13 Oct, 2013

Snowden: US spying program making people less safe – Arab News

MOSCOW: The former National Security Agency systems analyst, Edward Snowden, said that the mass surveillance programs used by the United States to tap into phone and internet connections around the world are making people less safe. In short video clips posted by the WikiLeaks website on Friday, Snowden said that the NSA’s mass surveillance, which […]

13 Oct, 2013

PressTV – Pentagon admits to holding phony arrival ceremonies for soldiers’ remains

The Department of Defense unit charged with recovering servicemembers’ remains abroad has been holding phony “arrival ceremonies” for seven years, with an honor guard carrying flag-draped coffins off of a cargo plane as though they held the remains returning that day from old battlefields. The Pentagon acknowledged Wednesday that no honored dead were in fact […]

13 Oct, 2013

U.S. restaurant workers’ stolen wages in the spotlight – Al Jazeera English

In September 2012, about 20 restaurant workers protested in front of the popular David’s Cafe in Miami Beach, a restaurant owned by their former employer, Adrian Gonzalez. They give you cheques, three or four, you go to the bank and there is no money. The bank says that is a crime so you go to […]

13 Oct, 2013

European Parliamentarians urge end to impunity of CIA rendition and secret detentions

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Brussels, European Parliament Plenary Session Press release – Citizens’ rights / Fundamental rights − 10-10-2013 – The climate of impunity surrounding EU member states’ complicity in the CIA’s secret “rendition” and detention programmes has allowed violations of fundamental rights to continue unchecked, as revealed by mass surveillance programmes run by the US and some EU […]

13 Oct, 2013

Europe’s 10-point Reform Agenda for Maximum Impact on Growth and Jobs

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Brussels, 11 October 2013, European Commission – Once the EU’s 2014-2020 budget is confirmed by the European Parliament and EU member states, Cohesion Policy will invest € 325 billion in Europe’s regions and cities to deliver the EU-wide goals of growth and jobs, as well as tackling climate change and energy dependence. This will in […]

13 Oct, 2013

Asia Times Online: Homeland Security set for next Wall St collapse

Reports are that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is engaged in a massive, covert military buildup. An article in the Associated Press in February confirmed an open purchase order by DHS for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition. According to an op-ed in Forbes, that’s enough to sustain an Iraq-sized war for over 20 years. […]

13 Oct, 2013

Yitzhak Rabin memorial rally draws thousands – Haaretz

Thousands of people gathered Saturday night for a rally marking 18 years to the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The rally, which was scheduled to commence at 8 P.M., took place at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, where the prime minister was assassinated on November 4, 1995 by right-wing extremist Yigal Amir. The site, […]

12 Oct, 2013

China’s wealthy shift focus to investment: Survey

By Lyu Chang

Beijing, 2013-10-10 (China Daily) – China’s top entrepreneurs, who have achieved extraordinary business success in the past decades, are moving away from their core businesses to become more involved in investment, a ranking of the wealthiest investors in the world’s second-largest economy showed on Wednesday. “It is a clear trend that many entrepreneurs are shifting […]

12 Oct, 2013

Reserve at least 3% jobs for disabled: Apex court – Indian Express

A marathon legal struggle for a level playing field brought something to cheer about for at least 4 crore people with disabilities in India as the Supreme Court Tuesday ruled in favour of a minimum 3 percent reservation for them in all central and state government jobs. This, the court said, would “ensure proper implementation […]

12 Oct, 2013

Tokyo Metro government to extend hours of arts, sports facilities | The Japan Times

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will move up or extend business hours at its arts and sports facilities this fall and winter to accommodate more diverse lifestyles. “I believe the efforts will lead to increased consumption and revitalize the economy by supporting people’s various lifestyles, with working hours not limited to 9 to 5 anymore,” Gov. […]

12 Oct, 2013

Big data has made privacy obsolete – The Japan Times

LONDON – Watching the legal system deal with the Internet is like watching somebody trying to drive a car by looking only in the rear-view mirror. The results are amusing and predictable but not really interesting. On the other hand, watching the efforts of regulators — whether British ones such as Ofcom, or multinational, like […]

12 Oct, 2013

Are invisible forces orchestrating Myanmar’s anti-Muslim violence? – Al Jazeera

Myanmar’s president made his first trip to the violence-hit town of Thandwe last week, days after a 94-year-old Muslim woman was slain by Buddhists in a nearby village. Spurred on by an unrelated argument between a Muslim political leader and a Buddhist taxi driver two days prior, a mob approached her home in a nearby […]

