7 Mar, 2015

Foreign nurses, caregivers to get special visa status | The Japan Times

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday approved the creation of a new category of visa for foreign nurses and caregivers as part of efforts to fill a shortage in the workforce. Drafted by the Justice Ministry and requiring Diet approval, the proposal to amend the immigration law mainly targets exchange students studying […]

6 Mar, 2015

Israeli Court Ruling Allows Jewish Prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound

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JERUSALEM, March 4, 2015 (WAFA) – Palestinian organizations criticized the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ruling which ostensibly backs claims that Jews are allowed to pray in al-Aqsa Mosque compound. While Jewish extremists praised the ruling and considered it a “historic victory” as Israeli media sources reported, al-Aqsa Foundation for Islamic Waqf and Heritage published a report […]

6 Mar, 2015

Chinese Leaders’ Ten-Point Projections for the Future of China

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Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) March 03, 2015 – The 3rd Session of the 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee of the People’s Republic of China opened on March 3, 2015 in Beijing, followed by the 3rd Session of the 12th National People’s Congress on March 5. 2015 is a crucial year for deeper […]

6 Mar, 2015

FREE Download: Report Reveals How Corrupt Capital Is Used to Buy Property in the UK

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London, 04 March 2015, (Transparency International) — It is well-known that the global rich are buying up large parts of London. But who they really are and where their money comes from is too often a well-kept secret. They use secret offshore companies to buy the properties and don’t disclose their identities. These secret companies […]

6 Mar, 2015

Global Taxi Network begins to ponder its future

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Brussels, 5 March 2015,(International Road Transport Union) – At its inaugural meeting today, the Advisory Committee of the IRU Global Taxi Network (GTN) addressed the issue of taxi service quality and current and future challenges facing taxis and hire cars with drivers. It notably expressed its support for the industry initiative to launch the GTN. […]

6 Mar, 2015

Gaza: UN humanitarian arm warns that Israeli blockade ‘undermining’ living standards

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 5 March 2015 – The living conditions of nearly 2 million Palestinians residing in the Gaza Strip have been undermined by the enduring blockade against the enclave, the United Nations humanitarian office reported today. The longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have led […]

6 Mar, 2015

History Lesson for ITB Berlin : 20 Years Since the Finest Travel & Tourism Speech Ever

Imtiaz Muqbil

March 6, 2015 — Today, the ITB Berlin 2015 will host a session to discuss the future of travel & tourism in Israel-Palestine. Speakers representing the Palestinians, Israelis and German ecumenical groups will share their visions on how “tourism can play an essential role in promoting peace and justice.” The programme says that although “both […]

5 Mar, 2015

FREE Download: Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore top Muslim Travel Index 2015

Imtiaz Muqbil

Malaysia is the world’s most Muslim-friendly tourism destination and Singapore holds that position among the non-Islamic countries, according to ratings compiled by the “MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015”. Considered the most comprehensive research ever released on the Muslim travel market, it looks at in-depth data covering 100 destinations across the world creating an […]

5 Mar, 2015

OECD report cites “worrying” toll exacted by mental ill-health at workplace

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Paris, (OECD media release) 04/03/2015 – Health and employment services should intervene earlier, involve key stakeholders and ensure they work together in order to help people with mental-health issues find work and stay in a job, according to a new OECD report. Entitled “Fit Mind, Fit Job: From Evidence to Practice in Mental Health and […]

5 Mar, 2015

Number of global ultra-rich swells to almost 173,000 – The Guardian

The world’s super-rich continued their seemingly unstoppable rise last year with the number of people worth $30m (£19.7m) or more expanding to 172,850. Between them they control nearly $22tn in assets – more than the national output of the US and Germany combined. Almost 5,300 people joined the ranks of so-called ultra high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), […]

5 Mar, 2015

New UN report urges funding boost for disaster risk reduction

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 4 March 2015 – A new United Nations report urging greater investment in risk prevention has underscored disaster risk reduction as a building block for future sustainable development, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon affirmed today as the Organization prepares for a pivotal upcoming global conference on the issue. Delivering remarks at the […]

5 Mar, 2015

UN health agency points to ‘solid evidence’ backing its call to reduce sugar intake

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United Nations, UN News Centre, 4 March 2015 – New guidelines released by the United Nations health agency today recommended that adults and children worldwide reduce their daily sugar intake to boost health and stave off non-communicable diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) says intake of ‘free’ sugars – monosaccharides (such as glucose, fructose) and […]

