17 Jun, 2013

Indian VP Warns Media: Beware Corporate Owners, Black Money & Dodgy Private Equity

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Vice President’s Secretariat, 15-June, 2013 – Vice President of India Prof. M. Hamid Ansari has said that we have every reason to be proud of the strength and diversity of Indian media. However, and from time to time, there have been media-related developments that are disconcerting. They raise questions about the media’s objectivity and credibility. […]

17 Jun, 2013

Too Much Sitting Not Good for Workers’ Health: Study

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SYDNEY, June 17 (Xinhua) — A study has found that for desk- bound office workers, introducing interventions such as sit/stand workstations can reduce sitting time by over an hour each working day — leading to better health. “What we know now is that adults still need their minimum 30 minutes of exercise a day, but […]

17 Jun, 2013

US$100 million ADB Loan to Revitalise Old Silk Road Outpost in China’s Poor Northwest

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Asian Development Bank, 17 June 2013 – The ADB is providing a $100 million loan to revitalize Jiuquan City,  a former outpost along the Silk Road located in the under-developed northwestern region in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “Jiuquan City in Gansu province used to be an oasis on the Hexi corridor along the […]

17 Jun, 2013

Drunk Frenchmen Attack Chinese students

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BORDEAUX, France, June 16 (Xinhua) — French Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll on Sunday denounced the violent attack on Chinese students in southwest France, saying that the country’s image was tarnished by the xenophobic act. “It is an unspeakable act. It is the image of France that is damaged with the xenophobic attitudes,” said Le […]

17 Jun, 2013

China’s catering industry looks to beat the slump

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BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhuanet) –Top-end restaurants in China have seen a fall in their revenues over the past year. With the government cracking down on wasteful expenditure on lavish restaurant banquets and the like, restaurants have had to re-orient their businesses, which is not proving easy. However, the catering industry as a whole is eager […]

17 Jun, 2013

China reclaims world’s fastest supercomputer mantle

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BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese supercomputer producer announced Monday that China has once again built the world’s fastest supercomputer, capable of performing 33.86 quadrillion operations per second, surpassing the U.S. Titan supercomputer. The Tianhe-2 has a peak performance speed of 54.9 quadrillion operations per second, according to the National University of Defense Technology, which […]

17 Jun, 2013

India Cuts National Roaming Tariff Ceilings, Mandates Free Roaming Plans

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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, 17-June, 2013 – The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has reduced ceilings for national roaming calls and SMS and instituted a new regime for providing flexibility to telecom service providers to customise tariffs for national roamers through STVs and Combo Vouchers. TRAI has also mandated two types of free […]

17 Jun, 2013

Indian Railways to Launch Ticket Booking via Mobile Phones

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Ministry of Railways, 17-June, 2013 – Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC),a public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, will be launching a pilot project of ticketing through non-internet based mobile phones with effect from 1st July 2013. This will enable anyone using non-internet based mobile phones to easily access Railway ticketing services […]

17 Jun, 2013

FREE Download: OECD Report Cites Challenges of Europe’s Ageing Population

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17/06/2013  – According to a new OECD report sponsored by the European Commission. the fastest-growing age group are people over 80 whose number will almost triple by 2060, rising from 4.6% of the population to 12% in 2050 in the European Union. It is estimated that up to half of them will need help to […]

17 Jun, 2013

China Speaks Out: The thinking behind U.S. surveillance programs

People's Daily Online Commentary

June 17, 2013 – In the last few days, revelations about two U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs have caused international consternation. Two questions in particular require answers. First: how to find the right balance between national security and individual privacy? According to the White House, the purpose of intelligence surveillance is to prevent […]

17 Jun, 2013

Asia Times Online: When will the dirty wars end?