12 Oct, 2013

Bali Hotel occupancy drops during APEC Summit | The Jakarta Post

The average occupancy rate of hotels in Bali, especially in Nusa Dua and the surrounding areas, has dropped quite significantly following the closure of Ngurah Rai International Airport during the ongoing APEC Summit. Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, chairman of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI), told Bali Daily on Saturday that the average […]

12 Oct, 2013

Indian Haj Centenarians completing a lifelong dream – Arab News

Believe it or not, at a time when younger people are becoming victims of even minor infections, three Indian pilgrims above the age of 100 have arrived in the Kingdom to perform Haj, and they are in perfect shape. Ismail from the north Indian state of Haryana, who has seen all of 107 summers, is […]

12 Oct, 2013

Congestion makes Chinese wonder whether national holidays are a time for leisure or stress

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2013-10-08 – (China Daily) – National holidays provide rare opportunities for the general public to travel and get a well-deserved rest, both physically and mentally, from their daily work routine. However, problems exposed by travel arrangements involving hundreds of millions of people, from overburdened tourist accommodation facilities at major scenic spots and poor services to […]

12 Oct, 2013

Meeting report: Hindu Economic Forum Explores Sustainable Ways to Strengthen Economy

Report issued by the organisers of the World Hindu Economic Forum

BANGKOK – The second meet of WHEF was held at Bangkok on 10th and 11th August 2013. Dr. Olarn Chaipravat, Former Deputy Prime Minister and the President of Thailand Trade Representative, inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address, he emphasized that Thailand is re-shaping its future by improving its economy and growth and invited WHEF […]

12 Oct, 2013

Combating the Hazards of Waste: New Strategies to Fight Health, Environmental Risks

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Vienna, 7 October 2013 (UNEP media release) – Some 3.5 billion people, or half of the world’s population, are without access to crucial waste management services, posing significant environmental and health hazards and harming economies.This staggering statistic is the baseline for a new document released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United […]

12 Oct, 2013

We Lost 10 Years to the “War on Terror,” It’s Time We Admit It

When you look at the entirety of events over the last twelve years — 9/11, the wars, our degenerating politics, broken government, and economic catastrophes — the picture is bleak. We’ve watched our country sputter and fail at home and abroad, and the truth is undeniable: We haven’t learned from, admitted, or understood our mistakes, […]

12 Oct, 2013

India-Indonesia Strategic Partnership Pact to Boost Intra-Asian Travel

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Indian Prime Minister’s Office, 11-October, 2013 – India and Indonesia are to step up travel & tourism exchanges, cultural and educational links as part of Strategic Partnership Agreement discussed during Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official visit to Indonesia from 10 to 12 October 2013. The increased trade, investment and other contacts between Asia’s […]

12 Oct, 2013

Converting to Islam: British women on prayer, peace and prejudice

Around 5,000 British people convert to Islam every year – and most of them are women. Five of them talk about prejudice, peace and praying in car parks Read the rest: Converting to Islam: British women on prayer, peace and prejudice | World news | The Guardian.

12 Oct, 2013

Pope signals start of new war on Vatican corruption – The Independent

In a clear sign that he wants to be seen to be tackling endemic corruption at the Vatican, Pope Francis welcomed the Church’s highest-ranking whistleblower to a special audience today. The Pontiff last night met Monsignor Carlo Maria Vigano, the Holy See’s ambassador to the US, whose letters provided the most explosive evidence to emerge […]

12 Oct, 2013

Editors on the NSA files: ‘What the Guardian is doing is important for democracy’

On Thursday the Daily Mail described the Guardian as ‘The paper that helps Britain’s enemies’. We showed that article to many of the world’s leading editors. This is what they said: Read the rest: Editors on the NSA files: ‘What the Guardian is doing is important for democracy’ | World news | The Guardian.

