20 Aug, 2014

The Rush for Africa’s Resources: A Chinese Perspective

By Chen Weihua

(China Daily) 2014-08-15 – I laughed it off when news came last week that US President Barack Obama had made pointed remarks about China’s activities in Africa and played up the United States’ role on the continent. Obama said “we don’t look to Africa simply for its natural resources, we recognize Africa for its greatest […]

19 Aug, 2014

UK Paedophile advised Home Office on reforms to children’s care homes – The Independent

A paedophile who worked as a child protection and care worker expert advised the Home Office on children’s homes, it has been revealed. Peter Righton, who died in 2007, advised the government on reforms to the care home system in 1970, for a report that detailed how new homes should be controlled by local government. […]

18 Aug, 2014

PressTV – Korean film directors slam Israel ‘war crime’

World-renowned Korean film directors have thrown their weights behind a petition, which has denounced Israel for “war crime.” The petition has been signed by 100 people, including Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Stoker, Joint Security Area) and Ryoo Seung-wan (The Berlin File, The Unjust). The other signatories comprise academics, legal experts, and religious figures. Mincing no words […]

18 Aug, 2014

Russia to set up national hotel booking service – English pravda.ru

The Russian government plans to set up a national system for booking hotels and tourist services. The national system would be similar to the well-known Booking.com. Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, Rosturizm and the Ministry for Communications were entrusted with the task, the Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote. The main objective of the national system, specified in […]

18 Aug, 2014

EU sanctions against Russia strangle European economy slowly but surely – English pravda.ru

The German economy, for the first time since 2012, dropped by 0.2 percent in the second quarter, resulting in the absence of GDP growth in the eurozone. The Ukrainian crisis and the trade war with Russia have played a significant role in the setback, which casts doubts on the plans to restore the growth in […]

18 Aug, 2014

′Peace is the only way to give Gaza safe water′ – DW.DE

DW: How has the current bombardment affected water infrastructure and supply in Gaza? Amir Dakkak: Since July 29, almost all of the population has little or no access to clean water. Three of the five wastewater treatment plants have been hit directly. That led to sewage going into the Mediterranean Sea directly, up to 90,000 […]

18 Aug, 2014

Russian sanctions create surplus of European produce – DW.DE

Volunteers at a food bank in the Dutch town of Maassluis diligently pack ripe tomatoes and chicory into little bags for those who need it. They only open once a week, and when they arrived this week, it was to find a donation of 32 boxes of fresh produce. Dutch farmers are not the only […]

18 Aug, 2014

Ethnic minorities marginalized in German media – DW.DE

Ever since the shooting death of Michael Brown, the racism debate has dominated the US media. But German media also often perpetuate stereotypes of ethnic minorities, instead of breaking down prejudices. Read the rest: Ethnic minorities marginalized in German media | Germany | DW.DE | 18.08.2014.

18 Aug, 2014

′Don′t forget the trauma of people in Gaza′ – DW.DE

Nada Doumani is a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Now the ceasefire is holding, but one has to remember that when hostilities stop it does not mean that things are all right. One has to remember that Gaza already was in a very difficult situation. The population is alienated and there […]

18 Aug, 2014

UK CEOs earning 143 times more than their company averages, new pay study reveals – The Guardian

The bosses of Britain’s 100 biggest listed companies are earning on average 143 times more than their staff, according to data that exposes the growing imbalance between how the nation’s workforce and its business leaders are rewarded. The pay gap is widest at Rangold Resources, where boss Mark Bristow was paid £4.4m last year, nearly […]

18 Aug, 2014

BBC News – Dutchman returns Holocaust medal after family deaths in Gaza

A Dutchman honoured by Israel for hiding a Jewish child during World War Two has handed back his medal after six of his relatives were killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza. Henk Zanoli, 91, wrote to the Israeli embassy in The Hague to say he could no longer hold the honour. He said […]

17 Aug, 2014

Trade Expo Indonesia 2014 to be held October 8-12

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 18 August 2014 (21 Shawwal 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre in Malaysia has […]

16 Aug, 2014

How Israel blocks travel by Palestinian academics and students | Mondoweiss

By Nazmi Al-Masri Over the one-year period from July 2013 to July 2014, I was supposed to participate in six international academic conferences and meetings as a partner in four international projects: three EU-funded projects (two from Erasmus-Mundus, one Tempus) and one British Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project. Because of the siege and the […]

16 Aug, 2014

Regulators: Mega-Banks Like Citigroup and Goldman Sachs Still a Giant Threat to America | Alternet

