Author Archive
14 Nov, 2014
It’s the geopolitics, stupid: ETC reports analyse impact of Ukraine standoff on Russian travel
Russian outbound travel to Europe has taken a hit in the wake of the geopolitical standoff over Ukraine and is likely to end the year with 1.2 million fewer visitors than last year. At the same time, travel from Europe and the United States to Russia has also suffered, according to a report by the […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Ex-Tourism Authority of Thailand chief to be charged with bribery – The Nation
Bangkok – THE NATIONAL Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has declared that it will file charges against former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Juthamas Siriwan, who has been accused of accepting bribes from Hollywood filmmakers. The charges will go to the Office of the Attorney-General in the next few weeks. The process of filing charges began […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Paedophile hunters: the vigilantes taking the law into their own hands – The Guardian
The pair of underage girls groomed for sex by a 50-year-old paedophile, Peter Mitchell, could not attend his sentencing at Derby crown court on Tuesday for one simple reason: they did not exist. The satisfaction of justice was instead enjoyed by a middle-aged married couple who have become the latest in a wave of vigilante […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Who will support people who are ageing without children? – theguardian.com
By 2030, 2 million people are predicted to be over 65 without adult children, according to a 2014 report. This represents a huge demographic shift: approximately a quarter of people will get older without ever having had children. It’s astonishing that such a shift in society has been almost completely ignored in ageing debates. So […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Palestine Signs US$3m Gaza Rubble Removal Agreement with Sweden
RAMALLAH, November 12, 2014 – (WAFA) – Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah signed on Wednesday a funding agreement with Sweden for the removal of rubble in the Gaza Strip. A three million dollars agreement was signed by Swedish Consul-General in Jerusalem Ann-Sofia Nilsson and UNPD Representative Frode Mauring at the Prime Minister’s Office in Ramallah to […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Former UK extremist denounces right-wing group as ‘disgusting’ – The Independent
A former member of extreme right-wing group Britain First who had a change of heart and left has branded the organisation’s latest actions “disgusting” – and visited two mosques to apologise. Matthew Lester, 26, who joined Britain First six months ago, spoke out to The Independent and condemned Paul Golding’s actions yesterday when he threatened […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Banks fined £2.6bn, leaving London’s reputation in tatters – The Independent
In one of the darkest days in the histories of the City and Wall Street, six major banks were have been fined a total of £2.6bn by regulators. A seventh, Barclays, is still in talks over the size of its penalty. The punishments came after an inquiry by watchdogs in Britain, the US and Switzerland […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
What you’re not being told about US-China climate deal – The Independent
China and the US, the two biggest polluters in the world, have been secretly negotiating for nine months to agree what Barack Obama has dubbed a “historic” deal on reducing carbon emissions. The US has pledged to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2025 compared to 2005 levels and China pledged to reduce their […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Australia falls behind in battle for Chinese tourists, TripAdvisor suggests
November 13, 2014 – Australia ranks just 17th on the list of the most popular international destinations for Chinese travellers despite our big push to attract them, according to new data from TripAdvisor. Data based on page views recorded on daodao.com – TripAdvisor’s official website in China – between September 2013 and September 2014 found […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
Mecca under threat: Outrage at plan to destroy the ‘birthplace’ of the Prophet Mohamed and replace it with luxury malls – The Independent
The site in Mecca where the Prophet Mohamed is said to have been born is about to be “buried under marble” and replaced by a huge royal palace. The work is part of a multibillion-pound construction project in the holy city which has already resulted in the destruction of hundreds of historic monuments. The project, […]
more…13 Nov, 2014
90 days without mobile helps man beat stress | GulfNews.com
DUBAI: So how long in this day and age can you live without a mobile phone? A few minutes or a few hours at best or worst (depending on how you look at it)? Here’s a man who’s lived without a mobile phone for an incredible 90 days at a stretch after accidentally breaking his […]
more…11 Nov, 2014
The Truth About the Wars – NYTimes.com
By DANIEL P. BOLGER AS a senior commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, I lost 80 soldiers. Despite their sacrifices, and those of thousands more, all we have to show for it are two failed wars. This fact eats at me every day, and Veterans Day is tougher than most. As veterans, we tell ourselves it […]
more…11 Nov, 2014
China Voice: Asia-Pacific region needs ’new rebalancing’
