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Archive for December, 2014

16 Dec, 2014

Iranian official: Canberra ignored Iran’s warning on hostage taker – PressTV

A senior Iranian diplomat says the Australian government had ignored Iran’s repeated warnings about the criminal record of the man involved in the recent hostage-taking incident in Australia. Ebrahim Rahimpour, who serves as Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Asia and Oceania, said Iran had repeatedly informed the Australian government about the criminal record of the […]

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16 Dec, 2014

Australians support Muslims as #illridewithyou hashtag goes viral — Sydney Morning Herald

In a climate of fear and uncertainty, Australians have banded together to show their support for the Muslim population. The #illridewithyou hashtag amassed almost 120,000 tweets on Monday evening, as Australians took a stand against anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the Martin Place siege. A young Brisbane woman, Rachael Jacobs, appears to have inspired […]

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16 Dec, 2014

American values only exist in Hollywood films | GulfNews.com

By Linda Heard It is irksome to hear US presidents admonishing other countries on human rights and alleged crimes against humanity, while trumpeting their own country’s set-in-stone values. A nation either operates on a certain set of values, ethics and principles or it does not. Values cannot be cherry-picked as a matter of convenience. US […]

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16 Dec, 2014

Australian Muslim groups condemn Sydney cafe siege | GulfNews.com

Sydney: More than 40 Australian Muslim groups on Monday jointly condemned a siege at a Sydney cafe, in which hostages were taken by an armed man and a black flag displayed. “We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instill fear and terror into their hearts,” they said […]

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15 Dec, 2014

Oman Air Launches Muscat-Jakarta Flights

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 15 December 2014 (22 Safar 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 […]

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15 Dec, 2014

Fifth column: Stop Hindutva now | The Indian Express

by Tavleen Singh There exists today the bizarre situation in which our strongest prime minister in decades is allowing Hindu fanatics in the Lok Sabha and Hindu fanatical organisations outside to blacken his image. The MPs who have been most offensive wear saffron robes signifying asceticism and renunciation. So what they are doing in Parliament […]

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14 Dec, 2014

Native American Council Offers Amnesty to 220 Million Undocumented Whites – The Daily Currant

A council of Native American leaders has offered partial amnesty to the estimated 220 million illegal white immigrants living in the United States. At a meeting of the Native Peoples Council (NPC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico yesterday, Native American leaders considered several proposals on the future of this continent’s large, unauthorized European population. The elders […]

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14 Dec, 2014

All-around service is key to meeting Chinese needs abroad

By Wang Chao

(China Daily) 2014-12-13 – HNA Tourism Group made an interesting observation on its cruise ship Henna: While Western cruise-ship customers love lying on the deck taking in the sun, many Chinese travelers follow a decidedly Chinese pursuit and gather to play mahjong below deck. So the company has prepared mahjong sets on the ship in […]

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14 Dec, 2014

Chinese resort island offers reward to whistleblowers for reporting tourist fraud

Sanya, Hainan island, (chinadaily.com.cn ) 2014-12-12 – Sanya is going to reward citizens who report tourist fraud on the popular tropical island, up to 50,000 yuan ($8,080), starting next year, according to the local authorities. Two complaint hotlines have been set for the public to disclose problems in the island’s tourist industry, typically legal taxis, […]

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14 Dec, 2014

German Travel market holds its ground in a difficult 2014 environment

Berlin, (DRV media release) 10 Dec 2014 – The Germans bank on classical seadise travel destinations and fulfil themselves dreams in respect of long-haul trips: Greece, Tunisia, the Canary Islands as well as the Caribbean destinations Cuba, Dominican Republic and Mexico are the vacation countries of the Germans which record the highest growth rates this […]

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14 Dec, 2014

Portugal’s parliament calls for recognition of Palestinian state – Haaretz

The Portuguese parliament passed a resolution Friday recommending that the government recognize a Palestinian state, the portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã reported. Only nine members of the 230-member Assembly of the Republic voted against the resolution, which was jointly sponsored by the country’s three largest parties: Social Democratic Party, the People’s Party (both right-wing parties […]

