31 Oct, 2014

Impatience creeps in, aspiring India stressed and dissatisfied – Hindustan Times

Sort through the noise and fury that characterise modern Indian politics and three things emerge. First, the Congress-led UPA government was a bastion of old-style, slow-moving government. Many of its constituents were either corrupt or condoned corruption — for whatever reason: Patronage, personal profit or the cost of coalition. Second, as recently available statistics reveal, […]

31 Oct, 2014

Post-tsunami history lesson: How ancient wisdom helped save an Aceh village

Imtiaz Muqbil

Banda Aceh, Indonesia — When Rahmadhani Sulaiman, Director of Programming and Planning at the Aceh Tourism & Culture Office, narrates the story of the 26 Dec 2004 tsunami to visitors, he highlights the wisdom of the word “Smong07”. It is what saved the islanders of Simeulue, around 200 kilometers off the western coast of Aceh Province. Although […]

29 Oct, 2014

UN experts call for stronger global regulation of private security companies

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 27 October 2014 – The United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries today appealed for stronger global regulations of private security, saying last week’s conviction of Blackwater contractors shows the need for all private security personnel to be held accountable for international human rights and humanitarian law violations. […]

29 Oct, 2014

‘Immediate action’ needed to protect Palestinian olive farmers from Israeli attacks – UN expert

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 22 October 2014 – Nearly half of all cultivated land in the occupied Palestinian Territories is planted with olive trees making them a major driving force of the economy, said a senior United Nations official today as he travelled to two Palestinian olive-producing communities in the central West Bank. “The […]

29 Oct, 2014

UN agencies launch initiative to curb “unacceptably high” global food waste

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United Nations, 24 October 2014 (UN News Centre) – The world wastes enough food to feed an estimated two billion people, the United Nations said today as its three Rome-based food agencies announced the launch of a digital platform designed to take aim at the growing problem of “food loss.” The new online programme, called […]

28 Oct, 2014

RSS body seeks to prove Indian Muslims are Hindus – Hindustan Times

An RSS-backed organisation of genealogists is undertaking an ambitious academic exercise to prove that most Muslims in India are converts from Hinduism, a move that has met with robust scepticism from some social scientists and Islamic scholars. The Akhil Bharatiya Vanshawali Sanrakshan evum Samvardhan Sansthan ABVSSS says it will use oral interviews, historical records, genetic […]

27 Oct, 2014

Welcome aboard Israel’s apartheid bus – Haaretz

Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has instructed that Palestinian laborers be prohibited from using Israeli public transportation to travel between their homes in the West Bank and work in Israel. According to the report by Chaim Levinson in Haaretz on Sunday, Palestinian laborers will not be allowed to board buses traveling directly between central Israel and […]

27 Oct, 2014

Saudi King Orders Free Treatment For Disabled People

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 27 October 2014 (03 Muharram 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE Malaysian handicraft […]

26 Oct, 2014

Bringing Western Depocrisy to Hong Kong

By David Ferguson

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), October 21, 2014 – The Western media have secured their prize. Just as it seemed that the Hong Kong Occupy demonstrations were about to peter out, evidence emerged that one of the protestors had been detained and beaten by police. The officers accused have been suspended, and an investigation is under […]

26 Oct, 2014

UN Study: Israeli Gaza Onslaught Significantly Impacted Women’s Reproductive Health

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RAMALLAH, October 18, 2014 – (WAFA) – A recent UN study revealed that the Israeli onslaught on Gaza has significantly impacted women’s reproductive health. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) conducted a study titled Assessment of Impact of the Crisis in Gaza on Reproductive […]

26 Oct, 2014

Australian consumer watchdog group warning on how to avoid booking a scammer’s holiday

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Canberra, 17 October 2014 – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is warning consumers to watch out for travel scams. The ACCC has received 1,650 complaints about travel scams this year, with $100,000 reported lost. Most complainants were contacted by phone and many were offered holiday vouchers for $2,000 or $3,000. Others were sold fake […]

26 Oct, 2014

New Global Management Accounting Principles Released to Drive Better Organisational Decision Making

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Hong Kong, Oct 23, 2014 – (ACN Newswire) – The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) – two of the world’s largest accountancy bodies – yesterday released new Global Management Accounting Principles to improve decision-making as organisations struggle with data overload, dispersed workforces and the blistering speed of […]

26 Oct, 2014

Ecuador’s FM Patino on global corporations: Transnational misconduct must end — RT Op-Edge

Transnational corporations have abused their privileges leading to “an unprecedented level of social and environmental injustice,” said Ecuador’s FM Ricardo Patino in his article calling on all nations to hold such companies accountable for their actions: Ecuador has undergone a profound social, economic and political transformation over the past seven years, prioritizing the needs and […]