12 Oct, 2013

Skype under investigation in Luxembourg over link to NSA – theguardian.com

Skype is being investigated by Luxembourg’s data protection commissioner over concerns about its secret involvement with the US National Security Agency (NSA) spy programme Prism, the Guardian has learned. The Microsoft-owned internet chat company could potentially face criminal and administrative sanctions, including a ban on passing users’ communications covertly to the US signals intelliigence agency. […]

12 Oct, 2013

The Devastating Impacts of IMF-World Bank “Economic Medicine”

As the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund hold their annual meeting in Washington 11-13th October 2013 it is necessary to take a look at the state of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). |1| The history of economic development is strewn with attempts to correct the “mistakes” of development policy. The preferred method is […]

12 Oct, 2013

PressTV – US continues to gag, murder 9/11 truth-seekers

Is the US government using assault, intimidation, even murder – and killing free speech worldwide – to cover up the insider crimes of September 11th, 2001? One of the leading scientists challenging the US government’s version of 9/11, Dr. Crockett Grabbe, has gone on the record charging 9/11 cover-up forces with a series of murders […]

11 Oct, 2013

Five of the Most Common Social Media Marketing Mishaps

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IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Social media has become one of the most important marketing platforms for any business, either Web-based or not. In order to reach a wider audience and encourage content sharing, Internet marketers need to dedicate a fair amount of their efforts to marketing on social media sites. It takes time […]

11 Oct, 2013

India Post Launches ‘Instant Cash’ International Money Transfer Service

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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, 11-October, 2013 – India Post (= Department of Posts) has signed an agreement with Wall Street Exchange (a company of the Emirates Post Group of UAE) for launch of an International Electronic Money Transfer service through ‘Instant Cash’ product of the Emirates Post Group. The service was launched here […]

11 Oct, 2013

Indian Finance Minister Cites “Defining Challenge”: How to build a competent and ethical State

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Ministry of Finance, 11-October, 2013 – The following is the full text of a speech by Mr.P.Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Recapturing India’s Growth Momentum. Dr. Perkovich, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for the invitation to speak […]

11 Oct, 2013

China Flags Setting Up Infrastructure Funding Bank to Boost Links with ASEAN

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang put forward a seven-point proposal on further broadening and deepening cooperation between his country and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The China-ASEAN relations have grown to maturity and the bilateral cooperation has got on the fast track, Li said at the 16th […]

11 Oct, 2013

Reform R&D tax systems to boost innovation and help young firms, OECD Report

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Paris, (OECD media release) 10/10/2013 – Most OECD governments use tax incentives to encourage businesses to invest in research and development (R&D)  to boost innovation and drive economic growth. Others, like China, India and South Africa, are doing the same. But reforming these incentives would give countries a better return on their investment and support […]

11 Oct, 2013

Chinese Metaphysics Expert Offers Global Feng Shui Consulting

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Singapore (PRWEB) October 10, 2013 – Award winning expert in Chinese Metaphysics disciplines, Kevin Foong, now offers consulting on a global basis. The founder of Kevin Foong Consulting Group, he now offers consulting in markets such as Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Foong’s consultancy firm focuses on the teaching of Feng […]

11 Oct, 2013

UN global survey explains why so many people with disabilities die in disasters

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GENEVA, 10 October 2013, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)  – The results of the first-ever UN global survey of persons living with disabilities on how they cope with disasters, illustrates why they die, or are injured, in disproportionate numbers in disasters. An estimated 15% of the world’s population lives with some form […]

11 Oct, 2013

Indian PM: India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway Making Progress, Completion Expected by 2016

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Brunei Darussalam, 10-October, 2013 – Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has said that Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo sector of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is nearing completion, and that India will work with its partner countries to ensure that the project is completed by 2016. In his Opening Statement at the 11th India-ASEAN Summit here, Dr Singh also […]

11 Oct, 2013

UN Marks World Mental Health Day By Focusing On Well-Being Of Ageing Populations

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United Nations, 10 October 2013 (UN News Centre) – Citizens over 60 years of age must have access to social and health services to ensure their physical and mental well-being, the United Nations said today, marking World Mental Health Day. “We can all benefit from the warmth and wisdom of older generations. But while many people look forward […]

11 Oct, 2013

Time Management: Pew Research Finds Parents’ Time with Kids More Rewarding Than Paid Work

by Wendy Wang

October 8, 2013 -(Pew Research Centre) There’s no tougher job than being a parent, or so the saying goes. This sentiment seems to be confirmed by a new Pew Research Center analysis of government time use data. Parents find caring for their children to be much more exhausting than the work they do for pay. […]

10 Oct, 2013

Indigenous Peoples “Must be Represented in Climate Change Deals on Future of Global Forests”

REDD+ Safeguards Working Group Media Release

Indigenous peoples should have a permanent representative in a partnership of 75 countries that aims to decrease the global carbon footprint through reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). Asia- and Australia-based members of the REDD+ Safeguards Working Group (R-SWG), a North-South coalition of civil society and indigenous peoples’ organizations, today issued the call […]