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14 Dec, 2014

Six months of Modi govt: Movie without a script – The Indian Express

The bad fight scenes are piling up. Modi’s ambiguous admonition notwithstanding, his party is feeling incredibly empowered to spread communal poison. Other parties in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh may be fishing as well. The excuse that these storm troopers are fringe elements, marginal to the party, simply does not wash. The number of inflammatory […]

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13 Dec, 2014

New evidence Bush misled Americans into Iraq war – senator — RT USA

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has released new information claiming the Bush administration misled the American people in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said on Thursday that a 2003 CIA cable warns the administration of former President George W. Bush against making reference to claims that […]

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13 Dec, 2014

Investigators confirm Heathrow plane in near miss with drone – The Guardian

Aviation near-miss investigators have expressed considerable concern that a device believed to be a drone came within 20ft of an incoming passenger plane at Heathrow airport. The Airbus A320 was 700ft from landing when the pilot reported seeing a small black object to the left of the aircraft, the report by the UK Airprox (aircraft […]

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13 Dec, 2014

Romancing the Taj: Online tickets for visiting monument of love from Dec 25 – Hindustan Times

Your wait for a glimpse of the world’s most famous monument to love is about to get much shorter. Come December 25 and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will introduce online ticketing for visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, ASI director general Rakesh Tiwari said. The e-ticketing facility will be introduced on a trial […]

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13 Dec, 2014

PressTV – US Congress approves over half a trillion dollars in military spending

The US Congress approved a massive military spending bill on Friday worth more than half a trillion dollars, which includes billions of dollars for waging wars and developing nuclear weapons. The legislation sets the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal year 2015 at $577 billion, including a base budget of $496 billion and $64 billion for conflicts […]

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13 Dec, 2014

Asia Times Online: The cleansing of India

India is in the throes of the Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan, in other words a campaign to clean India. This, as one has now got to see, has to do with lots of famous people picking up brooms and cleaning streets that are already clean or have been specially littered for the photo-op. TV advertisements pointing […]

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12 Dec, 2014

Thai-Muslims to hold First Thailand Halal Assembly to boost travel, trade with Islamic World

Bangkok – An estimated 5,000 delegates are expected to meet in Bangkok between December 28 – 30 for the first “Thailand Halal Assembly 2014” to be held at the Bangkok Convention Center, Centara Grand Hotel at Central World. Organised jointly by the Halal Science Center of Chulalongkorn University, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand and […]

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12 Dec, 2014

Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Godse is a ‘nationalist, not traitor’: BJP lawmaker

Stirring a political hornet’s nest, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Vinayak Godse was equally a patriot and a nationalist, and should not be seen as a traitor or considered as one. Godse had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi by shooting him in the […]

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11 Dec, 2014

Top 10 Holiday Survival Tips for Staying Sober Through the Party Season

Statesboro, GA (PRWEB) December 10, 2014 — Willingway, a renowned treatment center for alcoholism and drug addiction, has helped patients find the best chance at recovery for more than 45 years. And they know how bittersweet and difficult the holidays can be for people in recovery from addiction. Robbin Mooney, Willingway’s Director of Communications, said, […]

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11 Dec, 2014

New ITU Global Initiatives reports offer solutions for development, disaster management

Doha, 9 December 2014 (International Telecommunications Union) – The Advisory Boards of the ITU m-Powering Development and Smart Sustainable Development Model Initiatives released their first reports in Doha, Qatar, at an extraordinary meeting of each of the Boards, which met on the eve of ITU Telecom World 2014 in session 7-10 December. “These reports are the […]

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11 Dec, 2014

Spotlighting racism, stigma, UN launches Int’l Decade of People of African Descent

United Nations, (UN News Centre), 10 December 2014 – People of African descent still face racism in every country, region and continent of the world, said United Nations General Assembly President Sam Kutesa as the word body today kicked off its International Decade of People of African Descent. “Over the next ten years, people everywhere […]

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11 Dec, 2014

Climate Change: Oh, when will they ever learn?

