28 Feb, 2014

Yahoo webcam users’ ‘intimate’ images intercepted by British spies, Snowden files reveal – The Independent

British agents spied on millions of people through their webcams using a program likened to the surveillance system in George Orwell’s 1984, according to leaked secret documents. The surveillance agency GCHQ used a hacking program codenamed Optic Nerve to view British citizens in their homes as they used the Yahoo! webcam chat system, the classified […]

28 Feb, 2014

Hindu nationalists are gaining power in India – and silencing enemies – The Independent

Hindus don’t have a reputation for religious extremism, but over the past 25 years an increasingly aggressive movement has grown and started flexing its muscles. The list of authors who have faced ruinous lawsuits, had books banned or lives threatened in India is growing alarmingly long. (Not all of the bans relate to Hindu groups; […]

26 Feb, 2014

Israeli Arab teacher strip-searched before boarding plane with her Jewish students | Haaretz

She stood in the middle of Eilat Airport’s small departures hall, and her eyes said it all. An impressive, well-dressed woman with an assertive face, only her burning eyes betrayed the insult she felt. “I’m so ashamed,” she said, and the tears began to fall. But shame is the last thing Ezies Elias Shehadeh should […]

26 Feb, 2014

Denmark set to lose millions following halal slaughter ban | Arab News

Denmark is likely to lose millions of dollars in trade and tourism revenues following its ban Monday on slaughtering animals in accordance with Islamic standards. Halal (Islamically slaughtered) beef and poultry products are imported in large quantities by Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf countries. In fact, around 55 percent of Danish exports to the Kingdom […]

26 Feb, 2014

‘Never forget the spirit of 1986 EDSA People Power’ | Manila Bulletin

Manila (PNA) – Vice President Jejomar C. Binay yesterday called on the Filipino people to remain vigilant in making sure that the spirit of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution is never forgotten. Speaking to reporters after leading the wreath-laying ceremonies at the People Power Monument in Quezon City in commemoration of the 28th anniversary […]

26 Feb, 2014

Asia Times Online: Israeli activists shed light on what really happens at the checkpoints

The case of a seven-year-old Palestinian boy who, fresh from surgery, collapsed through exhaustion at a checkpoint due to a processing delay has highlighted the hardships facing sick Gazans returning from treatment in Israel. Omar’s family had managed to obtain the necessary permits that allowed him to cross the Erez checkpoint to Jerusalem, through the […]

26 Feb, 2014

Jan 2014 Airport Stats Released: LCCs, Phuket Prove Saviours for Thai Aviation Sector

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – International passenger movements at Bangkok’s secondary airport at Don Muang as well as at Phuket airport reported increases in January 2014 over January 2013, helping to offset a 4.3% decline in international passenger movements at Thailand’s main gateway airport, Suvarnabhumi. Don Muang now serves Air Asia, Thai Air Asia, Nok Air and a […]

26 Feb, 2014

Crisis-hit Thai tour & travel agents told to upgrade in preparation for upturn

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Thailand’s inbound tour operators have been urged to upgrade their own products and services and update themselves with improvements in other Thai travel products and services in preparation for a post-political crisis business upturn. Committee members of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) told the wider membership at that monthly February meeting, […]

25 Feb, 2014

Job vacancy trends reveal growing North-South divide in EU labour market

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Brussels, 24 February 2014, European Commission Press release – Vacancy trends in the European labour market indicate a widening gap in job opportunities between Northern and Southern countries. The latest issue of the European Vacancy Monitor (EVM) reveals a shortage of labour supply in countries such as Austria, Denmark Sweden, Estonia and Latvia, while competition […]

25 Feb, 2014

Amazing search engine graphics chart Chinese Spring Festival migrant movements

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) February 20, 2014 – On January 26, 2014, search engine giant Baidu launched “Baidu Migration”, an online map tracking the movement of Chinese people migrating to other parts of the country for the Spring Festival. This map uses location-based technology to track its 200 million registered users. The data is gathered […]

24 Feb, 2014

Call for entries: World Trade Organisation 2014 Essay Award for Young Economists

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Geneva, 24 Feb 2014 – The WTO invites young economists to submit papers for the 2014 WTO Essay Award for Young Economists by 1 June 2014. The Award aims to promote high-quality research on trade policy and international trade co-operation among young economists and to reinforce the relationship between the WTO and the academic community. […]

24 Feb, 2014

China plans tax refunds to lure overseas tourists

By ZHENG XIN

Beijjing, (China Daily) 2014-02-22 – Overseas tourists may be able to claim tax refunds at shopping malls in Beijing as the city strives to boost inbound tourism. Local authorities are working on a plan, according to the Beijing Tourism Development Commission. Zhou Zhengyu, head of the commission, said at a news conference on Friday that […]

