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Archive for May, 2013

15 May, 2013

Renaming the ‘Arab Spring’ cannot hide American prejudice

(People's Daily Online)

May 11, 2013 – With war scale expanding, death toll increasing, a view that Syrian war has gone to the critical point is spreading. When the attention was concentrated on the changing war situation, some people may have forgotten the tragedy was regard as the extension of the “Arab Spring” at the very beginning. The […]

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15 May, 2013

FREE Download ILO Report: Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013 – A Generation at Risk

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GENEVA (ILO News) 08 May 2013 – Two thirds of working age youth in some developing countries are either unemployed or trapped in low-quality jobs, according to the ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013 report. In six of the ten countries surveyed, over 60 per cent of young people are either unemployed, working but […]

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15 May, 2013

UNWTO Reports Global Tourism Receipts Grew by 4% in 2012

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Madrid, Spain, 15 May 2013 – Receipts from international tourism in destinations around the world grew by 4% in 2012 reaching US$ 1075 billion. This growth is equal to the 4% increase in international tourist arrivals which reached 1035 million in 2012. An additional US$ 219 billion was recorded in receipts from international passenger transport, […]

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14 May, 2013

Massive Cost-Cutting Operation Signals Start of Time-Bound Overhaul at Air India

Press Information Bureau

NEW DELHI, 14 MAY 2013 – The Minister for Civil Aviation Mr Ajit Singh, addressing  a press conference here, has said that the Government has accepted the recommendations of Prof. Dholakia Committee Report on Cost Cutting in Air India and sent it to the national airline for immediate implementation. The Committee has made total 47 […]

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14 May, 2013

Enjoy A Weekend In Chiang Mai, And Help A Severely Burned Boy

By Basil McCall

Chiang Mai – A special ‘charity’ weekend package in Chiang Mai for 31 May – 02 June 2013 includes 2 night’s accommodation at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, and a fundraising Gala Dinner & Dance on 01 June in the hotel’s Grand Hall. Proceeds from the dinner will help to cover the cost of continuing […]

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14 May, 2013

FREE Download: U.N. Report Says Poor Sanitation, Open Defecation Killing Hundreds Daily

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13 May 2013 | GENEVA/NEW YORK – Some 2.4 billion people – one-third of the world’s population – will remain without access to improved sanitation in 2015, according to a joint WHO/UNICEF report issued today. The report, entitled Progress on sanitation and drinking-water 2013 update, warns that, at the current rate of progress, the 2015 […]

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13 May, 2013

Modern lifestyle causing dementia to strike at early age – Indian Express

Modern lifestyle is causing dementia and other brain diseases to strike at a younger age, with widespread use of computers, mobile phones and chemicals to blame, a new study has found. The latest research has found that the sharp rise of dementia and other neurological deaths in people under 74 cannot be put down to […]

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13 May, 2013

Brawijaya University Students Develop Anti-Diabetic Tea from Salak Peel

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 13 May 2013 (03 Rajab 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ========== MESSAGE FROM TOURISM MALAYSIA World Islamic Tourism Mart to be held in Kuala Lumpur The […]

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12 May, 2013

American media distortion on Palestine | Veterans News Now

By Alison Weir Thirteen years ago I knew very little about Israel-Palestine. Like most Americans, this seemed to be a distant, confusing conflict that had little to do with me. I was unaware –again, like most Americans – that American taxpayers give Israel over $8 million per day, more than we give to any other […]

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12 May, 2013

Why I converted to Islam: Van Doorn

Arnoud Van Doorn, former member of an anti-Islamic party of Netherland has given his reasons for conversion to Islam, and reactions by his co-partisans after his conversion, and Western accusations against Islam and his own recommendations to atheists. The news about the conversion to Islam of Arnoud Van Doorn, former vice-chairman for Geert Wilders, famous […]

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11 May, 2013

US$823 a Night St Regis is New York City’s Most Expensive Hotel

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NEW YORK- May 07, 2013-(BUSINESS WIRE)–The St. Regis Hotel has just earned the distinction of being the most expensive hotel in New York City. A new survey from NewYorkHotels.org has revealed this finding after comparing the hotel rates of all luxury hotels in NYC over the past 12 months. The rate for a standard double […]