By O P Rana

Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-12-06 – Oh, when will they ever learn?The annual ritual of UN climate change conference is on in the Peruvian capital of Lima in a year which is almost certainly going to be the hottest on record. Twenty-two years have passed since the first international climate conference in Rio de Janeiro in […]

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10 Dec, 2014

China Voice: U.S. should clean up its own human rights issues

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — As Human Rights Day approaches, high-profile cases of violations within American borders and by its agencies abroad are being scrutinized, especially as it pertains to be a defender of civil liberties globally. United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Nov. 25 urged the U.S. to examine race-related […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Crisis-hit Italians cut Christmas shopping: study

ROME, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — As Christmas, the most popular feast day in Italy on Dec. 25, gets close, household spending continues the record drops in the crisis-plagued country. According to a recent report by consumer group Codacons, Christmas spending since before the outbreak of the global economic crisis has fallen by as much as […]

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10 Dec, 2014

“Remarkable Indonesia” showcase in Bangkok highlights culture, builds ASEAN integration

Bangkok – A “Remarkable Indonesia Showcase 2014” was held from 8 to 11 December 2014 at Central Court, Central World in downtown Bangkok. At the official opening ceremony on 9 December. Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Lutfi Rauf called it an “iconic event that showcases a variety of fashion products, cultural performances and food and […]

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10 Dec, 2014

UP: Day after ‘homecoming’, Muslim families deny embracing Hinduism – Hindustan Times

About 57 Muslim families contested on Tuesday hard-line Hindu groups Dharma Jagaran Manch and Bajrang Dal’s claim that they have switched to Hinduism, saying they were tricked into a conversion event couched as a “homecoming ceremony” in Agra. Noor Mohammad, one of the people who alleged that the two Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh offshoots had lured […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Australia holds national summit to curb “endemic” domestic violence

Canberra, 8 December 2014 – The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women, Senator Michaelia Cash today delivered the opening address for the inaugural National Domestic Violence Summit, emphasising that all Australians have a role to play in changing the attitudes that create and sustain the endemic culture of violence in Australia. “Ensuring the whole […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Pope sends message of peace, hope

Manila, December 7, 2014, Manila Bulletin – Today, the Catholic Church marks the Second Sunday of Advent, with Church rites centering on preparations for the celebration of Christmas, which the Holy Father considers as “the hope for humanity.” Pope Francis’ list of prayer intentions for the year 2014 includes a message of peace and hope […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Nationwide rail project amongst new pacts signed by China, South Africa

Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-12-05 – China and South Africa signed 11 agreements, including one on transportation, on Thursday in Beijing as top leaders of the world’s second-largest economy and the African economic powerhouse laid the groundwork for cooperation for the next decade. The memorandum on cooperation between CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive and Transnet, South Africa’s […]

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10 Dec, 2014

US should respond to public demands for greater police accountability – Ban

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 4 December 2014 – In the wake of a grand jury decision in New York yesterday not to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed man, in July, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged the United States to do “anything possible to […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Interview with Amina J. Mohammed, U.N. Chief’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning

United Nations, (UN News Centre), 4 December 2014 – Amina J. Mohammed has served since June 2012 as the Special Adviser to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning. The Nigerian national brings to the position more than 30 years of experience as a development practitioner in the public and private sectors, as well as […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Road to Dignity by 2030: UN chief launches blueprint towards sustainable development

United Nations, (UN News Centre), 4 December 2014 – Calling for inclusive, agile and coordinated action to usher in an era of sustainable development for all, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today presented the United Nations General Assembly with an advance version of his so-called “synthesis report,” which will guide negotiations for a new global agenda centred […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Iconic image spotlighting plight of Palestine refugees, illuminates UN headquarters

United Nations, UN News Centre, 3 December 2014 – To mark the climax of the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, an iconic image from the newly digitized photo archives of the UN agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East was projected yesterday onto buildings in eight cities around the […]