August 13, 2014 | We hear a lot of big talk about how Dodd-Frank has made the financial system safer. That law was enacted to make certain that the country never gets blown apart by a financial crisis like the one in 2008. But does anybody really believe it? The bank regulators sure don’t. The […]

13 Aug, 2014

Gaza’s children: ‘Israel creating a new generation of enemies’ – The Guardian

Doctors and mental health specialists in Gaza can draw on a bitter store of experience of treating traumatised children. After Operation Cast Lead, a study by the Gaza community mental health programme (GCMHP) found that 75% of children over the age of six were suffering from one or more symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, with […]

12 Aug, 2014

Israel attacks university — with bombs and lies | The Electronic Intifada

By Rami Almeghari On Saturday, the Israeli military boasted of bombing a “weapons development center” at the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG). I teach journalism at this university. The section of the campus where I work is close to the administrative department, the target of Israel’s dawn attack. That department hosts teaching staff belonging to […]

12 Aug, 2014

Be warned, BJP-RSS combine’s agenda is to divide and rule – Hindustan Times

A disturbing tendency visible during the election campaign appears to have become the perfected strategy of the RSS/BJP now in government with an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, albeit with a mere 31% share of those who voted. This tendency, true to their character, is to speak/act with a forked tongue — one for […]

12 Aug, 2014

Hamas wants Israel to allow Gaza airport and seaport – The Washington Post

Hamas, as well as the people in the Gaza Strip, want something big in exchange for a truce with Israel. They want a seaport. And an airport. They want movement between their seaside territory and the outside world. “Everything is ready. We have the engineering studies, the business plans, environmental assessments, all that is needed. […]

12 Aug, 2014

Gaza homes ‘uninhabitable’ as tens of thousands come back to rubble – The Guardian

Tens of thousands of people across Gaza returned to their homes on Monday as a tenuous ceasefire held and hopes rose of an end to the month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas. Local officials and humanitarian workers began to inspect the latest damage the war had caused in the overcrowded enclave, with assessments indicating earlier […]

12 Aug, 2014

Barneys will pay $525K to settle racial profiling allegations – The Washington Post

Upscale retailer Barneys New York will pay $525,000 in penalties to settle racial profiling complaints. The settlement came after a nine-month-long investigation launched by the New York State Attorney’s office when two black customers at the flagship store on Madison Avenue said they were falsely accused of credit card fraud. New York State Attorney General […]

12 Aug, 2014

South African Editor: Africa doesn’t need U.S. as benefactor

By Ellis Mnyandur

(China Daily), 2014-08-12 —  By all accounts, the United States – which generally prides itself on being a trendsetter – is essentially a “Johnny Come Lately” to the “Africa Rising” story. As if to make amends, US President Barack Obama held the largest ever gathering of African heads of state and business leaders in Washington […]

12 Aug, 2014

Essay: The West on the wrong path – Handelsblatt Publisher

We interrupt our own train of thought: “History is not repeating itself!” But can we be so sure about that these days? In view of the war events in the Crimean and eastern Ukraine, the heads of states and governments of the West suddenly have no more questions and all the answers. The US Congress […]

12 Aug, 2014

Shanghai requires five fast-food chains to disclose suppliers

By WU YIYAO

Beijing, 2014-08-11, (China Daily) – Shanghai’s food and drug administration is requiring five restaurant chains to release information on their suppliers on their websites, according to a city government circular released on Saturday. The five enterprises－Yum! Brands, McDonald’s, Dicos, Burger King and Carl’s Jr.－were all involved in a food scandal that exposed Shanghai Husi Food […]

12 Aug, 2014

Chinese commentary: Do not let U.S. stoke disputes amongst ASEAN

By Zhao Minghao

Beijing, 2014-08-12 (China Daily) – The annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held recently in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, with the disputes and situation in the South China Sea on the agenda. This is not the first time that the ARF has touched upon the South China Sea disputes. […]

12 Aug, 2014

U.S. airlines hiring more flight attendants fluent in Chinese

By ADELINA ZHANG

New York (China Daily USA), 2014-08-12 – As the number of flights between China and the US increases, US airlines are looking to hire more Chinese speaking flight attendants to better serve their customers. American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines are among the US carriers seeking flight attendants fluent in Chinese. Some of the […]

12 Aug, 2014

U.S. top destination for fleeing Chinese fugitives

By Zhang Yan

Beijing, (Xinhua), 2014-08-11 – More than 150 economic fugitives from China, most of whom are corrupt officials or face allegations of corruption, remain at large in the United States, according to an official from the Ministry of Public Security. “The US has become the top destination for Chinese fugitives fleeing the law,” said Liao Jinrong, […]

