14 Jun, 2014

Global Internet Privacy Study Reveals Consumers’ Concerns Over Eroding Privacy, Lack of Ethics

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HOPKINTON, MA, June 12, 2014 – EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) today released the findings of the EMC Privacy Index, a global study assessing consumer attitudes of online privacy. Spanning 15 countries and 15,000 consumers, the study reveals consumers hold viewpoints on privacy that vary widely by geography and the type of activity engaged in while […]

12 Jun, 2014

ASEAN Urged To Reap Benefit Of Demographic Dividend

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (NNN-Bernama) — Asean has great potential to reap the benefit of demographic dividend as half of its population comprised young people, said economist Dr Munir Majid. Munir said fifty per cent of the world’s population of over seven billion was young people under the age of 30, and of that, 90 […]

12 Jun, 2014

South Africa Supports Inclusion Of Rights Of Disabled In Post-2015 Development Agenda

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PRETORIA, June 12 (NNN-SA NEWS) — South African Social Development Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu has expressed the country’s support for the inclusion of rights of persons with disabilities in the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda. Speaking at the 7th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with […]

12 Jun, 2014

Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam hit as Chinese tourists head for East Asia

By Zheng Xin

Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-06-11 – More tourists from China have been heading to East Asia in recent months, deterred from traveling to traditionally popular destinations such as Malaysia and Vietnam. Travel agencies nationwide have reported a 50 percent year-on-year increase in visits to South Korea in the past few months. “While some tourists canceled trips […]

12 Jun, 2014

UN celestial committee stresses use of ‘space tools’ for sustainable development

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 11 June 2014 – Space-based information technologies must be fully integrated into the international efforts to overcome such challenges to sustainable development as climate change and food insecurity, the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was told as it opened its annual session today in Vienna. […]

12 Jun, 2014

Mainland individual tourists to Taiwan exceed 1 million

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Beijing, (Xinhua) 2014-06-11 – The number of independent tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan has exceeded one million since the island opened to mainland individual tourists in June 2011, said a mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday. More than 1.08 million mainland individual tourists (without contracts with travel agencies) traveled to Taiwan as of April this […]

12 Jun, 2014

PATA’s Myanmar drone stunt followed by crash

Imtiaz Muqbil

Mandalay: The Pacific Asia Travel Association laid claim to becoming the first industry grouping to demonstrate the aerial photography prowess of a remote controlled drone, only to see the flying machine come crashing down during another attempt the following day. Initiated with great fanfare by PATA CEO Martin Craigs, the drone powered by four helicopter-style […]

11 Jun, 2014

UN to Convene First Meeting to Give Voice to Victims of Terrorism

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8 June 2014 United Nations, (UN News Centre) – Imagine being caught up in a hotel bombing while vacationing abroad and you find yourself alone in a foreign hospital. You are treated for the severe physical injuries sustained in the horrific incident and are eventually released from the hospital. But you and your loved ones […]

11 Jun, 2014

UN envoy: Open border crossings will help Palestinians reap fruits of unity government

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8 June 2014 United Nations, (UN News Centre) – The senior United Nations envoy in the Middle East visited the Gaza Strip today for the first time since the signing of the Beach Camp Agreement and the formation of a Palestinian government of national consensus, and pledged the Organization’s ongoing support as the nascent process […]

11 Jun, 2014

Theft and Labour Disruption Main Risks to World Cup Host Cities – IHS Report

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE) – June 08, 2014 – Today, IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), a global source of critical information and insight, released findings from its study on security risks for each of Brazil’s 12 World Cup host cities. The Latin America Country Risk team at IHS identified theft and disruption due to labour unrest as the […]

11 Jun, 2014

‘Israel is bitterly dividing American Jewish community’ — AP

Two weeks ago the Washington Post ran an excellent piece on the divide inside the Washington Jewish community over Israel. Marc Fisher’s reporting included anti-Zionists and non-Zionists who were getting the bum’s rush from establishment Jewish organizations: Fisher reported on the disinvitation of the Shondes band and author David Harris-Gershon by the Jewish Community Center […]

11 Jun, 2014

‘Inventing Terrorists’ Study Probes U.S. Govt’s Use of Preemptive Prosecutions | The Dissenter

Nearly ninety-five percent of individuals on a Justice Department list of “terrorism and terrorism-related convictions” from 2001-2010 included some elements of preemptive prosecution, according to a study by attorneys which they say is the first to “directly examine and critique preemptive prosecution and its abuses.” The study is called “Inventing Terrorists: The Lawfare of Preemptive […]

9 Jun, 2014

How an Indonesian Fashionista, 23, Builds Tourism, Busts Stereotypes

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The following is the full text of a powerful, inspiring, motivating speech by 23-year-old Indonesian fashionista Dian Wahyu Utami on the subject of “Growing Fashion Business in Halal and Sharia Compliance” delivered at the 1st OIC International Forum on Islamic Tourism, 2-3 June 2014, Jakarta, Indonesia. See the fabulous PowerPoint presentation that accompanied her speech […]