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10 Dec, 2014

PH pushes developing nations to cut emissions – Manila Bulletin

December 10, 2014, Lima, Peru, (The New York Times) – As the torrential rains of typhoon “Ruby” flood the Philippines, driving millions of people from their homes, the Philippine government arrived at a United Nations climate change summit meeting on Monday to push hard for a new international deal requiring all nations, including developing countries, […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Indian, Pakistani Nobel prize winners ask leaders to embrace peace | The Indian Express

Indian Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai on Tuesday said trust and friendship is key to sustainable peace in South Asia, as they asked the leaders of the two countries to embrace peace. “Trust and friendship is important for sustainable peace between India and Pakistan,” 60-year-old Satyarthi told reporters here on […]

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10 Dec, 2014

Hindu extremist group ‘re-converts’ 200 Agra Muslims, says more in line – The Times of India

AGRA: Members of at least 57 Muslim families were converted to Hinduism at a ceremony called ‘Purkhon ki ghar vapsi’, a mass conversion jointly organized by Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Bajrang Dal in Agra on Monday. RSS regional head Rajeshwar Singh said more than 200 Muslims […]

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9 Dec, 2014

UK media ‘gagged over bid to report MP child sex cases’ – The Observer

The security services are facing questions over the cover-up of a Westminster paedophile ring as it emerged that files relating to official requests for media blackouts in the early 1980s were destroyed. Two newspaper executives have told the Observer that their publications were issued with D-notices – warnings not to publish intelligence that might damage […]

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9 Dec, 2014

Declare Bhagavad Gita national scripture: Sushma – Hindustan Times

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday urged the Centre to declare the Bhagavad Gita a national scripture and applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for presenting the book to world leaders. “PM Modi gifted the Gita to US President Barack Obama, which means it has already received the honour of a national scripture. What we […]

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9 Dec, 2014

Taj Mahal part of ancient temple, claims UP BJP chief – The Times of India

BAHRAICH: After Azam Khan’s demand of handing over the Taj Mahal to UP waqf board, the state’s BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai on Sunday sought to drag the famed mausoleum into another row by claiming that it was a part of an ancient temple. Bajpai told reporters that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan “purchased a part of […]

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9 Dec, 2014

Snowden film ‘CitizenFour’ wins top documentary award – DAWN.COM

LOS ANGELES: CitizenFour, filmmaker Laura Poitras’s documentary about National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, was given the top award for best feature by the International Documentary Association on Friday. The IDA award for CitizenFour follows the film’s best documentary win at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards this week. It was also nominated for […]

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9 Dec, 2014

Pakistani university student shot dead in Chicago – DAWN.COM

A Pakistani student enrolled in Loyola University was fatally shot in Chicago on Friday during an attempted robbery, the Chicago Tribune reported. Accompanied by his brother, 23-year-old Mutahir Rauf was walking by 1300 block of West Albion Avenue in Roger Park neighbourhood, when he was stopped by two men on foot, a block from the […]

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9 Dec, 2014

Mass surveillance exposed by Snowden ‘not justified by fight against terrorism’ – The Guardian

The “secret, massive and indiscriminate” surveillance conducted by intelligence services and disclosed by the former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden cannot be justified by the fight against terrorism, the most senior human rights official in Europe has warned. In a direct challenge to the United Kingdom and other states, Nils Muižnieks, the commissioner for human […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Aviation: EU allocates €3 bn to deliver the Single European Sky

European Commission – Press release, Brussels, 05 December 2014 – Today the European Commission will sign a new partnership agreement, involving major Air Traffic Management (ATM) stakeholders. Airlines, airport operators and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) will receive up to €3 bn in EU funding, in order to implement common projects and modernise Europe’s Air Traffic Management […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Australia releases FREE guide to help consumers dealing with debt collectors

Canberra, ACCC and ASIC media release, 5 December 2014 – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have launched ‘Dealing with debt collectors: Your rights and responsibilities’ a free guide that helps consumers in trouble with debt understand their options so they know how to deal with […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Malaysia sets up Malay Language Development Centre in China

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 08 December 2014 (16 Safar 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Corruption just as rampant in Private Sector, SEA-PAC meeting told