26 Oct, 2014

Putin: The US is to blame for almost all the world’s major conflicts – The Independent

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of undermining global stability, and warned that the world will face new wars if Washington does not respect the interests of other nations. During a speech in the Russian city of Sochi, the President argued that while Moscow does not see Washington as a threat US foreign […]

26 Oct, 2014

Bloodied and crumbling sculptures installed in destroyed Gaza neighbourhood – The Independent

Broken, crumbling and splattered with “blood”, these haunting sculptures have been made by an artist in Gaza to show the pain of conflict. The 50-day war between Israel and Hamas earlier this year left more than 2,200 people dead and razed thousands of homes in the narrow strip to the ground. Most of the casualties […]

26 Oct, 2014

​When lies and half-truths rule the Washington op-ed pages, danger lurks — RT Op-Edge

In the West, Russian media is often accused of propaganda. If this really is the aim of the Russian press, they aren’t remotely as good at it as the Washington Post. Let’s talk about propaganda and the Western media’s use of ‘star’ columnists to spout it. Let’s, especially, focus on when that vitriol is deliberately […]

25 Oct, 2014

Modi’s Idea of India – NYTimes.com

Mr. Modi doesn’t seem to know that India’s reputation as a “golden bird” flourished during the long centuries when it was allegedly enslaved by Muslims. A range of esteemed scholars — from Sheldon Pollock to Jonardon Ganeri — have demonstrated beyond doubt that this period before British rule witnessed some of the greatest achievements in […]

25 Oct, 2014

Is India truly secular or are we boxing Muslims into a corner? – Hindustan Times

Some of the language used by the MIM supporters and candidates creating a new state constituency of the Muslim-Right mirrored the swipes at “pseudo-secularism” first fashioned by the Hindu-Right on the opposite side of the trenches. Waris Pathan, the advocate-turned-legislator from Byculla, dismissed what he called the performance of the “so called secular parties”. Muslims […]

25 Oct, 2014

21 countries sign up as founding members of Asia’s first infrastructure bank

By Zheng Yangpeng

Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-10-24 – A milestone agreement for the structure of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been reached, with 21 Asian countries, including India, stepping forward as founding members. An intergovernmental memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday morning, opening the way for the formal establishment of the China-proposed financial body that will […]

25 Oct, 2014

UNWTO flags economic inequality, geopolitical tensions, conflicts as top global challenges

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Madrid – Every 24 October, UN Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the United Nations United Nations while recalling the immense challenges that remain pending on the international agenda. UNWTO, the only United Nations agency with its permanent headquarters in Spain, celebrated the occasion together with the 13 other UN entities in […]

25 Oct, 2014

Jewish fanatics block Palestinians’ access to their own olive groves

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JERUSALEM, October 23, 2014 (WAFA) – The ongoing Israeli settlers’ violence and the access restrictions imposed by Israel on Palestinians with regards to accessing their olive groves, continue to negatively impact their lives and livelihoods, said UN Humanitarian Coordinator James Rawley on Thursday. Community representatives and olive farmers in the towns of al-Janiya in the […]

24 Oct, 2014

India launches a National Portal for Museums

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New Delhi, 21-October-2014, (Press Information Bureau) – Mr  Shripad Naik, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Culture and Tourism today launched the National Portal for Museums www.museumsofindia.gov.in. The Ministry of Culture has decided to digitize the collections of all the Museums under its control as well as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). In the first […]

24 Oct, 2014

Summit identifies five trends that will shape the Asian MICE sector

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BANGKOK, Oct. 23, 2014, /PRNewsire/ — Panellists and delegates attending the 7th Asia for Asia Summit on 30 September 2014 in Bangkok agreed in consensus on five key trends identified as crucial to success in the business events arena in Asia, ranging from ever-increasing demands on business results and sustainability to transformational technology and strategic partnerships. […]

24 Oct, 2014

In Pictures: Aceh Marks 10 Years Since One of the World’s Worst Natural Disasters

Imtiaz Muqbil

Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Ten years after the Dec 26, 2004, which devastated huge swathes of coastline and the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Indonesia, the city is hosting its first travel show, the Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo. Attended by 60 buyers from 18 countries and 60 sellers from various parts […]

24 Oct, 2014

Right to online privacy at risk as governments engage in mass surveillance – UN expert

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 23 October 2014 – States must be transparent about the nature of their electronic mass surveillance programmes, an independent United Nations counter-terrorism expert said today as he warned about the impact such measures might have on individuals’ right to privacy. “States need to squarely confront the fact that mass surveillance […]

