30 Mar, 2015

Istanbul, Marrakech Voted World’s Top Tourism Cities

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 30 March 2015 (09 Jumaada al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]

29 Mar, 2015

How the American War Machine Is Sucking Up Vast Amounts of Cash to Screw Up the World | Alternet

President Obama and Senator John McCain, who have clashed on almost every conceivable issue, do agree on one thing: the Pentagon needs more money. Obama wants to raise the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal year 2016 by $35 billion more than the caps that exist under current law allow. McCain wants to see Obama his $35 […]

29 Mar, 2015

UNWTO to convene first conference on Food Tourism

======

Madrid (UNWTO media release) — The  Basque Culinary Center and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with Basquetour, the Gipuzkoa Foral Deputation and the Donostia-San Sebastián Town Hall are organizing the 1st UNWTO Affiliate Members World Forum on Food Tourism, 27-29 April 2015 in San Sebastián, Spain. Food is a fundamental element of all […]

29 Mar, 2015

Homelessness in London soars by 79% since 2010 – RT UK

The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of London has risen by over one-third in the past year, new government figures reveal. The crisis has prompted homelessness charities to call for sweeping reforms. Data from the Department for Communities and Local Government found that levels of homelessness in the capital rose by 37 […]

29 Mar, 2015

The Gaza fisherman who built his own reef – and shot dead there by an Israeli gunboat – The Independent

The underwater rock formations provide the best fishing grounds off Gaza, but they are just beyond the limit set by the Israelis for local boats. Tawfiq Abu Riyala dreamt up an ingenious plan to solve this problem; but it may have ended up costing him his life. The 32-year-old fisherman had built up his own […]

29 Mar, 2015

Malawi to burn its £5m ivory stockpile to show commitment to wildlife conservation – The Independent

The world’s poorest country is to make the world’s most expensive bonfire. On Thursday, Malawi will set fire to ivory worth more than £5m, in an extravagant gesture designed to demonstrate its commitment to wildlife conservation and the fight against the colossal worldwide business of wildlife crime. Almost four tons of ivory is held in […]

28 Mar, 2015

Israel killed more Palestinians in 2014 than in any other year since 1967 – The Guardian

Israel killed more Palestinian civilians in 2014 than in any other year since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip began in 1967, a UN report has said. Israel’s activities in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of 2,314 Palestinians and 17,125 injuries, compared with 39 deaths […]

27 Mar, 2015

Botswana Conference Highlights Fight Against Illegal Trade In Wildlife

======

KASANE, BOTSWANA, March 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — Delegates attending a conference on illegal wildlife trade in Botswana have agreed to step up actions to fight the illegal trade of wildlife products, and to protect elephants, rhinos and other endangered species. The Kasane Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade wrapped up Wednesday in the northern Botswana town […]

27 Mar, 2015

Malaysia’s Fast Track Clearance Pass Can Now Be Processed In Singapore

======

SINGAPORE, March 26 (NNN-Bernama) — A new streamlined experience will avail greater convenience and save time for Singaporean motorists and pedestrians seeking to apply the MACS (Malaysia Automated Clearance System) pass that allows for smoother auto-gate processing at the Malaysian checkpoints. Third Link Pte Ltd, a vendor appointed by the Malaysian immigration authorities, has set […]

27 Mar, 2015

Finnish Musicians Union: Universal Loses Market Court Case Over Internet Music Rights

March 26, 2015 HELSINKI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two sons of late Albert Järvinen, best known as guitarist for the Finnish rock’n’roll band Hurriganes, took a clear victory over Universal Music Finland in Helsinki Market Court over internet rights of two albums originally released in the early 1970’s. The case was processed on behalf of the artist rightholders with […]

27 Mar, 2015

Hindu fanatics attack Church, two schools in Jabalpur – Hindustan Times

A group of Hindu hardliners attacked a church and two schools in Jabalpur late on Friday night. They were unhappy over a Christians’ Convention taking place at St Peter & Paul Church and accused the church of promoting conversion. The miscreants, about 50 in number, mainly belonged to Dharma Sena and Bajrang Dal. They first […]

27 Mar, 2015

German Embassy rudeness leaves Thai orchid expert wilted – The Nation

Bangkok – The difficulty of Thais acquiring foreign visas has long been an issue, and some embassies make it so hard to apply for travel permission that even leading stand-up comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich joked about it in his one-man shows. But no one is laughing at the latest case of consular coarseness, which involves […]

27 Mar, 2015

Scott Horton: How to Rein in a Secretive Shadow Government Is Our National Security Crisis