9 Jun, 2014

The role of Islamic tourism in the global economy

by Mrs Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Republic of The Gambia

Following is the full text of the speech delivered by Mrs. Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Republic of The Gambia and Chairperson of the OIC Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers, at the 1st OIC International Forum on Islamic Tourism, 2-3 June 2014, Jakarta, Indonesia Asalamu Alaikum Warahmatulahi Wabarakatuhu Madame Chairperson, first of […]

9 Jun, 2014

’21st century China-Iran Silk Road Seminar’ held in Beijing

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 09 June 2014 (11 Sha’baan 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 […]

9 Jun, 2014

MH370: Australian oil rig worker loses job after ‘fire in the sky’ report

Reports from an oil rig worker who saw a fire in the sky on the night Malaysia Airlines flight 370 disappeared are being taken seriously, police sources have confirmed. But New Zealander Mike McKay, 55, has lost his job in the ‘‘circus’’ that developed after his report to authorities was leaked. Mr McKay had been […]

9 Jun, 2014

Families of MH370 passengers seek whistleblower, offer $5m reward: The Independent

The families of those on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have launched a campaign calling for a “whistleblower” to come forward and reveal how the plane has lost, offering a reward of up to $5 million. They plan to raise the money via the crowdfunding website Indiegogo, and hope that a large enough […]

9 Jun, 2014

Sharad Pawar: Modi as PM emboldened communal forces – Financial Express

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday expressed alarm over the rising communal incidents after Narendra Modi became the prime minister. At the NCP’s 15th Foundation Day function here, Pawar said, “The change of government in Delhi appears to have emboldened the communal forces who have started asserting themselves leading to growing incidents of communal conflict […]

8 Jun, 2014

No tolerance for hate crimes – The Hindu

Nothing puts to test the strength of India’s secular, social fabric as a hate crime does. The horrific murder of Mohsin Shaikh, an IT professional in Pune, by a group of youngsters owing allegiance to the Hindu Rashtra Sena, is a reminder of how a post-election feeling of triumphalism can feed a climate of lawlessness […]

7 Jun, 2014

UN Chief to Israel: Settlements in occupied territories are illegal

United Nations, UN News Centre, 5 June 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he is deeply concerned by reports that Israeli authorities have issued tenders for the construction of over 1,400 new housing units in settlements in the West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem. “As the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions, […]

7 Jun, 2014

How fasting can regenerate the immune system — Sydney Morning Herald

By Sarah Knapton Fasting for three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as ‘‘remarkable’’. Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists, research suggests that starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing more white blood cells, which fight off infection. Scientists at […]

7 Jun, 2014

Singaporean man sought consular help to get ‘bad sex’ refund | The Japan Times

SINGAPORE – Singapore on Thursday urged its globe-trotting citizens to avoid misusing consular services abroad, revealing “odd requests,” including one man who demanded help to get a refund for bad sex. Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam said the number of overseas trips made by Singaporeans surged to 7 million in 2013, compared to 3.6 million a […]

7 Jun, 2014

PM Modi’s silence on some issues has certainly been perplexing – Hindustan Times

What’s happened in Pune is in some ways even more spine-chilling. Morphed online photographs of Bal Thackeray and Chhatrapati Shivaji resulted in communal friction and street protests in the city. Soon after, Mohsin Mohammed Sadique Shaikh — a computer engineer still in his twenties and in no ways connected to the circulation of these photographs […]

7 Jun, 2014

Gallup Polls: Few Consumers Trust Companies to Keep Online Info Safe

by John Fleming and Elizabeth Kampf

June 6, 2014, WASHINGTON, D.C. (Gallup Polls) — Recent incidents such as Target’s security breach, the Heartbleed bug, and eBay’s systems hack have called attention to how much consumers trust the businesses they patronize to keep their personal information safe. That trust currently appears to be hard to come by. Just 21% of Americans have […]

7 Jun, 2014

Abacus report shows real scourge of travel is more man-made

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SINGAPORE, June 4, 2014 (Abacus media release) – While travel disruption is typically associated with natural disasters, it appears that the real scourge of travel is, more often than not, man-made. This is according to Abacus, Asia Pacific’s leading travel technology company, which today published metrics on the root causes of disruption across the region […]

7 Jun, 2014

Manila Bulletin: Sex offenders to be barred from entering Philippines

by Jun Ramirez

June 5, 2014, Manila Bulletin –  The Bureau of Immigration (BI) banned the entry of foreigners who are registered sex offenders in other countries. BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison on Thursday said any alien whose name is found in the registry of sex offenders kept by foreign embassies and other watch groups will be issued an […]

6 Jun, 2014

No-fly list discriminates against Muslim travelers | The Daily Texan

Many Longhorns will take this summer break as an opportunity to study or travel abroad. Most students will board their planes without a second thought. However, some students will have to worry about possible discrimination based on appearance or religious affiliation by which they could be unfairly chosen for frisking or even denied boarding on […]

6 Jun, 2014

Israeli apartheid exposed at the airport – Haaretz

Despite new x-ray machines, the brutal treatment of Arab citizens at Ben-Gurion Airport continues in keeping with Zionist ideology. Read the rest: Israeli apartheid exposed at the airport – Opinion Israel News | Haaretz.

