30 Apr, 2015

PATA bottoms out, plans to rebuild chapters as part of U-shaped recovery plan

Imtiaz Muqbil

LESHAN, China – When immediate past PATA Chairman Scott Supernaw opened the Chapters Colloquium at the PATA annual summit on 25 April, he made a stunning public admission. Referring to a restructuring of chapters now under way, he took a page from PATA history, saying, “I personally think we made a mistake that we forced […]

29 Apr, 2015

China’s rapidly growing high-speed rail network boon for tourists

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Beijing, (China Daily) April 04, 2015 – China’s rapidly growing high-speed rail network is making it easier－and cheaper－for tourists to travel around the country. With the growing popularity and development of high-speed rail in China, traveling around the country has become easier for tourists who want to spend less time on trains and more at […]

29 Apr, 2015

CareerBuilder analysis lists guides, masseuses among high-paying non-desk jobs

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CHICAGO, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Millions of Americans earn their living from behind a desk and computer screen, and while that’s a reality only likely to expand over the coming years, hundreds of non-desk jobs continue to grow and thrive, according to a new analysis of labor market data from CareerBuilder. Ninety percent of the […]

27 Apr, 2015

First Central Asia Water Museum opens in Bishkek

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 27 April 2015 (08 Rajab 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 FESTIVALS […]

26 Apr, 2015

Silicon Valley got it wrong: the open-plan office trend is destroying the workplace

By Lindsey Kaufman  A year ago, my boss announced that our large New York ad agency would be moving to an open office. After nine years as a senior writer, I was forced to trade in my private office for a seat at a long, shared table. It felt like my boss had ripped off […]

25 Apr, 2015

Government names 18 ‘Japan Heritage’ sites in tourism drive | The Japan Times

The Cultural Affairs Agency said Friday it has chosen 18 sets of cultural assets spread across more than half of the 47 prefectures to attract more tourists and revitalize communities and economies overshadowed by Japan’s biggest cities. The first batch of so-called Japan Heritage sites includes the well-known Shikoku Henro pilgrimage trail and former educational […]

23 Apr, 2015

Leaked Sony emails reveal Hollywood execs efforts to support Israel – Mondoweiss

Top Hollywood bosses enjoy a strong relationship with the Israeli government and various pro-Israel lobbying groups across the United States, according to a cache of Sony internal emails leaked to Wikileaks and published for the first time last week. The emails reveal a dinner between Sony executives and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the presenter of […]

23 Apr, 2015

Shiv Sena forces cancellation of Pak singer Atif Aslam’s Pune concert – The Hindu

The Shiv Sena has once again forced the cancellation of a concert by Pakistani singer Atif Aslam that was scheduled to be held at Hadapsar in Pune city this Saturday. The Sena has threatened to disrupt the event if it proceeded as per schedule. Confirming the cancellation of the April 25 event, the Anjaneya Sathe […]

20 Apr, 2015

Mumbai: When a great city dies | The Indian Express

Mumbai has an active civic culture of debate and dissent that has enabled it to withstand poor governance and political ineptitude, but violence and intimidation are of a different order and they threaten to completely denude the already shrinking space for democratic processes. Educated young people in the city eschew political engagement precisely for this […]

20 Apr, 2015

Dhaka to host Int’l Conference on Urban Health, May 24-27

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The International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH) 2015 will be held from 24–27 May in Dhaka, Bangladesh under the theme of Urban Health for a Sustainable Future: The Post-2015 Agenda. ICUH is organized on a biannual basis by the International Society for Urban Health as an international forum for information exchange among urban health professionals […]

20 Apr, 2015

Middle East’s largest theater complex to open in Tehran

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 20 April 2015 (01 Rajab 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 FESTIVALS […]

20 Apr, 2015

Two decades after Oklahoma City bombing, the crime still sears workers – The Washington Post

Sunday marked the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The crime still sears federal employees. Timothy McVeigh, an Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was executed for what the FBI called “the worst act of homegrown terrorism in the nation’s history.” Terry Nichols, an Army buddy, […]

20 Apr, 2015

California drought spurs protest over ‘unconscionable’ bottled water business – The Guardian

Californians facing the prospect of endless drought, mandated cuts in water use and the browning of their summer lawns are mounting a revolt against the bottled water industry, following revelations that Nestlé and other big companies are taking advantage of poor government oversight to deplete mountain streams and watersheds at vast profit. An online petition […]

