22 Jul, 2013

Weapons of Mass Distraction—Why the Media Most Americans Consume Is Harmful to Public Health | Alternet

Across the world — Greece, Spain, Brazil, Egypt — citizens are turning angrily to their governments to demand economic fair play and equality. But here in America, with few exceptions, the streets and airwaves remain relatively silent. In a country as rich and powerful as America, why is there so little outcry about the ever-increasing, […]

22 Jul, 2013

PressTV – Ex-MI6 chief threatens to expose secrets of Iraq war

Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove has threatened to expose secrets of Iraq war if he faces censure from the Chilcot inquiry into British involvement in the Iraq war. Sir Richard, who provided intelligence about former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s Weapons of Mass Destruction WMDs, told the Daily Mail that he wrote a detailed […]

22 Jul, 2013

Rioters set Paris ablaze over ban on Islamic veil – The Independent

Interior Minister Manuel Valls appealed for calm. Community leaders said that the riots were a response to the frequent violence and insulting language used by police, rather than a protest against the two-year-old law banning burkas or other full-face coverings. On the second night of protest about 50 young people burned cars and threw Molotov […]

22 Jul, 2013

Visually Impaired Indian Student Memorises Holy Quran Through Braille

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 22 July 2013 (14 Ramadan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

22 Jul, 2013

Prominent Indian filmmaker boycotts Haifa festival to protest Israeli apartheid – Haaretz

Award-winning Indian director Mira Nair has turned down an invitation to be guest of honor at the Haifa Film Festival for political reasons, posting on her Twitter page that she would not visit Israel until “Apartheid is over.” “I will not be going to Israel at this time,” she tweeted last Friday in the second […]

22 Jul, 2013

European Data Privacy Chief says key Entry/Exit System proposal is “costly, unproven and intrusive”

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Brussels, 19 July 2013, European Commission Press Release – There is no clear evidence that the Commission Proposals to create a smart border system for the external borders of the EU will fulfil the aims that it has set out, said the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today. Following the publication of his opinion which […]

22 Jul, 2013

China shuts down travel agency in GlaxoSmithKline bribery case

By Shi Yingyingin (chinadaily.com.cn)

Shanghai, 2013-07-19 – Shanghai’s tourism authority shut down a travel agency that is under bribery investigation in connection with British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, Xinhua News Agency said on Thursday. Shanghai Linjiang International Travel Agency is suspected of falsifying bills, according to Shanghai Tourism Administration. The agency was ordered to suspend business and overhaul internal procedures. […]

22 Jul, 2013

The Taxman Cometh: Tourism Multinationals to Face Global Heat Over Tax Evasion, Avoidance

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Paris, OECD Media Release, 19/07/2013 – National tax laws have not kept pace with the globalisation of corporations and the digital economy, leaving gaps that can be exploited by multi-national corporations to artificially reduce their taxes. OECD’s Action Plan on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) offers a global roadmap that will allow governments to […]

22 Jul, 2013

Healthcare Study Identifies Significant Access Barriers in India

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NEW DELHI, India–(BUSINESS WIRE)– July 19, 2013 – While progress has been made in India over the past decade from both public and private sector initiatives, significant challenges persist in providing quality healthcare on an equitable, accessible and affordable basis across all regions and communities, according to a new IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics study. […]

22 Jul, 2013

Gallup Organization to Pay $10.5 Million to Resolve Whistleblower Lawsuit

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)—15 JULY 2013 The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today that it has reached a settlement with the Gallup Organization over charges that Gallup had violated the False Claims Act and the Procurement Integrity Act in connection with federal contracts. Gallup has agreed to pay $10.5 million to resolve these allegations that were […]

21 Jul, 2013

Guizhou aims to become “Switzerland in the East”

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GUIYANG, 2013-07-21 (Xinhua) — Well-preserved ecological environment and abundant tourism resources have emboldened officials in southwest China’s Guizhou Province to build their hometown into a “Switzerland in the East”. At an international environmental protection forum held in Guiyang,capital of Guizhou Province, Saturday, local officials said geological resemblance between their hometown and Switzerland gives them advantages […]

21 Jul, 2013

China sends strong signal of “deep-water” economic reform

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BEIJING, 2013-07-21, (Xinhua) — In freeing up lending rates, China has sent a strong signal that it is feeling its way in the “deep water” of reform, moving toward a more open, market-oriented economy. On Friday, China’s central bank announced the sooner-than-expected removal of controls on bank lending rates, effective on Saturday. It canceled the […]