BEIJING, Nov. 10, (Xinhua) — After two years of absence, U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Beijing Monday morning for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Besides the meeting, he will pay a state visit to China, the first since his re-election. China has welcomed his presence. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei […]
more…11 Nov, 2014
How TravelRave and ITB Asia are dumbing down the travel industry
Singapore : When Ms Neeta Lachmandas-Sakellariou, Assistant Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board, addressed the opening press conference of ITB Asia on Oct 29, she dwelt extensively on the opportunities of a booming Asia-Pacific tourism industry, as well as the challenges. She made no mention of any threats. Not that she, a well-trained Singapore […]
more…10 Nov, 2014
Singer Yusuf Islam Launches Autobiography on his Spiritual Journey
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 10 November 2014 (17 Muharram 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]
more…9 Nov, 2014
Blair’s secret cash-for-contacts deal with Saudis | The Sunday Times
TONY BLAIR secured a secret contract with an oil company founded by a senior member of the Saudi royal family for a fee of £41,000 a month and a 2% commission on any of the multimillion-pound deals he helped broker, a leaked document reveals. The contract agreed in November 2010 between Tony Blair Associates (TBA) […]
more…9 Nov, 2014
Map: The countries that recognize Palestine as a state – The Washington Post
Last week, Sweden became the 135th member of the United Nations to officially recognize Palestine as an independent state. The act sparked a tetchy diplomatic incident with Israel, which WorldViews discussed here. On the ground, a separate, viable Palestinian state is far from a reality. Israel occupies the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and it […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
Starwood Capital cited in exposé of Multinational Companies’ Secret Tax Deals in Luxembourg
By Leslie Wayne, Kelly Carr, Marina Walker Guevara, Mar Cabra and Michael Hudson November 5, 2014 – Pepsi, IKEA, FedEx and 340 other international companies have secured secret deals from Luxembourg, allowing many of them to slash their global tax bills while maintaining little presence in the tiny European duchy, leaked documents show. These companies […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
Thousands Call on World Music Institute to Cancel Concert by Israeli “Ambassador” Idan Raichel
NEW YORK, November 6, 2014 (WAFA) – In a public letter, over 4,000 individuals and 50 groups from around the world called on the New York-based World Music Institute (WMI) to cancel their presentation of a concert by Israeli musician Idan Raichel on November 18 at New York City’s Symphony Space, said Adalah-NY, the New […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
Perilous Journey: India’s road to ultra-populism – The Hindu
The making and the public screening of “Haider” as a mainstream film was unexpected for observers of the contemporary Indian polity, at this time of a surge in Hindutva-spiked nationalism. Top-line cinematographers, stars, lyricists and promoters participated in a production that questioned New Delhi’s record in the Kashmir Valley, with onscreen characters even challenging the […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
The humanitarian tragedy I saw in Gaza – By Inger Andersen, The World Bank
Last week, I visited the Palestinian territories. I wanted to hear firsthand from the people of Gaza and understand the scope and magnitude of the recent conflict. I am now back from Gaza with a prevailing feeling of disbelief and sadness. Throughout my career at the World Bank, and at the United Nations or even […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
Ten easy steps to happier living – theguardian.com
We’re constantly bombarded with messages about what makes for a good life. Advertisers tell us it comes from owning and consuming their products. The media associate it with wealth, beauty or fame. And politicians claim that nothing matters more than growing the economy. But do any of these things really bring lasting happiness? For thousands […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
Aquino makes travel to BIMP-EAGA tax free – Manila Bulletin
November 7, 2014 – Effective immediately, people travelling from Mindanao and Palawan to countries in the East ASEAN Growth Area (EAGA) will no longer pay travel tax. This was made possible by President Aquino who signed Memorandum Order No. 73 reinstating the travel tax exemption for air and sea travel to any destination within the […]
more…7 Nov, 2014
UK spies admit eavesdropping on lawyer-client communications – The Independent
MI5 and GCHQ have for years operated a policy allowing their staff to intercept communications between lawyers and their clients and use the legally protected material “like any other intelligence”, according to documents released today. The Government has for months resisted legal attempts by two Libyan victims of rendition to force it to disclose whether […]
more…5 Nov, 2014
Japan’s rich Muslim past and present – Al Jazeera English
Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Camii, or the Tokyo Mosque, is a curious sight, both stunning and subtle. Despite the grand Turkish design, the mosque hides between apartment blocks in the quiet residential neighbourhood of Yoyogi Uehara. Construction of the current incarnation of the mosque was completed in 2000, but the mosque has a much longer […]