24 Feb, 2014

FREE Download Exec Summary: German Convention Board Study of MICE industry megatrends to 2030

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Frankfurt, 24 Feb 2014 – GCB media release – The German Convention Bureau has released the findings from “Meetings and Conventions 2030: A study of megatrends shaping our industry.” According to Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the German Convention Bureau: “The meetings industry is an economic driver for nations all over the world. As an […]

24 Feb, 2014

London Jews Host Islam Awareness Week

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 24 February 2014 (24 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre in […]

24 Feb, 2014

Report: 50 soccer fields of forest lost every minute of every day for 12 years

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WASHINGTON, February 20, 2014—The World Resources Institute (WRI), Google, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and a group of more than 40 partners on Thursday launched the Global Forest Watch (GFW), a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests. For the first time, Global Forest Watch unites […]

24 Feb, 2014

The five attributes Google seeks in its job applicants – Sydney Morning Herald

Last June, in an interview with Adam Bryant of The New York Times, Laszlo Bock, the senior vice president of people operations for Google – ie, the guy in charge of hiring for one of the world’s most successful companies – noted that Google had determined that academic results weren’t very important. ‘‘[Grade point averages] […]

24 Feb, 2014

Judith Butler cancels Jewish Museum talk over Israel controversy | Haaretz

Literary theorist Judith Butler pulled out of a talk she was scheduled to give at New York’s Jewish Museum amid protests over her support for boycotting Israel. Butler, who teaches comparative literature and critical theory at the University of California, Berkeley, was set to speak at an event on March 6 about the writer Franz […]

24 Feb, 2014

Yes to a boycott – Yossi Sarid | Haaretz

You be the judge of me, before they come to put me on trial: If I oppose, with all my heart and soul, the settlements that jeopardize our peace and well-being, then why should I support their businesses of my own free will? Isn’t it bad enough that my legally paid taxes are now going […]

23 Feb, 2014

Everest climbers to face tighter controls after brawl with Sherpas – The Independent

Nepal is to enforce tighter controls on Mount Everest to ensure the world’s highest peak is safe for climbers, officials said on Friday. The announcement comes after three Europeans abandoned their ascent to the 8,850 metre (29,035-foot) summit in the peak climbing season last April, after a brawl with around 100 Sherpas sparked safety concerns. […]

22 Feb, 2014

Modi’s rise a defeat for freedom in India – DAWN.COM

In voting Modi to power, the bargain India’s citizenry and corporate world would probably be making — with what consequences in the long term no one can quite predict — is the privileging of economic growth and “good governance” over intellectual freedom and the long-standing secular consensus of a Hindu-majority but multi-faith country (often denounced […]

22 Feb, 2014

Asia Times Online: Egypt back to her old ways

LONDON – A catchy new tune is circulating in Egyptian social media pages. The song, which gives a symbolic description of current events, is sung by an artist who is known for his strong leanings towards the revolution of January 25, 2011. Yasser Elmanawahly stayed true to his ideals even when they clashed with those […]

22 Feb, 2014

Bhutanese Prince to Thailand: Some Gross National Happiness May Help

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – Bhutan’s Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck has indicated his support for a suggestion that Thailand may find it useful to apply the principles of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) national development philosophy as a way out of its present political impasse. The Prince was addressing a media gathering at an event marking the 25th […]

22 Feb, 2014

NSA’s Fake War On Terror | TheSleuthJournal

NSA spying is longstanding. It’s ongoing abroad and at home. It has nothing to do with national security. It’s unrelated to uncovering terrorist plots. Homegrown ones virtually don’t exist. Alleged ones are hatched. They’re fake. Claiming dozens were foiled in time is false. Read the rest: NSA’s Fake War On Terror | TheSleuthJournal.

22 Feb, 2014

Small-scale fish farmers not benefitting from big-scale fish profits, UN reports

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21 February 2014, Bergen/Rome (Food and Agriculture Organisation media release) – The booming world fish trade is generating more wealth than ever before, but countries must help small-scale fishers and fish farmers benefit too, FAO said today. Global fishery production from wild capture fisheries and aquaculture is expected to set a new record in 2013 […]

22 Feb, 2014

How China Can Cause The Death Of The Dollar And The U.S. Financial System

The death of the dollar is coming, and it will probably be China that pulls the trigger. What you are about to read is understood by only a very small fraction of all Americans. Right now, the U.S. dollar is the de facto reserve currency of the planet. Most global trade is conducted in U.S. […]

21 Feb, 2014

European Data Protection Chief: Enforcing EU law essential for rebuilding trust with US