Director Rick Rowley and journalist Jeremy Scahill’s much talked about docu-thriller Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield opened on June 7 to strong positive reviews. A companion piece to Scahill’s book of the same name, Dirty Wars details the growing use of extrajudicial assassinations by the US executive branch to strike at targets around […]

17 Jun, 2013

‘Pakistan Corner’ Set up at Thammasat University Library, Bangkok

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 June 2013 (08 Sha’baan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

16 Jun, 2013

Global poll shows huge support for policies to curb multinational tax scams

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14 June 2013 (ITUC-CSI media release): Eighty-five per cent of voters in 13 countries including six G8 economies support policies to stop large and multi-national corporates avoiding tax, according to a new public opinion poll released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) ahead of the G8 Summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. The UK […]

16 Jun, 2013

Corporate Pirates of the Caribbean: IPS report exposes pro-austerity U.S. CEOs seeking more tax haven loopholes

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12 June 2013 (Institute for Policy Studies) – CEOs with the dubious lobby group “Fix the Debt” are pushing for cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and the social safety net, painting themselves as the good guys in the budget debate. But as they ask for everyday Americans to accept cuts, these CEOs are brazenly seeking […]

16 Jun, 2013

Investigative Journalists Centre Releases Database Of Names Behind Secret Companies, Trusts

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WASHINGTON, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), a project of the Center for Public Integrity, today released an interactive database that cracks open the historically impenetrable world of offshore tax havens. The ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database allows users to search through more than 100,000 secret companies, trusts and funds created […]

16 Jun, 2013

U.K.’s Island Tax Havens Back Efforts to Curb Tax Evasion, Fraud

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LONDON, June 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The following statement was issued today by Political Leaders of the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands. We, the Political Leaders of the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos, warmly welcome our […]

16 Jun, 2013

World Football Chief Blatter to Visit Palestine in July

WAFA, Palestine News Agency

RAMALLAH, June 11, 2013 (WAFA) – Sepp Blatter, president of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), is expected to visit Palestine in July to help alleviate the problems facing Palestinian athletes from the Israeli occupation, Jibril Rjoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, said Tuesday. He said in a press conference that five main […]

16 Jun, 2013

U.S. blind to Latin America

By Kevin P. Gallagher (China Daily)

2013-06-13 – The Barack Obama administration and US media have made much ado about the “pivot” to Asia policy of Washington. What has largely escaped their attention, however, is that China has been lining up economic allies in the erstwhile “backyard” of the US. Just as serious competition ought to awaken one’s creative juices in […]

16 Jun, 2013

Whistleblower pulls US into confidence crisis

(chinadaily.com.cn)

2013-06-14 – US whistleblower Edward Snowden has disclosed that the US government had been hacking into computers in Hong Kong and on the Chinese mainland since 2009, sparking extensive discussions about the US cyber policy and its long-held accusation against China. The 29-year-old defense contractor revealed two classified National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs, one […]

16 Jun, 2013

Surveillance programs reveal U.S. hypocrisy

By Liu Dan, Bi Mingxin

BEIJING, June 14 (Xinhuanet) – In the past years, the U.S. Government has been blaming other countries for threatening cyber security. However, the recent leakage of the two top-secret U.S. surveillance programs of the National Security Agency (NSA) has smashed the image of the U.S. as a cyber liberty advocate and revealed its hypocrisy. Edward […]

16 Jun, 2013

People’s Daily Online Commentary: Security and privacy – Where to draw the line?

People's Daily Online, Edited and translated by Liang Jun

June 14, 2013 – A massive clandestine US program involving phone and Internet surveillance is currently being exposed in the world’s media. The technology companies which have participated in the program reportedly include Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple. PRISM is the codename of a top secret U.S. National Security Agency […]

16 Jun, 2013

Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You: America Declares War on World Currencies

Thanong Khanthong, The Nation

June 14, 2013 – It can now be fully confirmed that we are in the middle of a currency war on a global scale. On April 19, the Thai baht was trading at Bt28.55 against the US dollar. At that point, Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul, the Bank of Thailand governor, almost lost his job. He’d failed […]

14 Jun, 2013

Bloomberg: US Agencies Actually Share Data With Thousands of Firms | Gizmodo India

Bloomberg is reporting that the recent NSA Prism scandal is just a tiny scratch on the privacy surface. Citing “”four people familiar with the process””, the agency claims that in fact thousands of technology, finance and manufacturing companies work with US national security agencies. In return for providing “”sensitive information””, Bloomberg claims these companies receive […]

14 Jun, 2013

Don’t repeat Iraq mistake in Syria, Russia warns America – The Times of India

MOSCOW: Russia said on Friday that US data on the Syrian regime’s alleged use of chemical weapons was “unconvincing”, and warned Washington against repeating the mistake it made when invading Iraq after falsely accusing Saddam Hussein of stocking weapons of mass destruction. The Kremlin’s top foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov also said the US decision […]

