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Archive for February, 2013

28 Feb, 2013

Malaysia Brokers Another Deal To Help Bring Peace to Southeast Asia

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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) — In yet another drive for regional peace and stability, Malaysia successfully initiated a general consensus treaty that was signed today between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a southern Thailand Muslim insurgency group. The treaty, which is to pave the way for a dialogue process for […]

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28 Feb, 2013

China’s Elderly Population to Cross 200 mln in 2013

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BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — China will have 202 million elderly people in 2013, accounting for 14.8 percent of the total population, the China Research Center on Aging said on Wednesday. According to a center report, the country witnessed the first peak in its growing elderly population, which included 194 million senior citizens at the […]

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28 Feb, 2013

Massive IRs 87 Crore Hike in Indian Tourism Budget

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Ministry of Tourism, 28-February, 2013 – Keeping in view the importance of Tourism sector, the allocation for Ministry of Tourism in the Union Budget presented today has been hiked by Rs.87.66 crore (1 crore is 10 million). The allocation for the Ministry this year is Rs.1297.66 crore while it was Rs. 1210 crore in the […]

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28 Feb, 2013

India, Iran must promote trade, economic links: President Mukherjee

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New Delhi,  Feb 28 2013 (Press Trust of India) – India and Iran must work together to further promote trade and economic links, increased people-to-people contacts between them and within the region, President Pranab Mukherjee has said. Welcoming a Parliamentary delegation from the Islamic Republic of Iran at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President said, “Throughout history, […]

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28 Feb, 2013

India Provides List of All Areas Needing Special Entry Permits by Indians and Foreigners

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Ministry of Home Affairs, 27-February, 2013 – Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958, all areas falling between the ‘Inner line’ and the “International Border of the State” have been declared as Protected Area. Currently, Protected Areas are located in the following States:- (i) Whole of Arunachal Pradesh (ii) Parts of Himachal Pradesh (iii) Parts […]

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28 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: World In 2013 – ICT Facts & Figures

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Geneva, 27 February, 2013 – New figures released today by the International Telecommunications Union confirm strong sustained demand for information and communication technology (ICT) services, with uptake spurred by a steady fall in the price of broadband Internet. ITU’s The World in 2013: ICT Facts and Figures report predicts that there will soon be as many mobile-cellular […]

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28 Feb, 2013

India Passes First Law to Curb Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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Ministry of Women and Child Development, 27 February, 2013 – The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2012 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 26th February 2013. The Lok Sabha had passed it in September 2012. The law will have widespread impact in the Indian and global travel & […]

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28 Feb, 2013

An Open Letter to Tourism Ministers at ITB 2013: Your Job Now Is To Protect Ours

Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor

Dear Ministers: The ITB 2013 will be held at a critical juncture in global history. What the World Economic Forum refers to as the “Seeds of Dystopia” are sprouting shoots everywhere. The ongoing tectonic power shifts include the rise of the Asian Century, decline of the Western industrialised world, turbulence in the Arab/Islamic world and […]

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28 Feb, 2013

Gallup Poll: Desire to Leave Same in U.S. and Mexico

The U.S. has long prided itself on its ability to attract rather than lose residents, and some have seen Mexico as the main hub for U.S.-bound immigration. The Gallup data call into question these long-held assumptions because as many Mexicans would leave Mexico as Americans would leave America. Read the rest: Desire to Leave Same […]

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28 Feb, 2013

In Extraordinary Move, Entire Maldives to Become Biosphere Reserve

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COLOMBO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — In a record-making initiative, the Maldives has volunteered to become the first nation where the entire country will be a Biosphere Reserve, a United Nations environment organization said in a statement on Wednesday. The pledge by the Maldives is in response for stakeholders to take urgent action towards achieving the […]

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28 Feb, 2013

The Hindu: India’s Water Crisis

“Every apartment is a dream come true — the coronet that tops the king-sized lifestyle of true blue blood.” So run the ads. Yup. The blue bloods do it big. Each apartment has its own private swimming pool. These are, after all, “super-luxurious, supersized designer apartments.” The kind that “match the royal lifestyles.” There are […]

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28 Feb, 2013

Tackling Illegal Wildlife Trade Focus of Triennial IUCN Meeting in Bangkok

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Bangkok, 26 February 2013 (IUCN media release): New measures to sustainably manage the international trade in sharks, rhinos, elephants and numerous other species will be debated at the triennial conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which takes place 3 to 14 March in Bangkok. With […]