Mark Karlin: Many book dedications are to relatives or friends of the author. You dedicate your book to Andrei Sakharov. Why so? Scott Horton: Andrei Sakharov was one of the most important and underappreciated thinkers of the last century. He also saw the problem I am writing about – the threat that secrecy presents to […]

27 Mar, 2015

Full list of exhibitors at Singapore trade show for People With Disability

======

Singapore – Asia Pacific, besides facing rapidly ageing population, is home to approximately 650 million people with disabilities. The rapid and unabated expansion of the ageing and disabled community in Asia Pacific has resulted in increased demand for long term integrated care services, products and technologies, hence making Asia Pacific the new growth market for […]

27 Mar, 2015

Narendra Modi govt making Muslims ‘insecure’ – The Indian Express

Following a two-day convention of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the body on Sunday decided to constitute a committee called ‘Defend Constitutional Rights Committee’ to step up propaganda countering the anti-minority decisions of various state governments and the Center. The spokesperson of the body said that ever since the formation of the new […]

27 Mar, 2015

Communication breakdown? Emails are the culprit – Sydney Morning Herald

Several Australian companies have started banning internal and external emails in the workplace after they were found to cause stress and conflicts and slow work down. Nathan Schokker, director of facilities management services provider, Talio said he banned emails between employees to promote more face-to-face communication. “My staff are very energetic and tech savvy, being […]

27 Mar, 2015

Goa village bans kissing in public as it irritates residents – Hindustan Times

A Goan village has banned kissing in public, saying it causes irritation to residents. Reena Fernandes, deputy sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo, a picturesque village located a short distance from Panaji, told IANS on Thursday that the decision was taken by the village panchayat based on requests from locals. “There were a lot of unwanted […]

27 Mar, 2015

Malaysia Aims to Energise Halal Ecosystem via World Halal Summit starting 30 March

======

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (26 March 2015) – Malaysia will take another giant leap towards establishing the country as the global Halal hub when it hosts the World Halal Summit. Scheduled to be held from 30th March to 4th April 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), WHS 2015 is set to be the largest […]

27 Mar, 2015

Facebook data privacy case to be heard before European Union court – The Guardian

A Facebook user is taking his privacy campaign to the European Union’s highest court to prevent US intelligence agencies gaining access to his personal data. The case brought by Maximilian Schrems against Ireland’s Data Protection Commission may eventually shape international regulations over access to, and ownership of, online information. The Austrian law student began the […]

27 Mar, 2015

Leave Facebook if you don’t want to be spied on, warns EU – The Guardian

The European Commission has warned EU citizens that they should close their Facebook accounts if they want to keep information private from US security services, finding that current Safe Harbour legislation does not protect citizen’s data. The comments were made by EC attorney Bernhard Schima in a case brought by privacy campaigner Maximilian Schrems, looking […]

26 Mar, 2015

Jewish Fanatic Settlers Mobilize for Mass Entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque on Passover

======

JERUSALEM, March 25, 2015 (WAFA) – Jewish groups that define themselves by the name of the alleged ancient Temple are preparing for the Jewish holiday Passover by mobilizing the largest number of settlers to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque and perform religious prayers in its yards. According to the Islamic Institute of Waqf and Heritage, the Temple […]

26 Mar, 2015

UN marks Day of Remembrance with calls to end modern slavery

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 25 March 2015 – As the international community gathers to commemorate the millions of victims exploited by slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today warned that the insidious practice of forced bondage continued to reverberate around the world in various forms – from forced labour […]

25 Mar, 2015

Muslim woman in Hijab assaulted on Sydney train

======

Sydney, (IINA) 25 Mar 2015 – A hijab wearing Muslim woman was attacked by a man while she was onboard a train in Sydney, leaving her traumatized and terrified, media sources reported. Hina, who wanted to be identified only by her first name, was on her journey from the city’s Town Hall station to Parramatta […]

24 Mar, 2015

Thai Tourism Minister listens carefully as PATA finds its “Voice”

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has long claimed to be the “voice” of the tourism industry in the world’s most populous and dynamic region. Over the last few years, failing to walk that talk has been a major contributor to its decline. Now, that is changing. On 19 March, the PATA Thailand […]

24 Mar, 2015

World Social Forum in Tunis can inspire activists to unite against the global power grab

======

By Adriano Campolina, chief executive, ActionAid International Tunis, March 25, 2015, The Guardian — There’s no snow, fewer celebrities, and a lot less glitz, but the World Social Forum’s 10th global meeting, which opens in Tunis on 24 March, is the critics’ answer to the Davos World Economic Forum. Here in Tunis, I’m meeting people who […]