21 Jul, 2013

Reflections on Helen Thomas: Gutsy Journo Who Kept U.S. Presidents On Their Toes

Nicholas F. Benton, Owner-Editor, the Falls Church News-Press

FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Kind words came today from the President of the United States and the  President of the White House Correspondents Association on the passing this morning, at age 92, of legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas. As President Obama said in his short statement, “Helen was a true […]

21 Jul, 2013

Whistleblower law firm probes Expedia Vacation-Waiver Program

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SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– July 19, 2013 – Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP, a consumer-rights law firm, is investigating claims that Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) may be violating a number of consumer-protection laws in its marketing of its Vacation Waiver program. The firm is investigating potential issues experienced by individuals who purchased an Expedia Vacation Waiver for travel with […]

21 Jul, 2013

Goodbye to my American Dream by Tiffanie Drayton – Alternet

I survived because I was never able to make America my home. I never watched my childhood neighborhood become whitened by helicopter lights in search of criminals or hipsters in search of apartments. No state, city or town has been a mother to me, cradling generations of my family near her bosom, to then be […]

21 Jul, 2013

America’s race question that won’t go away – Sydney Morning Herald

Barack Obama rightly argued on Friday that the lot of successive generations is better. But the he also articulated the ”why” behind the white-black disconnect. “In the African-American community at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here,” he said. ”I think it’s important to recognise that the African-American community is looking at […]

21 Jul, 2013

Filipino Bishops: GDP Grows, So Why Do the Poor Remain Poor?

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Manila, Philippines July 21, 2013 (Manila Bulletin) — The 7.8 percent growth in the first quarter of the year was something that the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III crows about. Yet, according to the Catholic prelates Filipinos continue to be poor, unable to benefit from this economic growth. Without any evident trickledown effect […]

21 Jul, 2013

University study: Social media impacting teen girls self-esteem

Even though 80 per cent of the girls surveyed were classified as normal weight, 46 per cent said they were dissatisfied with how much they weighed. “Time spent on social network sites was related to lower self-esteem, body-esteem, sense of identity and higher depression,” Amy Slater from Flinders University’s school of psychology said. Social commentator […]

21 Jul, 2013

EU eyes flexible visa rules for China tourists

By Meng Jing

Beijing, 2013-07-20, (China Daily) – The European Union is working on “flexible rules” for visa applications to woo Chinese travelers in a bid to boost the region’s tourism industry, said a top official from the European Commission on Friday. Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the European Commission, told a news conference in Beijing that the commission […]

21 Jul, 2013

More Revelations: US drone strikes guided from Australian outback

A Fairfax Media investigation has now confirmed a primary function of the top-secret signals intelligence base near Alice Springs is to track the precise ”geolocation” of radio signals, including those of hand-held radios and mobile phones, in the eastern hemisphere, from the Middle East across Asia to China, North Korea and the Russian far east. […]

20 Jul, 2013

In Sri Lanka, As One Disastrous Conflict Ends, Another Looms

By Latheef Farook, Colombo Telegraph

Colombo – Organized attacks on Muslims which began almost two years ago continue unabated while the government remains indifferent, impatient Muslims thinking of turning to streets to highlight their grievance and Muslims worldwide closely monitoring developments here. Growing feeling within the Muslim community is that though these attacks look isolated, but they are well organized […]

20 Jul, 2013

Thai Central Bank Governor Outlines Opportunities, Challenges Facing The Asian Century

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Bangkok — The following is the full text of the speech by Dr. Prasarn Trairatvorakul, Governor, Bank of Thailand At The Nation’s 43rd Anniversary International Conference, 19 July 2013. The theme of the conference was “Asia Driving the World.” Distinguished CEO and Chairman, Members of Asia News Network, Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen, It is […]

20 Jul, 2013

Singapore Science Festival 2013 Opens Bigger and Better

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Singapore, July 19, 2013 – (ACN Newswire) – The Singapore Science Festival 2013 kicks off today with the launch of X-periment!, a weekend science carnival held from July 19th to July 21st, by Guest-of-Honour Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) at the Central Atrium in Marina Square. The Festival, […]

20 Jul, 2013

Post-2015 Framework “Must Prioritise Help for World’s 1 Billion Disabled”

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United Nations, Department of Public Information (17 July 2013) – Many of the 1 billion disabled people around the world lacked the protections to which they were entitled, even though 132 countries had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a senior official of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs said […]

20 Jul, 2013

Historic First Performance by Chinese and Indian dulcimers

By Mu Qian (China Daily)