20 Apr, 2015

Report details Australian intellectual property trends

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17 April 2015 (Australian government media release) – Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Science Karen Andrews today released the Australian Intellectual Property Report 2015, a detailed breakdown of the latest intellectual property (IP) trends in Australia. “Intellectual property is a powerful tool for Australia’s economic development and national prosperity, it is a key part of […]

20 Apr, 2015

Australia charts 10-year plan to boost international education, training

Imtiaz Muqbil

Canberra, 20 April 2015, Austrade media release – Austrade, the Australian Government’s international education promotion agency, is holding a series of open workshops across Australia seeking input on future directions for Australia’s international education and training sector. The workshops are part of the AIE 2025 Roadshow and will help develop a long-term market plan, Australian […]

20 Apr, 2015

India’s socio-political fabric faces “twin threats of communalism, neoliberalism” | GulfNews.com

Subhashini Ali, yet another first-time entrant in the politburo was of the view that the party has to strengthen its base by involving people from the backward classes in mass movements. “We must be strong from within by expanding the support base and the best way to do that is to protect the interest of […]

20 Apr, 2015

Alwaleed foundation buys 100 artworks by special-needs children | Arab News

Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation purchased all the 100 artworks that had been put for auction at the “Salman In Their Eyes” exhibition which concluded here on April 16. The three-day exhibition, organized by the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA), was the first of its kind to deliver a message of love and loyalty to the king […]

19 Apr, 2015

In memoriam: Thai tourism and aviation pioneer Chatrachai Bunya-ananta

Imtiaz Muqbil

One of Thailand’s most eminent aviation and tourism pioneers, Mr. Chatrachai Bunya-ananta, the first civilian to become President of Thai Airways International, passed away on April 18 at the age of 82. Ailing for several months with a blood infection, he had been in and out of hospital since December 2014. Mr. Chatrachai was one […]

19 Apr, 2015

Kingfisher fined for ‘duping’ flyers to take low-cost flight – The Times of India

MUMBAI: The problems don’t seem to be ending for Vijay Mallya. Sending a strong signal to all airlines, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on Thursday ordered the defunct Kingfisher Airlines to deposit Rs 25 lakh in the Consumer Welfare Fund of the Government of India as fine for making fliers take the low-cost airline, […]

19 Apr, 2015

China flags another 11.7% budget cut for official travel, transport & receptions

By WANG XIAODONG

Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-04-18 – Government budgets for overseas travel, official vehicles and receptions will be reduced by 11.7 percent this year to promote frugality, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. It said 6.31 billion yuan ($1.03 billion) has been allocated to cover expenses related to these three categories. The budget for government vehicles, […]

18 Apr, 2015

China to blacklist badly-behaved tourists

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Beijing (Xinhua) 2015-04-11 – China is starting to blacklist poorly-behaved tourists as it seeks to rescue the image of its citizens as holidaymakers. According to a regulation by the China National Tourism Administration (NTA) that entered effect this week, tourists will be blacklisted for offences including acting antisocially on public transport, damaging private or public […]

18 Apr, 2015

Asia to benefit from China’s planned Infrastructure Investment Bank

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(Xinhua) 2015-04-04 HANOI — The establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) initiated by China is expected to bring many advantages to the region, said a Vietnamese expert. Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, under Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Academy, made the remark in […]

18 Apr, 2015

Majority of British Parliamentary Candidates Agree Israel’s Gaza Blockade Should Go

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LONDON, April 16, 2015 (WAFA) – British Candidates standing for election to Parliament in May have shown their support for an immediate lifting of Israel’s blockade of Gaza in an email survey co-ordinated by Palestine Solidarity Campaign. In a press release, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign affirmed that more than 670 declared candidates from all major […]

18 Apr, 2015

Muslim sisters of New Zealand citizenship harassed at Brisbane airport

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Christchurch City, New Zealand (IINA) 16 Apr 2015 – Two Christchurch Muslim sisters voiced their outrage after being treated as “a potential threat” at an Australian airport while they were on their way to see their father win a medical award, One News of New Zealand television network TVNZ, reported. Canterbury University student Nada Tawfeek, […]

18 Apr, 2015

Calls for wildlife and forest crime to be treated as serious crime

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 13 April 2015 – Poaching and illicit trafficking of wild fauna and flora have a significant impact on species and entire ecosystems, local communities and their livelihoods, national economies, and national and regional security. On 13 April 2015, UNODC and the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered […]

18 Apr, 2015

India’s National Foundation for Communal Harmony promotes book “Suleiman Charitra”