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11 May, 2013

Global Airports Passenger Traffic up 4.6% in March

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Montréal, 10 May 2013 (Airports Council International) – The market for international travel remains buoyant for the month of March. The Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific all posted double digit gains in international passenger traffic of +16.4, +14.1 and +10.9% respectively. Although overall passenger traffic grew by +4.6 percent, domestic traffic showed signs of weakness […]

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11 May, 2013

Government to Promote Development of Aviation Hubs in India

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Ministry of Civil Aviation 10-May, 2013 – The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ajit Singh informed that the Government has approved the proposal of Ministry of Civil Aviation to constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Civil Aviation for suggesting various measures to overcome the bottlenecks in the development of aviation hubs at […]

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10 May, 2013

7 Financial Facts That Will Blow Your Mind | Alternet

Big banks are getting even bigger. As Bloomberg reports, the biggest U.S. banks have gotten even bigger since their risky and criminal behavior helped spark the financial crisis. The number of too-big-to-fail banks is projected to increase by 40 percent over the next 15 years. And consider this: When big banks get help from you […]

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10 May, 2013

Here Lies Love — a Broadway play about Imelda and her shoes

Have shoes, will party. Imelda Marcos’ vast collection of shoes takes center stage once again with the world premiere of “Here Lies Love”, a new musical that features music from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and circles around the shoe-obsessed former First Lady of the Philippines. David Cote of Time Out New York who reviewed […]

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9 May, 2013

Did Make-Up Give My Wife Breast Cancer? | Alternet

Through a coalition of health and environmental groups called the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (of which the Breast Cancer Fund is the principal sponsor), the organization has been drawing attention to the fact that known carcinogens—substances like formaldehyde—are used as preservatives in everything from suntan oil to makeup. Kathleen frantically threw out her all her […]

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8 May, 2013

ETC Report: Europe Tourism Continues In Midst of Economic Slump, but Growth Slows

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Brussels, 8 May 2013 – The European Travel Commission (ETC) has published the first quarterly report on European Tourism in 2013 – Trends & Prospects. International arrivals and nights to Europe for the first months of 2013 point to a slower, but continued growth for most of the reporting destinations. As 2012 was a strong […]

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8 May, 2013

UNCTAD Report: Palestinian Economy In East Jerusalem Left In ‘Development Limbo’ Under Israeli Occupation

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Geneva, 8 May 2013 – The Palestinian economy in East Jerusalem has been progressively isolated and constricted and now wields less than half of the economic influence that it had in 1993, a new UNCTAD report says. A disabling economic environment, high and rising rates of poverty, faltering industry and services, restricted investment, housing shortages, […]

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7 May, 2013

Chinese President: China supports Palestinian people

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Monday stressed that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people. Xi and visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held official talks amidst Abbas’s state visit to China. The Palestine issue dominated the talks between Xi and Abbas, the first head of state […]

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7 May, 2013

UNESCO, China Highlight Role Of Culture In Post-2015 Development Agenda

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United Nations, May 3, 2013 (UN News Centre) – The United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and China announced today an international congress on the role that culture plays in achieving sustainable development. The congress, entitled ‘Culture: Key to Sustainable Development’ will take place in Hangzhou, China from 15-17 May, and seeks to […]

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7 May, 2013

After Bangladesh Tragedy, UN Urges Businesses, Consumers To Better Know Their Supply Chains

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United Nations, May 6 2013 (UN News Centre) – In the wake of the deadly tragedy at a garment factory in Bangladesh, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today challenged the United Nations Global Compact to strengthen its engagement in promoting safe and sustainable employment and opportunity. “Businesses around the world are waking up to the urgency of […]

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7 May, 2013

UNCTAD Meeting Hails Vital Role Of SME Entrepreneurs In Economic Growth

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Geneva, 6 May 2013 (UNCTAD Media release) – The founding of new businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), makes economies more stable, spurs economic growth, and plays a major role in innovation and job creation, a series of experts has said. A high-level segment of the Investment, Enterprise and Development Commission on 29 April […]