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Brussels, 21 February 2014, EDPS Press release -The strict enforcement of existing European data protection laws is an essential element for restoring trust between the EU and the USA said the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) today. Peter Hustinx, EDPS, said: “The rights of EU citizens to the protection of their privacy and personal information […]

21 Feb, 2014

Malaysian Airports Offering Airline Incentives for Flights to Emerging Destinations

Tan Sri Bashir, Managing Director, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad

Kuching – In the Hollywood movie, The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks, the comfort and beauty of JFK International Airport is not enough to satisfy the Krakozhian traveler Viktor Navorski who needs to get into New York city to fulfill his mission. Airports are ultimately only the gateway and not the destination. Kuching is preparing to […]

21 Feb, 2014

Routes Asia 2014: Boosting air links the first step towards reimaging Kuching

Dato’ Rashid Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Tourism Board

The reimaging of Kuching as a destination was part of the 5 Year Tourism Industry Transformation Program which began in 2010 with one thought in mind – to improve the visitor experience in a very niche market that is to position Sarawak as a home of adventure with elements of culture and nature. Sarawak, which […]

21 Feb, 2014

Netanyahu has turned me into an ‘anti-Semite’ – Roy Isacowitz – Haaretz

I’ve spent the last couple of days battling to come to terms with the fact that I’m an anti-Semite. It’s not an easy thing to accept for someone who has been Jewish since birth, has lived in Israel for over 40 years and who likes to believe that he doesn’t have a racist bone in […]

20 Feb, 2014

Visa-free Japan dominates Thailand Travel Fair 2014

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK- A strong 64-company Japanese presence at this year’s Thailand International Travel Fair has provided ample proof that ease of access is the primary driver of travel & tourism. Japan waived visa requirements for Thai visitors last year, triggering a 74% surge in Thai arrivals to 450,000 in 2013, according to Kazuhiro Ito, Executive Director […]

20 Feb, 2014

Economic impact of political unrest: Thai Airways passengers down 9% in Jan

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – In another strong indicator of the economic impact of the ongoing Thai political unrest, Thai Airways international has reported a 9.4% decline in total passengers carried in January 2014 over January 2013. The figures, released today, tallied almost entirely with the total visitor arrivals reported earlier this week by the Ministry of Tourism […]

20 Feb, 2014

Idyllic tourism islands facing backlash for aiding corporate secrecy, corruption, money-laundering

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19 February 2014, (Transparency International media release ) – Have you ever wondered why the Cayman Islands has more registered companies, 93,000, than people, 54,000? It might be because it can take as little as 24 hours to set up a company and you don’t even have to tell anyone outside the government who the […]

20 Feb, 2014

Snowden Documents Reveal Surveillance, Pressure Tactics Aimed at WikiLeaks and Supporters – The Intercept

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Top-secret documents from the National Security Agency and its British counterpart reveal for the first time how the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom targeted WikiLeaks and other activist groups with tactics ranging from covert surveillance to prosecution. The efforts – detailed in documents provided previously by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden – […]

19 Feb, 2014

Thai Princess to Inaugurate Awards for Outstanding Teachers in Southeast Asia

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BANGKOK, 19 February 2014 (NNT) – Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday evening (Feb 18) graced an international reception held in honor of the visiting permanent secretaries of education from 11 Southeast Asian countries, at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel in Bangkok. The top education officials in the region are in Bangkok for a meeting to […]

19 Feb, 2014

Sydney Airport 20-year Master Plan Approved

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Canberra, Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Media Release, 18 February 2014 – Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss announced that he has approved Sydney Airport’s 2014 Master Plan.  Sydney Airport submitted the plan to the Deputy Prime Minister in December 2013. Mr Truss said the Master Plan […]

19 Feb, 2014

Gallup Polls: More Americans Now View Afghanistan War as a Mistake

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ -February 19, 2014 – Gallup Polls – For the first time since the U.S. initially became involved in Afghanistan in 2001, Americans are as likely to say U.S. military involvement there was a mistake as to say it was not. Gallup first asked Americans about U.S. intervention in Afghanistan in November 2001, just […]

19 Feb, 2014

Gallup Polls: Majority of Afghans Suffering in 2013

by Mohamed Younis

WASHINGTON, D.C. February 19, 2014, (Gallup Polls) — As Afghans prepare to elect a new president and international forces start to withdraw, their hopes for the future are as grim as ever. The majority of Afghans (55%) rate their lives poorly enough to be considered “suffering,” the highest percentage Gallup has measured in the world […]

19 Feb, 2014

Pulitzer-winning NYT journalist to speak on how the “American Dream” is unravelling