more…5 Nov, 2014
BBC News – Chinese anti-corruption drive hits Macau casino revenue
Macau’s casinos have recorded their worst monthly revenue performance on record as China continues its anti-corruption drive. Total casino revenue fell by 23.2% in October from a year earlier, the worst result since the city started recording the data in 2005. Macau’s gaming authority said total revenue was 28bn Macau patacas ($3.5bn; £2.19bn) for the […]
more…5 Nov, 2014
Hindu right rewriting Indian textbooks – Al Jazeera English
Ahmedabad, Gujarat – You cannot blame Bhavana Vaja, 12, for telling you that the first aeroplane was invented during the mythical Dvapara Yuga, when the Hindu God Ram flew from Sri Lanka to Ayodhya in India with his wife Sita and brother Laxman in a Pushpaka Vimana – a swan-shaped chariot of flowers. By claiming […]
more…4 Nov, 2014
105 Israeli ex-generals, spy chiefs call on Netanyahu to make peace with Palestinians — RT News
The largest-ever protest by Israeli top brass has taken place, with at least 105 retired generals and intelligence chiefs writing a letter to premier Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to “initiate a diplomatic process” for peace with Palestine. “We, the undersigned, reserve IDF commanders and retired police officers, who have fought in Israel’s military campaigns, know […]
more…4 Nov, 2014
Flashback: Historic reports, speeches show how a Jewish terrorist destroyed Middle East peace and tourism
Today, 4 November, marks 19 years since a Jewish fundamentalist fanatic terrorist named Yigal Amir assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the man who took a small step towards making peace with the Palestinians. Rabin is pictured below shaking hands with former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at the September 1993 signing of the framework agreement, […]
more…4 Nov, 2014
Britain’s new electronic spy chief says US tech giants aid terror — RT UK
Robert Hannigan, the new director of GCHQ, has accused US technology companies of being “in denial” about how their services are used as “command and control” networks by terrorists, calling on them to cooperate more with intelligence agencies. Hannigan’s remarks, published in an opinion piece for the Financial Times (FT) on Monday, reflect growing tension […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
Luxury train pulls into Tehran amid Western tourism push
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 03 November 2014 (10 Muharram 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE Malaysian […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
The two faces of Mr. Modi – The Hindu
By Karan Thapar No doubt many Hindus share Mr. Modi’s assumption that in prehistoric mythological times India had mastered genetic science and plastic surgery. As individuals they are free to believe what they want. But for the Prime Minister of India to proclaim this belief as fact — and that too at the inauguration of […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
Spain imposes ‘Google Tax’ – The Hindu
The Spanish government has successfully passed a new copyright law which imposes fees for online content aggregators such as Google News, in an effort to protect its print media industry. The new intellectual property law, known popularly as the “Google Tax” or by its initials LPI, requires services which post links and excerpts of news […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
Is music important at work? — Sydney Morning Herald
“I need the radio, bloody right, I couldn’t face this place without it.” The place referred to in that sentence is a workplace and the owner of the sentiment is an employee. It’s an opinion shared by others, too, such as his colleague who remarked: “You’ve got to have it to keep alive.” Those potent […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
Anti-terror laws undermine democracy – Sydney Morning Herald
October 2014 will go down as the month in which the federal Parliament made some of its greatest ever inroads into freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Ironically, this occurred only weeks after our politicians extolled the virtues of these freedoms in the debate over section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. It […]
more…3 Nov, 2014
India’s NextGen “Whistleblower” tactic to deter open defecation – The Hindu
In a bid to check the practice of open defecation, a social experiment will soon be started in villages of Indore division where children will blow a loud whistle to embarrass those who defecate in public. The State government is planning to set up groups of schoolchildren to take part in the campaign. “Under this […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
Britons find going to work more stressful than ever, poll reveals – The Independent
Britons find their jobs more stressful, precarious and demanding than ever before, according to an extensive poll of experiences of the workplace published exclusively by The Independent on Sunday. Two thirds of employed people say that the amount of work they are expected to do has grown over the past few years, and more than […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
Indian state drops colonial-era names of 12 cities – Hindustan Times