23 Oct, 2014

Pollution choking China’s inbound tourism industry

By Su Zhou

Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-10-22 – China’s inbound tourism market is still struggling to bounce back in the midst of rising concerns about issues such as air pollution, according to a new report from the China Tourism Academy. The number of inbound tourists reached 129.08 million in 2013, down 2.51 percent year-on-year, the report said. About […]

23 Oct, 2014

Chinese commentary: Out of the Global New Normal – New G7 vs Old G7

By Yao Xinyu

Gao Yinan (People’s Daily Online), October 20, 2014 – There is a strong possibility that the seven new emerging market economies are surpassing the seven old industrial countries. The total GDP of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey will exceed the total of the old Group of Seven. New Normal is a term in […]

23 Oct, 2014

Israel Denies Palestinians Construction Permits, Demolishes Homes in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, October 21, 2014 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities Tuesday demolished three Palestinian homes in addition to three animal sheds in the Jerusalem district neighborhood of al-Tour, under the pretext of construction without a permit, according to local sources. The three houses, made of tinplate, shelter the Bedouin family of Zara’i residing in East Jerusalem, […]

23 Oct, 2014

EU warns Israel not to cross “red lines” in West Bank

JERUSALEM, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) has demarcated “red lines” for Israel regarding its settlement policy in the West Bank, warning Israel not to make moves that would jeopardize the creation of a Palestinian state, the Ha’aretz daily reported Wednesday. Following a series of controversial moves by the Israeli government in recent […]

23 Oct, 2014

How Barcelona’s homeless are guiding tourists round the city’s underbelly | theguardian.com

Juan knows Barcelona’s downtown very well; he has spent four years sleeping rough on its streets. An incident with drugs had brought about his deportation from Germany, where he was subsequently banned from living or working for a decade. The Andalusian found himself all alone, back in a country that was no less strange despite […]

21 Oct, 2014

FREE Download: Global Study finds religion is NOT the main cause of conflict today

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New York & Sydney, 21 October 2014: Despite the connections between Islamic extremism and the current conflicts in the Middle East, there is no general causal relationship between religion and conflict, according to a new research report released today by the Institute for Economics and Peace. The report answers five questions based on recent global […]

21 Oct, 2014

Hangzhou offers 72-hour visa-free stays

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HANGZHOU, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) — East China’s Hangzhou City began to offer 72-hour visa-free entry for international transit passengers on Monday, a move to boost tourism and business. The policy covers travelers from 51 countries, including the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Japan. They can enjoy a 72-hour stay in Zhejiang Province after entering […]

21 Oct, 2014

First UN-backed study probes how global film industry portrays women (Conclusion: not very well)

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 22 September 2014 – Nowhere to be “scene,” women protagonists have less than one-third of all speaking roles in film and are largely absent from powerful positions, according to a United Nations-backed survey released today which argues for the involvement of more female film-makers in the industry, and for greater […]

21 Oct, 2014

Israeli society sick with violence – country’s president — RT News

Israel is suffering from an epidemic of violence that must be treated, the country’s President Reuven Rivlin said. After the latest bloody conflict in Gaza, Jews and Arabs seem to have lost the capacity for dialogue, as relations have reached a new low. “It is time to honestly admit that Israeli society is sick – […]

21 Oct, 2014

Philippines President: Never allow mankind to suffer horrors of war | Manila Bulletin

President Aquino called on wartime allies and erstwhile foes to commit to peace and never allow mankind to suffer the same terrors and losses yesterday during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Leyte Gulf Landing in Palo. “Beyond cataloguing the horrors of war, let us honor the peace that has reigned among […]

21 Oct, 2014

Why and how has multicultural India become racist? – Hindustan Times

On October 15, Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a 26-year-old Manipuri youth, was attacked by a mob and asked to speak in Kannada in Bangalore. He was reminded during the scuffle that he ‘was not in China, but India’. The very next day, in Delhi’s Sikanderpur area, two Naga youths were mercilessly thrashed with cricket bats and […]

20 Oct, 2014

Jeddah Mosque Becomes Disabled-Friendly

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 20 October 2014 (26 Dhul Ḥijjah 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]

20 Oct, 2014

Honeywell Forecasts 4% Average Annual Industry Growth in Business Jets Over Next Decade

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ORLANDO, Oct. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — In its 23rd annual Business Aviation Outlook, Honeywell is forecasting up to 9,450 new business jet deliveries worth $280 billion from 2014 to 2024. The 2014 Honeywell outlook reflects an approximate 7 to 8 percent increase in projected delivery value over the 2013 forecast. Slightly higher unit deliveries are coupled […]