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Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) February 18, 2014 – Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author Hedrick Smith will visit Georgia State University on Wednesday, March 12 to discuss how America has moved from an era of middle class prosperity and power to an unequal economy that is unraveling the “American Dream” for millions of middle-class families. […]

18 Feb, 2014

Alcohol trade ‘must act on UK drink problem’ or face government action – The Independent

The UK drinks industry has been ordered by the Home Office to produce plans to tackle the sale and promotion of cheap super-strength beers and cider by the summer or face government action. Crime Prevention minister Norman Baker said that some alcohol producers and sellers have tried to ignore the Home Office’s demands for a […]

18 Feb, 2014

Loneliness twice as unhealthy as obesity for older people, study finds | theguardian.com

Loneliness can be twice as unhealthy as obesity, according to researchers who found that feelings of isolation can have a devastating impact on older people. The scientists tracked more than 2,000 people aged 50 and over and found that the loneliest were nearly twice as likely to die during the six-year study than the least […]

18 Feb, 2014

Unemployment Rises to Top Problem in the U.S. – Gallup Polls

by Rebecca Riffkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. February 17, 2014 (Gallup Polls) — Americans have a new No. 1 problem. Nearly one in four Americans mention jobs and unemployment as the most important problem facing the country, up from 16% in January. The government and politicians had topped the list since the government shutdown in October. Prior to last fall, […]

18 Feb, 2014

Australian Police post warning about online romance scams

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Canberra, 17-02-2014 – (ACBPS media release) – The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) is warning the Australian community about the risks associated with online romance scams. Each year hundreds of thousands of Australians visit online dating and social websites hoping to find love. Unfortunately it is has also become a target for scammers. […]

18 Feb, 2014

The new Brand USA: Our Sinister Dual State – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

We live in what the German political scientist Ernst Fraenkel called “the dual state.” Totalitarian states are always dual states. In the dual state civil liberties are abolished in the name of national security. The political sphere becomes a vacuum “as far as the law is concerned,” Fraenkel wrote. There is no legal check on […]

18 Feb, 2014

Value of Design and Creativity On Show at First Singapore Design Week, 10-16 March

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Singapore, Feb 17, 2014 – (ACN Newswire) – The inaugural Singapore Design Week (SDW) from 10 to 16 March 2014 will bring together a collection of over 50 local and international design activities at the National Design Centre and other venues. Organised by the DesignSingapore Council and supported by design associations and partners, the SDW […]

17 Feb, 2014

Nigeria Plans Major Investment in Airport Development

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 17 February 2014 (17 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre in Malaysia […]

17 Feb, 2014

January 2014 Thai tourism stats show impact of political unrest

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – Visitor arrival figures for January 2014 released earlier today confirm the extent of the damage being caused by the ongoing political unrest in Thailand. The total arrivals of 2,319,821 were virtually the same as 2,318,447 in January 2013, meaning that a growth level of probably more than 20% that may otherwise have materialised […]

17 Feb, 2014

Aust PM ‘frustrated’ at slow progress in anti-spying talks with Indonesia – Sydney Morning Herald

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has expressed frustration at the lack of progress on negotiations for a new joint code of conduct with Indonesia amid new spying claims. Jakarta demanded the code following revelations last year that Australia spied on Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and members of his inner circle. Indonesia wants the code finalised […]

17 Feb, 2014

LOT Polish Airlines Allows Passengers To Use PEDs In Flight

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Feb. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — LOT Polish Airlines is allowing passengers to use their personal electronic devices (PED) on board LOT’s aircraft in flight mode beginning Feb. 17, 2014. Passengers may keep these devices switched on throughout the journey including take-offs and landings.  They may use all the functions on their phones, tablets, MP3 players […]

17 Feb, 2014

Cambodia to Host its First PATA Travel Mart

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February 17, 2014, Bangkok (PATA media release) — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will hold the 37th PATA Travel Mart 2014, September 17-19 at Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Centre, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the “Kingdom of Wonder.” The Mart is being hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia. PTM 2014 will offer delegates […]

17 Feb, 2014

Chinese left stranded as Canada scraps investor visa program

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BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) — Uncertainty looms for thousands of mainland Chinese as Canada has scrapped its decades long investor visa program. Many say they had been hoping to school their young children in Canada but are now being forced to make new plans. An Li and her family had been waiting for five years […]

17 Feb, 2014

Philippines mulls 4-day school week proposal | Manila Bulletin

Manila, Philippines — Some lawmakers expressed support yesterday for a proposed four-day school week to help ease the massive traffic jams that are expected when work on 15 road and other construction projects in Metro Manila start this month. The Department of Education (DepEd) said it would form a panel to study the proposal of […]