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) — Stringent reforms should be urgently drawn up by all regional anti-corruption agencies to curb corruption in the private sector, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed. “The government must install a strong deterrent tool to curb corruption in the private sector. They (the private […]

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8 Dec, 2014

ASEAN Business Club Launches Lifting-The-Barriers Reports 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 (Bernama) — In conjunction with the ASEAN Business Club (ABC) Delegation’s visit to Malaysia, the ABC in partnership with the CIMB ASEAN Research Institute (CARI) launched the second set of Lifting-The-Barriers (LTB) Reports today – another set of seven white papers outlining bottlenecks and barriers, coupled with workable solutions for an […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Israel authors call on European parliaments to recognize Palestine – Haaretz

Renowned Israeli authors Amos Oz, David Grossman and A.B. Yehoshua have signed a letter calling on European parliaments to recognize a Palestinian state. According to the Gush Shalom organization, Oz, Grossman and Yehoshua join some 800 Israeli signatories, including Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg and former Minister Yossi Sarid. On Sunday […]

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7 Dec, 2014

Indian citizens head immigration queue for Australia – Sydney Morning Herald

Indian citizens are flocking to Australia to work, beating the once-dominant British expats, while the granting of Australian citizenship is at a six-year high, according to migration figures released this week. The statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show there has been 46.6 per cent increase in the number of people becoming […]

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6 Dec, 2014

The world has had enough of the Israeli occupation – Haaretz Editorial

As Israel turns its attention inward to an election campaign, the world is continuing to take steps against Israel’s obstinacy to make peace and its ongoing occupation and settlement building. Barak Ravid reported in Thursday’s Haaretz that the Obama administration is considering taking stronger measures against construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements. […]

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6 Dec, 2014

Trade unions go on the offensive in India, call nationwide strike to protest anti-labour policies

by David Browne

This week’s 30th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster is stark reminder that India’s relationship with capitalism has not always been a happy one.  5 December 2014, Geneva, ITUC media release – As the world’s largest democracy again remembers those who died from the toxic gas leak at the US-owned Union Carbide factory on the night […]

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5 Dec, 2014

Retirement Readiness a Significant Issue for U.S. Employers/Employees, Towers Watson Survey Finds

ARLINGTON, VA, November 19, 2014 (Towers Watson Media release) — More than three-quarters of large and midsize U.S. employers that sponsor 401(k) and 403(b) defined contribution (DC) plans say retirement readiness has become a major issue for their employees, according to a new survey by global professional services company Towers Watson (NYSE: NASDAQ: TW). A […]

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5 Dec, 2014

Former Bega Cheese CEO likely to remain on bail over child sex offences – Sydney Morning Herald

The confessed child sex offender and former head of Bega Cheese, Maurice van Ryn is likely to remain on bail if he can arrange effective electronic monitoring and prove his family members have put up a $700,000 surety, a court has been told. Last month Mr Van Ryn, the Chief Executive Officer of the cheese […]

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5 Dec, 2014

Music becomes collateral damage in souring of Pak-India ties – DAWN.COM

After the Lahore-based Sachal Jazz Ensemble’s seven Pakistani artists were denied permission to perform at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on December 1, the band decided to cancel the Bangalore concert scheduled for the following day and returned home. The Ensemble comprising musicians from India, Pakistan and the UK were on a […]

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5 Dec, 2014

Asia Times Online: “The Hunger Games” are real in Gaza

By Ramzy Baroud I could have never imagined myself drawing parallels between my refugee camp, Nuseirat, in the Gaza Strip, its heroic people, and a Hollywood movie; the struggle of my people is too sacred for that. But I couldn’t help it as I watched the latest from The Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay. A feeling […]

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5 Dec, 2014

UAE luxury yacht market remains buoyant | GulfNews.com

Dubai: Superyachts in the UAE have caught a wave of fresh interest over the last year from residents of the Arabian Gulf, Russian and European tourists. The market for superyachts, which are more than 30 metres in length, has bounced back from the 2008 financial crisis. “We see a consistent growth in the [boating] market […]

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5 Dec, 2014

US removes Saudi businessman from sanctions list after 13 years without charge | Arab News