2013-07-18 – For the first time, the Chinese dulcimer yangqin and the Indian dulcimer santoor were played together with a symphony orchestra at a recent concert in Beijing titled East Meets East. “I hope we can keep our own music idioms but at the same time find some common ground,” says yangqin player Liu Yuening, […]

20 Jul, 2013

Chinese courts to create credit blacklists

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BEIJING, July 19, (Xinhua) — Chinese courts will create credit blacklists and make them available to the public, according to a regulation promulgated by the country’s top court on Friday. The regulation, which will take effect from Oct. 1, will urge people who lose their credibility in enforcing judicial execution to perform their duties as […]

20 Jul, 2013

China launches trans-continental cargo train to Germany

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ZHENGZHOU, July 17 (Xinhua) — A cargo train from Zhengzhou in central China to Hamburg in Germany will be launched on Thursday to boost bilateral trade, Chinese railway authorities said Wednesday. The container train will start its journey from Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province and pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, White Russia, Poland before reaching Germany, […]

20 Jul, 2013

India Plans Ways to Curb Child Marriage

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Ministry of Women and Child Development, 18-July, 2013, Ministry for Women and Child Development organised a day long National Consultation on draft plan of action on Prevention of Child Marriage, here today. The meeting was presided over by Ms. Nita Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry for Women and Child Development. Also present at the meeting was Mrs […]

20 Jul, 2013

EU Justice Commissioner: U.S. Surveillance is a violation of trust

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Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Justice Commissioner, made the following remarks at the DLD Women Conference 2013/Munich, 15 July 2013. I’m glad about the opportunity to ‘break new ground’, with you. For me, personally, the DLD is as an extremely useful platform to ‘break new ground’ – some of you might recall […]

20 Jul, 2013

Nearly 2,000 at Fukushima No. 1 face higher thyroid cancer risk | The Japan Times

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Friday that 1,973 workers at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant have estimated thyroid radiation doses exceeding 100 millisieverts and are therefore at higher risk of getting thyroid cancer. The workers will be allowed to undergo annual ultrasonic thyroid examinations free of charge, the utility said. Tepco has given health […]

20 Jul, 2013

Miss Wheelchair Thailand contest kicks off

Ten photographs from the unique Miss Wheelchair Thailand contest. Click here: Miss Wheelchair Thailand contest kicks off – Xinhua.

20 Jul, 2013

Growing up Muslim in America – Financial Times

Many of the young Muslim Americans in Brooklyn can recount stories of public accusations of being a terrorist, rocks being thrown through their car windows, being targeted for “flying while Muslim”. Many know someone who has answered a knock at the door and found the FBI. More than one-third – 36 per cent – of […]

20 Jul, 2013

Sydney Morning Herald: Time to rethink the role alcohol plays in city violence

This week the connection between alcohol and street violence came into sharp focus again with the head of the NSW Police Association, Scott Weber, making the extraordinary call for the abolition of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing – the state government agency which oversees regulation of licensed venues. Weber’s call followed the bashing […]

19 Jul, 2013

Detention Watch Releases Infographic Revealing “Ugly Truth” About U.S. Immigration Detention

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– July 17, 2013  – “Detention: The Whole Truth,” an infographic series today released by Detention Watch Network illustrates the shockingly unjust and inhumane system detained immigrants face in the United States. The three-part series reveals an immigration system fraught with bed quotas, denied due process, deplorable conditions, and a billion-dollar private prison industry […]

19 Jul, 2013

Incheon named “World Book Capital 2015”

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19.07.2013 – UNESCOPRESS – The city of Incheon (Republic of Korea) was named World Book Capital for the year 2015 by an international committee of experts representing the book industry and UNESCO, that met on 16 July at the Organization’s Headquarters. The city of Incheon was chosen “on account of the quality of its programme […]

19 Jul, 2013

Indian PM: Weak Rupee Will Help Make Exports More Competitive

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Prime Minister’s Office, 19-July, 2013 – The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed the 92nd Annual General Meeting of ASSOCHAM in New Delhi today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s address on the occasion: “I am delighted to be with you today to inaugurate the ASSOCHAM’s AGM, 2013. ASSOCHAM has, over the years, […]

19 Jul, 2013

World Marketing Summit to be held in Malaysia in Sept 2013

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — The World Marketing Summit Malaysia 2013 (WMSM2013) which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from September 28th to 30th, is a platform designed for the sharing of actual case studies of campaigns that have been successfully implemented as opposed to just theoretical ideation. The topic on […]

19 Jul, 2013

Europe weighs ways to cut 89 million tons of annual food waste

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Brussels, 15 July 2013, European Commission Press release – In Europe we waste about 89 million tons of food every year. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: “This is morally and economically unacceptable and is all the more horrific when you consider the true scale of the resources required to produce those 89 million tons! We […]

19 Jul, 2013

The U.S. Drone Strike that Killed His American Grandson – Who Will Be Held Accountable?