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New Delhi, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, 09-April-2015 — ‘Suleiman Charitra of Kalyana Malla,’ a book translated from Sanskrit by acclaimed writer and former diplomat Mr A.N.D. Haksar, was launched at a function here today in collaboration with the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH). The classic literature, ‘Suleiman Charitra,’ is a work […]

18 Apr, 2015

China going after escapee corrupt officials abroad

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(China Daily) April 13, 2015 — China’s anti-corruption system is receiving “high-quality” tips from around the world and is ready to take further action to catch more former public officials who have escaped abroad with ill-gotten gains. A senior official from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection told China Daily that the top anti-graft […]

18 Apr, 2015

China to boost railway construction in central, western regions: premier

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CHONGQING, April 11 (Xinhua) — China will speed up railway construction in central and western regions to lend steam to economic growth, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang noted Saturday. Railway construction is crucial to steadying growth, economic restructuring and improving public welfare and China will continue to focus on developing major railway projects in central and […]

18 Apr, 2015

Transparency Int’l report: Unregulated lobbying in Europe opens door to corruption

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15 April 2015, Transparency International Secretariat media release – Transparency International said today that Europe urgently needs lobbying reform. A new report from the anti-corruption group found that of 19 European countries assessed, only 7 have some form of dedicated lobbying law or regulation, allowing for nearly unfettered influence of business interests on the daily […]

18 Apr, 2015

Philippines crafts roadmap to boost handicraft industry – Manila Bulletin

Manila – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP-ISSI) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formulate the “Strategy Roadmap for Gifts, Decors and Houseware Industry” for 2013-2030. During the recent “GDH Gifts, Decors and Houseware Industry Situationer and Workshop”, DTI and UP-ISSI […]

18 Apr, 2015

Grape picking boosts tourism in La Union | Manila Bulletin

Bauang, La Union — Grape picking straight from the vines of a plantation in Barangay Urayong here has been attracting foreign and local tourists in this town thereby contributing to the province’s tourism industry. This town, known as the “Fruit Capital of La Union,” has been promoting various high-grade varieties of fruits like guapples or […]

18 Apr, 2015

Israeli spies learn Quran, Islamic teachings

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Tehran, April 11, IRNA – Israeli security forces have disclosed the regime’s spies are taught the Quran and Islamic ideology, among other things, to help them infiltrate Arab and Muslim communities more easily. Jacob Bieri, a former official with the Israeli spy agency Shin Bet (or Shabak), says the agency’s recruits go through special and […]

18 Apr, 2015

Jewish Fanatic Settlers Storm al-Aqsa Mosque Yards, Assault Female Worshippers

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JERUSALEM, April 12, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers, who stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque yards under Israeli police protection, assaulted on Saturday a number of Palestinian female worshippers, according to witnesses. Witnesses said that Palestinian worshippers were attacked by settlers after attempting to fend off the former’s attempts to tour the yards of the Mosque. Settlers assaulted […]

18 Apr, 2015

No More Excuses on Patriot Act Surveillance Reform | Human Rights Watch

This week, Human Rights Watch took two major steps to challenge the US government’s invasive and unrestrained collection of our personal data. HRW, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sued the US Drug Enforcement Agency for illegally collecting records of our international calls as part of a secret mass surveillance program that has been ongoing […]

18 Apr, 2015

Kuwaitis the world’s fattest people

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KUWAIT, April 12 (NNN-KUNA) — Kuwait tops the world in terms of number of obese people, a health official said Saturday, and noted percentage of people being obese could reach 73. Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs Dr. Qais Al-Duwairi warned against threats posed by heart and brain diseases, and artery blockage which have become very […]

18 Apr, 2015

Direct flight to link China’s Guangzhou with Nairobi

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(Xinhua) NAIROBI, April 16 — A direct air route between China’s Guangzhou and the Kenyan capital Nairobi is set to begin operation in August, the China Southern Airlines said Wednesday. “African countries and China have established strong economic ties. The launch of a direct flight connecting Nairobi and Guangzhou will ease travel and promote trade,” […]

18 Apr, 2015

New security alliance to counter match-fixing and manipulation of sports competitions

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Doha, 15 April 2015 (UNODC PRESS RELEASE) – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has announced a new partnership with UNODC today to help strengthen cross-border investigations and prosecutions into match-fixing and the manipulation of sports competitions. Announced at a high level meeting at the 13th United Nations Crime Congress exploring global data-sharing for […]

18 Apr, 2015

Fighting terrorism by violating human rights will backfire — UN Human Rights experts