23 Mar, 2015

Indonesia to waive visas for 25 countries

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 23 March 2015 (02 Jumaada al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]

22 Mar, 2015

The Lie of the Century: CIA Declassifies Document That Supposedly Justified the Iraq Invasion

Thirteen years ago, the intelligence community concluded in a 93-page classified document used to justify the invasion of Iraq that it lacked “specific information” on “many key aspects” of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. But that’s not what top Bush administration officials said during their campaign to sell the war […]

21 Mar, 2015

Sad outcome of Israeli elections – Uri Avnery

So Netanyahu is back. That’s the sad outcome of the Israeli elections. Sad, but not the end of the world. Some people say that the best course now is a so-called national unity government. Looks like a nice idea. Unity always sounds nice. The advocates of this choice have one good argument: It’s the lesser […]

21 Mar, 2015

Amazon rainforest losing capacity to fight climate change as trees die – The Independent

The Amazon rainforest is losing its ability to absorb carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as trees are dying, which could have negative implication on climate change across the globe. A study led by the University of Leeds revealed that tree growth in the Amazon rainforest has declined by one-third since the 1980s and that the […]

21 Mar, 2015

How the RSS “ghar wapsi” programme actually hurts Hindus – DAWN.COM

The Sangh Parivar’s ghar wapsi programme to convert members of minority communities to Hinduism is driven by anxieties of Hindus being lured away in droves from the faith of their ancestors by Abrahamic missionaries. While the fears of an exodus from Hinduism are greatly exaggerated, news broke on the weekend of a person converting from […]

21 Mar, 2015

ACLU Sues TSA for Records on Discredited US$1 billion ‘Behavior Detection’ Program at U.S. airports

======

March 19, 2015, NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union and the NYCLU took the Transportation Security Administration to court today in an effort to uncover documents about a controversial passenger screening program used at airports nationwide., The program is called Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques, or SPOT. TSA “behavior detection officers” watch passengers […]

21 Mar, 2015

Chinese Commentary: America the Kibitzer on South China Sea

======

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) — Uncle Sam has long been in the grip of many addictions, such as muscle-flexing, preaching and borrowing, but there has turned out to be one more: kibitzing. The latest symptom of the obsession with unwanted counseling emerged into plain sight earlier this week, when Robert Thomas, commander of the U.S. […]

20 Mar, 2015

China’s global image on the upswing

======

Beijing, (China Daily), March 19, 2015 – China’s national image has been improving over the past few years, with President Xi Jinping becoming a highlight, according to a survey report. The global survey, based on 4,500 respondents from nine countries last year, found that China’s overall image has been increasingly recognized by the global community. […]

20 Mar, 2015

China rethinks how forex reserves are used as U.S. Treasuries holdings fall

======

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) — The reduction of U.S. government bond holdings has signalled investment in U.S. Treasuries is gradually losing appeal to China’s massive foreign exchange (FX) reserves. According to data released this week by the U.S. Treasury Department.China cut its holdings by 5.2 billion U.S. dollars to 1.2391 trillion dollars in January, marking […]

20 Mar, 2015

Backed by Israeli troops, Jewish Fanatic Settlers Take over Property in East Jerusalem Neighborhood

======

JERUSALEM, March 18, 2015 (WAFA) – Armed Israeli settlers Wednesday took over a Palestinian property in East Jerusalem’s town of Silwan as well as two plots of land which belong to two different Palestinian families. Protected by large Israeli troops, armed settlers broke into Silwan and occupied a building, which houses four apartments, that belongs […]

20 Mar, 2015

Israel Demolishes Dozens of Residential Structures, Livestock Barns in Jordan Valley

======

JORDAN VALLEY, March 18, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities early Wednesday demolished dozens of residential structures and livestock barns in the northern Jordan Valley localities of Makhoul and al-Hadidiya, according to a municipal source and local activist. Escorting bulldozers, Israeli forces broke into and cordoned the area off and prevented locals from approaching the structures […]

20 Mar, 2015

Israel Cuts 150 Olive Trees in Hebron, Burns Roots to Ensure Damage

======

HEBRON, March 18, 2015 (WAFA) – The so-called Israeli Civil Administration Wednesday sprayed the roots of around 150 Olive trees in the area of Mala southeast of Dahriya south of Hebron with Chemicals to kill the trees, under allegations of being planted in a state property. According to local sources, the Israeli army cut the […]

20 Mar, 2015

Buddhist monk shames branding gurus: “Are you really contributing to sustainability?”