20 Oct, 2014

American Express to Boost Merchant Adoption of Secure Payment Terminals

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 17, 2014  – American Express is boosting efforts to combat fraud with a new $10 million program aimed at driving U.S. small-merchant adoption of more secure check-out terminals. President Barack Obama announced American Express’ Small Merchant EMV Assistance Program during a press conference today in Washington, D.C., urging members of the payments […]

20 Oct, 2014

In Pictures: Rising-star Thai designers showcase Thainess products to hospitality sector

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The power of travel & tourism as a multi-sectoral job-creator and conduit for artistic innovation has taken another giant leap forward with the first exhibition organised in Thailand to bring together buyers in the global hospitality sector with sellers in the rapidly-emerging Thai design sector. Senior executives of hotels, spas, restaurants, cruise ships, […]

19 Oct, 2014

Why people in the UK are dying from lack of healthcare

by Leigh Daynes

London, 13 October, 2014, (Doctors of the World media release) – What comes to mind when you think of the UK? Perhaps cricket, rain, a sense of history, culture, somewhere with sturdy, progressive values. It’s not a place where heavily pregnant women who desperately need healthcare can’t get it. It’s not somewhere where some of […]

19 Oct, 2014

Doctors of the World Help Restore Health Services Destroyed by Israel in Gaza

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London, 3 October, 2014 | by Doctors of the World UK – The media agenda may have shifted away from this decimated strip of land since the most recent conflict ended here, but Doctors of the World has continued to help Gazans to rebuild their health system, and most importantly, themselves. The 50-day-long Israeli military […]

19 Oct, 2014

Global War Against Russia Takes New Turn – China Attacks Australian Coal, Favours Russian Coal

By John Helmer, Moscow Last Thursday the government in Beijing struck a new blow against the domination of global commodity markets by countries allied with the US in the sanctions war against Russia. The measure announced is a 3% to 6% tariff to be imposed on coal imports to China, commencing on October 15. Australia, […]

19 Oct, 2014

For the first time, China pushes disability issues at Asia-Europe Summit

by Marzia De Giuli

MILAN, Italy, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — For the first time disability was included in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) agenda, as common work on this issue was at the center of a meeting held in Milan on Saturday on the sidelines of the high-level dialogues among leaders from the two continents. China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) […]

19 Oct, 2014

U.S. Fed Chief warns of growing wealth gap, conflict with U.S. values | The Japan Times

WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen warned Friday that the gap between the rich and poor in the United States is widening and is near the highest levels in 100 years. In a speech at a conference on inequality in Boston, Yellen did not mention monetary policy or the current turmoil in financial markets. […]

19 Oct, 2014

New Facebook Safety Check tool for disaster response makes travel advisories irrelevant

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WASHINGTON, Oct 18, 2014,  AFP-JIJI – Facebook has unveiled a Safety Check tool to allow users to alert friends and family about their status in emergencies, a system developed after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated northeast Japan. “We want to provide a helpful tool that people can use when major disasters strike, so we’ve created […]

19 Oct, 2014

Don’t trust the authorities on metadata: Greens – Sydney Morning Herald

Western Australia senator Scott Ludlam has labelled Attorney-General George Brandis “weak” and told Australians not to trust the government and law enforcement agencies when it comes to trawling through their metadata. “We should not trust authorities, we should not automatically trust the police,” the Greens senator said at a privacy forum in Melbourne on Friday.”We […]

16 Oct, 2014

How Israel relies on Islamophobia – Mondoweiss

In the latest edition of “Axis of Evil” politics Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued to the United Nations on September 29th that “Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas,” and that they are following the path blazed by Iran 35 years ago. The Prime Minister in the process exposed the mutual relationship between Zionism and […]

16 Oct, 2014

On World Food Day, UN lauds role of family farmers in ending global hunger

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16 October 2014 – With over 800 million people worldwide still lacking access to healthy, nutritious food, family farmers must play an increasingly vital role in the global war on hunger, United Nations officials affirmed today, adding that the strong participation of the world’s family farmers can help “turn the tide” in shaping a new […]

16 Oct, 2014

Chinese commentary: How long can HK keep on squandering?