6 Jun, 2014

Vodafone reveals existence of secret wires that allow state surveillance – The Guardian

Vodafone, one of the world’s largest mobile phone groups, has revealed the existence of secret wires that allow government agencies to listen to all conversations on its networks, saying they are widely used in some of the 29 countries in which it operates in Europe and beyond. The company has broken its silence on government […]

6 Jun, 2014

Eight ways to take back your online privacy — Sydney Morning Herald

A year ago, Edward Snowden’s leaks about the US mass surveillance program made headlines around the world. Now he’s urging internet users to stop relying on governments to protect their rights online and claw back their privacy themselves. “We’re past the point where citizens are entirely dependent on governments to defend our privacy, we don’t […]

6 Jun, 2014

Japan to share fingerprints with U.S. | The Japan Times

The Diet on Wednesday endorsed an agreement to share with the United States in real time the fingerprints of suspected terrorists and individuals involved in serious crimes. The pact, approved by the Lower House last month, was passed Wednesday by the Upper House on the strength of backing by the Liberal Democratic Party and New […]

6 Jun, 2014

PM Modi must condemn Sadique Shaikh’s murder – The Times of India

Modi would like his ministers to be active on social networking websites. But this can only work if the general populace has the same right without being subject to arbitrary arrest and even hate crimes. Moreover, zealots may read the BJP victory as a signal to go ahead with such crimes. This interpretation must be […]

6 Jun, 2014

Year of the Whistleblower: 10 things we didn’t know before Snowden — RT USA

Welcome to the post-Snowden era, where everything you say or do can be monitored by secret services – regardless of a court of law. One year on,here are the top 10 revelations showing us how the world has been fundamentally transformed by state snooping. Read the rest: Year of the whistleblower: 10 things we didn’t […]

6 Jun, 2014

PressTV – Israel critics targeted as ‘anti-Semites’ in Canada

By Joshua Blakeney Since 2010, I have been Press TV’s Canadian correspondent based in Calgary, Alberta. I have been forced by the actions and statements of Canada’s ruling neoconservatives to hone in on the role Zionists and the organized Jewish community play in Canadian society. Canada’s current government has shifted this country from being a […]

6 Jun, 2014

Internet’s largest sites join activists to Reset the Net, stop government snooping

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June 5, 2014 – Today as part of Reset the Net, tens of thousands of Internet users and the Internet’s largest companies rallied to protect billions. These companies and users interfered directly interfering in the NSA’s runaway surveillance programs by securing websites, apps, and services while supporting the largest ever movement in history to spread […]

6 Jun, 2014

Top US CEOs make 330 times more than average employees – RT Business

The average employee in the US will have to work 331 years to earn the annual salary of an average Fortune 500 CEO, according to the AFL-CIO’s 2013 Executive Paywatch. The ratio of CEO pay to worker pay has increased by more than 500 percent in the last thirty years. In 1983, the average CEO […]

6 Jun, 2014

Cruise operators accused of misleading travellers over Anzac centenary tours

The Australian and Turkish governments have accused tour operators of misleading travellers by continuing to advertise cruises that offer access to the Gallipoli Peninsula for the Anzac Day dawn service next year, marking the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landings. The Turkish government has also told Fairfax Media no cruise ships will be able to […]

6 Jun, 2014

What You Should Know About Face Recognition Technology | Alternet

By Tana Ganeva June 4, 2014 – The NSA’s spying doesn’t stop at texts, emails, phone metadata, World of Warcraft, eavesdropping on foreign officials or archiving every phone call made by everyone in the Bahamas. The spy agency is also collecting millions of images every day to plug into face recognition technology, according to a […]

6 Jun, 2014

Glenn Greenwald to Publish Names of Americans NSA Spied On | Alternet

By Alyssa Figueroa May 29, 2014 – Those who have grown apathetic about the National Security Agency violating privacy rights, may soon find their interest renewed, as the political is about to get very personal. According to The Sunday Times of London, Glenn Greenwald will publish the names of Americans targeted by the NSA. “One […]