14 Jun, 2013

PressTV – 4 people shot dead by US homegrown terrorist in Missouri

Four people have been shot and killed in a shooting at the Cherokee Place Business Incubator in the US city of St. Louis, Missouri, police say. “There are 4 adult victims, 2 male and 2 female, confirmed dead at a scene of a shooting in the 2700 block of Cherokee,” city police said on Twitter […]

14 Jun, 2013

Now, China’s Turn to Blast Unjustified US Intelligence-Gathering

(China Daily Commentary)

2013-06-13 – After an ex-CIA employee and former intelligence contractor, Edward Snowden, leaked to two newspapers last week that the US National Security Agency has a top secret program that collects and analyzes data from Internet users around the world, a storm of outrage has gathered and continues to blow this week. While US intelligence […]

14 Jun, 2013

Emerging economies closely watching capital outflows

By Chen Jipeng (Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, June 13 (Xinhua) — Monetary authorities in emerging economies are closely watching the impact of the capital outflows amid market expectation that the Federal Reserve’s exit from the quantitative easing may be close, though analysts say it is most likely a short-term adjustment. It is estimated that at least 2.5 billion U.S. dollars have […]

14 Jun, 2013

U.S. Commerce Department Forecasts Strong Growth For Travel to U.S. 2013-2018

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Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI). June 13, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) projects international travel to the United States will continue experiencing strong growth through 2018, based on the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries’ 2013 Spring Travel Forecast. Building on a record-breaking 2012, visitor volume is expected to rise […]

14 Jun, 2013

Assange: Snowden “a hero to all humanity”

Xinhua

SYDNEY, June 13 (Xinhua) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has called whistleblower Edward Snowden “a hero to all humanity”in a live video address to the University of Sydney on Thursday. “Men like Snowden have shown extreme degrees of civic courage,” he told a packed auditorium of delegates on the closing night of the 19th International […]

14 Jun, 2013

World Population Projected To Reach 9.6 Billion By 2050 – U.N. Report

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) – Jun 13 2013 – The current world population of 7.2 billion is projected to increase by 1 billion over the next 12 years and reach 9.6 billion by 2050, according to a United Nations report launched today, which points out that growth will be mainly in developing countries, with […]

14 Jun, 2013

U.N. Issues Call To Youth To Support Action Against Climate Change

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) – Jun 13 2013 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today issued a call to action for the world’s youth to tackle climate threats, stressing that young people are “agents of change” that bring fresh and innovative ideas to address “this most pressing issue.” “I am glad to have this chance to […]

14 Jun, 2013

U.S. Polls Show Contradictory Results on Govt Wiretapping & Surveillance

Imtiaz Muqbil

In a development that could impact on their own credibility, opinion poll results by two of the United States’ best-known public opinion survey organisations have shown totally opposite views of the U.S. government’s controversial wiretapping and surveillance activities. The divergence of opinion was clearly reflected in the headlines themselves. The first poll released on June […]

13 Jun, 2013

Who Decides? | American Civil Liberties Union

By Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project I’d like to make one major point about the NSA surveillance scandal that many people have made indirectly, or implicitly, or seem to have assumed, but have not stated baldly and explicitly. That point is how this incident has laid bare the arrogance […]

13 Jun, 2013

Privacy is not American – Indian Express

The latest Prism and Verizon revelations about the United States’ surveillance and data mining programmes are a reminder of the profound crisis facing liberal democracies. There are complex legal and technical issues. But the moral framework that President Obama has set up to justify these programmes will dent the reputation of the US. Obama blithely […]

13 Jun, 2013

Big Brother is listening – DAWN.COM

A few US legislators have expressed degrees of consternation over the content of the NSA leaks, rather than joining the usual chorus of condemnation. It doesn’t necessarily follow, though, that meaningful steps to roll back the totalitarian impulses of the security state are likely to be initiated in the foreseeable future. Quite apart from the […]

13 Jun, 2013

Opinion: Roll back the surveillance state – POLITICO.com

Last year, there were 212 of these Section 215 orders so the full extent of the NSA’s surveillance is still within the agency’s black box. Some news reports say that these programs include financial data and email records too. This is entirely possible given the breadth of Section 215. The program’s advocates claim that records […]

12 Jun, 2013

The US is behaving like China: Ai Weiwei – The Guardian

Even though we know governments do all kinds of things I was shocked by the information about the US surveillance operation, Prism. To me, it’s abusively using government powers to interfere in individuals’ privacy. This is an important moment for international society to reconsider and protect individual rights. I lived in the United States for […]

12 Jun, 2013

China Demands, and Gets, “Mutual Respect” in Future Relations with U.S.