10 Oct, 2013

US$200 million ADB loan to Upgrade Major Highway in China’s Inner Mongolia

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Asian Development Bank, 10 Oct 2013 – A major highway and rural roads in a remote northern area of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) will be upgraded to support increased movement of goods and people, through a $200 million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). A $200 million loan will upgrade a major […]

10 Oct, 2013

All Anti-Terrorism Measures Must Observe International Law, UN meeting hears

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United Nations (08 Oct 2013) Department of Public Information – As the UN 68th General Assembly, Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its debate on measures to eliminate international terrorism, delegates insisted that all courses of action must remain within the framework of international law. Rejecting unilateral acts against States and the use of force under the […]

10 Oct, 2013

Shanghai free trade zone heralds new strategy of reform and opening-up

By Zhang Monan

Shanghai, 2013-10-08 (China Daily) – The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which was officially launched on Sept 29, is another strategic move in China’s latest round of efforts to boost its process of opening-up through further reform. Since China embarked on the voyage of reform and opening-up more than 30 years ago, every decade […]

10 Oct, 2013

China calls on US to stay solvent, ensure safety of massive Chinese assets

By Gao Chiangxin in Hong Kong and Wei Tian in Shanghai

(China Daily), October 08, 2013 – In its first response to the US government shutdown by a senior official, China asked the United States to solve the political impasse and stay solvent to ensure the safety of massive Chinese assets. Vice-Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao said on Monday that China, the US’s biggest creditor, is […]

10 Oct, 2013

Chinese Golden Week overcrowding dampens holidaymaker spirit

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(Xinhua) October 08, 2013 – The National Day holiday which ends on Monday is just the latest chance to witness the characteristic overcrowding of Chinese holidays. While the world-famous tourist spots such as the Forbidden City, Great Wall, West Lake of Hangzhou and Nanjing Road in Shanghai were predictably packed with tourists, other places have […]

10 Oct, 2013

Business Travel Coalition Survey: More Airline Transparency Needed on Ancillary Service Fees

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October 7, 2013 – Business Travel Coalition (BTC) on October 4, 2013 initiated a survey of travel industry participants from around the world with respect to the highly anticipated U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rulemaking regarding the disclosure of airline ancillary fees. The survey will remain open until DOT publishes its rulemaking with final survey […]

10 Oct, 2013

Xinhua analysis: Global economy grows in low gear, entering another transition

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday lowered its forecast for global economic growth, saying the world economy has entered another transition with a set of challenges that call for new reform efforts. The Washington-based global lender cut its growth forecast for the world economy to 2.9 percent this year, […]

10 Oct, 2013

Chinese anti-corruption drive cools holiday gift market

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NANJING, 2013-10-04, (Xinhua) – Holiday season used to be boom time for gift companies in China, but the country’s frugality campaign is meaning many of them will have a hard time surviving this time around. In the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou, where people swarm during Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday to buy […]

10 Oct, 2013

Emerging Asian economies expected to remain resilient, says new OECD Economic Outlook

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Brunei Darussalam, 8 October 2013 – The economic outlook for Emerging Asia (Southeast Asia, China and India) remains robust over the medium term, anchored by the steady rise in domestic demand, according to a new report from the OECD Development Centre. GDP growth in Emerging Asia is projected to moderate gradually but stay resilient over […]

9 Oct, 2013

UK e-borders scheme failing to make immigration checks – The Guardian

The Home Office’s flagship “e-borders” programme, which has taken 10 years to develop and has so far cost more than £500m, has yet to deliver significant benefits to controlling immigration and has had only a limited impact on tracking terrorists, an official watchdog has concluded. John Vine, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, […]

8 Oct, 2013

Indian Ambassador Anil Wadhwa: Remember Gandhi’s Warnings of the Seven Sins

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Remarks by Indian Ambassador to Thailand Anil Wadhwa on the occasion of the 144th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, on 2 October 2013 at Thai-Bharat Cultural Lodge, Bangkok President of Thai-Bharat Cultural Lodge Professor Srisurang Poolthupya, Dr. Dhanet Charoenmuang, Advisor of the Minister of Education, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, 1.        I […]