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday announced changes to the names of 12 cities in the State on the occasion of the 58th Kannada Rajyotsava or founding day of Karnataka. Colonial-era names have been replaced with Kannada ones; Bangalore is now Bengaluru and the bitterly contested district of Belgaum has become Belagavi. In the 57 years […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
Telangana chief minister accuses Modi government of bias – The Times of India
HYDERABAD: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday charged the Narendra Modi-led central government of bias against the state. The chief minister alleged that the Centre is not cooperating with Telangana in the implementation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. He also reiterated that the Andhra Pradesh government is denying Telangana its due share […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
Indian women want vacations without kids: Survey – Hindustan Times
As per a survey done by an Indian travel web site, a majority of Indian women thought going on a vacation with kids meant less personal time with spouse and that it was a major dampener. The survey, by Happytrips.com, was spread across Karnataka, Maharashtra and Delhi NCR with a sample size of 1,000 females […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
40% of Abu Dhabi teens are fat | GulfNews.com
Abu Dhabi: Despite the implementation of a number of school-based health programmes, educational institutions in the emirate of Abu Dhabi still lack a comprehensive health strategy that addresses all current challenges, a senior educational official has said. As a result, about 60 per cent of teenage boys in Abu Dhabi schools are bullied one or […]
more…2 Nov, 2014
At Israel’s airport, what it’s like to be racially profiled – Haaretz
By Khaled Diab My European passport and Arab name are not news to the Israeli authorities. But the hostile treatment I recently encountered at Ben-Gurion Airport made me wonder not about Israel’s security – but its insecurities. Read the rest: At Israel’s airport, what it’s like to be racially profiled – Opinion Israel News | […]
more…1 Nov, 2014
Chinese austerity drive sees 25% of govt meetings cancelled
Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-10-30 – China’s government departments have canceled 586,000 unnecessary meetings amid the “mass-line” campaign that aims to improve work style and get close to the people, Xinhua News Agency reported. The canceled meetings account for about a quarter of the 2.38 million conferences held annually by government departments, Xinhua reported on Tuesday. […]
more…1 Nov, 2014
Supreme Court issues notice to Gujarat govt on farmers suicide case | The Indian Express
Acting on a petition that, among other prayers, seeks compensation of Rs 5 lakhs for the families of 692 farmers who reportedly committed suicide in Gujarat between January 2003 and October 2012, a bench of Supreme Court issued notice to Gujarat Government directing it to file reply in four weeks. The petitioner group has been […]
more…31 Oct, 2014
Impatience creeps in, aspiring India stressed and dissatisfied – Hindustan Times
Sort through the noise and fury that characterise modern Indian politics and three things emerge. First, the Congress-led UPA government was a bastion of old-style, slow-moving government. Many of its constituents were either corrupt or condoned corruption — for whatever reason: Patronage, personal profit or the cost of coalition. Second, as recently available statistics reveal, […]
more…31 Oct, 2014
Post-tsunami history lesson: How ancient wisdom helped save an Aceh village
Banda Aceh, Indonesia — When Rahmadhani Sulaiman, Director of Programming and Planning at the Aceh Tourism & Culture Office, narrates the story of the 26 Dec 2004 tsunami to visitors, he highlights the wisdom of the word “Smong07”. It is what saved the islanders of Simeulue, around 200 kilometers off the western coast of Aceh Province. Although […]
more…28 Oct, 2014
RSS body seeks to prove Indian Muslims are Hindus – Hindustan Times
An RSS-backed organisation of genealogists is undertaking an ambitious academic exercise to prove that most Muslims in India are converts from Hinduism, a move that has met with robust scepticism from some social scientists and Islamic scholars. The Akhil Bharatiya Vanshawali Sanrakshan evum Samvardhan Sansthan ABVSSS says it will use oral interviews, historical records, genetic […]
more…27 Oct, 2014
Welcome aboard Israel’s apartheid bus – Haaretz
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has instructed that Palestinian laborers be prohibited from using Israeli public transportation to travel between their homes in the West Bank and work in Israel. According to the report by Chaim Levinson in Haaretz on Sunday, Palestinian laborers will not be allowed to board buses traveling directly between central Israel and […]
more…27 Oct, 2014
Saudi King Orders Free Treatment For Disabled People
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 27 October 2014 (03 Muharram 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE Malaysian handicraft […]
more…26 Oct, 2014
Bringing Western Depocrisy to Hong Kong
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), October 21, 2014 – The Western media have secured their prize. Just as it seemed that the Hong Kong Occupy demonstrations were about to peter out, evidence emerged that one of the protestors had been detained and beaten by police. The officers accused have been suspended, and an investigation is under […]
more…26 Oct, 2014
Ecuador’s FM Patino on global corporations: Transnational misconduct must end — RT Op-Edge