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok, March 28, 2015 – Thailand’s leading branding gurus got more than they bargained for at a conference on sustainability when the keynote speaker, a prominent Buddhist monk, ripped into the human frailties of greed, pride, egotism and conceit, all of which he said help meet corporate goals but are totally opposite to core Buddhist […]

20 Mar, 2015

Time for transparency for EU multinationals | EurActiv

This week, the European Commission unveiled its tax transparency package, proposing new rules for the exchange of information on secret tax deals and opening up a discussion on whether EU multinationals should publicly report basic information on their activities. The last decades have seen multinational companies grow ever more powerful and exert huge economic and […]

20 Mar, 2015

March 21: Bali to go silent for Nyepi, all religious leaders to join in

Ni Komang Erviani

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, March 19 2015 – Preparations are gearing up for Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu Day of Silence, which falls on Saturday. This year’s celebration will offer another demonstration of Bali’s strong interfaith relations, as the celebration coincides with the Catholic period of Lent, where adherents fast and make penitence in preparation for […]

20 Mar, 2015

Saudi Arabia to stop issuing visas to Swedes after criticism | The Jakarta Post

Saudi Arabia will no longer issue business visas to Swedes or renew the current visas of Swedish nationals living in the country, a senior Saudi official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The official said the decision is in response to Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom’s recent criticism of Saudi Arabia’s record on human and […]

20 Mar, 2015

March 20 Int’l Happiness Day: Gallup Poll lists countries where people are most/least happy

by Jon Clifton

Ahead of the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness, Gallup looks at the countries where the highest and lowest percentages of people are experiencing positive emotions daily. Story Highlights Top 10 countries for positive emotions are in Latin America At least 70% laugh/smile a lot, experience enjoyment, treated with respect, well-rested WASHINGTON, D.C. — As […]

18 Mar, 2015

Australian insider trading masterminds jailed

Two men involved in a $7 million insider trading scheme that helped the mastermind buy an apartment from The Block television show to give his crimes a “cloak of respectability” have been jailed. Former NAB banker Lukas Kamay and former Australian Bureau of Statistics employee Christopher Hill had been involved in the worst case of […]

17 Mar, 2015

‘IS’ as a western phenomenon | Arab News

No matter how one attempts to wrangle with the so-called “Islamic State” (IS) rise in Iraq and Syria, desperately seeking any political or other context that would validate the movement as an explainable historical circumstance, things refuse to add up. Not only is IS to a degree an alien movement in the larger body politic […]

17 Mar, 2015

China’s luxury big spenders: young, trendy and not so rich

======

Beijing, (Agencies) 2015-03-16 – Global luxury brands expanding in China are better off targeting the HENRYs – “high earners, not rich yet” – instead of the ultra-wealthy, as a slowing economy and a government that frowns on official excesses usher in an era of less showy spending. HENRYs believe less is more. These younger spenders […]

17 Mar, 2015

Skyfii’s Wi-Fi watching you shop in Westfield — Sydney Morning Herald

Data services company Skyfii has secured long-term contracts to supply and manage guest Wi-Fi in more than 20 Westfield shopping centres, as well as the the up-market MLC Centre in Sydney. It had previously inked deals with other big Sydney malls including the Queen Victoria Building and the Strand Arcade, Galeries Victoria, Chifley Plaza, World […]

17 Mar, 2015

#HappySoundsLike: UN launches social media campaign to create world’s happiest playlist

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre), 16 March 2015 – Does happiness have a sound? And, if so, what does it actually sound like? That is the question the United Nations is asking as it launches its latest campaign – #HappySoundsLike – an appeal for the global citizenry “to nominate a song that brings a smile […]

17 Mar, 2015

Japan to loan $160m for Phnom Penh-Thailand highway

======

Phnom Penh, 16 Mar 2015, KYODO NEWS – Japan will extend about US$160 million in low-interest loans to Cambodia to improve a major road, a move that would increase transportation capacity and efficiency in the Mekong region. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen on Sunday that Japan would make the 19.2-billion-yen […]

17 Mar, 2015

Don’t want NSA to spy on you? 5 things you can do

More than half of Americans are worried about the US government’s digital spies prying into their emails, texts, search requests and other online information, but few are trying to thwart the surveillance. That’s according to a new survey from Pew Research Center, released Monday. A main reason for the inertia? Pew researchers found that a […]

17 Mar, 2015

U.N. under fire for US$2.3 million extra costs in business and first-class travel authorisations

Imtiaz Muqbil

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and his office management staff are under fire for authorising “exceptions” to the UN’s travel policies that cost global taxpayers an additional US$ 2.3 million for business- and first-class travel in 2012-14, mostly by “prominent” persons, for UN meetings around the world. Although the UN General Assembly had instructed Mr. Ban […]