Ed Walsh, All Alabama. www.al.com

A former agricultural minister in Yemen says his 16-year-old grandson, a U.S. citizen, was killed by an American drone strike in 2011.  Now, two years later, Nasser al-Awlaki still has very little information about the circumstances surrounding his grandson’s death. Al-Awlaki described his story in an op-ed written for the New York Times. Al-Awlaki’s grandson, Abdulrahman, […]

19 Jul, 2013

Special Report on Nelson Mandela day: The Future of “Freedom” and Its Impact on Travel

Exclusive by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil

On July 18, the world marked Nelson Mandela Day with sombre reminders of his contribution to the cause of global freedom and democracy. On the same day, however, two whistleblowers were seeking refuge in an embassy and an airport transit lounge, seeking to escape the wrath of the U.S., a country that former President George […]

19 Jul, 2013

WTO report: Developing World, Demographics, Technology Driving Rapid Change in World Trade

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Geneva, 18 July 2013, WTO PRESS RELEASE – The future of world trade, and the global trading system, will be shaped by a range of economic, political and social factors, including technological innovation, shifts in production and consumption patterns, and demographic change, according to the 2013 World Trade Report published by the WTO on 18 […]

19 Jul, 2013

On International Day, UN Pays Tribute To Nelson Mandela, a former Prisoner of Conscience

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United Nations, Jul 18 2013 – The United Nations today marked Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating the South African leader’s 95th birthday and honouring his dedication to public service, social justice and reconciliation, inspiring millions around the world. To commemorate the Day, the UN is joining a call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to “Take […]

18 Jul, 2013

Fascinating Factoids about the social status of Europe, in one pocketbook

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Brussels, 17 July 2013, Eurostats press release – How many foreign citizens live in an EU Member State? And how many of them come from another EU Member State? How is the risk of poverty influenced by the level of education? Are there more females or more males among the student population in the EU? […]

18 Jul, 2013

Cleanliness, Safety Issues Dominate Indian National Tourism Conference

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 18-July, 2013 – A National Tourism Ministers’ Conference was held here today to discuss the future strategies for realising the full tourism potential of the country. The Conference was chaired by Union Tourism Minister Mr K. Chiranjeevi. State and Union Territory Tourism Authorities were represented either through their Tourism Ministers […]

18 Jul, 2013

Asia Times Online : How to be a rogue superpower

The result has been a global spectacle, as well as a worldwide debate about the spying practices of the US (and its allies). In these weeks, Washington has proven determined, vengeful, implacable. It has strong-armed, threatened, and elbowed powers large and small. It has essentially pledged that the leaker, former Booz Allen employee Edward Snowden, […]

18 Jul, 2013

Ramadan 2013: Fasting for the body, food for the soul – The Independent

The Independent

Dr Michael Mosley’s Horizon investigation in 2012, which studied the effects of intermittent fasting, and in which he fasted two days out of every week (living on 600 calories during his fasting days) spawned the popularity of the 5:2 diet. Dr Mosley presented medical evidence for the life-extending and life-improving benefits of fasting on the […]

18 Jul, 2013

Tune Hotels Opens First Property in Mindanao

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July 18, 2013 – International hotel group Tune Hotels has widened its presence in the Philippines with the opening of its first hotel in the southern island of Mindanao at Cagayan de Oro City. Tune Hotels Group CEO Mark Lankester said: “This is our fifth footprint in the Philippines. Thanks to the booming Philippine economy […]

18 Jul, 2013

Myanmar faces ageing population, must fast-track development, says OECD-ESCAP report

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OECD – Paris, 18 July 2013 – Myanmar faces a crucial few years to come to ignite economic growth and embark on a higher, more sustainable and more equitable development trajectory. The challenge is even more important as the country’s population will start ageing in 2017, says the Multi-dimensional Review of Myanmar: Initial Assessment which […]

18 Jul, 2013

Indian President Outlines Challenges Facing Critical Agricultural Sector

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New Delhi, President’s Secretariat, 16-July, 2013 – Address by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee on the Occasion of the 85th Foundation Day of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). 1. It is indeed a privilege for me to be associated with the eighty fifth foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) […]