A leading Saudi businessman and philanthropist has been removed by the US Treasury Department from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. This development marks the conclusion of Sheikh Yassin Kadi’s challenge to the restrictive measures after a 13-year battle, which started with the imposition of sanctions in October 2001. Kadi had already been de-listed in […]

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4 Dec, 2014

100 days on: Gaza’s children speak out – The Independent

Standing outside a youth centre in the north of Gaza, Mohammed, a confident 12-year-old,says he works hard at sciences in school and has big dreams: “I want to be an astronaut, I want to be the first astronaut from Gaza.” For children in the war-ravaged region, imaginations remain intact. But 100 days after the seven-week […]

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4 Dec, 2014

The rise of India’s Saffron brigade – The Hindu

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat set the target of one crore volunteers and one lakh Shakhas in five years’ time at a three-day youth camp in early November in Agra. The Sangh has been working hard on getting these numbers. The rigorous daily Shakha has a weekly avatar — the IT Milan for IT, management and […]

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3 Dec, 2014

British Muslims raise concern over new anti-terror law – DAWN.COM

LONDON: British Muslim rights groups and ordinary faithful said they felt singled out by a tough new anti-terror law unveiled on Wednesday, labelling the planned legislation divisive and rushed. While there is agreement on the need to prevent would-be British militants from joining the ranks of the Islamic State group, there is also unease over […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Record numbers of UK working families in poverty due to low-paid jobs – The Guardian

Insecure, low-paid jobs are leaving record numbers of working families in poverty, with two-thirds of people who found work in the past year taking jobs for less than the living wage, according to the latest annual report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The research shows that over the last decade, increasing numbers of pensioners have […]

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3 Dec, 2014

When cricket bat and beard = “anti-Semitic killer” – DAWN.COM

Even without a concealed cricket bat, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb. Being bearded and brown in Brussels sets you apart, but not necessarily in a good way. Assim Abbasi, 22, attracted sudden notoriety when the police in Brussels circulated his photographs that showed him carrying a concealed object. The police believed […]

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3 Dec, 2014

British Muslims face worst job discrimination of any minority group – The Independent

Muslims are facing the worst job discrimination of any minority group in Britain, according to new research which found that they had the lowest chance of being in work or in a managerial role. Muslim men were up to 76 per cent less likely to have a job of any kind compared to white, male […]

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3 Dec, 2014

GetVoIP Study: 21% of Tech Employees Admit to Stealing from Work, Especially During Holiday Hustle

New York, NY (PRWEB) December 02, 2014 – GetVoIP, a one-stop hub for tech industry news, today released the results of their most recent survey, which asked American tech employees: “Have you ever stolen an object from your work/employer?” An amazing 21% of tech employees confess to stealing from their employer. Out of the 21% […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Asian Parliamentarians Condemn Israel’s Offensive on Palestinian Holy Sites

LAHORE, December 2, 2014 (WAFA) – The plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), convened in the city of Lahore in Pakistan, condemned on Tuesday the Israeli violations on holy sites in the Palestinian Territory, particularly al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, including provocative visits by Jewish fanatics into the Muslim holy site. The APA, […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Beijing tightens rules for airports

By Wang Wen

Bejing, (China Daily) Updated: 2014-12-03 – The Beijing government has issued new airport rules with an eye on the growing number of conflicts between passengers and carriers in recent years. The rules forbid entering an airport-controlled area without an airport pass, entering a taxiway, forcibly boarding and occupying an aircraft, climbing over and destroying airports’ […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Multinationals in China set for tougher scrutiny over tax evasion, transfer-pricing

By LI XIANG

Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-12-03 – China will establish a comprehensive system to monitor foreign companies’ profitability to curb cross-border tax evasion, the State Administration of Taxation said. The move is one of several steps against tax avoidance taken by the agency to protect the country’s interests as the world’s top destination for foreign direct investment. […]

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3 Dec, 2014

European media see U.S. racial discrimination, wealth gap as root causes of Ferguson case