17 Mar, 2015

Quality of life: Delhi is now a city on ‘terminal decline’ – Hindustan Times

Feted as an “ultimate city to visit and explore” by National Geographic’s Traveller magazine and the “best city to live in India” by the Institute for Competitiveness and Confederation of Indian Industry till three years ago, Delhi has lost the status to Mumbai — which was seen as a city on ‘terminal decline’ because of […]

17 Mar, 2015

India’s first private airport, majority owned by Changi, nears opening

======

Press Trust of India | Durgapur (West Bengal) March 16, 2015 — The country’s first private greenfield airport at Durgapur, promoted by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), is likely to be operational by April 14. “The final calibration of navigational aids at the airport by Airport Authority is done. Now, we expect to get final […]

17 Mar, 2015

In Sri Lanka, underworked army runs resorts, shops, salons and travel agencies | The Indian Express

A pristine white building with a classy brown wooden finish overlooks the blue Indian Ocean at Kankensanthurai, about 19 km from Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. It’s a luxury resort, and on Sunday mornings, families come here for a meal, a swim in the pool, and to play on the beach. Foot-tapping music plays at […]

17 Mar, 2015

Iran reports rise in foreign investment interest in tourism sector

======

Shahrekord, Chaharmahal-o Bakhtiari Prov, March 14, IRNA – The foreign investment demands in Iran tourism sector have recently increased, a senior official said on Sunday. Talking to IRNA, Head of the Organization for Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism, Masoud Soltanifar said so far, several foreign groups have voiced their readiness to made investment in Iran […]

17 Mar, 2015

China’s Spring Festival passengers up 3.5% to 2.81 bln

======

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) — Chinese railways, roads, airlines and waterways carried a total of 2.81 billion passengers during the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, known as “chunyun,” which concluded on Sunday. The figure is 3.5 percent up on last year, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Monday. A total of 2.42 billion passengers […]

17 Mar, 2015

As a Christian, suddenly I am a stranger in my own country: ex-Mumbai Police Chief Julio Ribeiro – The Indian Express

Today, in my 86th year, I feel threatened, not wanted, reduced to a stranger in my own country. The same category of citizens who had put their trust in me to rescue them from a force they could not comprehend have now come out of the woodwork to condemn me for practising a religion that […]

17 Mar, 2015

Jet-Etihad deal documents among those leaked: CBI — Hindustan Times

The CBI probe into alleged sale of confidential documents from Finance Ministry has revealed that most of the records related to controversial Jet-Etihad deal were allegedly leaked with the help of officials in the FIPB. The sources said during questioning of suspects arrested by the agency and phone intercepts available with it, it has emerged […]

16 Mar, 2015

Melbourne Exhibition to showcase Muslims who rescued Jews in World War II

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 16 March 2015 (25 Jumaada al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]

16 Mar, 2015

Today’s politicians don’t speak for the selfie-stick generation – Sydney Morning Herald

By Clara Williams Roldan I am 23 years old. I have no experience in politics. And I am standing against the Premier, Mike Baird, as Greens’ candidate for Manly in this month’s NSW election. Based on my age alone, you might immediately dismiss me as idealistic and naive. I am happy to say I am […]

16 Mar, 2015

Australian musicians to get A$900,000 in grants to promote their work locally and abroad

======

Canberra, Media statement by the Minister of the Arts, George Brandis – 13 March 2015 Today I am announcing close to $900,000 in grants to increase the exposure of Australian musicians to national and international audiences, and support the development of new work. Forty-two musicians will be supported by a range of music grants through […]

16 Mar, 2015

The Future of China: Full Transcript of Premier Li Keqiang’s Broad-ranging Press Conference

======

Beijing, Mar 15,2015, english.gov.cn — Fu Ying: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Today we are delighted to invite Premier Li Keqiang to meet Chinese and foreign journalists and take your questions. We have a full house today. There are about eight to nine hundred journalists present at today’s press conference. But our time is limited […]

15 Mar, 2015

Rising Indian derailments also due to excreta corroding rail foot: Railways – The Hindu

Dirty railway tracks and piles of garbage alongside the tracks have not only presented an ugly side to the travelling public but also posed serious safety problem to the Indian Railways. But it turns out that the excreta falling directly on the rails from the coaches is a major cause of corrosion of rail foot, […]

15 Mar, 2015

In Washington Post column, Jewish neocon calls for more war in Middle East

Imtiaz Muqbil

Following up on the anti-Iran speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the U.S. Congress earlier this month, another Jewish neocon has called openly for an attack on Iran. Reeking with shameless arrogance and shoulder-shrugging nonchalance about advocating more conflict and human suffering in an explosive and volatile region, Joshua Muravchik, a fellow at […]