8 Oct, 2013

Survey Charts Online Queries for Boutique & Lifestyle Hotels

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London (PRWEB UK) 7 October 2013 – There were three times as many online searches for Lifestyle & Boutique hotels in the UK than there were for those located in short-haul and long-haul destinations combined, reveals the latest analysis of specialist hotels search data from independent digital marketing agency, Greenlight. The agency’s “Boutique Hotels Sector […]

8 Oct, 2013

First high-level meeting to move beyond GDP in Asia, calculate “Value of Nature”

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8 October, Bangkok (UNEP Media release) – Statisticians, economists, ecologists and policy makers across Asia are convening in Bangkok from today until 10 of October to look at ways to calculate the value of natural resources that could reshape the way country success is measured. The conference included technical discussions on “green accounting” systems and […]

7 Oct, 2013

Latest ITU Tech Stats Released: 30% of Global Youth Are Now ‘Digital Natives’

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Geneva, 7 October 2013 (ITU media release) – Mobile broadband over smartphones and tablets has become the fastest growing segment of the global ICT market, according to ITU’s flagship annual report Measuring the Information Society 2013. New figures released today show buoyant global demand for information and communication technology (ICT) products and services, steadily declining prices […]

7 Oct, 2013

Gallup Poll: Americans See Current Shutdown as More Serious Than in ’95

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -October 4, 2013 – (Gallup poll) – As non-essential parts of the federal government remain closed, 70% of Americans view the shutdown as a crisis or a major problem, even higher than the 56% saying the same at the height of the last shutdown in 1995. Leaders looking to gain ground in public […]

7 Oct, 2013

IVU World Vegfest, Asian Vegetarian Congress open in Malaysia

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Kuala Lumpur (PRWEB) October 06, 2013 – The 41st IVU World Vegfest, 6th Asian Vegetarian Congress was inaugurated in Malaysia today with  His Holiness Paramahamsa Nithyananda as the key speaker expounding on ‘Awakening the Biomemory through Right Eating’. The World Vegfest was attended by guests of honour from the International Vegetarian Union, Asian Vegetarian Union […]

7 Oct, 2013

Ending injustice only way to fight terrorism – Arab News

In the aftermath of the (Nairobi) attacks, the media, old and new, have provided round-the-clock coverage. The Nairobi event received special attention because it lasted for three days and also because many of the victims were Westerners. As their identities became known interviews were conducted with their distraught relatives. Heartbreaking stories were told of young […]

7 Oct, 2013

Who leads the 21st century Asia-Pacific? Certainly not the US – Jakarta Post

Events over the past week and the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit have confirmed what most people already knew but were hesitant to openly admit: It is China, not the United States, who is the leader of the Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century. We expect no game-changing outcomes from the APEC Summit, […]

7 Oct, 2013

Chinese President Visits Indonesia, Malaysia; Launches New Era of Bilateral Relations

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 07 October 2013 (02 Dhul Ḥijjah 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ MAJOR UPCOMING TRAVEL & TOURISM EVENTS IN MALAYSIA, TRULY ASIA The World Tourism Conference […]

7 Oct, 2013

European Day of Languages: How to say “I Like You” in 24 Languages

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Brussels, European Commission Press release – How do you say ‘I like you’ in 24 languages? This very useful information is brought to you by the European Commission on the occasion of the European Day of Languages (EDL) which was marked on 26 September 2013. It’s the minimum you’ll need to know if you’re planning […]

7 Oct, 2013

Early warning: Averting the next looming threat to ASEAN peace & prosperity

Imtiaz Muqbil was the only travel industry media to cover this historic conference.

Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Thailand – Regardless of how many highways and airports emerge in ASEAN, or how many telecommunications, single-visa and energy and currency swap deals the ASEAN leaders sign, the real bridges of peace and prosperity will be built only if they can overcome the looming threats of religious/ethnic discord. Discussions at an […]

6 Oct, 2013

U.S. Gov’t shutdown leaves some tourists stranded near Yellowstone – Yahoo News

About 15 tourists are staying in Cooke City, one of several tiny gateway towns leading into Yellowstone National Park. Hopefully, they are enjoying their visit in the scenic area. That’s because thanks to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the tourists are literally trapped inside Cooke City. “We’re trapped,” Bill Anderson, 70, told the Bozeman Daily […]

5 Oct, 2013

U.S. Gov’t shutdown Already Taking a Toll On Small Tour Companies

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Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) October 05, 2013 – Bindlestiff Tours operates from its home-base in Las Vegas to provide unique “adventure-tour” services to visitors and tourists from both the United States and the world through their website. Popular with foreign visitors from Europe and stretching as far as Sri Lanka and India, Bindlestiff Tours allows […]