Xinhua Commentary

BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) — Although Chinese President Xi Jinping returned home Sunday, political pundits across the world are still trying to decipher the significance of his unprecedented informal summit with U.S. President Barack Obama over the weekend. During the two-day summit, staged in the picturesque Sunnylands estate in California, the two leaders spent more […]

12 Jun, 2013

Myanmar Must Curb “Widespread Abuses” Against The Rohingya – UN Expert

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Jun 11 2013 – The fatal shooting of three Rohingya women is the latest example of law enforcement officials operating with complete impunity in western Myanmar, an independent United Nations expert today said, calling on Government authorities to investigate the incident. “The human rights violations being committed against the Rohingya […]

12 Jun, 2013

WHO Director-General Blasts “Globalisation of Unhealthy Lifestyles”

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) – Jun 10 2013 – Efforts to promote good health are more vital than ever given that non-communicable diseases have overtaken infectious diseases as the leading cause of death, a senior United Nations official said today, while also warning that they face daunting challenges, including from ‘big business’. “Today, the […]

12 Jun, 2013

U.S. Judge Allows Suit on Border Questioning of Muslims to Proceed

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(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/11/13) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that a federal judge in Michigan has allowed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FBI over the repeated detention and questioning of Muslims at and inside the United States-Canada border and other ports of entry to move forward. […]

12 Jun, 2013

India joins Myanmar Gold Rush

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 09-June, 2013 – India has offered US$ 150 million of credit for project exports for establishing a SEZ at Sittwe in Myanmar Buyer’s Credit Scheme under National Export Insurance Account (NEIA). The offer assumes that Myanmar Government will give a suitable land for the purpose. During his meeting with the […]

12 Jun, 2013

CAIR: It’s Time to Tell U.S. Leaders to Stop Spying on Calls, Emails

by ROBERT MCCAW

Washington DC, Council on American-Islamic Relations, June 7, 2013 – Recent reports have revealed that the FBI and National Security Agency are “tapped” directly into the servers of the nation’s top Internet providers and collecting the phone records of millions of Verizon customers. It is strongly suspected that the federal government is also collecting call […]

12 Jun, 2013

American Jews fund $2.2 million gym for Israel’s Mossad – Haaretz

Each year Friends of the IDF takes in hundreds of millions of dollars from American Jews on behalf of Israeli soldiers. At its last gala dinner in New York, the organization took in $27 million in one evening. The money is used for recreation and the general welfare of IDF soldiers, most of them young […]

11 Jun, 2013

‘More young whistleblowers 2.0 to seek justice through maximum exposure’ — RT Op-Edge

Well, often people who do blow the whistle do try to deal with it in house. I mean certainly we did. You go to your boss and you say “this is wrong”, you say “we should learn from mistakes made” or whatever it is. And they tell you just to shut up, not rock the […]

11 Jun, 2013

Japanese man completes 40,000 km round-the-world walk | The Japan Times

A 32-year-old Japanese man completed his walk around the world Sunday in which he covered around 40,000 km with a two-wheeled cart, returning to Shanghai where he started the journey about four and a half years ago. Masahito Yoshida, from the city of Tottori on the Sea of Japan coast, left Shanghai on New Year’s […]

10 Jun, 2013

Islamic banks can fund Asian infrastructure needs

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 June 2013 (01 Sha’baan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

10 Jun, 2013

4-year-old Indian girl adopted by convicted Israeli paedophile

An Israeli man convicted of sex offences against young children has gained custody of a four-year-old Indian girl through an agreement with a surrogate mother in India, according to a media report. The man legally adopted the child through an agreement with the surrogate Indian mother and under current legislation the Israeli authorities do not […]