Transnational corporations have abused their privileges leading to “an unprecedented level of social and environmental injustice,” said Ecuador’s FM Ricardo Patino in his article calling on all nations to hold such companies accountable for their actions: Ecuador has undergone a profound social, economic and political transformation over the past seven years, prioritizing the needs and […]
more…26 Oct, 2014
Putin: The US is to blame for almost all the world’s major conflicts – The Independent
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the US of undermining global stability, and warned that the world will face new wars if Washington does not respect the interests of other nations. During a speech in the Russian city of Sochi, the President argued that while Moscow does not see Washington as a threat US foreign […]
more…26 Oct, 2014
Bloodied and crumbling sculptures installed in destroyed Gaza neighbourhood – The Independent
Broken, crumbling and splattered with “blood”, these haunting sculptures have been made by an artist in Gaza to show the pain of conflict. The 50-day war between Israel and Hamas earlier this year left more than 2,200 people dead and razed thousands of homes in the narrow strip to the ground. Most of the casualties […]
more…26 Oct, 2014
When lies and half-truths rule the Washington op-ed pages, danger lurks — RT Op-Edge
In the West, Russian media is often accused of propaganda. If this really is the aim of the Russian press, they aren’t remotely as good at it as the Washington Post. Let’s talk about propaganda and the Western media’s use of ‘star’ columnists to spout it. Let’s, especially, focus on when that vitriol is deliberately […]
more…25 Oct, 2014
Modi’s Idea of India – NYTimes.com
Mr. Modi doesn’t seem to know that India’s reputation as a “golden bird” flourished during the long centuries when it was allegedly enslaved by Muslims. A range of esteemed scholars — from Sheldon Pollock to Jonardon Ganeri — have demonstrated beyond doubt that this period before British rule witnessed some of the greatest achievements in […]
more…25 Oct, 2014
Is India truly secular or are we boxing Muslims into a corner? – Hindustan Times
Some of the language used by the MIM supporters and candidates creating a new state constituency of the Muslim-Right mirrored the swipes at “pseudo-secularism” first fashioned by the Hindu-Right on the opposite side of the trenches. Waris Pathan, the advocate-turned-legislator from Byculla, dismissed what he called the performance of the “so called secular parties”. Muslims […]
more…25 Oct, 2014
21 countries sign up as founding members of Asia’s first infrastructure bank
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-10-24 – A milestone agreement for the structure of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been reached, with 21 Asian countries, including India, stepping forward as founding members. An intergovernmental memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday morning, opening the way for the formal establishment of the China-proposed financial body that will […]
more…24 Oct, 2014
In Pictures: Aceh Marks 10 Years Since One of the World’s Worst Natural Disasters
Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Ten years after the Dec 26, 2004, which devastated huge swathes of coastline and the city of Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Indonesia, the city is hosting its first travel show, the Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo. Attended by 60 buyers from 18 countries and 60 sellers from various parts […]
more…23 Oct, 2014
Pollution choking China’s inbound tourism industry
Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-10-22 – China’s inbound tourism market is still struggling to bounce back in the midst of rising concerns about issues such as air pollution, according to a new report from the China Tourism Academy. The number of inbound tourists reached 129.08 million in 2013, down 2.51 percent year-on-year, the report said. About […]
more…23 Oct, 2014
Chinese commentary: Out of the Global New Normal – New G7 vs Old G7
Gao Yinan (People’s Daily Online), October 20, 2014 – There is a strong possibility that the seven new emerging market economies are surpassing the seven old industrial countries. The total GDP of Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico, Indonesia, and Turkey will exceed the total of the old Group of Seven. New Normal is a term in […]
more…23 Oct, 2014
Israel Denies Palestinians Construction Permits, Demolishes Homes in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM, October 21, 2014 (WAFA) – The Israeli authorities Tuesday demolished three Palestinian homes in addition to three animal sheds in the Jerusalem district neighborhood of al-Tour, under the pretext of construction without a permit, according to local sources. The three houses, made of tinplate, shelter the Bedouin family of Zara’i residing in East Jerusalem, […]
more…23 Oct, 2014
EU warns Israel not to cross “red lines” in West Bank
JERUSALEM, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) has demarcated “red lines” for Israel regarding its settlement policy in the West Bank, warning Israel not to make moves that would jeopardize the creation of a Palestinian state, the Ha’aretz daily reported Wednesday. Following a series of controversial moves by the Israeli government in recent […]
more…23 Oct, 2014
How Barcelona’s homeless are guiding tourists round the city’s underbelly | theguardian.com