11 Aug, 2014

US$100M ADB Loans For Bangladesh Railways Upgrade

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 11 August 2014 (14 Shawwal 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre in Malaysia has […]

8 Aug, 2014

Checks on foreigners stepped up in Beijing

By Cao Yin

Beijing, (China Daily), August 06, 2014  – Immigration officers in Beijing have intensified inspections of foreigners as an increasing number have started to use China to enter third countries illegally. Ji Lixia, assistant head of the Beijing office of China Immigration Inspection, said the number of foreigners being sent back to their home countries has […]

8 Aug, 2014

Nalanda University to reopen from September 1 – Hindustan Times

Nalanda University is set to kick off its first academic programme from September 1, reviving an institution that was in existence long before Harvard and Cambridge were set up. The ministry of external affairs will support six students from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam at Nalanda, which has been revived by a group of scholars […]

7 Aug, 2014

The science of alcohol: The impact on your liver and heart – The Independent

The journey begins with your alcoholic drink slipping past your lips, down your oesophagus and into your stomach, dancing its way around your gastric juices. For those of you drinking a carbonated drink your alcohol will be absorbed faster as the pressure increases inside your stomach, forcing alcohol into your blood stream. This compared to […]

7 Aug, 2014

We now spend more time in front of a screen than in bed, Ofcom study shows – The Independent

Britons now spend more time watching TV, using their mobile and on the computer than they do sleeping, according to new research. The study, by communications regulator Ofcom, found that the average UK adult uses technology for eight hours and 41 minutes a day, 20 minutes longer than they spend in bed. The research also […]

7 Aug, 2014

Tensions Flare Between Sikhs and NYPD After Racially Motivated Hit and Run | Village Voice

It was shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Sandeep Singh and three of his friends were crossing 99th Street at 101 Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens when they crossed paths with a man in a pick-up truck. Witnesses say the driver called Singh a “terrorist,” and yelled at him to “go back to your country.” Singh, […]

7 Aug, 2014

Over 100 Middle East Studies Scholars, Librarians Call for Boycott of Israeli Academic Institutions

As employees in institutes of higher learning from around the world, we have a particular interest in and responsibility to respond to the obstacles to the right to higher education that the Israeli state has created for Palestinians both inside Israel and in the occupied territories. In the past two months alone, Israeli forces have […]

7 Aug, 2014

Newsweek: Israel Flagged as Top Spy Threat to U.S. in New Snowden/NSA Document

Israel was singled out in 2007 as a top espionage threat against the U.S. government, including its intelligence services, in a newly published National Security Agency (NSA) document obtained by fugitive leaker Edward Snowden, according to a news report Monday. The document also identified Israel, along with North Korea, Cuba and India, as a “leading […]

7 Aug, 2014

Mindanao connectivity to ASEAN revived | Manila Bulletin

Mindanao is being revived as the new gateway to Southeast Asia this time with more vigor with real connectivity by air and sea underway on hopes that manufacturing operations will further thrive with new power capacities coming in. Rey Billena, regional governor for Mindanao of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), told reporters […]

7 Aug, 2014

Could the debate over Israel in the U.S. be changing? – The Washington Post

It may be time to ask whether the political status of Israel within the U.S. could be changing. It won’t happen overnight, and it may not happen at all, but it’s entirely possible that the issue of U.S. support for Israel could go from being a matter of complete unanimity in Congress, and among political […]

7 Aug, 2014

A Chinese word to the ‘world policeman’: Who wants it, anyway?

By Hua Yiwen

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), August 05, 2014 – In an interview with the highly-rated CBS program Face the Nation, former United States Secretary Madeleine Albright expressed the view that the world is in a mess, and stated that the U.S. no longer wants to act as the ‘world policeman’. The U.S. enjoyed its role as […]

7 Aug, 2014

Mainland Chinese visitors lose shopping enthusiasm for Singapore

By Brian Leonal

Singapore, (China Daily) August 05, 2014 – Retailers billed it as the Great Singapore Sale. Chinese tourist Zhu Liang bought it, only to regret it afterward. “We will never come here again on purpose to shop,” said Zhu, a 35-year-old businessman from Hangzhou, in East China’s Zhejiang province. Visiting the city during the final days […]