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7 May, 2013

Chinese President makes four-point Proposal for Middle East Settlement

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BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Monday made a four-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question during his talks with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The four-point proposal is as follows: First, the right direction to follow should be an independent Palestinian State and peaceful co-existence of Palestine […]

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7 May, 2013

China Experiencing a Craze For Thai Buddha Amulets

(Global Times)

Beijing, May 06, 2013 – Since ancient times, wearing an amulet was supposed to endow the owner with either a protective quality, or would herald the coming of good luck and fortune. These days, when high-profile Chinese celebrities have turned to wearing an amulet as a fashion statement, the market in China, whether the wearers […]

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7 May, 2013

CIO Survey: Tech Gadgets Contributing to Decline in Workplace Etiquette

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MENLO PARK, Calif., May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Technology is one of the most effective ways to bring people together at work, but it may also be causing a digital divide, a new Robert Half Technology survey of chief information officers (CIOs) suggests. Sixty-four percent of CIOs said higher use of mobile gadgets such as […]

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7 May, 2013

‘Blind Justice’ — TV Ad Campaign Calls For Accountability in Wake of U.S. Prosecutorial Misconduct Pandemic

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– May 07, 2013  – Blind Justice, the first national nonprofit advocate dedicated to conviction integrity and accountability within the justice system, marks its official formation today with the launch of a national ad campaign calling for prosecutor accountability. The new 501(c)(4) social welfare organization’s television ads will be part of a bigger campaign […]

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6 May, 2013

Early Bird Offer Open to Register for Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo

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 06 May 2013 (25 Jumaada al-Thaani 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

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5 May, 2013

India Inaugurates Int’l Centre for Environment Audit & Sustainable Development

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Vice President’s Secretariat, 04-May, 2013 – The Vice President of India Mr M. Hamid Ansari has said that India has been active in international forums relating to environmental protection, and is party to 94 multilaterals environmental agreements such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora […]

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5 May, 2013

DHS orders checks on all student visas – The Japan Times

WASHINGTON – The Homeland Security Department ordered border agents “effective immediately” to verify that every international student who arrives in the United States has a valid student visa, according to an internal memorandum obtained Friday by AP. The new procedure is the government’s first security change directly related to the Boston bombings. The order from […]

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5 May, 2013

Chinese Journalism Professor: Master information flow, instead of becoming its slave

By Jin Jianbin (China Daily)

Beijing, 2013-05-04 – Most people today face the problem of information overflow. Virtually we can’t avoid being the target of a variety of news, stories and commercials that play on our curiosity. A majority of us communicate with the world through what are collectively called the three screens: the TV screen, the computer screen and […]

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4 May, 2013

China Bids to Attract Talent: Five-year Visas for Foreigners on Way

By CHEN XIN (China Daily)

Beijing, 2013-05-04 – Foreign talent will soon be eligible for China visas valid for up to five years, under a draft regulation. The draft was released by the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council on Friday, and public opinion is being sought for a month. It states that China will grant two new types […]

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4 May, 2013

India must tackle root causes of violence against women – UN rights expert

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NEW DELHI / GENEVA (3 May 2013) – New laws against rape passed in India in the wake of the fatal gang rape of a female student in Delhi last December do not go far enough, the United Nations expert on violence against women has said. UN Special Rapporteur Rashida Manjoo* said that while the […]

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4 May, 2013

World Press Freedom Day: U.N. Decries ‘Grim Catalogues’ of Attacks on Journalists

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United Nations, Department of Public Information, 03 May 2013 – The increasing violence across the world against traditional and new media journalists alike undermined the very foundation of democratic societies, good governance, freedom of expression, and the right to receive and impart information and ideas, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, said […]

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4 May, 2013

U.N. Committee on Information Urges Systemic “Culture of Communications and Transparency”

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New York, Department of Public Information, 2 May 2013 – Concluding its two-week annual session this afternoon, the Committee on Information emphasized that public information and communications should be at the heart of the United Nations’ strategic management, with a “culture of communications and transparency” permeating all levels so the Organization could best promote an […]