17 Feb, 2014

EU report projects nearly 5 million jobs in €63 billion app sector by 2018

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Brussels, 13 February 2014, European Commission Press release – The EU’s app sector has gone from zero to digital superhero in less than five years. By 2018 it could employ 4.8 million people and contribute €63 billion to the EU economy according to a report presented in Brussels today. The study, carried out by GIGAOM […]

17 Feb, 2014

TAT to maintain arrivals and revenue targets, revise strategic plan

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Bangkok, (Royal Thai Government official media release) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will not adjust projected figures and revenue target for 2014, but instead revise its strategic plan. It is expected that tourists will gain back their confidence during the third and fourth quarters, particularly those from China, Japan, and Russia. On February […]

17 Feb, 2014

Thai police told to retake Bangkok protest sites this week

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BANGKOK, Feb 16 (MCOT Online News) – Thailand’s police have been instructed to reclaim the five major capital protest sites occupied by protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and its allies this week. Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, as director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO),said Sunday on live television that he had ordered […]

16 Feb, 2014

Israel bars 70 Gaza patients over ‘Palestine’ logo – Ahram Online

The Israeli authorities have blocked 70 patients from Gaza from entering Israel to receive medical treatment because their transfer documents were marked “State of Palestine”, officials told AFP on Wednesday. Until recently, official stationery has used the term “Palestinian territories”. But the logo was changed in mid-December, a year after the Palestinians won recognition as […]

16 Feb, 2014

China mulls rules to regulate Internet finance

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) — China’s securities regulator said on Friday that it would work with other agencies to issue a set of rules to govern the burgeoning Internet finance industry. Despite being “generally supportive” of Internet finance, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said the nascent sector still needs proper regulation and guidance. “Internet […]

14 Feb, 2014

As trust fades, Europe proposes “more transparent, accountable, inclusive” Internet governance

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Brussels, 12 February 2014, European Commission Press release – In the wake of large-scale Internet surveillance and reduced trust in the internet, the European Commission today proposes a key reform to the way the Internet is managed and run. The proposal calls for more transparent, accountable and inclusive governance. Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes said: “The […]

14 Feb, 2014

Malaysia, Indonesia Team Up for First Joint Seminar on Islamic Tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

Malaysia and Indonesia are to hold the first joint seminar on promoting Islamic tourism, one of the most promising future trends in travel, especially within the Asia-Pacific region. To be held 17-18 February in Kuala Lumpur, the seminar is the result of cooperation between the Islamic Tourism Centre (Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia), Ministry […]

13 Feb, 2014

Why it’s easy to ‘ban’ books in India – Hindustan Times

If any more proof was needed of the nation’s inexorable move towards a Right led by anti-intellectuals virulently opposed to Hinduism’s most admirable characteristic, its openness to a multiplicity of interpretations, Penguin India has supplied it by agreeing to pulp copies of Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: An Alternative History. According to these severely intellectually-challenged right […]

13 Feb, 2014

Pakistan to host ‘India Show’ in Lahore from February 14

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NEW DELHI, TNN | Feb 12, 2014: Exploring ‘business’ route to improve relations between the two countries, Pakistan will host three-day ‘India Show’ in Lahore beginning February 14. It may just be a coincidence that this mega business show of ‘made-in-India’ goods in Pakistan will begin on the Valentine’s Day, but the occasion will indeed […]

13 Feb, 2014

Skin-whitening creams reveal dark side of beauty – DAWN.COM

SKIN-whitening cosmetics are a multi-billion dollar industry pushing the idea that beauty equates with white skin and that lightening dark skin is both achievable and preferable. The cosmetics industry has traditionally relied on convincing people that they are incomplete without a particular product. Yet, unlike make-up or fake tan, skin-whitening creams base beauty on a […]

13 Feb, 2014

FREE Download: Report shows social-economic gains from free movement of EU citizens

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Brussels, 11 February 2014, European Commission Press release – EU citizens go to other EU countries mainly for job opportunities and are on average younger and more likely to be working. This is confirmed by a new, independent study on the impact of the right to move freely within the EU which was published today. […]

13 Feb, 2014

S.African Parliamentary Committee Adopts Boycott Of Israel Resolution

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Feb 10, 2014 (BDS South Africa media release) –  The Palestine solidarity human rights organization, BDS South Africa, welcomes the resolutions and recommendations of South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee’s recent conference in support of the people of Palestine, Cuba and Western Sahara. BDS South Africa particularly welcomes the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee’s conference resolution in support […]

13 Feb, 2014

Maori Tourism CEO clears the air over suspended PATA Indigenous Tourism Conf

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – The chief executive of New Zealand Maori Tourism has stepped in to dispel speculation about the reasons for the abrupt suspension of an April conference on Indigenous Tourism that was scheduled to be held in Rotorua in cooperation with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). In a statement emailed to this editor, Mrs […]