15 Mar, 2015

India to step up economic projects for Northeast region, links with Myanmar, B’desh & Bhutan

======

New Delhi, Ministry for Development of North-East Region, 14-March-2015 – The members of the consultative committee attached to the Ministry for Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) in a meeting held here yesterday discussed the issues of promotion of Tourism, improvement of connectivity & other infrastructural projects in the region. During the first meeting of the […]

14 Mar, 2015

US must not impose its idea of democracy: Thai PM – The Nation

Bangkok – THE UNITED STATES should not try to impose a one-size-fits-all democracy on the rest of the world, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday. Prayut took to the podium as a keynote speaker at the 47th Wharton Global Forum at a Bangkok hotel and used the opportunity to extend an olive branch to […]

14 Mar, 2015

Gallup Polls: Americans Name Government as No. 1 U.S. Problem

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Gallup Polls) 1 March 2015 – — Americans continue to name the government (18%) as the most important U.S. problem, a distinction it has had for the past four months. Americans’ mentions of the economy as the top problem (11%) dropped this month, leaving it tied with jobs (10%) for second place. Though […]

14 Mar, 2015

Philippines’ generation of sex tourism children – Al Jazeera English

Angeles City, Philippines – Weekends are busy on Fields Avenue in Balibago. Young women greet meandering men and invite them into the bars that line the street. Known as the “supermarket of sex”, Angeles City’s red light district has fast become a top destination for sex tourism. Male travellers from Asia, Australia, the US, Europe […]

14 Mar, 2015

Survey: 96% of Organizations Back Employee Well-being Initiatives to Curb Rising Health-Care Costs

======

March 12, 2015 WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Workplace wellness programs and well-being initiatives are key components to improving employee health and containing rising health-care costs, according to a new survey, “Total Rewards and Well-Being” conducted by WorldatWork with underwriting support from HealthMine. WorldatWork, a nonprofit HR association released the survey findings today, which show 96% of organizations support […]

14 Mar, 2015

Binge drinking in men peaks at 25 before every day boozing starts later in life, says study – The Independent

The amount of alcohol a man drinks is the highest at around the age of 25, according to a new study. Alcohol consumption sharply rises during the carefree teenage years and reaches the highest levels of frequency and volume in the mid-twenties, when it becomes the linchpin of most social and corporate events. Men’s drinking […]

14 Mar, 2015

Australians among clients of alleged paedophile Peter Gerard Scully, investigators say

Investigators believe Australians were among the clients of Peter Gerard Scully, the Melbourne man whose alleged sex crimes against babies and children in the Philippines have renewed calls for the south-east Asian country to reintroduce the death penalty. A 13 year-old girl from an impoverished family, who has emerged as Scully’s latest alleged victim, has […]

14 Mar, 2015

British spies sacked for illicitly snooping on private info – The Independent

GCHQ spooks have been sacked for inappropriately accessing people’s personal information, it emerged today. The small number of British spies who have illicitly gathered personal data should face criminal charges for doing so, Hazel Blears, the spokeswoman for the Intelligence Security Committee, told Sky News. The disclosure came as part of a landmark report into […]

14 Mar, 2015

Japanese team says worms can accurately detect cancer | The Japan Times

A group of Japanese researchers recently announced in a science journal an economical and highly accurate cancer detection method that makes use of roundworms about 1 mm long that can identify cancer patients by sensing odors in urine. The researchers, including Takaaki Hirotsu, assistant professor at Kyushu University, said the cancer screening test, which is […]

14 Mar, 2015

Metadata retention laws will pass as Labor folds – Sydney Morning Herald

Australia’s corporate watchdogs will have wide-reaching power to crawl through email, telephone and internet records under a last-minute deal between Labor and the government to enact a controversial data-retention law. The deal will outrage civil libertarian groups, and internet service providers say the $400 million plan could lead to higher prices for customers, after Labor […]

14 Mar, 2015

Motivational speakers modern charlatans – Sydney Morning Herald

I caught up with my friend on her return from the conference to find out how it was. As expected, it was four days of her life she’ll never get back. During the event, she was made to sit through one of those ridiculous presentations from a motivational speaker. Actually, there were three presentations from […]

13 Mar, 2015

Hindu extremist groups campaign to ‘purify’ Muslim brides in West Bengal | The Indian Express

The din over the ‘ghar wapsi’ reconversion campaign in the north and west may have dropped many decibels after Prime Minister Narendra Modi underlined “the undeniable right” of an individual’s choice of religion. But in the east, the RSS and its affiliates are experimenting with another conversion programme — where, instead of hounding a Hindu-Muslim […]