5 Aug, 2014

U.S. Has Illegal Muslim ‘Blacklist,’ ACLU Says | Alternet

August 4, 2014 | LOS ANGELES (CN) – The United States violates its own immigration laws through an under-the-radar “blacklist” that denies citizenship, green cards and political asylum to thousands of people, including innocent people placed a terrorist watch list, longtime legal-resident Muslims claim in Federal Court. Lead plaintiff Reem Muhanna, et al. claim that […]

5 Aug, 2014

O.P. Rana: Please, stop bombing Gaza for the sake of children

By Op Rana (China Daily)

2014-08-04 – “Please stop! I ask you with all my heart, it’s time to stop. Stop, please! Brothers and sisters, never war, never war! I am thinking above all of children, who are deprived of the hope of a worthwhile life, of a future … Dead children, injured children, mutilated children, orphaned children, children whose […]

5 Aug, 2014

Chinese commentator: US must drop bias to help resolve Israel-Palestine crisis

By Chen Weihua (China Daily)

WASHINGTON DC., 2014-08-01 – The news from Gaza of innocent Palestinian civilians, including many women and children, being killed by Israeli fire is heartbreaking. The shelling on Wednesday of a United Nations school serving as a shelter caused the deaths of some 20 people and injured more than 100. An initial UN assessment concluded that […]

5 Aug, 2014

In war torn Gaza, traumatised children dream of going back home – Hindustan Times

Ask any child in Gaza to do a drawing and the resulting picture is likely to be a house being bombed by a fighter plane. In the strife-torn Palestinian enclave, thousands of children are suffering from the trauma of war but resources to help them are scarce. At a school in the northern town of […]

4 Aug, 2014

Another Snowden leak reveals massive scale of US aid to Israel — RT News

Further support involved multiple UN resolutions shielding Israel from international condemnation and enabling it – something Greenwald sees as peculiar, given the American media’s shocked reaction at how the Middle East situation supposedly takes on a life of its own, despite everyone’s best efforts. “The new Snowden documents illustrate a crucial fact: Israeli aggression would […]

4 Aug, 2014

Does Religion Affect Economic Growth and Happiness? Evidence from Ramadan

Filipe R. Campante, David H. Yanagizawa-Drott NBER Working Paper No. 19768 Issued in December 2013 We study the economic effects of religious practices in the context of the observance of Ramadan fasting, one of the central tenets of Islam. To establish causality, we exploit variation in the length of the fasting period due to the […]

4 Aug, 2014

Independent Jewish Voices Canada: Israel actions fomenting anti-Semitism

Independent Jewish Voices – Canada (IJV) deplores credible reports of anti-Semitism, such as Jewish-owned shops in Sarcelles, France that were recently ransacked. IJV condemns in the strongest of terms, all racially-motivated violence related to the Israeli attack on Gaza. It is important to understand that Israel’s violent crimes against an occupied, captive Arab Palestinian population, […]

4 Aug, 2014

10 Most Shameless Ways U.S. Politicians Are Pandering to Israel | Alternet

With each passing day, Israeli military operations perpetrate new horrors in Gaza. One day it is the bombing of Gaza’s main power plant. The next day it is the shelling of a United Nations school that kills 16 civilians who thought they were in a safe place. But the U.S. political class–save for the exceptions […]

4 Aug, 2014

Israel’s “Final Solution” for Gaza and the Cadaverous Conscience of the West

With very few exceptions, the western press’ headlines are designed to spare Israel, rather than to inform. When the Israelis shell a United Nations’ school in which some one thousand women and children were seeking shelter, and kill or injure scores of them, the CNN headline reads, “Strike hits shelter in Gaza.” That is, it […]

4 Aug, 2014

MH-17: Pravda’s 11 Questions to the Global Aviation Industry

The Malaysian Airlines MH 17 flight over an active war zone in Ukraine has been chalked up by Western news agencies as a terrorist strike by President Putin, as a terrorist strike by Russia, as a terrorist strike by Pro-Russian forces. Predictably. Now let us examine the facts and let the law suits begin for […]

4 Aug, 2014

Radioactive cars from Japan turning up in Central Asia | Autoweek

A total of 70 used cars imported from Japan and found to have increased levels of radiation are being stored in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and cannot be sent back, according to Silk Road Reporters citing local news outlets. Car retailers in Kyrgyzstan, who have been importing significant numbers of used cars from Japan for resale in […]

4 Aug, 2014

Pravda Begins to Expose the Massive Federated, US-Based Pro-Israel Network

The Jewish Federation and the Jewish United Fund are two of the donors to UANI. These nonprofit organizations are part of the wider US-based, pro-Israel juggernaut that shapes American national security strategy for Israel. Through connections, money, position and power they seek to immunize Israel from criticism for its mendacious, militaristic policies. They have succeeded […]

