Down in Europe, but a Values Gap Persists

By Richard Wike, Associate Director, Pew Global Attitudes Project

Released: December 4, 2012 – Europeans generally reacted to President Obama’s re-election with a mixture of excitement and relief, just as they did four years ago. For many across the Atlantic, Obama’s 2008 victory signaled the end of the Bush-era estrangement between the U.S. and its Western allies, and the emergence of an America that […]

8 Dec, 2012

Archbishop Tutu Awarded 2012 UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for Promoting Human Rights

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PARIS, (UnescoPress) 28.11.2012 – UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, has designated Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu from South Africa as laureate of the 2012 UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights. Archbishop Desmond Tutu was selected by an International Jury in recognition of his exceptional contribution to building a universal culture of human […]

8 Dec, 2012

Beijing to Give 72-hour Transit Visas for 45 Nationalities As of Jan 1, 2013

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BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) — Air travelers, including U.S. businessman David Brockman, are set to benefit from the announcement that Beijing will start a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries in 2013. The move will bring much convenience to the likes of Brockman, who frequently flies to China, as getting a visa […]

8 Dec, 2012

Shashi Tharoor: “Most Important Way To Improve the World – Educate Girls”

Shashi Tharoor

Speech Delivered by Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, India, on “Educating Women—The Quest for Equality” at the 18th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture on 5 December 2012 It is a matter of great privilege for me to have been invited to deliver the 18th Justice Sunanda Bhandare Memorial Lecture. I […]

6 Dec, 2012

Advice Website Cites Three Most Common Travel Scams

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(PRWEB) December 05, 2012 – A2Z Vacations offers tips and advice to help its members make the most of their experiences throughout the year. This time of the year can be especially difficult. As top destinations fill with tourists from around the world, they also fill with less than honest people out to take advantage […]

6 Dec, 2012

Browsers/Apps More Popular than Swipe/Tap Method for Mobile Holiday Purchasing

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Worthington, OH (PRWEB) December 05, 2012 – Not only will holiday shoppers be using smartphones and tablets for “showrooming” this holiday season—many also plan to make purchases directly from their devices. Just under half of Mobile Users (45.0%) say they are somewhat or very likely to make a purchase this holiday season using a mobile […]

6 Dec, 2012

Social Cruise Review Website First to Offer “Verified Reviews”

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New York City (PRWEB) December 05, 2012 – Cruiseline.com, the  social cruise review website community allowing consumers to post and read reviews as well as interact with each other in forums about cruise-related topics, was launched today. Cruiseline.com boasts 36,000 current reviews of which 18,000 are verified cruise reviews. Verified cruise reviews offer consumers objective, […]

6 Dec, 2012

Study Shows National Aquarium Generates $319.6m in economic impact for Baltimore, Maryland, District of Columbia

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Baltimore, Maryland (PRWEB) December 05, 2012 – National Aquarium continues to be a major economic force for the Baltimore City, the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia, supporting $319.6 million in annual economic impact and 3,347 jobs as evidenced in a 2012 economic impact study conducted by Sage Policy Group, Inc. (Sage) that […]

6 Dec, 2012

Revealed: US, UK launched 1,200 drone strikes in recent wars

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Recent conflicts in Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq have seen almost 1,200 drone strikes over the past five years, according to new data released to the Bureau. The information, much of it classified until now, shows that US Air Force drones carried out most of the 1,168 attacks. However British crews are also responsible for a […]

6 Dec, 2012

UNESCO’s Latest 31 Additions to Intangible Heritage List To Preserve Art, Music & Traditions

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PARIS, More than 600 experts, officials and practitioners from more than 110 countries met at UNESCO Headquarters from 3 to 7 December to take stock of the world’s intangible cultural heritage and the global measures underway to safeguard it. The 24 members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage are taking […]

6 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: Maritime Transport 2012 Identifies Key Trends, Challenges

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Geneva, 4 December 2012 – A glut of new carrying capacity — and declining rates and levels of competition — are continuing and worrisome trends among firms providing maritime transport, UNCTAD’s annual survey of the shipping industry reveals. World seaborne trade – a measure of demand for shipping, port and logistics services – climbed by […]

6 Dec, 2012

FREE Download: State of Australian Cities Report 2012

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Canberra, Ministry of Infrastructure & Transport, 04 December 2012 – While Australia’s major cities remain among the world’s most liveable and are increasingly powered by the knowledge industries of the future, they are also more than ever being affected by extreme weather events and struggling to house the continuing influx of new residents. These are […]

6 Dec, 2012

TSA creating all new watch list for Americans

Being absent from a federal no-fly list might not mean you won’t be hassled the next time you enter an US airport. The Transportation and Security Administration is constructing a new list of known “low risk” passengers. According to the November 19 Federal Register newsletter put out by the US government, the TSA is trying […]

5 Dec, 2012

“Big Brother” Grows Bigger: Online Public Records Search Available for Adults in All 50 U.S. States