10 Jun, 2013

Pakistan summons top U.S. diplomat to lodge “strong protest” over drone strikes

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ISLAMABAD, June 8 (Xinhua) — Pakistan on Saturday summoned a top U.S. diplomat and lodged a formal protest over a recent drone strikes which killed at least seven people. A U.S. spy aircraft fired missiles on a house in North Waziristan tribal region late Friday night, the second US attack in 10 days. Last week […]

10 Jun, 2013

Courageous Indonesian Investigative Reporter Wins AFP’s 2013 Kate Webb Prize

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Paris, June 5, 2013 – (ACN Newswire) – The International News Agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) has awarded the 2013 Kate Webb Price for frontline journalism to Indonesian Investigative Reporter Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramano for his searing reportages on the bloody civil war in Syrial abd his eye-opening investigation into the murky underworld of the Jakarta […]

10 Jun, 2013

Pursuit of Truth Continues: Eminent New Honorary Members Join 9/11 Consensus Panel

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NEW YORK, June 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Amidst growing doubts about its origins, the tragedy of September 11, 2001, continues to fuel the war on terror. Meanwhile, disturbing evidence long suppressed in the media is surfacing through the 24-member 9/11 Consensus Panel’s scientific review of official claims that 19 diminutive Muslim hijackers defeated America’s defenses. […]

10 Jun, 2013

“Rogue Employees” Amongst “Greatest Threats” in IT Sector – Security Professionals Survey

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MANCHESTER, UK & BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– June 06, 2013  – While IT security professionals recognize the threat posed by unwitting employees, many still admit to allowing administrative privileges to go unmanaged, making organizations increasingly vulnerable to malware exploits and unauthorized software, according to a survey released today by Avecto. The study, conducted at Infosecurity Europe in […]

10 Jun, 2013

This abuse of the Patriot Act must end | Jim Sensenbrenner | guardian.co.uk

The administration claims authority to sift through details of our private lives because the Patriot Act says that it can. I disagree. I authored the Patriot Act, and this is an abuse of that law. I was the chairman of the House judiciary committee when the US was attacked on 11 September 2001. Five days […]

10 Jun, 2013

Whistleblowers are heroes | Glenn Greenwald | guardian.co.uk

The people who do this are heroes. They are the embodiment of heroism. They do it knowing exactly what is likely to be done to them by the planet’s most powerful government, but they do it regardless. They don’t benefit in any way from these acts. I don’t want to over-simplify: human beings are complex, […]

9 Jun, 2013

Europe Labour Force Survey: Foreigners held 7% of total jobs in the EU27 in 2012

BRUSSELS – In 2012, 15.2 million foreign citizens worked in the EU27, accounting for 7% of total employment. Among these foreign citizens, 6.6 million were citizens of another EU Member State and 8.6 million were citizens of a country outside the EU. In the EU27, the employment rate for citizens of another EU Member State […]

8 Jun, 2013

5 dead as another domestic terrorist opens fire in Santa Monica, California

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LOS ANGELES, June 7 (Xinhua) — Five people, including the gunman, were killed Friday in a shooting spree in Santa Monica, California, police said at a press conference. Police revised down the death toll late Friday from earlier reports of seven. Jacqueline Seabrooks, chief of the Santa Monica police department, said the rolling wave of […]

8 Jun, 2013

U.S.-India Business Council Says U.S. Needs “Skilled Professionals”

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–6 June 2013 — The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) today announced the establishment of the Coalition for Jobs & Growth to help ensure that American businesses of all types have access to the international expertise they need to continue to drive forward economic growth and job creation. The Coalition’s members are drawn from the […]

8 Jun, 2013

Former drone operator says he’s haunted by his part in more than 1,600 deaths – Open Channel

A former Air Force drone operator who says he participated in missions that killed more than 1,600 people remembers watching one of the first victims bleed to death. Brandon Bryant says he was sitting in a chair at a Nevada Air Force base operating the camera when his team fired two missiles from their drone […]

8 Jun, 2013

10 Things Americans Underestimate About Our Massive Surveillance State | Alternet

June 7, 2013 | Americans may be upset about the latest revelations in the government’s ability to spy on citizens via their online lives, but no one should be surprised. We’ve underestimated and overlooked many key aspects of the government’s ability to track our lives for years. The bottom line, which resonates most strongly among […]

8 Jun, 2013

Dept. of Homeland Security: Laptops, Phones Can Be Searched Based on Hunches – CBS DC

U.S. border agents should continue to be allowed to search a traveler’s laptop, cellphone or other electronic device and keep copies of any data on them based on no more than a hunch, according to an internal Homeland Security Department study. It contends limiting such searches would prevent the U.S. from detecting child pornographers or […]

7 Jun, 2013

US Soldier: How I killed 16 civilians

US soldier describes how he murdered unarmed women and children in Afghanistan. Read the rest: How I killed 16 civilians.