18 Jul, 2013

Chinese economist warns: Prepare for shockwaves as U.S. exits Quantitative Easing

By Mei Xinyu

Beijing, 2013-07-16, (China Daily) – The three main economic issues discussed at the fifth Sino-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington last week were increasing bilateral trade, facilitating structural reforms and enhancing cooperation in financial markets. The most important financial issue for the world’s two largest economies, however, is how to deal with the possible […]

18 Jul, 2013

Chinese companies outline challenges of investing abroad

By Du Juan

Beijing, July 16, 2013, (China Daily) – As Chinese steel firms step up their efforts to explore resources abroad, there have been ups and downs in their gains because of inexperienced risk management. Facing increasing domestic demand for iron ore with high import prices in recent years, Chinese steel companies have been trying to find […]

18 Jul, 2013

European Citizens’ Dialogue: “We should whine less, believe in ourselves more”

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Heidelberg, 16 July 2013 (European Commission) – The Vice-President of the European Commission, Viviane Reding, and the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, today held one of the Citizens’ Dialogues on the future of Europe that have been initiated by the Commission. After twenty-four dialogues in fourteen EU Member States, it was the turn of […]

18 Jul, 2013

EU bids to curb pesticides to better protect Europe’s honey bees

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Brussels, 16 July 2013, European Commission Press release – A Commission proposal to restrict the use of Fipronil, an insecticide which has recently been identified as posing an acute risk to Europe’s honey bee population, was backed by Member State experts meeting today in the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health. This […]

18 Jul, 2013

Chinese premier highlights “scientific economic policies”

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BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Tuesday that macroeconomic policies should be more scientific, forward-looking and targeted to promote continuous and healthy growth in the long run. Li made the comments at a conference about the country’s current economic situation, after data showed China’s economic growth slowed to 7.5 percent in […]

18 Jul, 2013

Indian Engineering Sector Seeks New Markets in Africa

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 16-July, 2013 – Concerned over a sharp year-on-year fall of 9.25 per cent drop in engineering exports in June despite rupee depreciation by about same ratio in the last two months, the EEPC India (Formerly known as Engineering Exports Promotion Council) with support of the Commerce & External Affairs Ministries […]

18 Jul, 2013

New alcohol-free bar debuts in London’s trendiest district – The Independent

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The last time dry bars could be described as being in vogue, we had a Queen Empress on the throne and men still wore stove pipe hats. And yet, bang in the middle of London’s most trendy borough, a new one is set to open this weekend. Called Redemption, it harks back to the inglorious […]

17 Jul, 2013

“Fish cannot go to court”: EC seeks opinions on improving access to environmental justice

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Brussels, 15 July 2013, European Commission Press release – The European Commission has launched a public consultation on ways to improve access to justice in the field of the environment. Access to justice – the right to challenge decisions or omissions by public bodies that are suspected of not complying with environmental law – is […]

17 Jul, 2013

People’s Daily Commentary: ‘Prism’ burns America’s Internet supremacy

Edited and Translated by Zhang Qian

July 16, 2013 (People’s Daily Online) – Finally, Snowden has made his reappearance. Speculation concerning his whereabouts has excited considerable media attention around the world, but this should not become a pretext for avoiding the hard questions around the Prism event. Washington still owes a reasonable explanation to a lot of countries, including China. And […]

17 Jul, 2013

Global Times Commentary: Washington must overhaul bipolar way of thinking

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July 16, 2013 – The annual China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) just concluded. Both sides can now reflect and think about the future. But can Washington put behind its Cold War mind-set, and will current US policy lead to peaceful and constructive relations with China? Some critics believe the current US policy will lead […]

17 Jul, 2013

Tips to Safeguard Against Ruining the Summer Vacation

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San Diego, California (PRWEB) July 16, 2013 – Now that many U.S. families are about to take their 2013 summer vacation, American Travel Suppliers has released a set of travel tips for families to follow to help them have a safe vacation. These suggestions include things like how to insure important documents are never lost, […]

17 Jul, 2013

Secret court allows Yahoo to disclose U.S. surveillance data requests

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July 16, 2013 – [JURIST] – (University of Pittsburgh School of Law) – The US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on Monday granted a motion by Yahoo to declassify a 2008 FISC judgment that required the company to comply with government requests for user information under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The FISC also […]

17 Jul, 2013

Whistleblower Doctor Exposed Illegal Activities That Forced U.S. Hospital to Pay $39 Million

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Editor’s Comment This press release by the U.S. law firm Goldberg Kohn, reproduced verbatim, indicates that whistleblowers are not only coming forward but also getting legal support, which is  being publicised by the lawyers. It should set off warning bells in the health & wellness sector, and the medical system as a whole. If treated […]

17 Jul, 2013

Man sells wife to buy liquor, arrested – Hindustan Times

Mumbai – An alcoholic has been arrested for allegedly selling his wife to a friend for Rs.25,000 to finance his drinking, police said Sunday. Read the rest: Man sells wife to buy liquor, arrested – Hindustan Times.