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(People’s Daily Online), October 15, 2014 – After one unreasonable demand after another, after every new incident of tedious political wrangling provoked by pan-democratic camps like the Civil Party, Hong Kong – a district which once surpassed the mainland in efficiency and ranked among the strongest in the world – is losing ground. Now beginning […]

16 Oct, 2014

Opposition grows in Australia to storage of photo and biometric data – Sydney Morning Herald

Photographs of millions of Australians will be stored by the Immigration Department, and this “biometric data” gathering could extend to fingerprinting and iris scanning under the Abbott government’s controversial counterterrorism laws. The “foreign fighters” bill means there will be a major expansion of facial recognition imaging of Australians passing through international airports in a crackdown […]

16 Oct, 2014

Islam, Muslims and the cheap politics of fear – Sydney Morning Herald

Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s dog-whistle politics have once more brought the “question” of Hizb ut-Tahrir to the table of public debate. It is unfortunate that discussion about Islam and Muslims only finds traction when politicians decide to use them in the cheap politics of fear. The result is that discussion about these matters only seriously […]

16 Oct, 2014

Jordanian Who Teaches Women To Defend Themselves Wins UNCTAD Women In Business Award

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Geneva, 15 October 2014, UNCTAD media release – The founder of SheFighter, a company that trains women in Jordan in self-defence techniques, Lina Jalil Khalifeh, has won the first place in UNCTAD’s Empretec Women in Business Awards. The awards honour businesswomen from developing countries who have founded successful firms, created jobs, and become role models […]

16 Oct, 2014

NextGen Warfare Will See Machines Taking ‘Life-and-Death’ Decisions, UN Committee hears

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United Nations, 14 October 2014, (UN Department of Public Information) – The development of new technologies of warfare, including autonomous weapons or ”killer robots” and cyberwarfare, raised fundamental concerns about the acceptability of allowing machines to independently take life-and-death decisions, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today. As States and observers from diverse […]

16 Oct, 2014

Total NHS alcohol-related admissions in England nears 10 million

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London, (Alcohol Concern media release), 15 October 2014 -A new map of alcohol harm published today has shown that the total number of alcohol-related NHS admissions, including inpatient, outpatient and A&E visits, hit almost 10 million in England during 2012-13. The findings, taken from Alcohol Concern’s newly updated Alcohol Harm Map, show that whilst A&E […]

16 Oct, 2014

China to build first luxury cruise ship

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BEIJING, Oct. 15  — (Xinhua)  – The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) will form a joint venture with American cruise company Carnival Corp to build China’s first luxury cruise ship. The move will accelerate development of the country’s cruise industry and foster new growth points of the Chinese economy which is experiencing a slowdown, said […]

16 Oct, 2014

Deadly Alliances Against Muslims – NYTimes.com

Last week, Mr. Gnanasara claimed he was in discussions “at a high level” with the right-wing Indian Hindu group Rashtriya Swayam Sevak to form what he called a “Hindu-Buddhist peace zone” in South Asia. A Rashtriya Swayam Sevak spokesman, Ram Madhav, promptly denied that there were any such discussions. But Mr. Madhav, now general secretary […]

15 Oct, 2014

In $25 bn deal, IndiGo orders 250 aircraft from Airbus | The Indian Express

Even as Air India and several private carriers in India continue to count losses, IndiGo Airlines on Wednesday announced an agreement with Airbus for 250 planes worth over $25 billion (Rs 1,55,000 crore), to be delivered over seven years beginning 2018. In what is being termed as the biggest order (in terms of aircraft numbers) […]

15 Oct, 2014

Thailand launches campaign to promote family-friendly destinations

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Bangkok, National News Bureau of Thailand, 15 Oct 2014 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is launching a new campaign to promote family-friendly destinations in the country in a bid to boost the economy. TAT Director of Product Promotion Pataraporn Sithivanich said recognizing the importance of family units in the tourism sector, the body […]

15 Oct, 2014

In Pictures: Spain Balances Sun-and-Sand with Soul-Searching as Way of St James Draws Pilgrims by the Thousands

Imtiaz Muqbil

Santiago de Compostela, Spain — When the UN World Tourism Organisation organised the First International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages between 17-20 September 2014, it accepted an invitation from the Spanish tourism authorities to hold it in Santiago de Compostela, home to the majestic Cathedral of the same name. The UNESCO World Heritage site commemorates […]

15 Oct, 2014

UK MPs take historic decision to recognise Palestinian state – The Independent

Even previously staunch supporters of Israel within the Conservative Party chose not to oppose the motion which was brought by the backbench Labour MP Grahame Morris. Richard Ottaway, chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said he no longer felt he could vote to deny the Palestinians the right of recognition because of recent […]

15 Oct, 2014

FREE Download: American Express Meetings & Events 2015 Global Forecast

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 13, 2014 – According to the American Express Meetings & Events 2015 Global Meetings Forecast, meetings are expected to play a critical role in a return to business fundamentals in 2015, a trend which should help drive the long-term health of the industry. Following a period of economic recovery for the meetings […]