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4 May, 2013

At Awards Ceremony, Indian Leaders Call for “Morally Energising” Films Which Promote Cultural Harmony

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President of India Pranab Mukherjee marks 100 years of Indian Cinema,  postal stamps of 50 iconic movie personalities. Confers Film Awards at 60th NFA Function Government to launch Centenary Award recognising Paradigm Transformation in Film making Mahadev Auditorium to become Hub for Alternate Cinema New Delhi, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 03-May, 2013 – The […]

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4 May, 2013

Indian Finance Minister’s Speech at ADB AGM: “India – Next Wave of Inclusive growth”

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New Delhi, Ministry of Finance, 03-May, 2013 – Following is the Speech of the Union Finance Minister Mr P. Chidambaram at India Day: “India – Next Wave of Inclusive Growth” today at the Asian Development Bank Meeting at IEML, Greater Noida today: President, ADB, President, FICCI, delegates to the ADB Annual meeting and friends, I […]

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4 May, 2013

Renovated Gallery of South Indian Paintings Opens at National Museum, New Delhi

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New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, 03-May, 2013 – Union Minister for Culture Mrs. Chandresh Kumari Katoch today re-opened the renovated gallery of Tanjore and Mysore Schools of South Indian Paintings at the National Museum, New Delhi for public. The Gallery comprises 88 paintings. Although almost every painting is unique, some of the masterpieces are examples […]

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4 May, 2013

Middle East Deadlock: Same Process, No Progress – The Daily Beast

Most observers agree that if the Israeli-Palestinian “peace process” is still alive it is on life support with the plug half hanging out of the socket. Last year’s vote at the United Nations, when most of the world opposed the United States’ position and voted for Palestinian statehood, was an international referendum on U.S. mediation. […]

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4 May, 2013

Asia Times Online: Irrational rhetoric fuels illegal wars – Ramzy Baroud

During a talk sponsored by the New American Foundation in March 2008, author Parag Khanna addressed the rising challenges facing the US’s global hegemony. According to Khanna, China and the European Union are the new contenders with the battlefield being a global “geopolitical marketplace”. One remark particularly puzzled this author greatly. “Why am I talking […]

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3 May, 2013

Chomsky: The Boston Bombings Gave Americans a Taste of the Terrorism the U.S. Inflicts Abroad Every Day | Alternet

April is usually a cheerful month in New England, with the first signs of spring, and the harsh winter at last receding. Not this year. There are few in Boston who were not touched in some way by the marathon bombings on April 15 and the tense week that followed. Several friends of mine were […]

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3 May, 2013

OECD Week 28-30 May 2013 To Focus on Jobs, Equality and Trust

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Paris, (OECD Media release), May 2, 2013 – “It’s all about people”— this message is at the heart of the debate for the discussions at the 2013 annual OECD Week bringing together the annual OECD ministerial meeting and the OECD Forum where the key issues on the global agenda are debated between all stakeholders – […]

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3 May, 2013

China Tightens Regulation Over Wealth Management Products

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BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) — China’s banking regulator has moved to tighten its regulation over banks’ wealth management products to dissolve risks in the shadow banking system that may jeopardize the country’s financial stability. The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said on Thursday that it would strictly control the direction of investment by wealth management […]

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3 May, 2013

China Bids to Help Israel, Palestinians resume peace talks

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JERUSALEM, April 29 (Xinhua) — Chinese special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike said here Monday that China is willing to exert efforts for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Wu made the remarks after holding separate meetings in Jerusalem with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni who is […]

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3 May, 2013

“China Ready” becomes new motto of Aussie tourism

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SYDNEY (Xinhua) May 02, 2013 — A radical reshaping is taking place in Australia’s lucrative tourism market, with tourism operators partnering with leading Chinese brands in an attempt to become “China Ready” for Australia’s fastest growing and most cherished market. It’s a market with an impressive annual 12 percent growth and one that by 2020 […]

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3 May, 2013

Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Strategies Can Help Free Palestine, UN Meeting in Addis Ababa Told