13 Mar, 2015

Minorities are culturally, nationally and DNA-wise Hindus: RSS leader

All Indians are “culturally, nationally and DNA-wise Hindus” and there are no minorities, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader said on Friday, while he attempted to distance the organisation from the religious conversion programmes being run by affiliates across the country. RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale was speaking to the media at the […]

13 Mar, 2015

Where Palestinians and Jewish settlers meet as equals

By Sara Hirschhorn Mar. 19, 2013, Ha’aretz – The story of his work in the last five years of his life, and an examination of the legacy he left behind, is the narrative that runs through a new documentary, “A Third Way – Settlers and Palestinians as Neighbors” directed by Harvey Stein. Stein, who moved […]

13 Mar, 2015

Chinese frugality drive takes toll on luxury hotel revenues

By Cao Yin

Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-03-11 – Five dozen luxury hotels in Beijing lost money in the past few years as tough policies and regulations took effect against government corruption and waste of public funds, an insider from the capital’s tourism authority said during the annual legislative session. Beijing saw 60 five-star hotels fall into deficit last […]

13 Mar, 2015

British Muslims condemn terror laws for creating ‘witch-hunt’ against Islam – The Guardian

Anti-Muslim rhetoric and “endless ‘anti-terror’ laws” are in danger of creating a McCarthyite witch-hunt against Muslims, according to the signatories of a strongly worded public statement, who include several controversial figures. The statement accuses the government of “criminalising” Islam and trying to silence “legitimate critique and dissent”, and decries what it describes as “the ongoing […]

11 Mar, 2015

Leading politician says Canada treats Muslims today as it did Jews in the ’30s and ’40s – The Washington Post

In a dramatic speech Tuesday evening, the leader of Canada’s Liberal Party Justin Trudeau criticized the Canadian government for its rhetoric over the threat of Islamist-related terrorism – and compared the country’s treatment of its Muslims minorities with the restrictive policies against Jews prior to and during World War II. Speaking in Toronto to alumni […]

10 Mar, 2015

Adobe Brings Marketing Intelligence to New Touch Points at Internet-of-Things Devices

======

SALT LAKE CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 10, 2015 — At Adobe Summit, Adobe’s annual Digital Marketing conference in the U.S., Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) today unveiled major new innovations in Adobe Marketing Cloud that enable brands to bring highly personalized experiences to physical spaces like retail stores, hotel rooms, vending machines and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. The new IoT SDK […]

10 Mar, 2015

New Book Exposes How Branding Campaigns Manipulate Our Lives

======

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 09, 2015 — Every day, brands get inside our brains with a range of powerful psychological tricks which manipulate unsuspecting consumers into parting with their hard earned cash. But how do brands create such strong emotional attachments to us, and how do they come to resonate so strongly? With over thirty years’ experience, […]

10 Mar, 2015

Global Number of Car Sharing Users to Reach 650 Million by 2030, Says ABI Research

======

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)- March 09, 2015 – Car and ride sharing is just one example of the new on-demand economy allowing real-time matching of supply and demand through connected smartphone applications. According to ABI Research, successive forms of vehicle sharing approaches represent paradigm shifts in uptake and popularity; each new generation seeing adoption rates at least […]

10 Mar, 2015

New international terminal opened at Multan airport, Pakistan – Dawn.com

MULTAN: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated the international terminal of the existing Multan Airport, enabling international travel for Multan residents who previously had to travel to Islamabad and Lahore to make an international journey. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his elation at the inauguration of the newly christened ‘Multan International Airport’, and said […]

10 Mar, 2015

Survey: UK Shoppers Warming to New Payments Technologies but Now Expect More From Retailers

======

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–March 10, 2015 – Verifone (NYSE:PAY), today announced the findings of its UK consumer study that shows how British shoppers are taking to new technologies enthusiastically as they browse and pay for goods and services. Yet with these advances and choices comes a need for retailers to offer promotions and incentives consistently across all […]

10 Mar, 2015

Australia to return questionably-procured cultural artefacts to China, India

======

The Australian Government has agreed to return two prized cultural artefacts originating in India and China to their home countries. Both were found to have been procured under questionable circumstances and are to be returned in accordance with the principles and legal obligations of the Australian Best Practice Guide to Collecting Cultural Material. Two media […]

10 Mar, 2015

Returned Australian soldiers face widespread depression and homelessness, investigative report reveals