17 Jul, 2013

Visa officers’ strike in Canada to hit Indian students most – Hindustan Times

Canada may have issued a record number of visas to Indians, but the figures could dwindle due to an ongoing strike of visa officers since April. With India being home to Canada’s largest overseas visa office, the strike by a union of Canadian foreign service officers may affect the plans of thousands of Indian students […]

17 Jul, 2013

Macau becomes a gold mine for U.S. casino companies – The Japan Times

The gambling mecca of Macau now handles more wagers than all U.S.-based commercial casinos put together, and many of those bets end up swelling the balance sheets of U.S. corporations. But as U.S. gambling companies have remade Macau, Macau has also remade them. Chasing riches, these companies have been hit with allegations of improper conduct, […]

17 Jul, 2013

Ross Gittins on why Australians are losing their egalitarianism – Sydney Morning Herald

I was chastened years ago on an industrial relations junket as a guest of the German government. The Aussies in the group went out to see the sights one night in Munich. When, eventually, we decided to go back to the hotel we realised one of the group was missing. I said I thought he […]

17 Jul, 2013

Dead Pigs Dumped Near Muslim Graves in Australian cemetery – WAToday

Authorities are investigating an incident in which two dead pigs were dumped in the Muslim section of a Baldivis cemetery. Two pigs’ heads and a pile of entrails were left beneath a sign denoting the Muslim burial area of Rockingham Regional Memorial Park. Cemetery staff discovered the carcasses on Monday morning and notified police, the […]

17 Jul, 2013

Modi gets RSS nod to raise Ram temple issue in 2014 polls – Hindustan Times

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday endorsed BJP poll campaign chief and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s plan to raise the Ram temple issue in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This emerged in a meeting – which lasted for two-and-a-half hours — between Modi and Bhagwat at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Tuesday evening, […]

17 Jul, 2013

6 Whistleblowers Who Turned Out To Be Right After Being Ignored – Huffington Post

When Edward Snowden revealed himself as the whistleblower who leaked information about the National Security Agency’s data collection program, he became the subject of troves of media attention and an international manhunt. Such a situation is relatively rare. Consider the many whistleblowers — especially those in corporate America — who cry foul, only to watch […]

17 Jul, 2013

Met chief sorry for police spies using dead children’s identities – guardian.co.uk

Britain’s most senior police officer has offered a general apology for the “morally repugnant” theft of dead children’s identities by undercover spies who infiltrated political groups. But Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, has refused to tell any families if the identities of their children were stolen by the undercover officers. He said he wanted […]

17 Jul, 2013

Asia Times Online: Tour of shame for Myanmar President Thein Sein

BANGKOK – Myanmar’s President Thein Sein travels to London and Paris this week, where he will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande. Now that decades-long European Union economic sanctions against Myanmar have been lifted – with the exception of an arms embargo – trade and investment are expected to dominate […]

16 Jul, 2013

Little respite seen for youth, low-skilled workers worst hit by jobs crisis in OECD countries

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Paris, (OECD media release) 16/07/2013 – Unemployment in OECD countries will remain high through 2014, with young people and the low-skilled hit hardest, according to a new OECD report. Download the data in Excel for all OECD countries The Employment Outlook 2013 says that jobless rates will fall only slightly over the next 18 months, […]

16 Jul, 2013

China’s cash-thirsty small business get more loans

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BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — China’s banks extended more loans to the country’s small and micro-sized enterprises, as cash-strapped companies played a pivotal role in stabilizing employment, official data showed Monday. By the end of May, the credit balance of small and micro-sized enterprises totaled 16 trillion yuan (2.58 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for 22.22 […]

16 Jul, 2013

Merkel calls for stronger Europe, global data rules

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BERLIN, July 15 (Xinhua) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Sunday for strict global rules on the protection of personal data in the wake of the recently revealed U.S. surveillance activities in EU and Germany. In a TV interview with the public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening, Merkel said Germany wanted internet companies to tell […]