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27 Feb, 2013

INTERPOL Targets Illegal Trade of e-Waste in Europe, Africa

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LYON, France,  25 February 2013 – The first INTERPOL operation targeting the illegal trade of electronic waste saw the seizure of more than 240 tonnes of electronic equipment and electrical goods and the launch of criminal investigations against some 40 companies involved in all aspects of the illicit trade. Held in November and December 2012, […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Frugality, anti-corruption campaigns affect luxury brand sales in China

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SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) — Sales of luxury goods on the Chinese mainland, a fast growing market for the sector in recent years, are on the decline as the country fights against corruption and extravagance. “Sales have dropped a lot,” said a salesman of a Parker pens brand store on Fuzhou Road in east China’s […]

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27 Feb, 2013

International students in Canada reach record high in 2012

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OTTAWA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) — The number of international students pursuing post-secondary studies in Canada reached a record high last year, the authorities said here Tuesday. In 2012, the number of foreign students in Canada amounted to 104,777 in 2012, representing a 6.5-percent increase from 2011 and a sizable 60-percent hike from 2004, Citizenship and […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Leadership Traits Influenced by Behaviour As a Spouse: Relationship Expert Hellen Chen

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(PRWEB) February 26, 2013 – In early February, relationship expert and management consultant Hellen Chen completed a workshop advising CEOs and executives on how to increase the quality of their life outside the workplace – namely their social life. For years as a business management consultant, Chen had traveled around the world and been invited […]

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27 Feb, 2013

2013 TED Prize Awarded to Indian Education Innovator Dr. Sugata Mitra

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LONG BEACH, California, Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Sugata Mitra today was named the recipient of the 2013 TED Prize. A renowned educator famous for his “hole in the wall” experiment, Mitra accepted the award – TED’s annual prize of one million dollars that gives an exceptional individual the chance to conceive and launch […]

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27 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: Global Mobile Money Survey 2012

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BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The GSMA’s Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) programme today released the findings of its second annual Global Mobile Money Adoption Survey. The report analyses the state of the mobile money industry in 2012 and illustrates key findings from the programme’s Mobile Money Deployment Tracker, a database that monitors […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Asia-Pacific Markets Spurring Growth in Biometrics

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The governments of Southeast Asia (SEA) and Australia-New Zealand (ANZ) are investing heavily in security projects and infrastructure, such as border control systems and national ID programs, which bodes well for the biometrics market in the two regions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulation mandating all the […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Expert Testifies Same-Sex Marriage Would Have Negative Effects on Children

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 26, 2013 – Coalition to Protect Children and Marriage today said that testifying before the House Executive Committee in Springfield today, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, a nationally known marriage expert stated: “Marriage is adult society’s institutional structure for protecting the legitimate interests of children. Without this public purpose, we would not […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Israel is ‘America’s Ultimate Ally’ – Ambassador

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WASHINGTON- February 26, 2013 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, says that support for Israel among the American public is at the highest it’s been since the first Gulf War. But the reasons that the relationship between the two countries has always been special are simple, Oren told The American Legion during […]

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27 Feb, 2013

China, Russia Ink Major Energy Deal

By DING QINGFEN and DU JUAN

Beijing, 2013-02-26 (China Daily) – In a perfect demand and supply arrangement, energy-rich Russia agreed to provide an annual supply of 38 billion cubic meters of natural gas to energy-thirsty China. The deal was struck during a high-level meeting in Beijing on Monday and comes ahead of an expected visit by Party leader Xi Jinping […]

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27 Feb, 2013

BRICS Development Bank Likely to Focus on Infrastructure

By WANG XIAOTIAN

Beijing, 2013-02-26 (chinadaily.com.cn) – The planned BRICS development bank is expected to focus on financing infrastructure development projects, and providing auxiliary support for project preparation such as feasibility studies, according to a report released by the South Africa-based Standard Bank on Tuesday. The proposed institution will also contribute “constructively” to the development of more robust […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Asia Times Online: Did Australia sell out ‘Prisoner X?’