4 Aug, 2014

Revealed – Britain’s ‘role’ in arming Israel – The Independent

The Government has been accused of failing to regulate arms sales to Israel following evidence that weapons containing British-made components are being used in the bombardment of Gaza. Documents shown to The Independent reveal that arms export licences worth £42m have been granted to 130 British defence manufacturers since 2010 to sell military equipment to […]

4 Aug, 2014

Dress the Gaza situation up all you like, but the truth hurts – Robert Fisk – The Independent

There was a time when our politicians and media had one principal fear when covering Middle East wars: that no one should ever call them anti-Semitic. So corrosive, so vicious was this charge against any honest critic of Israel that merely to bleat the word “disproportionate” – as in any normal wartime exchange rate of […]

4 Aug, 2014

How can Americans justify images such as this? – Brian Eno – The Independent

By Brian Eno I was in Israel last year with Mary [a mutual friend]. Her sister works for UNRWA [the UN agency for Palestinian refugees] in Jerusalem. Showing us round were a Palestinian – Shadi, who is her sister’s husband and a professional guide – and Oren Jacobovitch, an Israeli Jew, an ex-major from the […]

4 Aug, 2014

The death of privacy – The Observer

We have come to the end of privacy; our private lives, as our grandparents would have recognised them, have been winnowed away to the realm of the shameful and secret. To quote ex-tabloid hack Paul McMullan, “privacy is for paedos”. Insidiously, through small concessions that only mounted up over time, we have signed away rights […]

4 Aug, 2014

IDB Calls for Nominations: Islamic Economics Prize 2015

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 August 2014 (07 Shawwal 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre in Malaysia has […]

3 Aug, 2014

Global Trades Union Call for End to Israeli “Excessive Attacks” on Gaza

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION

Brussels, 31 July 2014 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC is horrified at the rising death toll in Gaza, which is now over 1,200 – the vast majority of them innocent civilians. Destruction of civilian and UN infrastructure in recent days, including schools, hospitals and the territory’s only power plant, will have grave ramifications for the Palestinian […]

3 Aug, 2014

Thousands protest in support of Palestinians near White House – The Washington Post

A demonstration drew thousands to the White House and the streets of downtown Washington on Saturday afternoon as participants from across the country called for an end to the continued violence between Israel and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. “Free, free Palestine, killing children is a crime,” the crowd chanted, several holding Palestinian flags, cardboard […]

1 Aug, 2014

US hospitals fined millions for unethical acts, Indian ones go free – The Times of India

Jul 28, 2014 – Even as no action has been taken by the Indian government on hospitals giving doctors a cut for referring patients to them and for carrying out unnecessary procedures, in the US more than six hospitals have been fined several million dollars since the beginning of the year for exactly such practices. […]

1 Aug, 2014

U.S. Media’s Pro-Israel Bias: Why Does TV News Look Like a Netanyahu Ad? | Alternet

July 31, 2014 – Here are a few questions you won’t hear asked of the parade of Israeli officials crossing US television screens during the current crisis in Gaza: What would you do if a foreign country was occupying your land? What does it mean that Israeli cabinet ministers deny Palestine’s right to exist? What […]

1 Aug, 2014

Delays at Chinese airports see surge in flight insurance

By Wang Wen

Beijing, (China Daily) July 31, 2014 — Travel agencies have reported brisk sales of flight-delay insurance policies in the past two weeks, especially on routes in the eastern and central parts of China, as a result of an increasing number of flight delays. Ctrip.com International Ltd said on Wednesday that its sales of such policies […]

1 Aug, 2014

Travel & tourism in cross-hairs as anti-Israel boycott takes root in Thailand

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and its commercial, cultural and diplomatic interests, has taken root in Thailand with the strong possibility of expanding across ASEAN and Asia. A preliminary report summarising the status of relations between Thailand and Israel, including an entire chapter devoted to travel and tourism, was […]

31 Jul, 2014

Bolivia declares Israel a ‘terrorist state’ – USA Today

Bolivian President Evo Morales declared Israel a “terrorist state,” Wednesday, because of the ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip. Israeli citizens will now be required to obtain a visa before traveling to Bolivia. Previously, under a 1972 agreement, which Morales denounced for being “signed under a dictatorial regime,” Israelis could travel freely into Bolivia without […]

31 Jul, 2014

The most heartbreaking image of the Israel-Gaza conflict?