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GENEVA (16 April 2015) – Human rights and freedoms should not be sacrificed for political convenience in the fight against terrorism, two United Nations human rights experts have said today. “It is only by strict adherence to international human rights standards that counter-terrorism strategies can ultimately succeed,” said Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion […]

18 Apr, 2015

Work-life balance now an important criteria for Chinese job-seekers

By SHI JING

Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-04-09 – Companies need to take personal concerns into account when advertising for staff, because job hunters in China now think a work-life balance is as important as a higher salary, according to a survey from human resources firm Hudson Global Inc. The Hiring Report 2015 said that 61 percent of the […]

18 Apr, 2015

Israel to Turn Jerusalem Historical School into Synagogue

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JERUSALEM, April 7, 2015 (WAFA) – Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage has warned of Israeli bids advised by the so-called Temple Mount groups to officially turn the historical Tankaziya School, located within al-Aqsa Mosque compound, into a Jewish synagogue. The Israeli authorities turned the school into a synagogue for enlisted soldiers and a military […]

18 Apr, 2015

Palestinian leader: Israel considers itself above the law

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MOSCOW, April 14, 2015 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday slammed Israel’s longstanding policy of deception, saying that it would no longer fool anybody. Speaking at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, which conferred upon him honorary doctorate degree, Abbas stated that the world is still witnessing Israel’s aggression and racism against the Palestinian people […]

18 Apr, 2015

Indonesian Bill on alcohol ban gets secular backing | The Jakarta Post

Lawmakers from secular parties have added their voices to those of their counterparts in Islamic parties in support of a bill prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party respectively the largest party and second- and fourth-largest parties in the House of […]

18 Apr, 2015

Bali tourist areas exempt from beer ban | The Jakarta Post

The Trade Ministry’s new regulation on alcoholic beverages, scheduled to take full effect on Thursday, will not be enforced on Bali as the ministry has decided that tourism areas would be exempted from the ban. On Thursday minimarkets, small vendors and beachside beverage vendors across the country were to stop selling beer. Bali administrations, retail […]

18 Apr, 2015

How to respond to nasty emails – Sydney Morning Herald

Catherine Gerhardt had just launched her business when she received an email so nasty she still hasn’t forgotten it. “It really felt like that person had kicked me in the guts,” she says. “I honestly felt physically unwell – not only when I read the email, but also afterwards as you find you keep mulling […]

18 Apr, 2015

Noam Chomsky: ‘Any reader of Orwell would be perfectly familiar’ with US maneuvers – RT USA

Major American media organizations diligently parrot what US officials want the public to know about global affairs, historian Noam Chomsky told RT. To US leaders, any news outlet that “does not repeat the US propaganda system is intolerable,” he said. The culpability of the West – namely the United States – for world affairs, such […]

18 Apr, 2015

UN to hold high-level interfaith meeting to promote tolerance, counter extremism

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UNITED NATIONS, April 16 (Xinhua) — Top UN officials are scheduled to convene a high-level interfaith meeting next week in order to promote tolerance and fight violent extremism, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced here Thursday. On April 21-22, President of the 69th session of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and High […]

18 Apr, 2015

Lessons of history must be learnt: Transcript of Chinese PM Li Keqiang’s Interview with FT Editor Lionel Barber

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BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhuanet) — On the afternoon of 31 March 2015, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council gave an exclusive interview to Lionel Barber, Editor of the Financial Times, at the Great Hall of the People. The transcript is as follows: Li Keqiang: Good to see you again, Mr. Barber. I recall that […]

18 Apr, 2015

China: Upcoming Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to operate in ‘transparent way’

By ZHENG YANGPENG

Beijing (China Daily) 2015-04-16 – Financial transparency, corporate governance and high standards in top management skills will be the cornerstones of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Already 57 countries have joined the AIIB with South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany and Italy all signing up as founding members. In keeping with such a […]

16 Apr, 2015

Seattle CEO cuts his salary by 90% to pay every worker at least $70,000 – The Independent

A chief executive has announced plans to raise the salary of every single employee at his company to at least $70,000 (£47,000) – and will fund it by cutting his own salary by 90 per cent. Dan Price, the CEO of Seattle-based tech company Gravity Payments, gathered together his 120-strong workforce on Monday to tell […]

16 Apr, 2015

India tops in remittances, receives $70 billion – Hindustan Times

The World Bank has said India continues to be the leading nation in remittances pulling in $70 billion from its global migrant workforce in 2014. World Bank’s study of remittance, the money workers and professionals working in foreign lands send back to their native countries, attributed this mainly to weak economic growth in Europe, deterioration […]