Senior Israeli defense correspondents say an Australian-born Israeli Mossad operative who killed himself in Israeli custody two years ago was neither a traitor nor a daredevil spy but someone who endangered Mossad operations seriously by talking too much. Known only as Prisoner X since 2010, following two years of strictly enforced Israeli censorship, the agent […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Asia Times Online: And the Oscar goes to… the CIA

Even in his wild, stoned to death, easy rider cuckoo times, Jack Nicholson would never have imagined he would one day tag team with the First Lady of the United States to present an Oscar for Best Picture. This is more Hunter S Thompson than Academy territory – and hardly presidential. But it did – […]

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27 Feb, 2013

Nation of ‘secret boozers’: English people underestimate alcohol intake – The Independent

England is a nation of secret boozers, with more than a third of the population drinking unhealthy quantities of alcohol, new research suggests.The finding, which also uncovers high levels of binge drinking, is based on the discrepancy between alcohol sales and the amount people say they drink in surveys. Read the rest: A nation of […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Alcohol, Women Blamed for Blowing UK Travel Budgets

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LONDON, February 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ —  In these dark economic times, it seems that there is one aspect of British life we are not prepared to compromise on, and that is our annual holiday.  As the UK is eagerly looking at great holiday deals for 2013 such as these from Lowcostholidays.com, research from the money-saving […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Gallup Poll: Americans See U.S. Global Standing as Better, but Not Its Best

Americans’ perceptions of the United States’ status in the world have improved somewhat since the depths recorded during the Iraq war, which received lackluster international support and even criticism from some allies. However, the biggest gains are in perceptions of how the U.S. president is viewed internationally. The 51% currently believing Obama is respected by […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Chris Hedges: Rebels Stand Alone – Truthdig

Although history has vindicated resistance groups such as the White Rose and plotters such as von dem Bussche, they were desperately alone, reviled by the wider public and forced to defy the law, their oaths of national allegiance, and public opinion. The resisters, once exposed, were condemned in vitriolic terms by most of the German […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Iraq War Vet Turns Headhunting Business Model on its Head

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Hackensack, New Jersey (PRWEB) February 25, 2013 – Anyone that has ever searched for a job knows how uncomfortable it is to get to the bottom of a cover letter and write about salary expectations. As soon as the job seeker decides to play this different version of the Price is Right game, the chance […]

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25 Feb, 2013

The Deafhood Monologues, A Riveting Show in Sign Language

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Sacramento, California (PRWEB) February 25, 2013 — Inspired by the popular “The Vagina Monologues”, and the book, “In Search of Deafhood”, by Paddy Ladd, this is an episodic play based on true stories from Deaf people collected over the years. Created by Ella Mae Lentz, co-author of “Signing Naturally”, and owner, ASL Presents. Directed by […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Int’l Women’s Day March 8: Global Musicians to Highlight Women’s Rights

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22 February 2013 (UN News Centre) – More than 20 musicians from across the globe are joining forces with the United Nations to spotlight the importance of empowering women through a song that will be released on International Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March. The song, entitled “One Woman: A song for UN Women,” was […]

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25 Feb, 2013

Emirates Launches “Share a Smile” Global Ad Campaign

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 25 February 2013 (14 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

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24 Feb, 2013

The definition of chutzpah – James Zogby in Al-Ahram Weekly

James Zogby

I can agree with a few of Keyes’s observations in the passages cited above. “Palestinian human rights… are the key to the peace process” and “Human rights, often seen as a diversion from the peace process, are in fact the secret to it.” Oh yes, and by the way, I agree with his argument that […]

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24 Feb, 2013

Debate on terror blasts generates more heat than light: Dileep Padgaonkar in Times Of India

The finger of suspicion for the Dilsukhnagar blasts has been pointed to the Indian Mujahideen whose links with extremist and terror groups in Pakistan are no secret. Nor are their antecedents. But until the police possess prima facie evidence of its involvement, all that you are likely to get is a media trial that, in […]

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23 Feb, 2013

Diplomacy to Help China become Global Power

People's Daily Online

February 20, 2013 – Cai Run, director of policy planning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs came to the Qiangguo Forum of People’s Daily Online to have an online communication with the netizens on Tuesday. During the communication, he talked about how diplomacy can help China become global power. Every country in the world has […]

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23 Feb, 2013

Chinese Currency Expands its Global Reach

By Wang Xiaotian in Beijing and Cecily Liu in London

2013-02-22, (China Daily) – The Chinese mainland is turning to more partners around the world to launch the next phase of yuan internationalization, with each partner selected to play a role. After Hong Kong was given an eight-year head start as an offshore business center for the yuan, recent developments in the use of the […]

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23 Feb, 2013

European Bid to Double Public Road Transport, Coach Tourism in 10 Years

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Brussels, 22 February 2013 – The EU public-private Smart Move High Level Group (HLG) met yesterday to finalise its policy recommendations for EU public and private stakeholders and policy decision makers. The group’s recommendations focus on short, medium and long term policies, suggesting a realistic road map for decision makers on how to double the use […]