This could be the most heartbreaking image of the Israel-Gaza conflict yet Click here: This could be the most heartbreaking image of the Israel-Gaza conflict yet.

31 Jul, 2014

The Mendacious Propaganda Israel is Pushing to Justify Its War On Gaza | Alternet

July 30, 2014 | It is time to clarify the real facts on the aggression the Israelis started on the Palestinians. Unfortunately, the Israeli narrative has dominated in the global media. It’s very important to uncover the Israeli narrative and bring facts to the public’s attention. The world needs to differentiate between myths and truth. […]

31 Jul, 2014

The ethical defence to Israel’s actions in Gaza – by Rabbi Gideon Sylvester

by Rabbi Gideon Sylvester Earlier this month the Unite union passed a resolution denouncing Israel as an apartheid regime, supporting boycotts against it and accusing it of “feeling able to commit war crimes with complete impunity”. When Israel launched its latest operation in Gaza, the union issued a statement to “unreservedly condemn the continuing Israeli […]

31 Jul, 2014

Two parallel massacres: Palestine and East Ukraine – English pravda.ru

The Transnational Elite, (i.e. the Western elites based in the G7 countries) with the fascist Junta they installed in Kiev, and the Israeli Zionists, are fully engaged at the moment in carrying out new massacres in East Ukraine and Palestine respectively. These massacres share several important common elements. Firstly, despite the shameless lies of the […]

31 Jul, 2014

Western Sanctions Means that Russia Has to Look East – Minister – RIA Novosti

NOVO OGARYOVO, Moscow Region, July 30 (RIA Novosti) – Russia could loosen the tightening grip of western sanctions on its economy by improving the economic climate in its far-eastern territories, designated as “advanced development zones” in a bill that may be laid before the Duma in autumn, Russia’s Far East Development Minister said Wednesday. Speaking […]

30 Jul, 2014

The consequences of Indian kids eating like the Americans – The Hindu

One of the first declarations of the newly elected government in June was a proposal to ban unhealthy or junk food (defined as food high on fat, sugar and salt) in school canteens across the country. This was followed up with an increase in the prices of soft drinks in the recent budget. This has […]

30 Jul, 2014

To the family of the 1,000th victim of Israel’s genocidal slaughter in Gaza – Ilan Pappe

This is 2014 — the destruction of Gaza is well documented. This is not 1948 when Palestinians had to struggle hard to tell their story of horror; so many of the crimes Zionist committed then where hidden and never came to light, even until today. So my first and simple pledge is to record, inform […]

30 Jul, 2014

Dealing with India’s right-wing cultural outrage machine – Hindustan Times

Today, small but growing and ever more vocal groups of cultural vigilantes in India are attacking everything from books and films to art and western attitudes if they deem these injurious to their faiths or if these don’t conform to their notion of purity and morality. Books are getting pulped and authors are forced to […]

30 Jul, 2014

11 Takeaways From the Worst Crisis Ever to Hit Thai Tourism

Announcement

What next for Thai tourism? Will it bounce back from the worst crisis it has faced since the first outbreak of AIDS 30 years ago? Imtiaz Muqbil, one of Asia’s longest serving travel trade journalists, has compiled an in-depth compendium of 11 factors that will change the face of Thailand’s most important service industry, one […]

30 Jul, 2014

Australian Research Shows Children Fare Best in Families With Less Conflict

Department of Social Services

Canberra, 29 July 2014, New research shows children can have more behaviour problems and difficulties socialising with peers if raised in families with high levels of parental conflict, or with low levels of parental warmth and few shared activities between parents and children. Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews said the research, published today in […]

30 Jul, 2014

Gallup Polls: Reports of Alcohol-Related Family Trouble Remain Up in U.S.

by Jeffrey M. Jones

PRINCETON, NJ – July 29, 2014, Gallup Polls – More than one in three Americans (36%) say drinking alcohol has been a cause of problems in their family at some point, one of the highest figures Gallup has measured since the 1940s. Reports of alcohol-related family troubles have been much more common in recent decades […]

30 Jul, 2014

US visa delays likely to continue, says embassy in Beijing

By Zhao Xinying

Beijing, China Daily, July 29, 2014 – Delays in issuing visas for the United States are likely to persist as the computer problems causing them have not yet been resolved, Nolan Barkhouse, spokesman for the US embassy in Beijing, said on Monday. “Our recordssystem has been experiencing significant performance problems, including outages, since July 19,” he […]