5 Mar, 2015

The Pakistani town where a Hindu fasts and a Muslim does not slaughter cows – DAWN.COM

by Hassan Raza Pakistan has become synonymous with terrorism. On most local and international news channels, we hear about minorities getting slaughtered at the hands of extremists; attacks on temples, churches, imambargahs; or the forced conversions of Hindus and Christians in the country. I reckon you might be pleasantly surprised to know that there is […]

4 Mar, 2015

Jew rebuts Jew: Benjamin Netanyahu’s Fantasy World

by Rabbi Michael Lerner “If you take out Saddam, Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.” ~ Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu urging the US to invade Iraq in 2002. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was brilliantly deceitful because it played to the fantasies that Israeli propaganda and right […]

4 Mar, 2015

Fear Dominates Politics, Media and Human Existence in America—And It’s Getting Worse | Alternet

People cannot think clearly when they are afraid. As numerous studies have shown, fear is the enemy of reason. It distorts emotions and perceptions, and often leads to poor decisions. For people who have suffered trauma, fear messages can sometimes trigger uncontrollable flight-or-fight responses with dangerous ramifications. Yet over time, many interlocking aspects of our […]

4 Mar, 2015

Ten issues that will NOT be on the agenda at the brain-dead ITB Berlin

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – In his March 3 speech at the opening of the 2015 ITB Berlin, UNWTO Secretary-General Dr Talib Rifai raised the game for the travel & tourism industry worldwide by citing a number of previously taboo issues that are reshaping the New World Order. Embedded within his speech were key phrases that should challenge […]

4 Mar, 2015

South Africa holds Israeli Apartheid Week

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JOHANNESBURG, March 3, 2015 (WAFA) – South Africa Monday began a weeklong international campaign to shed light on the policies used by Israel against Palestinians and its Apartheid nature. Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events (including rallies, protests, lectures, cultural performances, concerts, films and workshops) held in over 250 cities, […]

3 Mar, 2015

Indian visitor arrivals up 7.1% in 2014, another 50 tourism circuits planned

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New Delhi, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Tourism, 02-March-2015 – Foreign Tourist Arrivals during the period January-December 2014 were 74.62 lakh with a growth of 7.1%, as compared to the Foreign Tourist Arrivals of 69.68 lakh with a growth of 5.9% during January-December 2013 over the corresponding period of 2012. Foreign Exchange Earnings from tourism […]

3 Mar, 2015

Air pollution, corruption, wealth-gap top public concerns in China

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-03-03 – Air pollution, corruption and the wealth gap are the three issues of most concern to readers ahead of the annual parliamentary sessions of China, dubbed as “two sessions”, according to an online survey by the China Daily website. The issue of pollution has grown in importance for people since last year’s […]

3 Mar, 2015

China’s anti-graft campaign maintains high public approval rating

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Beijing, (People’s Daily), March 03, 2015 – China’s anti-graft campaign has attracted widespread attention from both the Party and the public. The campaign has proven remarkably successful since President Xi Jinping led the fight against corruption after taking office in 2012. Anti-corruption is believed to be a key topic at the upcoming two sessions, which […]

3 Mar, 2015

Venezuela sets deadline for U.S. to cut embassy staff

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CARACAS, March 2 (Xinhua) — Washington has 15 days to reduce its 100-strong embassy staff in Caracas by some 80 percent, Venezuela said Monday. It’s up to Washington to decide which 17 diplomats will remain out of an estimated 100, a size similar to the staff at the embassy of the South American nation in […]

3 Mar, 2015

Iran plans “Resistance Economy” as a strategic policy: MP

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Tehran, March 2, IRNA – An Iranian parliamentarian described resistance economy an issue which is of strategic importance for the country. Talking to IRNA on Monday, Ali Mohammad Ahmadi who is a deputy for Majlis Budget and Planning Committee, said that resistance economy offers a comprehensive and strategic plans for development of country’s economy not […]

3 Mar, 2015

China calls for better commercial services in overseas embassies

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(Xinhua) BEIJING, March 2 — Senior Chinese leaders has urged diplomats in charge of commercial affairs to greatly contribute to economic ties between China and foreign countries they station. A four-day national conference on improving economic and commercial counseling services in foreign countries concluded on Monday, during which Vice Premier Wang Yang held discussions with […]