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23 Feb, 2013

Japanese Media Groups to Launch Asia-wide Entertainment TV Channel

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TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 20, 2013 – Dentsu Inc. announced today that “Hello! Japan,” a new international entertainment TV channel with popular Japanese content, will be launched in Singapore by J Food & Culture TV Pte. Ltd. on February 25. In addition to Dentsu, JFCTV investors include Nippon Television Network Corporation, TV Asahi Corporation, Tokyo Broadcasting […]

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23 Feb, 2013

Inciting Violence in This Culture of Violence | Tikkun Magazine

Our military budget grows ever larger. The war and armaments business is probably our most innovative and certainly our most profitable industry, with no curtailment of its excesses in sight. That lobby always wins, even in an economic depression, constantly citing terrorism and self-defense as the rationale for its growth. There was no “peace dividend” […]

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23 Feb, 2013

UK Research: Working Longer Hours Can Lead To An Affair

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(PRWEB UK) 22 February 2013 – Spending more hours in the office is leading to a rise in affairs in the workplace according to a recent study by Notatwork.co.uk and married dating site IllicitEncounters.com. The research revealed that people who regularly worked over 45 hours a week are almost 5 times more likely to embark […]

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22 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: DHL Study says Globally-focused SMEs More Likely to Prosper

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PLANTATION, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–International trade and cooperation is a key driver for the success of small businesses, according to an in-depth and wide-ranging study by U.S.-based IHS Global Insight and DHL Express. The study which surveyed 410 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in G7 and BRICM (Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico) economies, revealed that SMEs […]

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22 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: Oceana Study Uncovers Widespread Seafood Fraud Across the U.S.

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 21, 2013 — Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans, uncovered widespread seafood fraud across the United States, according to a new report released today. In one of the largest seafood fraud investigations in the world to date, DNA testing confirmed that one-third, or 33 percent, […]

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22 Feb, 2013

On Int’l Mother Language Day, UN Promotes Reading In Local Tongues

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Feb 21 2013 — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today urged the use of books and textbooks in local languages to support education in mother tongues, which promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and serves as the foundation for all social, economic and cultural life. “Books are […]

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22 Feb, 2013

Border Racial Profiling: Arab-American Group Seeks Details on US-Israeli Agreement

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Washington DC, 21 Feb 2013 (American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee) – Today ADC called on the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to issue an immediate apology to Emad Burnat. Also, ADC formally requested the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General to initiate an immediate investigation to determine to what extent CBP officials […]

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22 Feb, 2013

Indian President Recaps State of the Union as Budget Session Starts

President's Secretariat, 21 February, 2013

Following is the text of the President Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s address to Parliament at the start of the Budget session today. Honourable Members, 1. I welcome you to this session as I address this joint sitting of the two Houses for the first time as President. I hope this session will be productive and useful. […]

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22 Feb, 2013

West in a Mess: OECD Data Shows GDP Fall of 0.2%

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Paris, 20 Feb 2013 (OECD media release) – Provisional estimates show that quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) in the OECD area fell by 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2012, after a 0.3% increase in the previous quarter. This is the first contraction of GDP in the OECD area since the very sharp decline in the first […]

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22 Feb, 2013

UNESCO Launches Website to Commemorate Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha

VOICES UNESCO in Asia and the Pacific

“Like glittering sunbeams The flute notes reach the gods           In the birth grotto” This haiku that former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld wrote after his Lumbini visit in March 1959 is one of the highlights of the web pages on Lumbini that the UNESCO Office in Kathmandu has launched.  The web […]

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22 Feb, 2013

Global Trade Unions: G20 Must Break Circle of Rising Unemployment, Falling Confidence and Trust

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Geneva (ITUC Press release) 21 February 2013: As the first G20 Employment Task Force meeting of 2013 opened in Moscow, international unions underscored that a jobs target from the G20 is essential to tackle unemployment and inequality and stem the social crisis which has followed in the wake of the financial crisis. Sharan Burrow, General […]

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21 Feb, 2013

Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions Can Yield Major Development, Climate Benefits

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Nairobi, 20 February 2013 (UN Environment Programme) – Replacing the millions of kerosene lamps, candles and flashlights used worldwide with modern solar lighting can provide an increasingly low-cost solution to reducing carbon emissions, indoor air pollution and health risks, and boosting green jobs, according to new studies from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP […]