30 Jul, 2014

Gaza, Israel and the company we keep – Al Jazeera Blogs

So I got into it with an old friend from high school days over Gaza and Israel. I’ll call her Judy. She’s Jewish and I’m not. Typically we see eye to eye on most issues, geo-political and social. We still swap music, doing online today what we did as students with cassettes and vinyl. But […]

29 Jul, 2014

Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Pedro Almodovar denounce Israel – Haaretz

Dozens of stars from Spain’s cultural scene have added their names to an open letter blasting Israel’s Gaza operation, and denouncing Israel’s actions as “genocide.” In the letter, which was published on Monday, Oscar-winners Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, and the feted Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, were joined by a long list of names, in […]

29 Jul, 2014

Richard Falk – When BBC calls, don’t answer

Four times in the past week I have received invitations to be a guest on BBC programs dealing with Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Each time the female producer, with charming British intonation, expressed her strong interest in arranging my participation at such and such a time. And each time I agreed, although my presence […]

29 Jul, 2014

Americans Waking Up – Discover That High-Sugar Sodas are Bad for Health

by Justin McCarthy

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 28, 2014, Gallup Polls – Nearly two-thirds of Americans say they avoid soda in their diet, while more than half say they avoid sugar. Meanwhile, more than nine in 10 Americans claim they try to include fruits (92%) or vegetables (93%) in their diet — slightly more than said this previously. These […]

29 Jul, 2014

How about tracking the UK and other dual-nationalities who fight for Israel? – Robert Fisk – The Independent

Now I think it’s a good idea that the lads in blue are keeping their eyes open at Heathrow for British citizens who’ve been fighting in the Middle East. I hope they are doing a thorough job of it – and I mean thorough. I don’t want to bump into a chap who’s been firing […]

29 Jul, 2014

New UAE visa fee structure to take effect from August 1

Abu Dhabi: A new visa fee and fine structure will take effect from August 1, according to a Cabinet decision published in the latest edition of the official gazette. The new measures will include the issuing of a new array of entry permits and visas, such as multiple entry permits for visit or work; the […]

29 Jul, 2014

Israel’s other war, now on a street near you – Haaretz

“A man came from the direction of [the Jerusalem neighborhood] Neveh Ya’akov,” one of the victims, Samer Mahfouz, told Haaretz. “He said ‘give me a cigarette.’ I told him I don’t have any, and he heard I’m Arab and went away, coming back with his friends, maybe 12 people. They had sticks and iron bars […]

28 Jul, 2014

“I Felt So Good”: Even Hindus Joined The Ramadan Fast

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 28 July 2014 (1 Shawwal 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

28 Jul, 2014

Exposed: Secret P.R. blueprint reveals how Israelis lie to the world – The Independent

Israeli spokesmen have their work cut out explaining how they have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza, most of them civilians, compared with just three civilians killed in Israel by Hamas rocket and mortar fire. But on television and radio and in newspapers, Israeli government spokesmen such as Mark Regev appear slicker and less […]

27 Jul, 2014

Modi under fire for silence over communal controversies | The Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing criticism for remaining silent about incidents deemed anti-Muslim in the past week, underscoring fears that his followers will upset religious relations in the multi-faith nation. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept to power in May after an election campaign that mainly focused on promises to revive the economy but that […]

27 Jul, 2014

In Tel Aviv, thousands protest against Gaza operation – Haaretz

Thousands assembled at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square on Saturday evening for what became the largest protest against the Israeli military operation in Gaza thus far. According to official estimates some 7,000 protesters attended. Meanwhile, a smaller group rallied in support of the operation in Gaza. The police served as a barrier between the groups to […]

27 Jul, 2014

No Vacation for One in Five U.S. Microbusiness Owners Last Year

by Ben Ryan

WASHINGTON, D.C., Gallup Polls,  July 24, 2014 — One in five U.S. microbusiness owners (20%) report not taking any vacation days in the past 12 months, with another 21% saying they took a week or less. These owners are also the most likely to say they will not be vacationing anytime soon — with almost […]

27 Jul, 2014

Kunming to join list of 72-hour visa-free cities

By Guo Anfei in Kunming and Hu Yongqi in Beijing

(China Daily) 2014-07-25 – Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, is to launch a 72-hour visa-free policy for transit passengers from 51 countries, local authorities said on Thursday. The tourism venue will become the eighth Chinese city to offer such a service, following those such as Beijing and Shanghai. The move is aimed at boosting […]

27 Jul, 2014

Indian cultural tour operator calls for Israel boycott at travel shows

Imtiaz Muqbil

An Indian tour operator has initiated a call for a boycott of Israeli stands at international trade shows, starting with the World Travel Mart in London. The move means that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has entered the realm of global travel events and will almost certainly have a deep and lasting impact on their costs, content […]