Juan knows Barcelona’s downtown very well; he has spent four years sleeping rough on its streets. An incident with drugs had brought about his deportation from Germany, where he was subsequently banned from living or working for a decade. The Andalusian found himself all alone, back in a country that was no less strange despite […]
more…21 Oct, 2014
Israeli society sick with violence – country’s president — RT News
Israel is suffering from an epidemic of violence that must be treated, the country’s President Reuven Rivlin said. After the latest bloody conflict in Gaza, Jews and Arabs seem to have lost the capacity for dialogue, as relations have reached a new low. “It is time to honestly admit that Israeli society is sick – […]
more…21 Oct, 2014
Philippines President: Never allow mankind to suffer horrors of war | Manila Bulletin
President Aquino called on wartime allies and erstwhile foes to commit to peace and never allow mankind to suffer the same terrors and losses yesterday during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Leyte Gulf Landing in Palo. “Beyond cataloguing the horrors of war, let us honor the peace that has reigned among […]
more…21 Oct, 2014
Why and how has multicultural India become racist? – Hindustan Times
On October 15, Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a 26-year-old Manipuri youth, was attacked by a mob and asked to speak in Kannada in Bangalore. He was reminded during the scuffle that he ‘was not in China, but India’. The very next day, in Delhi’s Sikanderpur area, two Naga youths were mercilessly thrashed with cricket bats and […]
more…20 Oct, 2014
Jeddah Mosque Becomes Disabled-Friendly
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 20 October 2014 (26 Dhul Ḥijjah 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]
more…20 Oct, 2014
In Pictures: Rising-star Thai designers showcase Thainess products to hospitality sector
Bangkok – The power of travel & tourism as a multi-sectoral job-creator and conduit for artistic innovation has taken another giant leap forward with the first exhibition organised in Thailand to bring together buyers in the global hospitality sector with sellers in the rapidly-emerging Thai design sector. Senior executives of hotels, spas, restaurants, cruise ships, […]
more…19 Oct, 2014
Why people in the UK are dying from lack of healthcare
London, 13 October, 2014, (Doctors of the World media release) – What comes to mind when you think of the UK? Perhaps cricket, rain, a sense of history, culture, somewhere with sturdy, progressive values. It’s not a place where heavily pregnant women who desperately need healthcare can’t get it. It’s not somewhere where some of […]
more…19 Oct, 2014
Global War Against Russia Takes New Turn – China Attacks Australian Coal, Favours Russian Coal
By John Helmer, Moscow Last Thursday the government in Beijing struck a new blow against the domination of global commodity markets by countries allied with the US in the sanctions war against Russia. The measure announced is a 3% to 6% tariff to be imposed on coal imports to China, commencing on October 15. Australia, […]
more…19 Oct, 2014
For the first time, China pushes disability issues at Asia-Europe Summit
MILAN, Italy, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) — For the first time disability was included in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) agenda, as common work on this issue was at the center of a meeting held in Milan on Saturday on the sidelines of the high-level dialogues among leaders from the two continents. China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) […]
more…19 Oct, 2014
Don’t trust the authorities on metadata: Greens – Sydney Morning Herald
Western Australia senator Scott Ludlam has labelled Attorney-General George Brandis “weak” and told Australians not to trust the government and law enforcement agencies when it comes to trawling through their metadata. “We should not trust authorities, we should not automatically trust the police,” the Greens senator said at a privacy forum in Melbourne on Friday.”We […]
more…16 Oct, 2014
How Israel relies on Islamophobia – Mondoweiss
In the latest edition of “Axis of Evil” politics Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued to the United Nations on September 29th that “Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas,” and that they are following the path blazed by Iran 35 years ago. The Prime Minister in the process exposed the mutual relationship between Zionism and […]
more…16 Oct, 2014
Opposition grows in Australia to storage of photo and biometric data – Sydney Morning Herald
Photographs of millions of Australians will be stored by the Immigration Department, and this “biometric data” gathering could extend to fingerprinting and iris scanning under the Abbott government’s controversial counterterrorism laws. The “foreign fighters” bill means there will be a major expansion of facial recognition imaging of Australians passing through international airports in a crackdown […]
more…16 Oct, 2014
Islam, Muslims and the cheap politics of fear – Sydney Morning Herald
Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s dog-whistle politics have once more brought the “question” of Hizb ut-Tahrir to the table of public debate. It is unfortunate that discussion about Islam and Muslims only finds traction when politicians decide to use them in the cheap politics of fear. The result is that discussion about these matters only seriously […]
more…16 Oct, 2014
Deadly Alliances Against Muslims – NYTimes.com