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21 Feb, 2013

Top 3 Tips on How Dancing Can Help Improve Any Child’s Life

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St. Louis, MO (PRWEB) February 16, 2013 – Dance Pizazz is aware of the alarming childhood obesity rates in the U.S. According to WebMD.com (http://children.webmd.com/guide/obesity-children), one in five children is currently either overweight or obese. The reasons for these rates are a combination of reasons, including inactivity. Not all children have the desire to be […]

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21 Feb, 2013

U.S. Law Firm Offers Free Consultations to Cruise Ship Disaster Victims

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Bonita Springs, FL (PRWEB) February 16, 2013 – Parker Waichman LLP, a U.S. law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by cruise ships, is monitoring the developments following the Carnival Cruise debacle that stranded thousands of passengers and crew in squalor. “It was kind of like everything that could go wrong would […]

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18 Feb, 2013

Creativity, Congestion as Chinese Spring Festival Holiday Sees 440m Trips

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BEIJING (Xinhua / People’s Daily Online) 2013-02-17 – Chinese made 440 million trips during the Spring Festival holiday, which lasted from February 9 to 15, transportation authorities said Saturday. Railways handled 34.68 million trips with a year-on-year increase of 3 million trips, according to the Ministry of Railways (MOR). Highway and water-based transport saw 399 […]

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18 Feb, 2013

Creative Minds Are More Prone to Anxiety – Surrey Institute Study

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Wallington, Surrey (PRWEB UK) 17 February 2013 – The study involved 328 of their clients. 153 were clients who were having hypnotherapy for anxiety and 175 were being seen for issues unrelated to anxiety. In the study their clients were asked a set of simple questions. One of the questions was “Do you consider yourself […]

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18 Feb, 2013

PolyU Study Urges Guidebook Publishers to Build Trust, Provide Insights

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Hong Kong, Feb 18, 2013 – The most important purpose of a travel guidebook, according to the School of Hotel and Tourism Management’s (SHTM) Dr Simon Wong and Gladys Liu, is to highlight functional information such as attractions, food and new experiences. In a recent study the researchers show that independent travellers in particular refer […]

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18 Feb, 2013

Exhibition Highlights Heritage of Muslim Spain

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 18 February 2013 (07 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

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16 Feb, 2013

New UN Report Says European Recession Keeping Manufacturing Rates Low

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VIENNA, 15 February 2013 (UN News Centre) – The growth rate of world manufacturing output remained low in 2012 due to the prolonged recession in industrialized countries and its negative impact on developing and emerging industrial economies, according to a UN report released today. World manufacturing output grew by 2.2 per cent in 2012, significantly […]

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16 Feb, 2013

Woman Power Highlighted at Kumbh Mela Sound & Light Show

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Allahabad, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 15-February, 2013 — As part of its innovative programming, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting through its Media Unit, Song & Drama Division, conducted a 14 day long Mega Sound & Light based on the “Jamunia” theme at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. The programme was suitably adapted to […]

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16 Feb, 2013

UN Cites Role of Interfaith Harmony in Peaceful Settlement of Disputes

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 14 February 2013 – Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at event to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week held under the theme, “The Role of Interfaith Harmony in the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes”: I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week with you. I thank the President of the […]

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16 Feb, 2013

Indian Vice-President Outlines Challenges Facing Higher Education

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15 February 2013 – Press Information Bureau – The Vice President of India Dr. M. Hamid Ansari has said that in the 21st century, the orientation of the world economy is changing from a manufacturing dominated to a knowledge-based one. Contributions by cutting edge technology in industry and high value-added services to the national GDP […]

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15 Feb, 2013

Australian Report Exposes Global Security Threat Posed by Israeli Dual-Passport Holders

A gutsy piece of investigative journalism by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has blown the lid on the danger posed by dual-passport holding Israelis working for the country’s spy agency, the Mossad, as well as the supporting role played by Diaspora Jews in promoting the interests of the Israeli government. In a Feb 12 report that […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Israel’s ‘Prisoner X’ was Australian Mossad agent, documentary claims | World news | guardian.co.uk

Like the fictional Man in the Iron Mask, Israel’s infamous “Prisoner X” was allegedly held in solitary confinement in conditions of such strict secrecy that even his own jailers were told neither his name nor the crime he had allegedly committed. The man’s identity became the subject of intense speculation when he was reportedly found […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Towards a police state in New York – Opinion – Al Jazeera English