15 Oct, 2014

I’m a feminist, and I converted to Islam – Opinion – CNN.com

Theresa Corbin is a writer living in New Orleans. (CNN) — I am a Muslim, but I wasn’t always. I converted to Islam in November 2001, two months after 9/11. I was 21 and living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was a bad time to be a Muslim. But after four years of studying, poking […]

14 Oct, 2014

Joseph Stiglitz: Divide between rich and poor a widening chasm in US

Two new studies show, once again, the magnitude of the inequality problem plaguing the United States. The first, the US Census Bureau’s annual income and poverty report, shows that, despite the economy’s supposed recovery from the “Great Recession”, ordinary Americans’ incomes continue to stagnate. Median household income, adjusted for inflation, remains below its level of […]

14 Oct, 2014

Muslim families look after Kolkata synagogues – Al Jazeera

Kolkata, India – Generations of Muslim families have been taking care of the maintenance of three synagogues in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, which was once home to a thriving Jewish community. The city’s Jewish population has dwindled over the decades to just about 20 as compared to 3,000 at its peak before the […]

14 Oct, 2014

Chinese Commentary: China-Russia partnership based on win-win cooperation, not joint confrontation

by Xinhua writer Chen Shilei

BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Moscow on Sunday for a three-day visit to Russia aimed at further enhancing the globally significant partnership between the two neighboring giants. The China-Russia relationship, now at its highest level in history, has become a good example of stable, healthy and mature international relations […]

14 Oct, 2014

FREE Download: Australia Issues Best Practice Guide to Collecting Cultural Material

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The Australian Best Practice Guide to Collecting Cultural Material outlines principles and standards to assist Australia’s public collecting institutions when acquiring cultural material by purchase, gift, bequest or exchange. The guide outlines ethical considerations and legal obligations that apply to collecting institutions and provides guidance on transparency and accountability measures. Sections of the guide may […]

14 Oct, 2014

Australia Plans to Boost Competition in Credit Card Industry

Media statement by Ministry of Finance

Canberra, 12 October 2014 – The Government is taking action to increase competition in the credit card industry by expanding the number of companies that can issue cards or process card transactions for retailers. Currently, only registered banks or specialist credit card institutions can issue credit cards or accept credit card transactions on behalf of […]

14 Oct, 2014

Indonesia to build 165 airports next year – The Nation

The Indonesian government has earmarked 6.2 trillion rupiah (US$507.36 million) to finance the construction of 165 airports in cities across the country next year. Bambang Tjahjono, director of airports at the Transportation Ministry, said around 60 percent of the amount would be channeled for airport construction in the eastern part of the country. “The remaining […]

14 Oct, 2014

Thai province plans to boost English, Lao language skills to prepare for ASEAN Community

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UTTARADIT, 13 October 2014 (NNT) – Director of Uttaradit Primary Education Service Area 1 Amornsak Pinthong has indicated that the office will spend the allocation from the 2015 educational budget on preparing school executives and students for the upcoming ASEAN Community by giving them knowledge and understanding about the new regional bloc. Under the policy, […]

14 Oct, 2014

Thailand to push for practical sufficiency economy in rural development

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BANGKOK, 12 Ict 2014, (NNT) – The Thai Government is preparing to initially implement His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy in 18,000 villages nationwide, as part of its plan to develop the livelihood of the citizens. According to Prime Minister’s Office Deputy Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will today meet […]

14 Oct, 2014

Thai province Phrae becomes No.1 in living by five Buddhist precepts

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PHRAE, 13 October 2014 (NNT) — Phrae has become Thailand’s number one province in terms of practitioners of the five precepts village program, said official. Acting Deputy Governor of Phrae province Somwang Puangbangpho, announced at the granting ceremony of a five precepts village sign today, that Phrae province now has the greatest number of practitioners […]

14 Oct, 2014

EU countries should remove visa barriers for Chinese visitors

By Fu Jing

Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-10-13 – But the reality is that China needs the barriers removed and the doors to be opened first before such discussions can produce results. Li has been making efforts to accomplish this country by country. Some may ask: Why do some European countries hesitate to remove visa barriers against Chinese investors? […]

13 Oct, 2014

Why the campaign against Islamic State is doomed – Sydney Morning Herald

By Hugh White, Columnist Tony Abbott hopes for a good, quick, cheap war in Iraq. But after the first few weeks of bombing everyone now understands that western air strikes alone will do little to “degrade and destroy” the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They will only be defeated on the ground. That […]

13 Oct, 2014

World ranking of Malaysian universities rises dramatically

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 13 October 2014 (19 Dhul Ḥijjah 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]