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Detroit, Michigan (PRWEB) December 04, 2012 — Public records are one thing that leave a paper trail that can be documented. The Inteligator company is now offering its public records search tool online for adults to use. This service is available in all 50 states although not all states release all forms of public data. […]

5 Dec, 2012

Agoda Launches New App for iPad

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Singapore (PRWEB) December 04, 2012 – Hotel booking website Agoda.com, part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq: PCLN), has built on the success of its iPhone app with the release of its iPad app, designed specifically to take advantage of Apple’s groundbreaking portable tablet. Available now for free in the iTunes store, the iPad app lets […]

5 Dec, 2012

China Moves to Expand Confucius Institutes Worldwide

By Qu Yingpu, Zhao Huanxin and Cheng Yingqi (China Daily)

Beijing, 2012-12-03 – Confucius, the ancient Chinese teacher and philosopher, was renowned for many things, including extensive travels during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). It is little wonder that those affiliated with the institutes that have taken his name are similarly itinerant. While Confucius preached moral codes and ways of governance, the Confucius […]

5 Dec, 2012

India Set to Host 130m People for Kumbh Mela 2013, World’s Largest Spiritual Gathering

Imtiaz Muqbil

ALLAHABAD, India – A World Parliament of Religions and an International Conference on Ayurveda & Yoga are to be among the highlights of the Kumbh Mela, a spectacular commemoration of Hindu and Indian spirituality, culture and heritage to be held between January to mid-February 2013. Held every 12 years, this unique event is expected to […]

4 Dec, 2012

As U.S. Population Ages, So Does Religiousness – Survey

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Editor’s Note: Ageing populations will lead to growing interest in religions and travel for religious reasons. This Gallup poll report indicates that the linkage between age and religious interest is now being tracked, especially in order to monitor the social and political impact it could have in the United States. The same trend will duplicate […]

4 Dec, 2012

Holiday Smartphone Buying and Safety Tips for Parents

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Smartphones are sure to top many teens’ and tweens’ holiday wish lists. According to Nielsen, American teenagers between 13 and 17 years old demonstrate the most dramatic increase in U.S. smartphone adoption, growing from 36 percent of teens who own mobile phones saying they owned a smartphone in July 2011 to 58 […]

4 Dec, 2012

Chinese Sports Boss: Big events aren’t for everyone

By Sun Xiaochen in Ninghai, Zhejiang province

2012-12-03 (China Daily) – Holding major sporting events is not a panacea for every city in China, a top sports official has warned. Inspired by the Olympic legacy of Beijing, from which mass fitness campaigns and related business ventures have thrived since the 2008 Games, more and more cities have embraced major sports events, public […]

4 Dec, 2012

Eight habits that accelerate brain aging – People’s Daily Online

According to Doctor of Medicine Kato Toshinori, a famous Japanese expert in brain image diagnosis, the following bad habits will threaten to strain the brain and accelerate its aging. Read the rest: Eight habits that accelerate brain aging – People’s Daily Online.

3 Dec, 2012

Saudi female blogger: Why don’t men cover their faces?

My cousin and I are staring outside the window. We are looking at the garden where my male cousin and his friends are playing. This is the garden where we used to play together. They used to be our friends once upon a time, these are the boys we used to play with. But what […]

3 Dec, 2012

Paris Institute Exhibit Marks “25 Years of Arab Creativity”

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 03 December 2012 (19 Muharram 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

3 Dec, 2012

Africa: Unmasking Racist World Bank – allAfrica.com

This article is about the twin evils that have bedeviled the World Bank’s relationship with Africa as a continent and Africans as human beings. The first is structural: it concerns a ‘democracy deficit’ in the bank’s governance architecture that has denied Africa a voice in the institution’s boardroom. The second is cultural: it involves institutional […]

3 Dec, 2012

Australian Paedophile Flees Sri Lanka

BERNARD McGRATH, the Australian paedophile wanted by a NSW court on more than 250 child sex charges, has again escaped law enforcement agencies, fleeing Sri Lanka this week. McGrath, wanted since June, was reportedly living on a tea plantation in the highlands of Sri Lanka, having skipped out of New Zealand ahead of an order […]

2 Dec, 2012

Rio de Janeiro Inaugurates the World’s Tallest Floating Christmas Tree

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The 17th Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree, the world’s tallest floating Christmas tree, according to the Guinness Book of Records, was inaugurated Saturday night, December 1st, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a free major event that included world-renowned Brazilian singers Simone and Emilio Santiago. With this year’s […]

1 Dec, 2012

Spend it again, Sam – People’s Daily Online

Don’t be distressed if you had missed the world’s largest online shopping spree on Nov 11, when Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group alone reported sales of 19.1 billion yuan ($3.06 billion) on the unofficial “Singles’ Day”. Chinese e-retailers are keen to have another shopping festival soon – after the spending frenzy that produced about three […]