Joseph Goldstein’s New York Times article of February 3 outlines a request from US civil rights lawyers to federal judge Charles S Haight Jr for an independent evaluation of the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism techniques. Writes Goldstein: “The lawyers said the police’s tactics have placed Muslim communities under surveillance in violation of longstanding federal […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Valentine’s Day Survey: Work Flexibility Improves Romance and Relationships

www.flexjobs.com

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, FlexJobs conducted a survey regarding work/life and personal relationships, with over 1,000 respondents answering questions from their sex life to their overall health and how flexible work arrangements factor in. The results overwhelmingly showed a desire for work/life balance as the main reason why they want work flexibility (78%), […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Buy this Book: The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terror

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The Terror Factory: Inside the FBI’s Manufactured War on Terror shows how the FBI has, under the guise of engaging in counterterrorism since 9/11, built a network of more than 15,000 informants whose primary purpose is to infiltrate Muslim communities to create and facilitate phony terrorist plots so that the bureau can then claim victory […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Health and Environment in Focus at Major UN Youth Conference

United Nations Environment Programme

Opening session on the TUNZA International Youth Conference at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya Nairobi, 11 February 2013 – Actions to cut food waste and to harness the power of social media to promote sustainable lifestyles are among the issues on the agenda at a major United Nations youth meeting on the environment which opens […]

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13 Feb, 2013

HVS Releases 2012-2013 U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey

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February 6, 2013 – HVS has released the 2012-2013 HVS Hotel Development Cost Survey, which incorporates a range of data sources including development budgets, material and labor costs indexes, and input from industry professionals, to track hotel construction costs in the United States. According to HVS San Francisco Senior Vice President Elaine Sahlins, author of […]

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13 Feb, 2013

U.S. Muslim Returning Home After No-Fly Denial of Boarding “Reviewed”

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(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 2/12/13) – On Tuesday, February 12, 2013 representatives of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) will meet Mohamed Farah, a Muslim United States citizen of Somali heritage stranded abroad for a month, at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On January 9, 2013, Farah was scheduled to board an Ethiopian […]

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13 Feb, 2013

UN Chief Spotlights Role Of Women to Advance Inter-Faith Dialogue

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 2013 (UN News Centre) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today drew attention to the role of faith leaders in promoting female empowerment, noting that they can help address gender prejudices and support women’s participation in society at all levels. “People place extraordinary trust in their faith leaders, who have a far-reaching ability […]

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13 Feb, 2013

Debate in Motion: Will Hyperinflation in the US mark the end of the dollar?

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NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — With the Fed creating huge quantities of dollars in an attempt to kick-start the economy, many economists fear it could lead to spiralling inflation and the eventual collapse of the dollar. The Inflation Hub (http://www.inflationhub.com), a platform for discussions and education on inflation, has set in motion the […]

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12 Feb, 2013

Santa Clara Univ To Hold Art Exhibit of Sacred Texts Past, Present & Future

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 SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 11, 2013 — Drawings from an English-language Qur’an that seeks to illustrate and make accessible 1400-year-old Suras for Americans today. A 27-foot “prayer rope” designed to reflect society’s unatoned sins. Sections of the Torah excised letter by letter and reimagined as a Hindu text. Bibles rescued after Hurricane Katrina. These […]

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12 Feb, 2013

Zionism neoliberal style – Opinion – Al Jazeera English

The language of benevolence and goodwill decorates Begin’s 16-page report and disguises the Plan’s actual intention of displacement as one of “development”. At least 44,000 Bedouin citizens of Israel will be displaced from their homes if the plan goes forward. Attempts to prettify Israel’s land-grabbing policies are not new, but have metamorphosed over time. Once […]

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12 Feb, 2013

Pakistani, 98, Recognised as “Thailand’s Oldest Tourist”

BANGKOK – Pakistani national Mr Mahmood Futehally, 98, was presented with a Tourism Authority of Thailand award for being “Thailand’s Oldest Tourist.” A committed environmentalist with a passion for organic agriculture, Mr Futehally has been visiting his Thailand-resident family since 1951. He lives in Karachi. Conferring the award on 7 February 2013, TAT Governor Suraphon […]

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11 Feb, 2013

China Focus: Western cruises entertain more Chinese

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BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) — Foreign cruise companies are making inroads into China’s tourism market, finding that many Chinese are eager to set sail for new destinations. Shanghai resident Ding Yun recently booked a cruise for her parents for the Spring Festival holiday. The “Legend of the Seas” cruise, provided by Royal Caribbean Cruises, will […]