Last week, Mr. Gnanasara claimed he was in discussions “at a high level” with the right-wing Indian Hindu group Rashtriya Swayam Sevak to form what he called a “Hindu-Buddhist peace zone” in South Asia. A Rashtriya Swayam Sevak spokesman, Ram Madhav, promptly denied that there were any such discussions. But Mr. Madhav, now general secretary […]
more…15 Oct, 2014
In $25 bn deal, IndiGo orders 250 aircraft from Airbus | The Indian Express
Even as Air India and several private carriers in India continue to count losses, IndiGo Airlines on Wednesday announced an agreement with Airbus for 250 planes worth over $25 billion (Rs 1,55,000 crore), to be delivered over seven years beginning 2018. In what is being termed as the biggest order (in terms of aircraft numbers) […]
more…15 Oct, 2014
In Pictures: Spain Balances Sun-and-Sand with Soul-Searching as Way of St James Draws Pilgrims by the Thousands
Santiago de Compostela, Spain — When the UN World Tourism Organisation organised the First International Congress on Tourism and Pilgrimages between 17-20 September 2014, it accepted an invitation from the Spanish tourism authorities to hold it in Santiago de Compostela, home to the majestic Cathedral of the same name. The UNESCO World Heritage site commemorates […]
more…15 Oct, 2014
UK MPs take historic decision to recognise Palestinian state – The Independent
Even previously staunch supporters of Israel within the Conservative Party chose not to oppose the motion which was brought by the backbench Labour MP Grahame Morris. Richard Ottaway, chairman of the powerful Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said he no longer felt he could vote to deny the Palestinians the right of recognition because of recent […]
more…15 Oct, 2014
I’m a feminist, and I converted to Islam – Opinion – CNN.com
Theresa Corbin is a writer living in New Orleans. (CNN) — I am a Muslim, but I wasn’t always. I converted to Islam in November 2001, two months after 9/11. I was 21 and living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was a bad time to be a Muslim. But after four years of studying, poking […]
more…14 Oct, 2014
Joseph Stiglitz: Divide between rich and poor a widening chasm in US
Two new studies show, once again, the magnitude of the inequality problem plaguing the United States. The first, the US Census Bureau’s annual income and poverty report, shows that, despite the economy’s supposed recovery from the “Great Recession”, ordinary Americans’ incomes continue to stagnate. Median household income, adjusted for inflation, remains below its level of […]
more…14 Oct, 2014
Muslim families look after Kolkata synagogues – Al Jazeera
Kolkata, India – Generations of Muslim families have been taking care of the maintenance of three synagogues in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, which was once home to a thriving Jewish community. The city’s Jewish population has dwindled over the decades to just about 20 as compared to 3,000 at its peak before the […]
more…14 Oct, 2014
Chinese Commentary: China-Russia partnership based on win-win cooperation, not joint confrontation
BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrives in Moscow on Sunday for a three-day visit to Russia aimed at further enhancing the globally significant partnership between the two neighboring giants. The China-Russia relationship, now at its highest level in history, has become a good example of stable, healthy and mature international relations […]
more…14 Oct, 2014
Australia Plans to Boost Competition in Credit Card Industry
Canberra, 12 October 2014 – The Government is taking action to increase competition in the credit card industry by expanding the number of companies that can issue cards or process card transactions for retailers. Currently, only registered banks or specialist credit card institutions can issue credit cards or accept credit card transactions on behalf of […]
more…14 Oct, 2014
Indonesia to build 165 airports next year – The Nation
The Indonesian government has earmarked 6.2 trillion rupiah (US$507.36 million) to finance the construction of 165 airports in cities across the country next year. Bambang Tjahjono, director of airports at the Transportation Ministry, said around 60 percent of the amount would be channeled for airport construction in the eastern part of the country. “The remaining […]
more…13 Oct, 2014
Why the campaign against Islamic State is doomed – Sydney Morning Herald
By Hugh White, Columnist Tony Abbott hopes for a good, quick, cheap war in Iraq. But after the first few weeks of bombing everyone now understands that western air strikes alone will do little to “degrade and destroy” the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. They will only be defeated on the ground. That […]
more…13 Oct, 2014
World ranking of Malaysian universities rises dramatically
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 13 October 2014 (19 Dhul Ḥijjah 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE […]
more…13 Oct, 2014
Warmongering Hebrew University tries to muzzle Palestinian students | The Electronic Intifada
Back in 1969, the civil rights activist Angela Davis complained of how third-level education was being hijacked. Research grants were being awarded by the US government to “force the scholar to develop more efficient means, for example, of furthering the war in Vietnam.” Speaking at the University of California, Los Angeles, Davis said: “The university […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