13 Feb, 2014

Valentine’s Day Special: Sound Relationships Require Sound Finances

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– February 10, 2014 — Just in time for Valentine’s Day, MetLife has released a top 10 list of financial tips designed to assist couples in achieving their financial goals. Given the significant role that financial matters play in couples’ lives—with the average couple discussing money 20 times a year—the tips provide a […]

12 Feb, 2014

‘The day we fight back’: 6,000 websites protest surveillance – RT News

More than 6,000 websites, including Reddit, Tumblr, Mozilla, are taking part in an online protest against government surveillance. The action marks two years since website blackouts against SOPA and PIPA and commemorates Aaron Swartz’s death. The February 11 online protest, going by the title ‘The Day We Fight Back’, is supposed to see around 6, […]

12 Feb, 2014

Palestine Plans Airport in West Bank, Seaport and Railway in Gaza

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BETHLEHEM, Feb 11 (NNN-Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Transport has been working with Egypt to prepare plans for an airport in the occupied West Bank and a seaport and railway line in the Gaza Strip, a minister said. Nabil Dmeidi, minister of transport and chairman of Palestinian Airlines, told Ma’an that the transport […]

12 Feb, 2014

All BJP wants to do is advance RSS’ vision of a Hindu Rashtra – Hindustan Times

The RSS/BJP campaign pitch reminds us of the popular Hindi song with which my generation grew up — ‘Kahin pe nigahein, kahin pe nishana’ (looking in one direction, while the target is another). Its public campaign is ostensibly pitched on the issues of development and prosperity. The real target, however, remains advancing the RSS’ vision […]

12 Feb, 2014

UN meeting to forge new quality standards for booming spice and herb sector

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11 February 2014, Kochi, India/Rome (Food & Agriculture Organisation media release) – An international effort has been launched to develop quality standards for key products of the multi-billion dollar spice and herb trade. The sector has been enjoying rapid growth for several decades on the back of burgeoning demand from the booming economies of Asia […]

12 Feb, 2014

Most foreign students in UK do not feel welcome: Survey – The Independent

The majority of international students studying in the UK feel unwelcome in the country with a significant number saying they would not recommend to their friends that they come here to attend university, says a survey published on Monday. A study of the attitudes of 3,100 international students by the National Union of Students revealed […]

12 Feb, 2014

Airports join push for liberalised EU-ASEAN aviation pact

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February 12, 2014, Hong Kong, (Airports Council International media release) –  As the 1st EU-ASEAN Aviation Summit kicked off yesterday in Singapore, airports on both sides were quick to herald the benefits of opening aviation markets between Europe and ASEAN countries. The airport trade bodies, ACI Asia-Pacific and ACI Europe expressed strong hopes that the […]

12 Feb, 2014

FREE Download: Six-language Guidelines to Protect Children from On-line Predators

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Geneva, 11 February 2014 (International Telecommunications Union media release) – The ITU is joining with other UN agencies, NGOs, governments and tech companies around the world today to celebrate Safer Internet Day, with a special focus on education strategies to promote greater online safety for children and young people. Under the theme “Creating a better […]

11 Feb, 2014

Jewish fanatics carry out ‘price tag’ attack in Jerusalem

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Ramallah, Palestine, Tuesday, 11 February 2014 (International Islamic News Agency) –  Jewish extremists punctured the tires of 19 vehicles belonging to Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem on early Monday in a suspected “price tag” attack. Palestinian sources said that the settlers’ attack in the East Jerusalem’s neighborhood of Silwan resulted in 18 cars having their tires […]

11 Feb, 2014

Full Backgrounder: Why Europe is seeking an Open Skies Pact with ASEAN?

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Brussels, 10 February 2014, European Commission Memo on the EU–ASEAN1 Aviation Summit – Towards stronger relations in aviation Frequently asked questions EU-ASEAN in figures The EU traded with ASEAN more than €206 billion in goods and services in 2011 ASEAN is the EU’s 3rd largest trading partner outside Europe. The EU is ASEAN’s 2nd largest […]

11 Feb, 2014

Australian research to identify how growing number of retirees spend their money

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Melbourne, 10 February 2014 – Researchers from CSIRO and Monash University in Melbourne are putting the spending habits of retirees under the microscope in an effort to understand the finer details behind how they use and manage their superannuation funds in retirement. “We’re looking to understand what retirees need, how long their super lasts and […]

11 Feb, 2014

Volunteer tourism study: “High price no indicator of responsibility levels”