3 Mar, 2015

US: Sikh boy racially abused in school bus, video goes viral

A young Sikh boy in the US state of Georgia has been called a “terrorist” by a group of school children, with the video of the abuse now going viral on the Internet. In the video posted on Inquisitr, the bespectacled Sikh boy is seen sitting in what appears to be a school bus and […]

3 Mar, 2015

2,600+ people sign anti-Netanyahu, anti-war ad in New York Times

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Source: Rabbi Michael Lerner, www.tikkun.org This is the ad, signed by over 2,600 people,  that appears today in the New York Times, and tomorrow on Capitol Hill in “The Hiill” newspaper (read in every Congressional office and in the White House) can be viewed here:  https://org.salsalabs.com/o/525/images/Final netanyahu ad.pdf If you like it, please sign it […]

2 Mar, 2015

Texting Jargon is harming Persian language, writing skills

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Tehran, March 2, IRNA — Experts fear that the jargon of text messages has spawned a new online language and culture which is undermining the Persian language and writing skills. A special program on the subject of ‘SMS and Persian language’ was held at Tehran’s National Library’s Andhishegah (literally, thinking room) hall on Sunday (March […]

2 Mar, 2015

Smug, Snide, and Shallow – ‘The Three Superiors’ of the BBC – People’s Daily Online

On 25th February People’s Daily unveiled President Xi Jinping’s “Four Comprehensives”: A moderately prosperous society, Reform, Rule of law, and Party discipline. They are the blueprint for his government’s future strategy, and they represent a significant statement about what the future holds for China in the coming years. In an article on its website the […]

2 Mar, 2015

Hindus must boycott films of Muslim Khans: BJP leader

Hindus should boycott the Khan triumvirate of Bollywood as they promote love jihad, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should marry an Indian girl and settle down. These were some pieces of advice offered by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and preacher Sadhvi Prachi at a meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a right-wing organisation, in Dehradun […]

2 Mar, 2015

Chinese Commentary: 70 Years Since End of WWII, Time to Reflect on Past, Look to Future

by Xinhua writer Gu Zhenqiu

UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (Xinhua) — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War Thursday, calling upon all United Nations member states not to forget the tremendous sacrifices made and the horrendous atrocities committed during the war. The resolution, adopted by the 193-member General […]

2 Mar, 2015

Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei to benefit from AirAsia ASEAN Pass

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 March 2015 (11 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 […]

1 Mar, 2015

Natural disasters in Asia-Pacific impact some 80 million people – UN study

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BANGKOK, (UNESCAP media release) — In 2014, over half of the world’s 226 natural disasters occurred in the Asia and Pacific region. Although it was a year without a single large-scale catastrophe caused by an earthquake or tsunami, the region experienced severe storms, cross-border floods and landslides, which accounted for 85 percent of all disasters. […]

1 Mar, 2015

Most popular items Chinese tourists buy overseas

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Beijing, 2015-02-27, (Xinhuanet) – Spring Festival is no longer a time solely for family reunions in China as more and more Chinese are traveling abroad during the holiday. Shopping has one of their most important missions during the weeklong vacation. From Japanese electronic toilet seats to Swiss luxury watches, Chinese tourists have been globe-trotting in […]

1 Mar, 2015

Venezuela to sanction U.S officials, require visas for Americans

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CARACAS, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Saturday that his government will deny visas to a number of United States officials whom he called “terrorists”, including former president George W. Bush and senators Marco Rubio and Bob Menendez. Speaking at an anti U.S. rally, Maduro said these measures were taken to ease […]

1 Mar, 2015

Graffiti artist leaves his mark in Israel-leveled Gaza Strip | Arab News

GAZA: World-renowned graffiti artist Banksy has caused a stir in the Gaza Strip, apparently secretly traveling to the Palestinian territory and painting murals on buildings ruined by the latest conflict. The artist, whose prefers anonymity, released an online video entitled “Make this the year YOU discover a new destination,” that purports to show him traveling […]

1 Mar, 2015

How the world’s most famous airline spied on its own staff – The Independent

British Airways paid £1m to hush up the details of a spying operation in which the phones and emails of its own cabin staff were allegedly improperly accessed during a bitter dispute with Britain’s largest union. The payment was made to stop the union, Unite, suing BA over the operation by specialist investigators based at […]