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11 Feb, 2013

Palestine Note: ‘Cultivator of community and perspectives of issues facing Palestine’ | IJNet

The world will learn and hear more about Palestine, and take note that we are a people that works hard and loves life. This is the place where people of all backgrounds including Palestinians can write, show videos, pictures, and tell stories about their lives and experiences with Palestine. If anything, I hope this site […]

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11 Feb, 2013

Cagle Post: Beware The Consequences of Pre-Emptive War

Last year more US troops died by suicide than died in combat in Afghanistan. More than 20 percent of military personnel deployed to combat will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some 32 percent of US soldiers reported depression after deployments. More than 20 percent of active-duty military are on potentially dangerous psychotropic drugs; many are […]

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11 Feb, 2013

Malaysia Reports 61% Growth in Visitors from Iraq

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 11 February 2013 (30 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

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11 Feb, 2013

Chris Hedges: The NDAA and the Death of the Democratic State

If we lose in Hedges v. Obama—and it seems certain that no matter the outcome of the appeal this case will reach the Supreme Court—electoral politics and our rights as citizens will be as empty as those of Nero’s Rome. If we lose, the power of the military to detain citizens, strip them of due […]

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11 Feb, 2013

U.S. Political Polarisation Even Reflected in Romance, Online Dating Study Reveals

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STANFORD, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 11, 2013 — If you’ve ever used an online dating website, you’ve answered a litany of questions about yourself and your ideal match, and maybe even about your political affiliation. Although this information is sometimes hidden from view, new research shows that time and time again men and women choose to […]

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11 Feb, 2013

A Tax to Pay for War – NYTimes.com

Military spending has been declining since 2009, easing the conflict between pursuing our national security interests and solving our fiscal crisis. But if we undertake new military interventions, that tension will come roaring back. Those who look at our military spending as a percent of gross domestic product and argue that we could spend more […]

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11 Feb, 2013

New UN Protocol Equalises Human Rights Abuses, Gives Victims More Recourse

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

GENEVA (6 February 2013) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday applauded the upcoming entry into force of a key Protocol to an international treaty which will, for the first time, enable individual complaints on economic, social and cultural rights, thereby helping place all human rights on an equal footing. […]

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10 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: Pew Research Report Shows Clear Signs of Emerging Facebook Fatigue

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

7 Feb 2013 – Two-thirds of online American adults (67%) are Facebook users, making Facebook the dominant social networking site in this country. And new findings from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project indicate there is considerable fluidity in the Facebook user population: 61% of current Facebook users say that at one […]

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10 Feb, 2013

Accelerated Road Development Programme for India’s North Eastern States

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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 05-February, 2013 – On the initiatives of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has taken up an ambitious Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE) for development of road network in the north eastern States of the Country. This programme envisages providing road connectivity to all the […]

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10 Feb, 2013

A First Hand Account Of What Went Down At The Anti-Modi Protests

The anger and disgust against the communal politics of Modi was palpable, all of us spoke out with the accumulated rage of the victims in Gujrat. The clinched fists, raised voices and the fiery expression on the faces showed how passionately the students felt for the victims. It’s a shame for a politician who is […]

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10 Feb, 2013

A Look at English words derived from Arabic – GulfNews.com

What do zero, a giraffe, and alcohol have in common? Not much, other than all these words originate from Arabic, and are part of the huge heritage of language and knowledge that Europe has absorbed from the Arabs over the centuries. Read the rest: ‘It’s Arabic’ | GulfNews.com.

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10 Feb, 2013

Dear Facebook friends, we need a break

FORGET about the privacy concerns, the onslaught of ads, the annoying design of your profile page. If people are turning away from Facebook, it is not because the company has overreached or gone over to the dark side. It is because we have come to realise people are boring. Read the rest: Dear Facebook friends, […]

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10 Feb, 2013

Spying on Law-Abiding Muslim Citizens – NYTimes.com

A motion filed in federal court last week by the lawyers in the Handschu case makes a strong case that the city has simply ignored those guidelines in its antiterrorism fight and is targeting Muslim groups because of their religious affiliation, not because they present any risk. In a particularly striking declaration, a Queens man […]

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10 Feb, 2013

Suraj Sharma on Life after Pi – Indian Express

He says he’s determined to keep his life normal. “I get a little more attention but I still take the Metro all the time, play football and basketball at Siri Fort and hang out with friends. Fortunately, I am quite stealthy and don’t get recognised very often,” he says. His college, St Stephens, has treated […]