16 Apr, 2015

Re-energised PATA Travel Mart 2015 now a far better deal than ITB Asia

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok — The 2015 PATA Travel Mart to be held in South Indian high-tech metropolis of Bengaluru between Sept 6-8 is set to offer far more value for money than the ITB Asia. A comparison of the rates of the two events shows that the Singapore-based ITB Asia 2015 has more than doubled its basic […]

15 Apr, 2015

Study: Financial-related suicides on the rise in Italy – PressTV

A study by the Link Campus University of Rome has found that financially-motivated suicides have more than doubled in Italy in the last three years. A Link Campus University sociologist says that the number of such suicides were 89 in 2012, 149 in 2013 and 201 in 2014. The study has revealed how suicidal individuals […]

15 Apr, 2015

New tourists’ court in Dubai to hold swift trials for minor crimes | GulfNews.com

Dubai: A new misdemeanours court to handle cases involving tourists will be set up soon to look into minor crimes committed by holidaymakers. It will hold swift trials keeping in mind their visit visa’s expiry date. The Dubai Courts Department [DCD] will set up the new misdemeanour court later this year, said Mohammad Abdul Rahman, […]

15 Apr, 2015

PressTV – US trying to colonize Europe: Russia

Russia’s top lawmaker has accused the United States of trying to colonize Europe through its policies, stating Washington has already put Europe’s military and political spheres under its control and now trade and finance sectors are being targeted. Sergey Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, made the remarks in an article posted […]

15 Apr, 2015

UN rights experts welcome Blackwater sentencing, urge greater accountability for private security

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 14 April 2015 – The outsourcing of national security to private firms creates risks for human rights and accountability, the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries confirmed today as it welcomed the sentencing of four former Blackwater Worldwide personnel for the 2007 killing of 14 unarmed Iraqi […]

15 Apr, 2015

Pakistani novelist shortlisted for Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction – DAWN.COM

Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie of Kartography and Salt and Saffron fame has been shortlisted for the 2015 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel A God in Every Stone. Published in 2014, The Guardian described A God in Every Stone as a story that “follows a young Londoner, Vivian Rose Spencer, from an archaeological […]

15 Apr, 2015

China gets 40-year rights at Pakistani port

By Wang Ting

(chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-04-14 – China has been granted operation rights for 40 years at a port in Gwadar, a strategic deep-water seaport in Pakistan, Hong Kong-based Pheonix TV reported on Tuesday. Infrastructure construction is nearly complete and the port could be put into full use by the end of the year, Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of […]

14 Apr, 2015

State trips cater for Xinjiang pilgrims heading to Mecca

By GAO BO

(China Daily) Updated: 2015-04-14  – Arrangements for Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who wish to take part in State-organized visits to Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage are being enhanced by the local authorities. Aisha Imish, a senior religious leader in Baicheng in the south of the region, participated in one of the […]

14 Apr, 2015

In rich Qatar, an Indian restaurant lets poor eat for free – DAWN.COM

DOHA: In a dusty corner of Qatar’s booming capital, a sign outside a modest restaurant popular with migrant labourers reads: “If you are hungry and have no money, eat for free!!!” Sixteen kilometres (10 miles) from the gleaming glass towers of Doha, one of the richest places on the planet, sits the “Industrial Area” of […]

14 Apr, 2015

Global Post Offices Seek to Redefine Themselves in the Digital Era

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 13 April 2015 – In a message delivered today to delegates at the World Strategy Conference for the United Nations postal agency, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon underlined the essential role to be played by postal services in global efforts to build a sustainable future. “As the world shapes a new sustainable […]

14 Apr, 2015

Shashi Tharoor: Indian decision-making now needs “ok” from PM’s Office – The Hindu

Washington DC — The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi exercises such an extent of control over policy matters that it could be impeding implementation, suggested to Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, who is on a brief visit to the U.S. Speaking at a private event at the World Bank focused on his […]

14 Apr, 2015

Over 20,000 Expected at U.S. Convention to Combat Islamophobia

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(NEW YORK, NY, April 13, 2015) (ICNA media release) – As part of an ongoing campaign, the Islamic Circle of North America will hold a public convention at the Baltimore Convention Center this weekend to combat Islamophobia and highlight the universal message of peace and love by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon […]