13 Oct, 2014

Global sports industry touches down in Seoul

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Seoul, Oct 10, 2014, Korea.net — Experts from the global sports industry gathered in Seoul on October 7 for the second annual Sports Industry Conference 2014, a special event aimed at exchanging information and ideas about how to make a difference in the current sports industry environment and how to further boost the industry. Held […]

13 Oct, 2014

Chinese vacationers fly to Korea for Golden Week shopping spree

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Seoul, Oct 10, 2014, Korea.net – Many Chinese tourists flew to Korea to go on a shopping spree during mainland China’s golden-week of national holidays from October 1 to 7. Where on earth did the Chinese shoppers — commonly known in Korean as youkers — go to do their shopping? What, exactly, did they purchase? […]

13 Oct, 2014

Warmongering Hebrew University tries to muzzle Palestinian students | The Electronic Intifada

Back in 1969, the civil rights activist Angela Davis complained of how third-level education was being hijacked. Research grants were being awarded by the US government to “force the scholar to develop more efficient means, for example, of furthering the war in Vietnam.” Speaking at the University of California, Los Angeles, Davis said: “The university […]

12 Oct, 2014

Real estate industry bullish on ASEAN 2015 | Manila Bulletin

The (ASEAN economic integration in 2015) would require more commercial and residential infrastructure for highly urbanized cities within the region including key cities of the Philippines, according to property developers. Noel Cariño, President of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), the country’s largest organization of key players in the domestic real estate industry, […]

12 Oct, 2014

Only ‘good’ Manila cops to get allowances | Manila Bulletin

Manila policemen would have to wait a little longer for the release of their much-anticipated allowances from the mayor’s office as the list of law enforcers qualified for the gratuity is still being purged of bad eggs. “The money is ready but it will be given only to good policemen. We will be strict about […]

12 Oct, 2014

China an important driving force for world economic recovery: Chinese PM tells Europe

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HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 11 –(Xinhua) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Saturday that China is still an important driving force for world economic recovery, which would also benefit economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe. There will not be a hard landing for the Chinese economy, Li said in a keynote speech at […]

12 Oct, 2014

Fanatic Jewish Settlers Assault Palestinian Olive Harvesters

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SALFIT, October 11, 2014 – (WAFA) – Israeli settlers assaulted Saturday Palestinian olive harvesters in Yasuf to the northeast of Salfit, said local witnesses. Seven settlers descended from the illegal Israeli settlement of Tafuh, built on land seized from the villagers, and assaulted several Palestinian farmers while they were harvesting their olive trees in Khallet al-‘Ayn area. Settlers brutally […]

12 Oct, 2014

​‘Hostile to privacy’: Snowden urges internet users to get rid of Dropbox — RT News

Edward Snowden has hit out at Dropbox and other services he says are “hostile to privacy,” urging web users to abandon unencrypted communication and adjust privacy settings to prevent governments from spying on them in increasingly intrusive ways. “We are no longer citizens, we no longer have leaders. We’re subjects, and we have rulers,” Snowden […]

12 Oct, 2014

UK govt use of surveillance drones is ‘probably illegal’ – The Independent

The use of surveillance drones by the British government is probably illegal, according to a highly critical legal opinion submitted to the Home Office. Several government departments and police forces have increasingly used remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), however the legal guidance warns it is “probably unlawful” for security services to “retain or use surveillance […]

12 Oct, 2014

Xinhua Insight: China’s corruption crackdown expands into academia

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BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) — The arrest of four professors has raised public concern over corruption in China’s scientific research system. The four were arrested for misappropriation of state research funds through false research projects, the anti-corruption watchdog said Friday. Li Ning, a professor at the Chinese University of Agriculture and member of the elite […]

12 Oct, 2014

VICTORY: U.S. Govt Officially Takes 7 ACLU Clients Off the No-Fly List

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PORTLAND, Ore., October 10, 2014, (ACLU media release) – Following a court order, the government today notified seven people who were on the No Fly List that they are cleared to fly. The six men and one woman are part of an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit filed in 2010 on behalf of 13 Americans challenging their inclusion […]

12 Oct, 2014

U.S. Cosmetic Surgeries Double in Past 12 Years – Study

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Chicago (PRWEB) October 11, 2014 – Despite the economic downturn of the early 2000s, cosmetic surgery grew from 2000 to 2012, in large part due to an increasing volume of minimally invasive procedures, including injectables. This growth, though not without appreciable deceleration at the low point of the recession, approximately doubled the volume of cosmetic […]