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10 Feb, 2013

Ready to do anything for Hindutva: Praveen Togadia – Hindustan Times

Maharashtra Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Venkatesh Abdeo, on whose phone the call was made, threatened, “there will be severe reaction all over the country if Togadia is arrested. Togadia has not done anything wrong by speaking about Akbaruddin Owaisi.” He also dared the government to arrest Togadia “if it has guts.” via Ready to do […]

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10 Feb, 2013

What exactly is this thing Israeli Jews call ‘Arab Mentality’? – Haaretz

The residents know they have nowhere to go, have no exit. They’re born, they study, work, marry, have children, so that they, too, will remain in villages and have children who will remain in villages. Villages? What sign of a village can you find in the Arab villages? Or in those that are called cities […]

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10 Feb, 2013

PressTV – Int’l conference on Hollywoodism and Cinema wraps up in Tehran

The third International Conference on Hollywoodism and Cinema has wrapped up in the Iranian capital city of Tehran on the sidelines of the 31st Fajr International Film Festival.The conference came to an end on Wednesday in a ceremony in Tehran’s Azadi Hotel. Some 50 cineastes and critics from across Europe and the United States attended […]

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8 Feb, 2013

Indian Finance Minister: All Security Threats are Now Inter-Connected

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Ministry of Finance, 06-February, 2013 – The Union Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram delivered his address at K. Subrahmanyam Memorial Lecture in New Delhi today. The theme of the lecture was “India’s National Security – Challenges and Priorities”. Following is the text of the speech on the occasion: “I am grateful to you for inviting […]

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8 Feb, 2013

Indian Vice-Chancellors Agree on Broad Agenda To Help Universities Go Global

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Presidents Secretariat, 07-February, 2013 – A one day conference of Vice Chancellors (VCs) of Central Universities concluded on February 5, 2013 at Rashtrapati Bhavan with the VCs proposing a detailed set of recommendations on the four agenda items of the conference. Some of the recommendations were as follows: Agenda item 1 – Steps required for […]

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8 Feb, 2013

EU Lays Out Cybersecurity Strategy

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The European Commission today set out its first comprehensive strategy to prevent and respond to cyber disruptions and attacks. The new cybersecurity strategy along with a proposal on Network and Information Security aims to prevent and fight cybercrime, strengthen the security and resilience of networks and information security systems, and helps […]

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8 Feb, 2013

India Confers Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Pledges Tourist Sites Upgrade

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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 06-February, 2013 — The President, Mr Pranab Mukherjee while presenting the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities-2012 at a function organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment here today. He said that Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act […]

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8 Feb, 2013

European Commission Blows Whistle On How Football Earnings Make the Rich Richer

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Brussels, 7 February 2013 (European Commission Press Release) – Football clubs spend around €3 billion a year on player transfers, but very little of this money trickles down to smaller clubs or the amateur game, according to a European Commission study published today. The number of transfers in European football more than tripled in the […]

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7 Feb, 2013

11 Reasons Why I Am Giving the 2013 ITB Berlin a Miss

The ITB Berlin is the world’s largest travel trade show. I did not miss a single one between 1986-2011, a total of 25 years. It played a very important role in helping me advance my career and professional coverage of the world’s largest service industry. As of 2012, however, I stopped attending it, as well […]

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6 Feb, 2013

Australian Tourism Pioneer Shares Historic Photographs of Post-War Cambodia

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PHNOM PENH, February 5 – The Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center is to present CAMBODIA REVISITED: LIFE AFTER THE KHMER ROUGE, a photographic exhibition by Australian tourism industry director Paul Cummings. The work which is on display for the first time is a selection of approximately 25 of the 500 images which have been donated to […]

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6 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: OECD Report Says Germany Must Boost Immigration to Meet Looming Labour Crunch

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A report issued by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) has called for major improvements in processes for attracting skilled migrant workers to Germany, especially to staff the small & medium sized enterprises. It says the entire system will need to be upgraded, all the way from the visa application process to the […]

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5 Feb, 2013

FREE Download: Threat of Financial Contagion to Emerging Asia’s Local Bond Markets

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Synopsis of Asian Development Bank Report: This paper employs multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (GARCH) models with a Baba–Engle–Kraft–Kroner (BEKK) specification to show significant shock and volatility spillovers from mature bond markets into select emerging Asian local currency bond markets. Results reveal that while the growth of individual bond markets in recent years has been […]

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