6 Jun, 2013

Corporate power has turned Britain into a corrupt state | The Guardian

The truth is that parliamentary sleaze merchants are small fry in the corporate lobbying game. Before he became prime minister, Cameron predicted that secret corporate lobbying was “the next big scandal waiting to happen”, adding: “We all know how it works.” As a former lobbyist himself, he certainly did – and still does. Cameron’s own […]

6 Jun, 2013

How to destroy the future | Noam Chomsky | guardian.co.uk

What is the future likely to bring? A reasonable stance might be to try to look at the human species from the outside. So imagine that you’re an extraterrestrial observer who is trying to figure out what’s happening here or, for that matter, imagine you’re an historian 100 years from now – assuming there are […]

6 Jun, 2013

MoneyGram Survey Alerts Summer Family Travellers To Email Scams, Fraud

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DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–04 June 2013 – A recent survey from MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI), a global money transfer company, revealed that nearly one-third of consumers aged 18-49 post details about their vacations on social media before or during their trip. Sharing summer travel plans can serve as an invitation for criminals to target family members with the […]

6 Jun, 2013

Feeling tired? Blame city living – The Independent

Living in urban areas could have major impact on the biological clocks of humans and animals, a study suggests. City life can be a draining experience compared to living in the countryside. Now scientists have proven its not just humans who are affected. A team of Scottish scientists measured the circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycle […]

6 Jun, 2013

How to avoid harassment: Chinese Cops tell girls to shun “minimal clothing” – Indian Express

As complaints of sexual harassment of women in public transport increased here, the Beijing Police has warned women against wearing “minimal clothing” like mini skirts or hot pants while travelling in buses and subways. “Women should not wear minimal clothing, such as mini skirts or hot pants when taking public transportation and should call police […]

6 Jun, 2013

India’s visually impaired students shine in PSEB Class 10 results – Hindustan Times

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Chandigarh, (Punjab) – Hindustan Times – Although the Class 10 result of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) was not according to the expectations, but the students of Institute for Blind, Sector 26 has given a surprising result. The result was declared on Tuesday and the visually impaired students have outshined the normal students as […]

6 Jun, 2013

Palestinian Christians Surprised To Receive Travel Permits from Israel

Alaa from Beit Jala was surprised like many other Palestinian Christians this week when their local church leaders acquired three-month travel permits that will allow them to visit Jerusalem and Israel, and even stay overnight if they choose to. The permits, however, were not given to all Palestinian Christians. “As part of the easings given […]

6 Jun, 2013

Canadian visa refusal for Palestinian poet overturned after social media campaign

A social media victory is being claimed on behalf of the leading Palestinian poet Ghassan Zaqtan after his visa to enter Canada to attend a prestigious poetry award ceremony – initially denied – was granted on Thursday. Zaqtan was shortlisted for the C$65,000 (£41,000) Griffin poetry prize in April for his 10th collection Like a […]

6 Jun, 2013

Australia makes its conferences more accessible for People with Disability

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4 June 2013 – Australians with disability will be supported to attend conferences across the country, thanks to $350,000 from the Gillard Government under the National Disability Conference Initiative. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Amanda Rishworth, today announced 34 conference organisers will receive grants of up to $12,000 to assist people with disability and […]

6 Jun, 2013

Security Contractor G4S faces storm of protest at AGM over links to Israel

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London, (Palestine Solidarity Campaign Press Release) – On Thursday 6 June 2013 executives and shareholders attending the G4S’ AGM will face a storm of protest against G4S’ profiting from Israel’s illegal detention and torture of Palestinians. Human rights campaigners will gather outside the G4S Annual General Meeting to alert shareholders to the company’s complicity in […]

5 Jun, 2013

New OECD report offers tips on how households can green their behaviour

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OECD – Paris, 5 June 2013 – People care for the environment, and a large majority state that they are willing to make compromises to green their lifestyle according to a new OECD survey of 12,000 households. However, the economic crisis has taken its toll, and the survey shows that the environment is slipping down […]