14 Apr, 2015

Int’l students promote peace via dance performances | The Jakarta Post

n the spirit of peace and global friendship, around 100 secondary school students from 20 countries around the world introduced their cultures during the International Festival of Language and Culture (ILFC) at Teater Jakarta in the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center on Saturday. The countries comprised Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Australia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Myanmar, […]

14 Apr, 2015

Human Rights Watch: Israeli settlements using and abusing Palestinian child labour

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April 13, 2015, (Jerusalem) HRW media release – Israeli settlement farms in the West Bank are using Palestinian child labor to grow, harvest, and pack agricultural produce, much of it for export, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The farms pay the children low wages and subject them to dangerous working conditions […]

14 Apr, 2015

UN agency unveils new online tool to reduce risks to aircraft in conflict zones

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 13 April 2015 – The United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched a new website issuing warnings about risks to aircraft in conflict zones, which aims to serve as a single source for up-to-date assessments from States and relevant international organizations to reduce risks to civil aviation arising […]

14 Apr, 2015

Toilets in Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing are tops with tourists

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(chinadaily.com.cn/Xinhua) 2015-04-13 – Toilet conditions at tourist attractions need to be improved nationwide, and the cities having the best toilets for tourists are Shanghai, Chongqing and Beijing, according to a survey report released by the China Tourism Academy (CTA) last week. The first quarter, nationwide tourist satisfaction survey by CTA shows that the overall feedback […]

14 Apr, 2015

“Pretties” and children models banned from Shanghai auto show

By Liu Wei

Beijing (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-04-09 -Scantily clad models and children are banned from the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition opening on April 22, the Shanghai Morning Post reported on Thursday. Models at auto shows have often been criticized for causing distractions by wearing fewer and fewer clothes. Pretty women could certainly attract the crowds but prevented […]

13 Apr, 2015

Jakarta To Host 60th Anniversary Asia-Africa Conference April 19

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 13 April 2015 (23 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 […]

12 Apr, 2015

Mobile phone among 5 main causes of Saudi road accidents | Arab News

Use of mobile phones while driving is among the top five causes of accidents in the Kingdom, a Saudi organization that deals with traffic accidents has said. Motorists jumping the signal is another leading cause of mishaps, the figures available with the organization show. This revelation by the organization’s specialist was made following an ordinance […]

12 Apr, 2015

French visa for Indians in 48 hours – Hindustan Times

French President Francois Hollande has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his government’s decision to implement a scheme to issue visa for Indians within 48 hours, besides allowing Indian students to stay on for two more years after completing courses here. The post-study facility for Indian students to gain professional experience was closed in Britain […]

12 Apr, 2015

Mumbai stung by Marathi chauvinism, Hindutva | Gulf News.com

Mumbai/New Delhi: With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) far right social agenda based on Hindu fundamentalism, also called Hindutva, and its hardline ally Shiv Sena sounding the war cry “Maharashtra for Maharashtrians” Mumbai — the glamour and commercial capital of India — is fast losing its sheen. Just two days ago, Shiv Sena workers […]

12 Apr, 2015

Pakistan all set to welcome Sikh pilgrims – DAWN.COM

LAHORE: Around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India intending to participate in the annual Baisakhi festival in Pakistan have so far been issued visas by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. More pilgrims (yatrees) are likely to be issued visas very soon, according to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman. “In addition to this, […]

11 Apr, 2015

American grovelling before Israel reaches new low – Gideon Levy

The top headline of Haaretz in Hebrew on Tuesday should have reverberated in Washington and shocked America. It also should have worried many Israelis. One day it might even be taught in history class in our schools, marking the time that Israel crossed all of the red lines. A headline is only a headline, but […]

11 Apr, 2015

PressTV – Bahrainis stage rallies against F1 race

Anti-regime demonstrators across Bahrain have held massive protest rallies, demanding the cancellation of the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix. On Friday, a large number of protesters took to the streets in several areas across the Persian Gulf kingdom to voice their outrage against the upcoming event. The fresh demonstrations came one week ahead of the […]

11 Apr, 2015

Islamic fashion’s expanding market attracts Sharia financiers | GulfNews.com

London: For Anas Sillwood, a British convert to Islam who moved to Jordan in the 1990s, Sharia-compliant fashion was initially just a way to support himself while he studied Arabic and the religion. Sillwood, who set up Shukr LLC in 2000, says he saw a gap in the market for elegant and modest clothing that […]

