9 Jan, 2014

PressTV – Dutch giant pension fund PGGM boycotts Israeli banks

One of the world’s leading pension fund management companies, the Netherlands’ PGGM, has boycotted Israeli banks over Tel Aviv’s continued illegal settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Dutch pension giant decided to withdraw all its investments from Israel’s five top banks, saying the decision was made because Tel Aviv’s settlement construction in the […]

9 Jan, 2014

India Calls on Overseas Diaspora to Help Build Country’s Brand Image

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New Delhi, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, 08-January-2014 – Minister of External Affairs Mr. Salman Khurshid, has exhorted the overseas Indians to become India’s best ambassadors to spread and popularize the country’s values, beliefs, culture and heritage overseas. Presiding over the session on ‘India Soft Power’ on Day-2 of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2014, (the annual […]

9 Jan, 2014

Moral sense skewed by intoxicatingly violent culture – Sydney Morning Herald

The legal age for alcohol consumption is 18, but age is no measure of moral integrity. The 21st century is a time of skewed moral development. The failure to recognise the implications of punching someone in the face with significant force cannot purely be blamed on alcohol – if so, then why doesn’t every intoxicated […]

9 Jan, 2014

Obesity ballooning in developing world – Arab News

LONDON: The number of obese and overweight people in the developing world nearly quadrupled to almost a billion between 1980 and 2008, a think-tank report said Friday. There are now far more obese or overweight adults in the developing world than in richer countries, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) said. The London-based institute said more […]

8 Jan, 2014

As Thailand Beats the Crisis, ASEAN Edges Close to 100 million mark for 2013

Imtiaz Muqbil & John Koldowski

Bangkok- In spite of being hit by political disruptions in November 2013, Thailand still recorded 2.39 million arrivals that month, up 11.9% over November 2012. In total, the figure for Jan-November 2013 was 24.13 million arrivals, up 21.1%% over the same period of 2012. Final figures for 2013 will be out in a few weeks […]

8 Jan, 2014

Alcohol-related violence: Help clean up Sydney’s streets, and win $2500 – Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney Morning Herald is launching a competition for people to help take a stand against alcohol-related violence on the city’s streets. We are asking readers to come up with a 30-second video advertisement or poster campaign aimed at curbing the prevalence of alcohol-related violence. It won’t be easy. But there is a precedent. In […]

7 Jan, 2014

Gallup’s Top 10 U.S. Well-Being Discoveries in 2013

by Alyssa Brown

WASHINGTON, D.C. December 29, 2013 (Gallup Organization) — Gallup published nearly 100 unique articles in 2013 about Americans’ health and well-being. Through its daily surveys, conducted year-round, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index uncovers new insights and provides the most up-to-date data available on Americans’ mental state, exercise and eating habits, healthcare coverage, physical health, and financial […]

7 Jan, 2014

Indian Rising Star AAP: An Asian Alternative Paradigm in the making?

Imtiaz Muqbil

The emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, or Common Man Party) in India is another strong indication of a rising Asian Century. Having come from nowhere to assume governance of the Indian capital of New Delhi, the party’s revolutionary platform has all the hallmarks of an emerging Asian Alternative Paradigm (the other AAP). In […]

7 Jan, 2014

Pew Research: Worldwide, Richest 3% Hold One-Fifth of Collective Income

by Glenn Phelps and Steve Crabtree

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 3, 2014 — Across 131 countries worldwide, the richest 3% of residents hold 20% of the total collective household income — as do the poorest 54%. In other words, the 3% reporting the highest household incomes share the same “slice” of collective income across countries that more than half of residents worldwide […]

6 Jan, 2014

Demeaned at Ben-Gurion airport: ‘Now you know what Jews endured’ – Haaretz

by Amira Hass Only half an hour before her flight from Israel, D. was standing almost completely naked while an Eastern European-looking security inspector touched her arms, legs and hips. “She also put her fingers in the inside top rim of my underwear,” the young and – may I add, brilliant – doctoral student wrote […]

6 Jan, 2014

Japan’s bid to make airports more Muslim-friendly

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 06 January 2014 (05 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

3 Jan, 2014

Pew Research shows which countries Americans like … and don’t

By Bruce Stokes

December 30, 2013 (Pew Research Centre) – The trend among the U.S. public increasingly has been to turn away from international issues and focus on the home front. But while Americans have long been accused of lacking interest in the rest of the world, they have never lacked strong opinions about other countries. As 2013 […]

3 Jan, 2014

More than half of cellphone owners affected by ‘distracted walking’ – Pew Research

By Aaron Smith

January 2, 2014 (Pew Research Centre) – Stories about cellphone distractions are rarely out of the news these days.  A new law in Illinois went into effect on January 1, prohibiting drivers from using cellphones that are not hands-free and California tightened its rules by making it illegal for drivers under 18 to use voice-activated texting, […]

3 Jan, 2014

Greens push for bans on liquor advertising – Sydney Morning Herald

The Greens will push for a ban on the promotion of alcohol in sport, arguing that it provides a loophole for the alcohol industry to target children. Greens health spokesman Richard Di Natale said he would move for a Senate inquiry into alcohol promotion to children when Federal Parliament returns next month. Senator Di Natale […]

3 Jan, 2014

Church protest reveals realities of life in modern Bethlehem – The Guardian

by Giles Fraser The Rev Lucy Winkett is having trouble sleeping. This is because her church on Piccadilly has decided to erect a full-size copy of the Israeli separation barrier to block off her Christopher Wren church. And because she lives above the shop, the grim presence of this temporary structure is with her all […]

2 Jan, 2014

“Incredible India Promotional Calendar 2014” launched

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 01-January-2014 – The Ministry of Tourism today launched the ‘Incredible India Promotional Calendar 2014.” The calendar containing 24 photographs on double sided paper was launched by Tourism Secretary Mr. Parvez Dewan. He said that every State has been covered and suitable regions/ regional balance has been maintained. All the north-eastern […]

2 Jan, 2014

Christmas spike in domestic violence keeps courts busy on New Year’s Eve | The Guardian

Most of the courtrooms across England and Wales shut up shop between Christmas and new year. But not court six. Along with football derby days, the festive period is prime time for domestic abuse, according to Greater Manchester police (GMP). Tensions over money and unrealistic expectations about having the “perfect” Christmas, combined with excessive alcohol, […]

2 Jan, 2014

Could you manage a year without booze? – The Independent

If you vow never to drink again after waking up on New Year’s Day morning, chances are you won’t be alone. Whether deciding to have a break from alcohol is a new year’s resolution, a dose of sponsored sobriety courtesy of Alcohol Concern’s Dry January or Cancer Research’s Dryalthlon or simply a case of feeling […]