12 Oct, 2014

How Chinese spent their money going during Golden Week – People’s Daily Online

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online)  October 10, 2014 – The seven-day national holiday is always a prime period for spending. Where was the money going during this year’s national holiday? Statistics released by the inter-bank transaction system and China Unipay’s big data platform give us some answers. Nationwide from October 1 to 8 p.m. on October […]

12 Oct, 2014

Why is the US so keen on ‘Color Revolutions’? – People’s Daily Online

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) – October 11, 2014 – According to media reports, Louisa Greve, a director of the National Endowment for Democracy of the US (NED), was already meeting with the key people from “Occupy Central” several months ago, to talk about the movement. Louisa Greve is the vice president of NED who is […]

12 Oct, 2014

Why you should visit a Muslim country – Sydney Morning Herald

By Ben Groundwater There’s a disconnect here between the Islam we perceive – the scary, high-terror-alert Islam – and the one that really exists overseas. It’s a misunderstanding, a fear of Muslim people driven as much by a handful of extremists as a crisis-hungry media, an unpopular government, and a general lack of knowledge of […]

11 Oct, 2014

Citizenfour review – Poitras’ victorious film shows Snowden vindicated | theguardian.com

Citizenfour must have been a maddening documentary to film. Its subject is pervasive global surveillance, an enveloping digital act that spreads without visibility, so its scenes unfold in courtrooms, hearing chambers and hotels. Yet the virtuosity of Laura Poitras, its director and architect, makes its 114 minutes crackle with the nervous energy of revelation. Poitras, […]

11 Oct, 2014

This terrorism frenzy – Opinion – Ahram Online

Suddenly, everyone is acting like “terrorism” is new. Western media has made a colossal beast out of “ISIL” (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), and drawn a bleak picture of the horrific danger that lies on the doorstep of Western societies due to it and similar counterparts. Arab media, on the other hand […]

11 Oct, 2014

VIDEO: Harvard students claim America is a bigger threat to peace than ISIS

Students at Harvard University claimed America is a bigger threat to world peace than the radical terrorist organization ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) during a series of interviews at the prestigious Cambridge university. “American imperialism and our protection of oil interests in the Middle East are destabilizing the region and allowing […]

11 Oct, 2014

Business “provocateurs” told: Good disruptors should take being called “crazy” as a compliment

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 09, 2014 – Successful leaders today must abandon old schools of thought and change course at any given moment in an increasingly disruptive business world, according to the world’s top thought leaders at this year’s World Business Forum. WOBI, the leader in management and leadership conferences, gathered 3,000 executives from 55 countries […]

11 Oct, 2014

Tourism, advertising ‘least trusted’ industries in China: survey

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Beijing, People’s Daily Online, 2014-10-09 – Although the Chinese people’s trust in society has improved, there are certain industries that have a long way to, a new survey shows. The third China Social Psychology Research Report, released Wednesday by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, shows a general improvement in social trust, especially in government […]

11 Oct, 2014

Disentangling the burqa from Australian national security – The Age

By Julie Szego In this febrile, hyperbolic and downright surreal moment in national affairs, every appalling action has a facile and opposite reaction. So it was with last week’s burqa controversy. Extremists in the Coalition tried to whip up fear against a vulnerable minority. In reaction, it seems we must now smother any hint of […]

11 Oct, 2014

Job Security Concerns Surging in U.S. Military Families, First Command Reports

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FORT WORTH, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 09, 2014  – America’s career military is growing increasingly anxious about how defense downsizing and sequestration will impact their near-term job security. The First Command Financial Behaviors Index® reveals that 50 percent of middle-class military families (senior NCOs and commissioned officers in pay grades E-6 and above with household incomes of […]

11 Oct, 2014

Report: Investment in Training Affects Hospitality Industry’s Bottom Line

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WESTFIELD, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 09, 2014 — Investing in training is important to hospitality organizations and restaurant and lodging companies’ bottom lines, says a new report released by the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) and People Report, a TDn2K company. The report, 2014 Trends in Hospitality Training & Development Study, serves as a benchmark […]

11 Oct, 2014

Major Labor Dispute Escalates in Las Vegas with Fourth Largest Casino Employer

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LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 09, 2014  – Today, clergy leaders and union casino workers from the Strip and Downtown will join Station Casinos workers in a march through Summerlin to Red Rock Casino Resort to demand that Station Casinos stop treating their employees like second-class workers. Station Casinos is the worst labor law violator in the […]

11 Oct, 2014

European Business and Community Leaders Launch Charter to Target Depression in the Workplace

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 09, 2014  – Today, business leaders from across Europe will meet to launch a Business Charter that aims to prevent the disabling effects of depression among employees and reduce the burden of depression on employers. More than 30 million people in Europe are affected by depression, most of whom are working age. The […]