5 Jun, 2013

The 4 Plagues: Getting a Handle on the Coming Apocalypse | Alternet

June 4, 2013 | Every day, thousands, probably millions of people ask their family, friends, neighbors and colleagues similar and increasingly familiar questions: What has happened to our country? How did we get here? Isn’t it scary? Can anything be done about it? There is an abundance of evidence that there are forces tearing apart […]

5 Jun, 2013

Myanmar Unveils $500 Million Tourism Plan

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NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR (Asian Development Bank media release) 5 June 2013 – The Government of Myanmar, alongside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Norway, today unveiled a Tourism Master Plan which outlines 38 development projects valued at nearly a half billion dollars that will help increase Myanmar’s tourism competitiveness, protect environmentally […]

5 Jun, 2013

FREE Download: New Research Lists Low-Cost Actions for Cutting Food Loss and Waste

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Washington DC / Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) / Portland / Nairobi, 5 June 2013 – One out of every four calories produced by the global agricultural system is being lost or wasted, according to new analysis. This poses a serious challenge to the planet’s ability to reduce hunger and meet the food needs of a rapidly-expanding global […]

5 Jun, 2013

Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines Agree to Work on ASEAN Common Smart Visa

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Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 5 June 2013 – Ministers and tourism authorities of Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines have expressed their intention to collaborate with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to facilitate travel in the region by developing a common smart visa system, and have signed the “Statement […]

5 Jun, 2013

FREE Download: World of Work Report 2013

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United Nations, Jun 3 2013 (UN News Centre) – Five years after the global financial crisis, the world employment situation remains uneven with emerging and developing economies recovering much faster than most advanced countries, the United Nations labour agency today reported, warning of potential social unrest, particularly in Europe. “These figures present a positive development […]

5 Jun, 2013

FREE Download: The State of Global Food and Agriculture Report

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United Nations, Jun 4 2013 (UN News Centre) – The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for greater efforts to combat malnutrition and hunger worldwide as the agency launched its flagship annual report, which this year focuses on improved food systems for better nutrition. In a message marking the […]

5 Jun, 2013

Israel Must Stop Settlements, End Occupation, U.N. Chief Tells Jewish Global Forum

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United Natios, Jun 3 2013 (UN News Centre) — Israel has a right to live in peace and security, but needs to halt settlement activity and take concrete action to end the occupations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated, cautioning that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is approaching “a point of no return.” “The occupation, now nearing half […]

5 Jun, 2013

Surveillance Technologies Must Not Undermine Freedom Of Expression – U.N. Expert

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United Nations, Jun 4 2013 (UN News Centre) – Surveillance technologies used by Governments must not violate their citizens’ privacy, a United Nations independent expert stressed today, calling on States to ensure that free expression is not compromised. “Freedom of expression cannot be ensured without respect to privacy in communications,” said Special Rapporteur on freedom […]

5 Jun, 2013

Chinese Premier Terms Services Vital To “Upgrades” Of Global Economies

UNCTAD News Release

Beijing, 3 June 2013 (UNCTAD News release) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang told a joint Leaders’ Summit of the Global Services Forum (GSF) and the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) on Wednesday that services sectors around the world represent the most important opportunities for growth and economic “upgrading” sought by developing countries. […]

4 Jun, 2013

Will the Upcoming China-U.S. Summit Lead to Cooperation or Confrontation?

By Ruan Zongze, (People's Daily Online)

June 01, 2013 – Recently, U.S. media is paying more and more attention to the upcoming China-U.S. presidential summit. On May 27, American officials visited China, paving the way for Xi-Obama meeting. Meanwhile, the 2013 Fortune Global Forum (FGF) will be held in the city of Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan province from June 6 […]

4 Jun, 2013

Tourism Academics Grapple With Need to Upgrade Their Own Innovation, Relevance

By Imtiaz Muqbil -- a Travel Impact Newswire exclusive

BANGKOK – When delegates turned up for a conference of tourism academics in Bangkok between 25-28 May, they were handed paper-bags as delegate kits. That’s true, literally speaking. Three students of conference organiser Siam University, and one lecturer, took hundreds of old newspapers and magazines from the University library and a local coffee chain and […]