6 Jun, 2014

A Surveillance State Beyond Imagination Is Being Created in One of the World’s Freest Countries

By Noam Chomsky June 2, 2014 – In the past several months, we have been provided with instructive lessons on the nature of state power and the forces that drive state policy. And on a closely related matter: the subtle, differentiated concept of transparency. The source of the instruction, of course, is the trove of […]

6 Jun, 2014

5 Signs that America Has Gone Bonkers—and a Glimmer of Hope | Alternet

Imtiaz Muqbil

By Jim Hightower May 29, 2014 – It might appear that the U-S-of-A has gone bonkers. So let me clear up any confusion that you might have: Yes, it has! Yet, it hasn’t. More on that in a moment. First, though — whether looking at the “tea party” congress critters who’ve swerved our nation’s political […]

6 Jun, 2014

Australia’s rich get amnesty to declare offshore tax structures

One hundred of Australia’s richest people have taken advantage of a rare amnesty from the Australian Taxation Office – issued in March this year – to reveal their use of secretive offshore tax havens without severe punishment. There has also been a ”large number of expressions of interest” in addition to those 100 people, according […]

4 Jun, 2014

Get Ready For Summer and Ramadan With Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

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MUSANDAM, Oman – June 2, 2014 – Six Senses Zighy Bay unveils an array of summer and Ramadan highlights specially crafted with family travelers in mind which provide a series of unforgettable experiences for the whole family to enjoy. Many residents throughout the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) are looking for a unique break within the […]

4 Jun, 2014

New ITUC Global Rights Index – The world’s worst countries for workers

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19 May 2014 (International Trades Union Confederation) – A global leaderboard in the race to protect workers’ rights was released today at the ITUC World Congress in Berlin. The ITUC Global Rights Index ranks 139 countries against 97 internationally recognised indicators to assess where workers’ rights are best protected, in law and in practice. “Countries […]

4 Jun, 2014

New Legal Report: Workers’ Right to Strike Backed by International Law

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3 June 2014 (International Trades Union Confederation) – A new 122-page ITUC legal report, confirming that the right to strike is protected under international law, has been released today as employers try to overturn decades of jurisprudence at the International Labour Organisation. Employer representatives at the ILO are continuing their efforts to strip back ILO […]

4 Jun, 2014

11 Ways to Reboot and Reform Thai Tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The Thailand Travel Mart+ which opens today comes in the midst of a wider national transition which has seen the Thai tourism industry, the largest service industry, hit by its worst crises in decades. The upheaval is no act-of-God, but an entirely self-inflicted political catastrophe which disproves the current tourism slogan: “Amazing Thailand: […]

3 Jun, 2014

151 Days of Alcohol-related Blackouts | Alternet

by May Wilkerson I was a blackout drinker from the first time I ever got drunk at 16, and my blackouts would cut broad swathes of time right out of my memory, ranging from an hour to an entire night. After waking up the next day, I would search my immediate surroundings for physical clues. […]

2 Jun, 2014

World Cup 2014 in Brazil ready to welcome Muslim fans

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 02 June 2014 (04 Sha’baan 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 […]

1 Jun, 2014

Survey: Iranian-Americans want more travel, understanding with U.S.

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May 27, 2014, Washington, D.C. – The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) today released the findings of its sixth national public opinion survey of Iranian Americans. The 2014 survey was conducted by George Mason University in April and follows similar annual surveys commissioned by PAAIA. The surveys are an integral component of better […]

1 Jun, 2014

FREE Download: Report Says More Executives Seek Jobs Abroad During Global Recession

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LONDON, June 1, 2014, /PRNewswire/ — The fifth Global Professionals on the Move Report from Hydrogen Group, a leading global recruitment company, found the number of people willing to work abroad has doubled over five years. 35% of those surveyed are willing to work abroad compared to 16%  five years ago, and 40% believe that […]

1 Jun, 2014

Americans Say U.S. multinationals do poor job helping grow U.S. economy

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, N.J. — (Gallup Polls) May 27, 2014 – Americans see large U.S. companies as having a more positive effect overseas than they do domestically. While 66% of Americans believe that large U.S. companies do a good job creating good jobs for citizens in other countries where they do business, far fewer, 43%, say the […]

1 Jun, 2014

U.S. pilots claim airlines in “survival mode against unfair foreign competition”

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 29, 2014 – U.S. airlines and their workers are in “survival mode” in their fight to compete against foreign airlines that do business with unfair economic advantages, warns the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) in a new white paper issued today. “U.S. airline workers, whom I believe are the best in the […]

1 Jun, 2014

City mayors urged to be at frontline of battle against climate change

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 29 May 2014 – The head of the United Nations agency on human settlements today said he hoped thousands of cities around the world will join forces to sign a compact to strengthen cooperation in tackling climate challenges when the UN convenes a summit on the issue four months from […]