BEIJING, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) — The Ferguson incident has come as a result of a deep-rooted mindset of racial discrimination and the increasingly widening wealth gap in the United States, major newspapers of some European countries say. Greek media have been following the incident, which has sparked widespread protests after a white police officer shot […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Tripwire Survey: Online Shoppers Easily Duped by Fake “Brand” Promotions

Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) December 02, 2014 – Tripwire, Inc., a leading global provider of advanced threat, security and compliance solutions, today announced the results of a consumer survey conducted by One Poll and Dimensional Research on holiday shopping security practices. The survey evaluated online cybersecurity awareness of 2,011 consumers from the U.S. and U.K., and […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Crossing borders: Why every Indian should visit Pakistan – DAWN.COM

By Nikita Singla I said, “I want to go to Pakistan…” but, I couldn’t finish before the reactions came flying in: “There are so many new places you can see, then why Pakistan?” “If a war starts between India and Pakistan, the first thing they will do is seal the borders and you will be […]

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2 Dec, 2014

Malaysia, Philippines, Iran among 13 countries which have eradicated hunger ahead of 2015-deadline – UN report

United Nations, UN News centre, 1 December 2014 – Honouring their outstanding progress in fighting hunger, 13 countries were commended today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today for achieving food security milestones ahead of the UN global 2015 target deadline and urged continued momentum to end the suffering of 805 million […]

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2 Dec, 2014

What America’s police departments don’t want you to know – The Washington Post

Michael Brown’s death was part of a tragic and unacceptable pattern: Police officers in the United States shoot and kill civilians in shockingly high numbers. How many killings are there each year? No one can say for sure, because police departments don’t want us to know. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, in 2013 […]

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2 Dec, 2014

Meet the real turkeys in America | The Japan Times

Before the tryptophan in the turkey induces somnolence, give thanks for living in such an entertaining country. This year, for example, we learned that California’s Legislature includes 93 persons who seem never to have had sex. They enacted the “affirmative consent” law directing college administrators to tell students that sexual consent cannot be silence but […]

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2 Dec, 2014

Australian Police in doghouse over strip searches – Sydney Morning Herald

Invasive strip searches by police have increased by almost a third in NSW over the past five years, with thousands of people stripped naked on the basis of sniffer dogs incorrectly indicating they are carrying drugs. Distressed patrons from music festivals and other events report being forced to take all their clothes off and squat […]

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1 Dec, 2014

Al-Quds, Konya Declared Islamic Tourism Capitals for 2015, 2016

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 01 December 2014 (09 Safar 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]

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1 Dec, 2014

Dutch extremist MP calls for removal of all mosques in Netherlands

THE HAGUE – Anadolu Agency- November/27/2014 – A Dutch right-wing political party has demanded Netherlands be cleared of mosques, amid an ongoing row over the integration of Muslim and Turkish minorities in the country. Machiel de Graaf, a member of Dutch anti-immigration and anti-Islam Party for Freedom (PVV), asked all mosques in the country to […]

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1 Dec, 2014

Dentsu Announces “2014 Hit Products in Japan”: Robot cleaners, hybrid cars, apps, and more

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 27, 2014 –Dentsu Inc. announced today the release of its “2014 Hit Products in Japan” report. Produced as part of a series that has been chronicling hit products since 1985, the latest report examines major trends that represented the consumer mindset in 2014. It is based on an Internet survey of Japanese consumers […]

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1 Dec, 2014

China to boost students’ soccer skills

BEIJING, (Xinhua), 2014-11-27  — Many people blame academic pressure and lack of school soccer for China’s terrible soccer team, but that may be about to change thanks to a new evaluation system that will take into soccer skills. China’s education minister Yuan Guiren said on Wednesday that soccer will be factored in when forming a comprehensive […]

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1 Dec, 2014

Israel’s Gaza attack led to US$47m drop in El Al Q3 profits over last year

LOD, Israel–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 26, 2014 – El Al’s CEO, David Maimon: “The results of the third quarter reflect the effect of the ‘Operation Protective Edge,’ which caused significant harm to revenues and as a result El Al requested government assistance. This is the first time since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 in which El […]

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