11 Apr, 2015

VHP, RSS force Muslim to sell home in Hindu locality | The Indian Express

Barely a year after he bought a bungalow in a predominantly Hindu neighbourhood of Bhavnagar, prompting Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia to ask neighbours not to allow him to move in, a Muslim businessman was forced to sell it off with functionaries of Hindu Right-wing groups brokering the deal. Scrap dealer Aliasgar Zaveri […]

10 Apr, 2015

Pakistani short-film ‘Baat Cheet’ goes to Cannes – DAWN.COM

2015 seems like a good year for Pakistani films because not only are we seeing multiple releases but our short-films are also hitting the right chords. Director Rayika Choudri’s short-film Baat Cheet is on its way to be screened at the 68th Cannes Film Festival held annually in the French city of Cannes. The ten-minute […]

9 Apr, 2015

California man charged in global child sex case – The Independent

A federal grand jury last week charged a California man with child sexual-exploitation crimes after investigators allegedly found hundreds of explicit images of underage children on the man’s laptop. Blake Robert Johnston, from Martinez, California, now faces charges of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, online coercion, sexual exploitation involving […]

9 Apr, 2015

Robert Reich: How Big Money Is Buying Off Criticism of Big Money – Truthdig

Not long ago I was asked to speak to a religious congregation about widening inequality. Shortly before I began, the head of thecongregation asked that I not advocate raising taxes on the wealthy. He said he didn’t want to antagonize certain wealthycongregants on whose generosity the congregation depended. I had a similar exchange last year […]

9 Apr, 2015

Ex-greats call for promoting sports culture in Pakistan – DAWN.COM

LAHORE: A number of renowned international players attended a grand function arranged by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace at a local hotel on Monday night where they urged the need to promote sporting culture in the country. Hockey Olympians Tariq Aziz, Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary, […]

9 Apr, 2015

World Bank: Israeli Restrictions Prevent Development of Palestinian Energy Sector

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JERUSALEM, April 8, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli restrictions have prevented construction of power network in large parts of West Bank (Area C, 60% of the West Bank), and the absence of peace and stability continues to discourage private investment in the sector, Wednesday announced the World Bank in a press statement on the electricity and […]

9 Apr, 2015

Wiping Palestine Off the Map: Israel Seizes More Land for Settlement Expansion in Hebron

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HEBRON, April 8, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday took over a thousand dunums of Palestinian-owned land located between the towns of Beit Ummar and Beit Fajjar in the Hebron district for the benefit of settlement expansion, according to a local activist. Anti-settlement activists in Beit Ummar, Yousif Abu Maryya, informed WAFA that Israeli forces […]

9 Apr, 2015

Pak ghazal singer Ghulam Ali to perform at Varanasi temple — Hindustan Times

Renowned Pakistani ghazal singer Ustad Ghulam Ali will be performing at a music festival in Varanasi beginning April 8. The event will take place at the ancient Sankat Mochan temple. This is the first time a Pakistani artiste will be performing in the temple premises. Wishing that he could be present at the festival, Prime […]

9 Apr, 2015

US may have lost its role as the world’s economic leader: Lawrence Summers

Tehran, April 8, IRNA – An American economic expert stressed that the end may have come for the US as the world’s economic leader. Larry Summers who used to serve as an Obama economic adviser from 2009 through 2010 wrote in Business Insider that “this past month may be remembered as the moment the United […]

9 Apr, 2015

U.S. H1-B visa application cap reached within 5 days – The Times of India

NEW YORK: The US said it has reached the cap for the much-coveted H-1B work visas for 2016 within the first five days for the third consecutive year and will now conduct a lottery system to allocate the visas highly popular among IT professionals from countries like India. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) […]

9 Apr, 2015

At thematic debate, UN chief urges efficient private sector funding for post-2015 development

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 8 April 2015 – The international community needs a financial framework capable of confronting the multifaceted crises of the day in a predictable and effective manner if it is to delineate a successful post-2015 sustainable development agenda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon confirmed. Delivering the opening remarks to the UN […]

9 Apr, 2015

Swiss commodity multinationals face transparency pressure at UNCTAD conference

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Geneva, 8 April 2015 (UNCTAD media release) – Representatives from the Swiss Government, individual trading companies and transparency advocates will discuss the current lack of publicly available information about commodity trading in Switzerland at UNCTAD’s sixth annual Global Commodities Forum at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 13–14 April 2015. The Forum continues a […]

9 Apr, 2015

People leaving UK face tighter passport checks – The Independent

Passport checks on people leaving Britain are coming into force. People arriving in the port of Dover will have their passports scanned and exit checks will be made on cross-Channel and Channel Tunnel travellers. Exit checks were dropped in 1998 but were re-introduced as part of a new system in the Immigration Act 2014. The […]