16 Jul, 2013

Indian Tourism Minister: 180 Monuments up for “adoption” by corporate sector

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 15-July, 2013 – Union Tourism Minister Mr K. Chiranjeevi has called for the active involvement of the corporate sector to “adopt important tourist sites and monuments as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.” Chairing the meeting of National Tourism Advisory Council here today, he noted that the Indian […]

16 Jul, 2013

Wealth gap eroding New Zealand’s egalitarian society: study

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WELLINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s widening wealth gap is having a major impact on the country’s sense of “wellbeing, ” according to the country’s first social index. The survey of 9,962 adult New Zealanders found that compared with 22 European countries using the same measures, New Zealand ” consistently ranks near the bottom” […]

16 Jul, 2013

Drone strikes ineffective and only serve to help anti-Americanism

By Aftab Hussain (Global Times)

Islamabad, 15 July, 2013 – On June 8, a US drone attack in North Wazirstan killed seven people. It was the first drone attack since Nawaz Sharif took office as Pakistan’s prime minister for the third time. He condemned the attack as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), are […]

16 Jul, 2013

More Whistleblowing: Police spy says UK Home Office issued passports in names of dead children | The Guardian

A second police spy has said the Home Office was aware that undercover police officers stole the identities of dead children to infiltrate political groups. Peter Francis, a former undercover officer turned whistleblower, said the Home Office helped the spies by providing false passports in the names of the dead children. His claim comes as […]

16 Jul, 2013

Chris Hedges: Locking Out the Voices of Dissent – Truthdig

The goal of the corporate state is to criminalize democratic, popular dissent before there is another popular eruption. The vast state surveillance system, detailed in Edward Snowden’s revelations to the British newspaper The Guardian, at the same time ensures that no action or protest can occur without the advanced knowledge of our internal security apparatus. […]

16 Jul, 2013

‘Biased’ Israeli visa plan pits U.S. Congress against White House | The Japan Times

Some critics are sensitive about expressing their reservations in public, wishing to avoid getting in a public argument with a close ally, with the bills’ supporters or with the powerful pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. Boxer said the law will benefit U.S. citizens by specifically requiring the secretaries of state and homeland security to certify that Israel […]

16 Jul, 2013

Israeli PM threatens to strike Iran – Al Jazeera English

Netanyahu went on to say that Israel had a more narrow timetable than Washington, implying it may have to take unilateral action to halt Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. “Our clocks are ticking at a different pace. We’re closer than the United States. We’re more vulnerable. And therefore, we’ll have to address this question of how […]

15 Jul, 2013

GM crops remain problematic for Asian countries

By Wang Zichen and Liu Tong (Xinhua)

HARBIN, July 13 (Xinhua) — The role of genetic modification (GM) technology in Asian agriculture remains unclear and individual countries have adopted different approaches to tackle the sensitive subject. At a food security meeting held by ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries this week, participants from ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) […]

15 Jul, 2013

Fanatic Jewish settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex

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Ramallah, 15 July 2013 (IINA) – A group of fanatic Jewish settlers yesterday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex in occupied Jerusalem for prayers, a Palestinian official said. Sheikh Najeh Bkeirat, the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex manager, said that 180 settlers, including 18 rabbis, entered the compound through the Al-Magharebah gate. Bkeirat added that settlers walked around […]

15 Jul, 2013

Chinese firms ‘need self-defense strategy’ as European trade protectionism grows

By BAO CHANG

Beijing, 13 July 2013 (China Daily) – Trade remedy investigations against China are at a peak this year. So Chinese companies should safeguard their interests by actively defending themselves through effective measures, a commerce official said. Zhou Dalin, deputy director-general of the bureau of fair trade for imports and exports of the Ministry of Commerce, […]

15 Jul, 2013

Malaysia To Host World Tourism Conference in Oct 2013

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 15 July 2013 (07 Ramadan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

15 Jul, 2013

Berlin Wall hosts giant portraits of world’s barriers – Ahram Online

Giant portraits of the world’s most tense borders went on display Tuesday on the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, in what organisers called a protest underlining the futility of barriers to resolve conflict. The “Wall on Wall” project by German photographer Kai Wiedenhoefer features 36 panoramas taken in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Cyprus, the […]

14 Jul, 2013

BBC News – UK soldier and veteran suicides ‘outstrip Afghan deaths’

More British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan over the same period. BBC Panorama learned that 21 serving soldiers killed themselves last year, along with 29 veterans. The Afghanistan death toll was 44, of whom 40 died in action. Read the rest: BBC News – […]