5 Oct, 2013

Overseas Migration Fuels Western Australia Population Growth

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Canberra, 26 September 2013 – Net Overseas Migration continues to fuel Western Australia’s population growth, accounting for almost two thirds (63 per cent) of the state’s total growth in the year to 31 March 2013, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). “WA’s population nudged 2.5 million people at the […]

5 Oct, 2013

Australia releases revised directory of family and domestic violence statistics

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Canberra, 03 Oct 2013 – The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released the updated Directory of Family and Domestic Violence Statistics, aimed at improving the evidence base for family, domestic and sexual violence. The 2013 directory provides a detailed analysis of national and state and territory based data collections, encompassing both survey and administrative […]

4 Oct, 2013

Heritage Bank Survey: How Far Australians Go To Save a Dollar in 2013

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(PRWEB) October 04, 2013 – Heritage Bank today released surprising results about our nation when it comes to how far people will go to save a dollar in 2013. The research was conducted as part of the Bank’s Number 1 for Value campaign, being rolled out across Queensland this month. Research covered a number of […]

4 Oct, 2013

Thai King’s ‘Sufficiency Economy’ theory goes global – The Nation

It has taken a long time for people at home and abroad to understand and appreciate His Majesty The King’s “Sufficiency Economy” theory. The term in English is oblique; in Thai, as in “Por Pieng” literally translated as “Just enough”, it is misleading. “Just enough” for whom? Is it anti-capitalist, anti-wealth, anti-progress or and anti-modernity? […]

4 Oct, 2013

UK spy agency faces legal action over mass surveillance

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London, 03 Oct 2013, (Media release) — Today Big Brother Watch, working with the Open Rights Group, English PEN and German internet activist Constanze Kurz, has announced legal papers have been filed alleging that GCHQ has illegally intruded on the privacy of millions of British and European citizens. We allege that by collecting vast amounts of […]

4 Oct, 2013

Exclusive: Iraq still using bogus bomb detectors – and thousands pay the price – The Independent

Bogus bomb detectors are still being used in Iraq five months after a British businessman who supplied the devices was found guilty of fraud. More than 4,500 people are estimated to have been killed in Iraq – 979 of them in September alone – since James McCormick, a former policeman, was convicted at the Old […]

4 Oct, 2013

Security “threats” creating Israeli military millionnaires | The Guardian

Demobbed geeks once overshadowed by gun-toting commandos have made the most of their expertise in cybersecurity, data storage, mobile communications and analytical algorithms to help transform the basis of Israel’s economy from orange groves to mobile-phone apps. Israeli inventions include instant messaging, the USB memory stick, the firewall and the secure data links that enable […]

3 Oct, 2013

US retailers withdraw ‘Osama bin Laden’ costume after Sikh complaints – The Independent

US retailers including Amazon and Walmart have pulled a turban-and-beard Halloween costume off the shelves after complaints that it looked like an Osama bin Laden costume. The decision to remove the costume followed complaints by the Sikh Coalition, a US-based Sikh advocacy group which sent letters and made phone calls to the retailers asking them […]

3 Oct, 2013

$700 Million ADB Loan to Spur Crucial Private Investment in India Infrastructure

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3 October 2013 – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $700 million in loans to support the Indian government’s efforts to accelerate investment in the infrastructure that the country urgently needs to ensure strong economic growth. “Poor infrastructure is one of the biggest drags on growth and development in India and there is a large […]

3 Oct, 2013

British passport is No.1 for visa-free travel – The Independent

The British enjoy the widest range of visa-free travel on the planet. Along with citizens of Finland and Sweden, holders of UK passports are able to visit 173 of the world’s nations without applying for a visa. The annual 2013 Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index ranks countries according to the number of nations their […]

3 Oct, 2013

US govt shutdown: Germany, UK issue ‘travel warning’ Obama cancels Asia trip – Times of India

WASHINGTON: Germany and Britain became the first countries to issue a “travel warning” for the United States as the government shutdown in America entered the second day on Wednesday with no sign of resolution. Feisty Democrats and hardline Republicans stuck to their guns, the former rejecting proposals from conservatives to fund re-opening of just parts […]