Hundreds, if not thousands, of Australian soldiers are struggling to access the financial help they need to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder once home, veterans and support agencies say. ABC TV’s Four Corners on Monday night featured former soldiers undergoing gruelling therapy sessions to help them recover from PTSD, which has damaged their marriages, their […]

9 Mar, 2015

Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales slams federal government data retention laws

Mr Wales said he understood the need for data retention schemes in fighting crime. But he added law enforcement bodies should be forced to get warrants when seeking people’s information. “With proper judicial oversight, probable cause, warrants, judges and not just police overseeing it, the ability to get access to information is perfectly valid,” he […]

9 Mar, 2015

Japan’s Muslim-Friendly Environment Pulls Malaysian, Indonesian Tourists

======

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 March 2015 (18 Jumaada al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]

8 Mar, 2015

In campaign against terrorism, U.S. enters period of pessimism and gloom – The Washington Post

U.S. counterterrorism officials and experts, never known for their sunny dispositions, have entered a period of particular gloom. In congressional testimony recently, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. went beyond the usual litany of threats to say that terrorism trend lines were worse “than at any other point in history.” Maj. Gen. Michael […]

8 Mar, 2015

Pratap Chatterjee: Mentally-disturbed pilots quitting Drone Warfare – TomDispatch

The Air Force is currently under orders to staff 65 of these regular “combat air patrols” around the clock as well as to support a Global Response Force on call for emergency military and humanitarian missions. For all of this, there should ideally be 1,700 trained pilots. Instead, facing an accelerating dropout rate that recently […]

8 Mar, 2015

An inspirational message from India’s only woman Muslim pilot

“People initially think I’m Christian and then gawk when I tell them my full name,” laughs Saarah Hameed Ahmed (25) the Bengaluru girl who is the only known Muslim among the 600-odd women pilots employed in the Indian aviation sector. “I just love the look on people’s faces when they discover I am Muslim.” People’s […]

8 Mar, 2015

FREE Download: EU report shows women earned on average 16% less than men in 2013

======

Brussels, 05 March 2015 (European Union Media release) – In 2013, the gender pay gap1 stood at 16.4% in the European Union (EU), ranging from less than 5% in Slovenia to more than 20% in Estonia, Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. The gender pay gap represents the difference between average gross hourly earnings of […]

8 Mar, 2015

Gallup Polls: Nearly 2 Billion Women Worldwide Are Struggling, Suffering

by Jon Clifton and Julie Ray

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Gallup Polls Media release) — While International Women’s Day this Sunday will focus mostly on how the world thinks women are doing, it’s important to understand how the women of the world think they are doing. The best way to find this out is to ask them.This International Women’s Day, more than one […]

8 Mar, 2015

UN Member States must ‘step it up’ on gender parity to meet equality targets by 2030

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 6 March 2015 – The past 20 years has seen haltering progress on women’s rights issues and, in some areas, outright stagnation and regression, the head of the United Nations entity for gender equality and women’s empowerment said today. Briefing journalists at a press conference at in New York as […]

8 Mar, 2015

Women farmers pillar of food security – UN agencies

======

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 6 March 2015 – Ahead of International Women’s Day, United Nations food relief agencies gathered to remind the world that women farmers play a central role in achieving food and nutrition security, urging countries to step up efforts to empower rural women who too often do “backbreaking work” to harvest […]

8 Mar, 2015

Count Us In! – ITUC Statement on International Women’s Day 2015

======

The 4th Global Action of the World March of Women will bring together women activists from every continent on the planet, united in their demands for a sustainable and caring economy and for social justice, peace and democracy. Read the full statement  

8 Mar, 2015

FREE Download: 50 Leading Companies for Women in the Asia-Pacific

======

Singapore, (APEC Media release) 6 Mar 2015 – In a small tin roof house in the Philippines, a group of women use crochet needles to sew recycled plastic bags into colorful fashion purses.  The purses, designed by an artist, end up on the shelves of upmarket ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle in downtown Manila—providing valuable income to […]

7 Mar, 2015

How a Jewish Casino Billionaire Stands in the Way of Mideast Peace | Alternet

Everything you need to know about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress Tuesday was the presence in the visitor’s gallery of one man – Sheldon Adelson. The gambling tycoon is the Godfather of the Republican Right. The party’s presidential hopefuls line up to kiss his assets, scraping and bowing for his blessing, which […]

7 Mar, 2015

Balinese welcome boycott by ”Ugly Australians” – Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney The Twitter campaign for Australians to #BoycottBali over the very sad case of convicted drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran brought with it an immediate and expected backlash by Indonesians. “Australia can #boycottbali all they want,” tweeted @pandji, “that only means no more stupid drunks on board of Indonesian airlines.” And this from […]