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ADDIS ABABA, 30 April, Department of Public Information — As the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine wrapped up its session today, experts urged African Governments to share their negotiating and institution-building tactics, create a continent-wide solidarity movement, and launch a regional peace initiative to help Palestinians remove barriers to statehood. “We have […]

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3 May, 2013

FREE Download: Report Shows There Are No Jobs Americans Won’t Do

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WASHINGTON, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Supporters of the Schumer-Rubio amnesty argue that the bill’s large increase in future legal immigration will have little impact on the employment of natives because immigrants do only jobs American’s don’t want. But a detailed analysis of 472 separate occupations by the Center for Immigration Studies shows there are only […]

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3 May, 2013

Harris Poll: U.S. Workers Increasingly Worried about Pay, Perks & Prospects

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NEW YORK, May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — American workers are increasingly worried about their income and benefits security, as well as their employability, with aggregated concerns regarding these issues showing a slight increase since last month (from 56% in March to 57% in April). This combined measure shows a strong and increasing concern, particularly among older […]

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3 May, 2013

Make Walking Safe campaign bids to help cut annual toll of 270,000 pedestrian deaths

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2 May 2013 | GENEVA, (World Health Organisation media release) – More than 270 000 pedestrians lose their lives on the world’s roads each year accounting for 22% of the total 1.24 million road traffic deaths. WHO is calling on governments to take concrete actions to improve the safety of pedestrians. Under the banner “Make […]

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2 May, 2013

Reporting of Disasters Pits Social Media Against Traditional Media

By Bai Ping (China Daily)

Beijing, 2013-04-27 – You must have seen the Chinese television journalist who, dressed in full bridal finery complete with a veil, reported the strong earthquake that struck near her town in Sichuan province last week? In a video that went viral on the Internet and appeared on some major international networks as well, Cheng Ying, […]

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2 May, 2013

Myanmar targets 3 mln tourists by 2015

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YANGON, May 1 (Xinhua) — Myanmar targeted the number of tourist arrival to 3 million by 2015, a near triple of the 2012 figure, official media reported Wednesday. In meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar Katja Nordgaard in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, Htay Aung elaborated on progress in drafting Tourism Master Plan with the […]

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2 May, 2013

Jewish fanatic settlers launch “price tag” attacks in West Bank

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JERUSALEM, May 1 (Xinhua) — Jewish settlers in the West Bank painted “price tag” graffiti on Palestinian homes and smashed their windows in an apparent “price tag” attack overnight Wednesday, Israeli police confirmed to Xinhua. The Israeli attack was apparently in retaliation for a stabbing incident on Tuesday morning, in which a Palestinian stabbed an […]

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2 May, 2013

China’s farming heritage, innovation to stem agriculture trade gap with New Zealand

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WELLINGTON, April 30 (Xinhua) — The tide of agricultural exports from New Zealand to China could begin to balance out under a new bilateral agreement to promote agricultural cooperation, the head of New Zealand’s farming industry body told Xinhua Tuesday. The Strategic Plan on Promoting Agricultural Cooperation signed by the two countries’ agriculture ministers last […]

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2 May, 2013

Survey Identifies Hurdles to Making Travel Purchases from Mobile Devices

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BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 29, 2013  – Travelers are regularly searching for flights, hotels and ground transportation using mobile devices, yet less than half are making mobile purchases. New research from FlightView digs into the mobile purchasing behavior of 3,186 travelers, revealing the shocker: more than 80 percent of respondents say concerns about mobile security and transaction […]

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2 May, 2013

Call for Greater Expat Employee Scrutiny After U.K. “English Teacher” Nabbed in China

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(China Daily) April 30, 2013 – More efficient measures should be taken to ensure that foreigners with criminal records are banned from working in China, senior officials with the department that oversees attracting and managing international professionals said on Monday. The officials’ remarks came after a British man who is wanted for allegedly raping a […]

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2 May, 2013

BDS takes Arab and Western worlds by storm – Ahram Online

A flare-up of protest broke out worldwide over a multinational security firm’s complicity in human rights abuses in Israeli settlements, prisons and checkpoints. Group4Security (G4S), a private British-Danish conglomerate that operates in 125 countries, is the largest private security service provider in the world. It operates in Israel through its largest subsidiary, G4S Israel or […]