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London, (Tourism Concern media release) Feb 10, 2014 – Volunteer tourism organisations that offer the most expensive products are likely to be the least responsible, research from Leeds Metropolitan University has revealed. The study, published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism, led by Victoria Smith and Dr Xavier Font, suggests that price and responsibility display […]

11 Feb, 2014

UK faces high costs of mental-ill health, says OECD

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Paris, (OECD media release) – 10/02/2014 – Mental health issues cost the UK around GBP 70 billion every year, or roughly 4.5% of GDP, in lost productivity at work, benefit payments and health care expenditure. Better policies and practices by employers and the health system are needed to help people deal with mental health issues […]

11 Feb, 2014

Toyota to exit Australia in 2017, costing 30,000 jobs

he end of Australia’s car manufacturing industry has arrived, with Toyota on Monday telling its 4200 local staff it will no longer make cars in Melbourne beyond 2017. A small army of security guards assembled at the company’s Altona plant in Melbourne, ahead of the annual address by Toyota Australia president Max Yasuda on Monday […]

11 Feb, 2014

The department store era is over – Sydney Morning Herald

Capitalism is cruel on the long-lived. Entrenching cultures and ways of doing things, the passing of time breeds complacency in the old on which the new pounce. David Jones was founded in 1838, Myer in 1900. Whether they merge or not, and it would make sense to do so, both are unlikely to survive in […]

11 Feb, 2014

Alcoholic liver disease on the rise in Australian young women

More young women are being treated for advanced liver disease caused by steady and dangerous drinking starting in teenage years, doctors warn. Specialists say young, professional women are significantly contributing to the rising hospitalisation rates for people aged 20 to 29 with alcoholic cirrhosis. ”We are used to alcoholic liver disease in middle-aged men but […]

11 Feb, 2014

The Boycott is Our Palestinian Non-Violent Resistance to Israeli occupation

By Dr. Hanan Ashrawi

10 February 2014 (Haaretz.com) — The SodaStream controversy, which recently caught the attention of media worldwide, has highlighted Israel’s ongoing military occupation and contributed to the growing awareness of global consciousness and social responsibility towards Palestine. It has laid wide open the whole issue of Israeli impunity and the imperative of multifaceted intervention and accountability. […]

11 Feb, 2014

Goo Study: Most U.S. Consumers Ignore Online Ads

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STOCKHOLM-February 11, 2014-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Goo Technologies, a provider of HTML5 high-end graphics for games and interactive visualizations on the web and the company behind the Goo Create® cloud platform, today announced the results of the first annual Goo Online Advertising Survey of over 2,000 Americans aged 18 and older, conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf […]

11 Feb, 2014

Revealed: How Big Pharma uses ‘wealth to influence government’ – The Independent

NHS bosses allowed a lobbying company working for some of the world’s biggest drugs and medical equipment firms to write a draft report which could help shape future health policy. NHS England commissioned a group called the Specialised Healthcare Alliance (SHCA) to consult with patients’ groups, charities and health organisations and produce a report feeding […]

11 Feb, 2014

Asia Times Online: Japan’s brutal work culture takes a toll

Almost half of all non-regular workers chose their current “work-style” due to lack of opportunity to be a regular employee. As a demographic that receives low wages, no health or pension benefits and no paid holidays, the non-regular workforce represents a worrying growth of instability that remains ignored by government policy. As for regular employees, […]

11 Feb, 2014

Israeli checkpoints block hospital access for pregnant Palestinian | Haaretz

Israel’s Civil Administration in the West Bank blocks a pregnant woman at medical risk from taking the quick route to a hospital in East Jerusalem, even though she is accompanying her Israeli husband in their Israeli car, because it would entail going through a checkpoint that “isn’t meant for Palestinians.” Yara Abu Oudeh, 37, is […]

11 Feb, 2014

Filipino film highlights dangerous power of social media | Arab News

BERLIN: A 15-year-old’s heartbreak and obsession with the social media make for a gripping tale of how the Internet can drive fragile minds into a dangerous world, in the Filipino film “Unfriend” shown at the Berlin film festival. Director Joselito Altarejos takes viewers on a nightmarish journey with the film’s hero David, who is jilted […]

10 Feb, 2014

Iraq’s National Museum plans April reopening

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 10 February 2014 (10 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ ASEAN TOURISM FORUM 2014 IN KUCHING, SARAWAK, HAILED A MAJOR SUCCESS The Minister of Tourism […]

10 Feb, 2014

Why global water shortages pose threat of terror and war | The Observer

On 17 January, scientists downloaded fresh data from a pair of Nasa satellites and distributed the findings among the small group of researchers who track the world’s water reserves. At the University of California, Irvine, hydrologist James Famiglietti looked over the data from the gravity-sensing Grace satellites with a rising sense of dread. The data, […]