9 Apr, 2015

PATA CEO steps up to the plate, denounces racial profiling in travel

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Mario Hardy has become the first head of a major international travel organisation to speak out against the scourge of racial profiling in the travel & tourism industry. Writing in his April 8 blog headlined “Ambassadors for Tourism, for good and for peace…”, Mr Hardy said, “Today, I […]

7 Apr, 2015

Chinese attractions slash entrance fees to bring in tourists

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NANCHANG, April 5 (Xinhua) — The Lushan Conference Hall, where Mao Zedong convened a historic meeting in 1959, exemplifies one of the late communist leader’s theories: whoever wins the people wins the war. The site at scenic Lushan Mountain, Jiangxi Province, has just reversed the tide in its battle for visitors. Last year, it received […]

7 Apr, 2015

Survey: U.S. College Student Loan Amounts, Financial Stress Levels on the Rise

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–April 02, 2015 – The third-year results of Money Matters on Campus, a survey of 43,000 college students across the U.S., show that students are taking out more and larger student loans, yet report feeling less prepared to manage their money than any other aspect of college life. Further, though students reported a higher […]

7 Apr, 2015

Drought-hit California launches public education campaign to cut water use by 25%

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. April 02, 2015 –(BUSINESS WIRE)–On the heels of Governor Jerry Brown’s announcement yesterday of the first-ever statewide mandatory water reductions, Save Our Water – California’s conservation education program – is launching Keep Saving CA, a statewide public education campaign to help Californians make lasting and permanent reductions in the amount of water they […]

7 Apr, 2015

On International Day, UN underlines role of sport in promoting development, peace

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 6 April 2015 – On the second annual International Day of Sport for Development and Peace today, top United Nations officials stressed the important role that sport can play in achieving sustainable progress and change. “Sport has the power to help develop the potential of individuals, communities and nations,” said […]

7 Apr, 2015

11 Ways The Cricket World Cup Can Make the World a Better Place

Imtiaz Muqbil

The recent Cricket World Cup competition in Australia and New Zealand was watched by more than two billion people worldwide. Amidst the sporting frenzy and the heavy-duty competitive pressure, there was much to learn. Constructive, well-meaning competition is good for the system. Although all tournaments must end with only one winner, they are accompanied by […]

6 Apr, 2015

Islamic Yoga boosts Energy, Happiness and Health

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 06 April 2015 (17 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 FESTIVALS 2015 […]

3 Apr, 2015

12-year-old Muslim girl from Mumbai wins Bhagwad Gita contest – Hindustan Times

A 12-year-old Muslim girl, studying in class six of a Mira Road school in Mumbai, secured the first place in a Bhagwad Gita competition organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) last month. Mariyam Asif Siddiqui, a student of Cosmopolitan High School in Mira Road, won the contest from among 4,500 students who […]

2 Apr, 2015

International Criminal Court welcomes Palestine as State Party to the Rome Statute

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 1 April 2015 – The International Criminal Court (ICC) welcomed the Palestine as the 123rd State Party to its founding Rome Statute today, in a ceremony held at the seat of the Court in The Hague in The Netherlands. “Accession to a treaty is, of course, just the first step,” […]

2 Apr, 2015

Air disaster by German suicide-pilot elevates importance of treating mental ill-health in workplace

Imtiaz Muqbil

The Germanwings air-disaster triggered by an alleged suicide-pilot came just weeks after the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report highlighting the impact of mental ill-health on communities, companies and countries. Whereas the report’s primary focus was on economic impact and productivity, the human-life cost of the aviation disaster has elevated […]

1 Apr, 2015

China-funded Mekong bridge, road build hope for better local lives in northeast Cambodia

By Xue Lei and Li Hong

STUNG TRENG, Cambodia, April 1, (Xinhua)  — Spanning the Mekong River in far northeastern Cambodia, the newly-built 1.73-km Mekong bridge, along with a 143-km road, have raised hope for better living conditions of residents in this far northeastern region.The bridge and road, linked Stung Treng province’s rural parts and its provincial town, are crucial for […]

1 Apr, 2015

Why economic sanctions on Russia don’t work | The Japan Times

The Western approach to Russia is predicated on the supposition that continued pressure on the country will cause President Vladimir Putin’s regime to make concessions or even crumble. Nothing could be further from the truth. The assumption underlying the efficacy of Western sanctions is that the sharp economic deterioration that results from them will turn […]