4 Jun, 2013

Economic boom has affected air quality in Indian cities – Indian Express

India’s economic development has led to worsening of air quality in major Indian cities, according to a new study published here today. The survey was carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in six major cities Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. The transport sector was ranked the highest followed by factories […]

3 Jun, 2013

The Tables Turn: RT becomes first TV news channel to hit 1 billion views on YouTube

It’s official: RT is the first TV news channel to reach 1 billion views on the video-sharing website YouTube, beating its long-established rivals to the mark. RT is the first dedicated news network to join YouTube’s elite “1 billion club”, dominated by comedy clips, music videos and entertainment shows produced by networks like BBC and […]

3 Jun, 2013

The Tables Turn: Fiji Government Blasts Corruption in UK Government

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The following statement was issued by the Fijian Government and released worldwide on 1 June 2013. Not surprisingly, it went unreported by many international media. SUVA, Fiji, June 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Bainimarama Government commends the British media for revealing corruption in the British Government. Fiji has the toughest anti-corruption record in the South Pacific. However, the […]

3 Jun, 2013

Philippines Declares Sheikh Karimul Makhdum Mosque Historical Landmark

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 June 2013 (24 Rajab 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

3 Jun, 2013

Pilot reform to improve China’s data credibility

By Wang Ying in Shanghai (China Daily)

Shanghai, 2013-06-01 – The central government’s fixed-asset investment reform trial in four regions across the nation will greatly improve the credibility of the nation’s economic indictors, an expert said on Friday. “Fixed-asset investment plays a key role in driving China’s economic growth, so working on the pilot reform of fixed-asset investment and ensuring accuracy of […]

3 Jun, 2013

Xinhua Commentary Warns: Not In U.S. Interests to Get Involved in More Conflict

By Chen Jipeng (Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, June 1 (Xinhua) — It’s obvious that there is no need to pit a rising China against the United States — even as a Pacific power. Well, maybe not so obvious. At least not so to a South Korean participant at the ongoing Shangri-La Dialogue who posed the question “Do you have more trust […]

2 Jun, 2013

The perils of travelling while Muslim – The World Daily

Is the mere fact that a person prays to Allah grounds for being held at gunpoint, handcuffed and repeatedly harassed while crossing from Canada into the United States? That’s the question a federal judge in Detroit is weighing after hearing arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit filed on behalf of four Muslim Americans in Michigan who […]

2 Jun, 2013

FREE Download: Gallup Report Says 21st Century Skills Linked to Work Success

by Jenna Levy and Preety Sidhu

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Young U.S. adults who say they “often” developed 21st century skills — such as real-world problem-solving and global awareness — in their last year of school are more likely to self-report higher work quality. Gallup, in collaboration with Microsoft Partners in Learning and the Pearson Foundation, developed a 21st century skills index […]

2 Jun, 2013

Survey: 97% of B2B Marketers Expect Faster Pace of Change as They “Navigate Chaos”

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CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 29, 2013 –In a survey released today, 97 percent of business-to-business marketing leaders say they are doing new types of work, that new skills for marketers will be desperately needed going forward and that the pace of relentless change in their worlds is expected to pick up. These are among the key findings […]

2 Jun, 2013

Gallup Poll: Most Americans Say Religion Is Losing Influence in U.S.

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PRINCETON, NJ — May 29, 2013 – (Gallup) Over three-quarters of Americans (77%) say religion is losing its influence on American life, while 20% say religion’s influence is increasing. These represent Americans’ most negative evaluations of the impact of religion since 1970, although similar to the views measured in recent years. Americans over the years […]

2 Jun, 2013

New Survey Defines Role For Social Media in M&A

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TORONTO– May 29, 2013–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fasken Martineau, an international business law and litigation firm, released today the results of a survey of senior M&A executives primarily based in the United States that leads to some compelling observations about the growing use of social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook. The study found that some 32% […]

2 Jun, 2013

Most Executive Education Programs Are “Rotten, Unusable, Elitist, Soulless Products”

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MALAGA, Spain, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Lies, cheat, deceit, distortion, games, hype, empty promises, a blind pursuit of profit at any price and a complete neglect of all negative externalities has poisoned the planet and humanity. The destruction of the planet, its ecosystems and the alienation of human’s from their soul and genuine inner human […]