14 Jul, 2013

78% of CEOs Say Ad & Media Agencies Are Not Performance-Driven Enough

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– July 11, 2013 — 78% of CEOs around the world believe Ad & Media Agencies are not performance-driven enough and do not focus enough on helping to generate the (real and P&L-quantifiable) business results they expect their Marketing departments to deliver. That’s one of the findings tracked by The Fournaise Marketing Group – […]

14 Jul, 2013

Ten Ways a Simple Rubber Band Can be of BIG Help

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Hot Springs, AR (PRWEB) July 09, 2013 – Spring cleaning has passed, and for many the time has come for summer organizing. Arkansas-based Alliance Rubber has created a list of useful household tips using the simple and inexpensive rubber band. Organizing can be made simple and cost effective. The following is a top 10 list […]

14 Jul, 2013

New ITUC Report: “Severe Violations” of Trade Union Rights Continuing

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Unemployment rates and income inequality are increasing globally. Trade unionists continue to fight for jobs, rights and equality. This fight often costs them their jobs, and sometimes even their lives, in various parts of the world. Since 2006, the ITUC, the largest and most democratic social movement of the world, has been monitoring violations of […]

14 Jul, 2013

18 European sustainable mobility initiatives get funding support

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Brussels, 8 July 2013, European Commission Press release – As part of its three-year Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign “Do The Right Mix”, the European Commission has today released the names of another 18 campaigner-led actions to be awarded funding. Each action will receive up to EUR 7000, which can be used to strengthen activities promoting […]

14 Jul, 2013

Global Trades Union Appeal: Organise for October 7, World Day for Decent Work

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4 July 2013: In the six years after the launch of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) tens of millions of people have taken action on October 7 to stand up for union rights and decent work. This year again, unions from across the world will be calling in unison for social justice and […]

14 Jul, 2013

New Era of Motivational Speaking Emerges

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Miami, FL (PRWEB) July 12, 2013 – Out with the old; in with the new. Steven Jobs ushered in a new technological age with Apple, Inc., Jay – Z has become the Holy Grail of the music industry with the partnership of Samsung and now Craig Stafford creates a new form of motivational speaking. SMS […]

14 Jul, 2013

Survey: 2 Out of 3 Parents Worry About Ads in Kids Apps

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2013 – It’s nothing new. Many application developers have business models that rely on third party advertising to support their no cost apps – even those developed for small children. 100 Things, a company developing picture book kids apps, released the results of a consumer survey it conducted that […]

14 Jul, 2013

Free meals help mosque show Islam to Japan – The Japan Times

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As the Muslim monthlong fasting period known as Ramadan began Tuesday, Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan, began providing free “iftar” (evening meals) to 200 visitors, regardless of religion, to introduce residents to Islamic culture. The first day began with “azan,” the Muslim call to prayer recited at dusk. Azan is called before every […]

14 Jul, 2013

Number of nonregular workers hits record high | The Japan Times

Nonregular workers made up a record-high 38.2 percent of the workforce last year, topping the 20 million mark for the first time, a government survey has revealed. The workers, who include part-time and contract employees, totaled 20.42 million, up 1.52 million from the previous survey in 2007, the data released Friday by the Internal Affairs […]

14 Jul, 2013

Are consultants worth the money? Sydney Morning Herald

They are the management consultants – influential guns for hire whose services come with a hefty price tag, staffed by the brightest, youngest things top-notch universities can produce. Since the first, McKinsey & Co, arrived in Australia in 1962, the top companies – McKinsey, Bain & Co and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)- have become ubiquitous, […]

14 Jul, 2013

Saudi labour crackdown to hit Asia hard – GulfNews.com

The clampdown could hurt countries from Egypt to the Philippines that rely on Saudi Arabia’s economy to prop up their own with money sent from abroad. Neighboring Yemen, whose economy is significantly bolstered by remittances, has already warned the measures could destabilize its fragile government. Saudi Arabia is the third-biggest global provider of worker remittances […]

14 Jul, 2013

S. American states to recall envoys from Europe — RT News

South American countries belonging to the Mercosur trade bloc have decided to withdraw their ambassadors for consultations from European countries involved in the grounding of the Bolivian president’s plane. “We’ve taken a number of actions in order to compel public explanations and apologies from the European nations that assaulted our brother Evo Morales,” explained Venezuela’s […]

13 Jul, 2013

India Inaugurates Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show 2013

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Ministry of Textiles, 12-July, 2013 – The Union Minister of Textiles Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao today inaugurated the 6th edition of the Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS 2013) here today. The show is organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). Dr. Rao said that the exporters have promised to take the […]