27 Jul, 2014

War and the US –what you don’t see can’t hurt – Al Jazeera Blogs

The images of the grief in Gaza and Israel are just powerful. The video of the dead, the grieving and destruction stays with you. The Pentagon knows this, which is why for years no one was allowed to take any video of the caskets of fallen soldiers being returned home. The loss becomes real. War […]

27 Jul, 2014

Modi silent as BJP members peddle communal hate agenda – The Asian Age

The attempt by a Telangana BJP MLA to revile Indian tennis star Sania Mirza has rightly raised concerns across the country. The communal tone of the attack on the ace player is unmistakable. In only two months since the Narendra Modi government took office, there has been a spate of episodes in different parts of […]

27 Jul, 2014

Turkish business world backs boycott of Israeli goods – The Daily Star

ISTANBUL: Turkish entrepreneurs are backing a boycott of Israeli goods in response to Israel’s recent military attack on Gaza which killed 815 Palestinians by Friday’s count. A worldwide boycott can affect the Israeli economy, entrepreneurs from the Anatolian Businesspersons’ Association and Istanbul Commodity Exchange told Anadolu Agency Friday. Municipalities from many regions of Turkey have […]

27 Jul, 2014

What if 800 Israelis had died and only 35 Palestinians? – Robert Fisk – The Independent

We don’t care so much about the Palestinians, do we? We care neither about Israeli culpability, which is far greater because of the larger number of civilians the Israeli army have killed. Nor, for that matter, Hamas’s capability. Of course, God forbid that the figures should have been the other way round. If 800 Israelis […]

26 Jul, 2014

Muslim hoteliers boycott US products to protest against Israeli strikes in Gaza – Hindustan Times

Muslims in Mumbai are protesting Israel’s military operation in Gaza and look who’s feeling the heat — Foreign food and drink companies such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Nestle and Kraft. Hotels in Muslim-dominated Bhendi Bazaar area, for instance, such as the Shalimar Hotel, have put up a list of brands that won’t be served. Other eateries […]

26 Jul, 2014

Gallup poll shows low support among young Americans for Israel – Haaretz

A Gallup poll shows support among Americans for Israel during the Gaza Strip conflict is divided, and is low among younger Americans. The poll posted on the pollster’s website Thursday showed a statistical dead heat between those who believe Israel’s actions against Hamas are justified, 42 percent, and those who believe they are unjustified, 39 […]

26 Jul, 2014

Thailand’s tourism comeback party in pictures: From protests to parades in six months

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The Thai tourism industry pulled off a grand comeback party on July 25, designed to show the world that the kingdom is back to normal, safe and ready to receive visitors again. Blessed with a 35 million baht budget and the benevolence of the gods who kept the skies rain-free, more than 900 […]

26 Jul, 2014

When the guns are roaring, Israelis must speak out – Haaretz

These are difficult days for Israel. Its soldiers are fighting in Gaza and rockets are being fired at its cities. Alongside impressive displays of solidarity, ugly expressions of violence, incitement and the muzzling of critics are going on. But now is precisely the time we can’t afford to keep silent. We must not countenance the […]

25 Jul, 2014

Growing number of elderly working Britons driving down wages — RT UK

Britain’s more mature citizens who choose to delay their retirement because they fear running out of funds are driving UK wages down, the Bank of England (BOE) claims. The BOE’s comments follow a warning issued by the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) that Britain’s elderly will have to delay their retirement to help lower the […]

25 Jul, 2014

U.S. businesses set to face heat as Gaza conflict sparks cola wars – Haaretz

Businesses in Turkey and India are spurning Coca-Cola in response to the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, according to several news sources. Social media activists are also making calls to boycott consumer companies that do business with Israel in general and Coca-Cola, which has had a bottling plant in Israel since the 1960s, […]

25 Jul, 2014

Why We Called for a Boycott of the White House Iftar | Huffington Post

By Amani Al-Khatahtbeh As the media relations specialist of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, I wrote up the statement last week declaring our boycott of all 2014 government iftars and calling on community leaders to do the same. The statement made ADC the first American organization to formally boycott this year’s events. ADC has historically engaged […]

25 Jul, 2014

India’s missed opportunity on Gaza – The Hindu

There is reason to believe that greater diplomatic activism by India on the Israel-Palestine issue would be welcomed by the emerging powers as well as the global south, which is looking for new leaders on the global stage. This is especially true at a time when the international system is mutating from the unipolarity of […]