Real estate industry bullish on ASEAN 2015 | Manila Bulletin
The (ASEAN economic integration in 2015) would require more commercial and residential infrastructure for highly urbanized cities within the region including key cities of the Philippines, according to property developers. Noel Cariño, President of Chamber of Real Estate and Builders Association (CREBA), the country’s largest organization of key players in the domestic real estate industry, […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
Only ‘good’ Manila cops to get allowances | Manila Bulletin
Manila policemen would have to wait a little longer for the release of their much-anticipated allowances from the mayor’s office as the list of law enforcers qualified for the gratuity is still being purged of bad eggs. “The money is ready but it will be given only to good policemen. We will be strict about […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
‘Hostile to privacy’: Snowden urges internet users to get rid of Dropbox — RT News
Edward Snowden has hit out at Dropbox and other services he says are “hostile to privacy,” urging web users to abandon unencrypted communication and adjust privacy settings to prevent governments from spying on them in increasingly intrusive ways. “We are no longer citizens, we no longer have leaders. We’re subjects, and we have rulers,” Snowden […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
UK govt use of surveillance drones is ‘probably illegal’ – The Independent
The use of surveillance drones by the British government is probably illegal, according to a highly critical legal opinion submitted to the Home Office. Several government departments and police forces have increasingly used remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), however the legal guidance warns it is “probably unlawful” for security services to “retain or use surveillance […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
How Chinese spent their money going during Golden Week – People’s Daily Online
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) October 10, 2014 – The seven-day national holiday is always a prime period for spending. Where was the money going during this year’s national holiday? Statistics released by the inter-bank transaction system and China Unipay’s big data platform give us some answers. Nationwide from October 1 to 8 p.m. on October […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
Why is the US so keen on ‘Color Revolutions’? – People’s Daily Online
Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) – October 11, 2014 – According to media reports, Louisa Greve, a director of the National Endowment for Democracy of the US (NED), was already meeting with the key people from “Occupy Central” several months ago, to talk about the movement. Louisa Greve is the vice president of NED who is […]
more…12 Oct, 2014
Why you should visit a Muslim country – Sydney Morning Herald
By Ben Groundwater There’s a disconnect here between the Islam we perceive – the scary, high-terror-alert Islam – and the one that really exists overseas. It’s a misunderstanding, a fear of Muslim people driven as much by a handful of extremists as a crisis-hungry media, an unpopular government, and a general lack of knowledge of […]
more…11 Oct, 2014
Citizenfour review – Poitras’ victorious film shows Snowden vindicated | theguardian.com
Citizenfour must have been a maddening documentary to film. Its subject is pervasive global surveillance, an enveloping digital act that spreads without visibility, so its scenes unfold in courtrooms, hearing chambers and hotels. Yet the virtuosity of Laura Poitras, its director and architect, makes its 114 minutes crackle with the nervous energy of revelation. Poitras, […]
more…11 Oct, 2014
This terrorism frenzy – Opinion – Ahram Online
Suddenly, everyone is acting like “terrorism” is new. Western media has made a colossal beast out of “ISIL” (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), and drawn a bleak picture of the horrific danger that lies on the doorstep of Western societies due to it and similar counterparts. Arab media, on the other hand […]
more…11 Oct, 2014
VIDEO: Harvard students claim America is a bigger threat to peace than ISIS
Students at Harvard University claimed America is a bigger threat to world peace than the radical terrorist organization ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) during a series of interviews at the prestigious Cambridge university. “American imperialism and our protection of oil interests in the Middle East are destabilizing the region and allowing […]
more…11 Oct, 2014
Disentangling the burqa from Australian national security – The Age
By Julie Szego In this febrile, hyperbolic and downright surreal moment in national affairs, every appalling action has a facile and opposite reaction. So it was with last week’s burqa controversy. Extremists in the Coalition tried to whip up fear against a vulnerable minority. In reaction, it seems we must now smother any hint of […]
more…10 Oct, 2014
Shlomo Sand: ‘I wish to resign and cease considering myself a Jew’ – The Guardian
During the first half of the 20th century, my father abandoned Talmudic school, permanently stopped going to synagogue, and regularly expressed his aversion to rabbis. At this point in my own life, in the early 21st century, I feel in turn a moral obligation to break definitively with tribal Judeocentrism. I am today fully conscious […]
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