10 Feb, 2014

Thousands of Barclays customers’ data ‘stolen and sold to rogue traders’ – The Independent

Thousands of Barclays customers have had their personal data stolen and sold on to manipulative “rogue traders”, a newspaper has claimed. A whistleblower told the Mail on Sunday the leaked data included people’s medical issues, incomes, savings and insurance policies – described as a “gold mine” that could be manipulated by traders running investment scams. […]

9 Feb, 2014

ASEAN-EU Aviation Summit to explore “Open Skies” Pact

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Singapore, 10 February 2014, European Commission Press release – The EU-ASEAN Aviation Summit, jointly organised by the European Commission and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will take place in Singapore on 11-12 February 2014. The Summit’s objective is to enhance political, technical and industrial co-operation between ASEAN and the EU in the aviation […]

9 Feb, 2014

First JCB card in Laos introduced by Phongsavanh Bank

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Vientiane and Tokyo, Feb 5, 2014 – (JCN Newswire) – Phongsavanh Bank Limited (PSVB), a major and the first private Lao commercial bank in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos), and JCB International (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., today announced that PSVB has launched the first JCB credit card in Laos. […]

9 Feb, 2014

Age no barrier: 81-year-old Japanese who scaled Everest | The Japan Times

Ever wondered what it feels like to stand on top of the world? Eighty-one-year-old alpinist Yuichiro Miura should know: He’s done it three times since turning 70. He became the oldest person to scale the world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, in May last year, a remarkable feat that spurred the government to name a state […]

9 Feb, 2014

Rahul Gandhi: Narendra Modi follows ‘poisonous’ ideology of RSS – Times of India

SURAT: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi took on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on his home turf on Saturday saying that Modi follows the “poisonous” ideology of RSS that killed Mahatma Gandhi. Drawing the battlelines for the Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat, he attacked Modi for having colleagues who went to jail before becoming ministers. […]

9 Feb, 2014

Thomas Cook India buys Sterling Holiday for Rs 870cr – The Times of India

MUMBAI, TNN | Feb 9, 2014: Billionaire investor Prem Watsa-backed Thomas Cook India is acquiring vacation ownership pioneer Sterling Holiday Resorts India for Rs 870 crore, marking its foray into the hospitality sector. This is Thomas Cook India’s second purchase after Ikya Human Solutions in February 2013. To be completed by the fourth quarter of […]

9 Feb, 2014

Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters blasts Scarlett Johansson over Israel | Veterans News Now

By Ali Abunimah Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters has fiercely criticized Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson over her decision to endorse SodaStream, an Israeli company that operates a factory in an illegal colony in the occupied West Bank. Waters writes that in his previous encounters with Johansson, the actress struck him as a “young woman of strength […]

9 Feb, 2014

Future is cloudy in Bangkok – former Indian Ambassador

It is uncertain if the February 2 election in Thailand will lead to a resolution of the ongoing political crisis. Certainly, it will not help address the deep contradictions that lie at the heart of the Thai system. Unless the Thai traditional and new political, social and business elites — and people at large — […]

9 Feb, 2014

Corruption an inescapable reality – Hindustan Times

The 2009 recession, followed by a long-drawn out slowdown, coupled with scams tumbling out of the government’s closet one after the other, have unsurprisingly made traders in India pessimistic and dejected. The HT-MaRS Governance Survey found that close to 70% of traders believed corruption had eaten into the system and that the malaise was so […]

9 Feb, 2014

Moment of truth for India – The Hindu

For the first time in the history of independent India, a high official of its intelligence services stands indicted for cold-blooded killing in the service of the Republic. Thursday’s Central Bureau of Investigation charge sheet against former Intelligence Bureau Special Director Rajinder Kumar and his subordinates for the alleged extra-judicial execution of Maharashtra residents Ishrat […]

8 Feb, 2014

Chinese Spring Festival holidays boost tourism revenues, and pollution

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BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) — Tourism revenue in China rose 16.4 percent year on year during the week-long Spring Festival holiday, the National Tourism Administration said on Friday. Tourism revenue reached 126.4 billion yuan (20.69 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday, which began last Friday, according to a statement released by the administration. The Spring […]

8 Feb, 2014

Philippines launches “Thank You” ad campaign for aiding typhoon recovery

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MANILA, Philippines–(BUSINESS WIRE)–On 8 February 2014 at 4:40am Manila time, exactly three months after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, the country will launch a global campaign expressing its gratitude to the world, having received an outpouring of support following the devastating effects of the typhoon. Triggered by an overwhelming sense of appreciation, which has been […]