3 Oct, 2013

Chinese tourists affected by US govt shutdown

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LOS ANGELES, 2013-10-02, (Xinhua) – On the first day of US federal government shutdown, a Californian resident may not feel the impact, but many Chinese tourists are sad and their tour guides are nervous. Tony Lu has run a travel agency in Los Angeles for 20 years. Four tourist groups from China’s mainland organized by […]

3 Oct, 2013

Newport Beach Police Bosses Used Island Hotel As Free Partying Pad: Lawsuit

Orange County billionaire Don Bren’s Island Hotel gave multiple command-staff officers at the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) free suites, massages, spa services, booze and food, as well as agreed to erase hotel-surveillance footage when the cops didn’t want any record of who they were partying with in rooms. Those allegations are contained in a […]

2 Oct, 2013

FREE Download: FAO Report says global hunger down, but millions still chronically hungry

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1 October 2013, Rome – Some 842 million people, or roughly one in eight, suffered from chronic hunger in 2011-13, not getting enough food to lead active and healthy lives according to a report released by the UN food agencies. The number is down from 868 million reported for the 2010-12 period, according to the […]

2 Oct, 2013

FREE Download: New Index Identifies Countries’ Ability to Develop and Nurture Human Capital

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New York, USA, 1 October 2013 – The World Economic Forum’s first Human Capital Index has identified the most successful countries in the world when it comes to maximizing the long-term economic potential of their respective labour forces. The Index, which measures countries on their ability to develop and deploy healthy, educated and able workers […]

2 Oct, 2013

Top 7 Interview Techniques – From Nearly 100 Years of Scientific Research

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 30, 2013  – Harvard University professor and Cangrade’s Senior Vice President Dr. Greg Willard completed an extensive review of nearly 100 years of job interviewing techniques and identified the ones that have lead to the best results. This research provides 7 simple steps to conducting an excellent interview. “There are many articles […]

1 Oct, 2013

Recovering alcoholics welcome in Brunei, says Sultanate’s top tour operator

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – Millions of recovering alcoholics around the world are being invited to take their next holiday or hold their next big event in one of the world’s few publicly ‘dry’ destinations – Brunei Darussalam. Michael Lee, Managing Director of Freme Tours & Travel, based in the Bruneian capital of Bandar Seri Begawan, says the […]

1 Oct, 2013

Australian releases guide for mobile app developers, urges them to put privacy first

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30 September 2013 –  The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has today released Mobile privacy: A better practice guide for mobile app developers. With 6 in 10 Australians choosing not to use a smartphone app because of concerns about the way personal information would be used [1], the Guide will assist mobile app developers […]

1 Oct, 2013

China honours 50 foreign experts with Friendship Awards

By Lei Lei and He Dan

Beijing, 2013-09-29 (chinadaily.com.cn) – For Craig Joseph Heck, winning a Friendship Award is an once-in-a-lifetime experience, celebrated when he was one of 50 to receive China’s top award for foreign experts at the Great Hall of the People on Sunday afternoon. After winning an award from the local government in Wuhan last year, the 54-year-old […]

1 Oct, 2013

Chinese airlines hit by 80 false terror threats this year

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Beijing, (Xinhua), September 29, 2013 – Chinese airlines and airports have suffered more than 80 cases of false terrorist threats so far this year causing panic among the public, a court official said Sunday. Those involved in fabricating and deliberately spreading false terrorist threats will receive harsh punishments ranging from detention to a jail term […]

1 Oct, 2013

Xinhua Insight: China’s new tourism law to upgrade industry

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NANNING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) – He Yuhan feels both happy and disappointed while visiting Detian Waterfall on the China-Vietnam border, eleven years after her first visit. Back in 2002, the then 15-year-old girl traveled from Beijing to admire the breath-taking waterfall. Located in Daxin County in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, it is the […]

1 Oct, 2013

China Focus: Tourism to be leading industry along Silk Road

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XI’AN, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) — Tourism will become one of the leading industries along the Silk Road economic belt, which covers western China, central Asia and Europe, according to officials and experts. The road has great charm and tourism will be a leading industry for the Silk Road economic belt, said Pavlos Geroulanos, former Greek […]

1 Oct, 2013

PATA UK Chapter Chairman: APD issue has expired its shelf-life, time to move on

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The chairman of the PATA UK chapter has signalled PATA CEO Martin Craigs to cease going on about the UK Air Passenger Duty, saying the issue has run out of shelf-life. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr. Chris Lee said the UK government has not responded to Mr. Craigs and other travel industry leaders […]