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2 May, 2013

PressTV – Canada’s slavish obedience to US, Israel

The world is taking note of the ruling Conservatives’ shameful betrayal of Canada’s once admirable reputation as a fair country, sincerely working on the world stage to improve the lot of the disadvantaged and suffering. In the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review, Canada was criticized to such an extent that the Council decided […]

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2 May, 2013

Census 2011: Indian Population Pegged at 1.21 Billion

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Ministry of Home Affairs, 30-April, 2013 – Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Home Minister released the Primary Census Abstract-Data Highlights of Census 2011 in a function organized by the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India here today. On this occasion Union Home Minister congratulated all stake holders for completing the 2011 Census […]

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2 May, 2013

Israel Is The Birthright Of Palestinian Refugees, Not Jews From Brooklyn | Desertpeace

As the summer months approach, thousands of young Jews from more than 60 countries prepare to participate in the Taglit-Birthright program. Since 1999, Birthright has brought 340,000 young Jews to Israel on free ten-day trips. In the midst of the fervor to sign up for this bi-annual program, we have launched the website Renounce Birthright […]

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1 May, 2013

OECD Report Warns of Debt Threat to Japan’s Growth Prospects

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23/04/2013 – Japan is poised for an economic expansion, but long-term growth prospects remain contingent on additional efforts to revitalise the economy and reduce unsustainable levels of public debt, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Survey of Japan. The new Survey, presented in Tokyo by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, forecasts the Japanese economy will grow […]

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1 May, 2013

FREE Download: Survey Reveals Top Reasons for Family Holiday Stress

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AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– April 29, 2013 – According to a special family travel edition of the Vacation Rental Marketplace report from HomeAway® – the online marketplace of vacation rentals – 56 percent of Americans say they find components of taking a family vacation stressful. Even worse, 46 percent admitted stress actually prevents them from enjoying the […]

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1 May, 2013

Indian airlines cleared to unbundle services and charge for them

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Ministry of Civil Aviation, 29-April, 2013 – The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ajit Singh, has decided to permit scheduled airlines to unbundle certain services and to charge fees for these services separately. This is based on the recommendations of the Nathan Economic Consultants in their report on “Economic Regulations to Airlines Ticket Pricing in […]

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1 May, 2013

Mother’s Day Gifts: What Moms Want, and What They Get, Doesn’t Line Up, Survey Reveals

New York, NY (PRWEB) April 30, 2013 – Gifts.com, the gift advice site with 5 million visits per month, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 American women to set the record straight on what Mother’s Day gifts are doomed and which are destined for greatness. The survey explored what mothers want, what their children […]

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1 May, 2013

FREE Download: Australian Consumer Commission Report Shows Numbers Up, Service Standards Down at Airports

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Canberra, 30 April 2013 (ACCC Media Release) – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has released its annual Airport Monitoring Report for 2011-12 calling for increased investment to avoid excessive congestion in the future. The ACCC is required to report annually on the performance of Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney Airports. “The 2011-12 report […]

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1 May, 2013

Billions Proposed for U.S. Border Security. Where Would the Money Go?

U.S. Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high—and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight’s new plan. The Senate immigration proposal, released last week, would allocate $4.5 billion in the next five years to tighten control of U.S. borders. The U.S. spent nearly $18 billion dollars on immigration enforcement […]

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1 May, 2013

The US’s Narrow-Minded Anti-Terrorism Strategy: Blowback and the Cycle of Violence

The United States and the Central Intelligence Agency have never acknowledged the potential for “blowback,” or negative fallout, from their military and covert actions. The Watergate burglary by the veterans of the Bay of Pigs was an obvious example of blowback. CIA’s support for the anti-Soviet mujahideen in the 1980s proved particularly damaging, because the […]

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1 May, 2013

Robert Scheer: Google’s Spymasters Are Now Worried About Your Secrets – Truthdig

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, “The Dark Side of the Digital Revolution,” makes for very scary reading. It is not so much because of what he and co-author Jared Cohen, the director of Google Ideas, have to say about how dictators can use new information technology […]

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