24 Dec, 2014
2004 tsunami survivors recall how mosques stood firm | The Japan Times
AP, Dec 24, 2014, BANDA ACEH, INDONESIA – When powerful tsunami smashed into this Indonesian city 10 years ago, the only structures left standing in many neighborhoods were mosques. For the hundreds who found refuge within their walls, the buildings’ lifesaving role has not been forgotten — and for many, that experience strengthened their faith. […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Debating India’s conversion conundrum – Shiv Visvanathan, The Hindu
What one is facing is a tinderbox of emotions where each group lights its own matchstick. I am personally against conversion. I feel it should be restricted to real changes and beliefs. To use it as a political act, to rectify history or the inequities of caste creates deep violence. When the Bajrang Dal threatens […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Islamic organizations in Poso help to secure churches | The Jakarta Post
The Poso chapter of Nahdlatul Ulama’s young wing, Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser NU), says it is ready to help police and military personnel ensure peace and safety for Christians in Poso, Central Sulawesi, who will conduct religious ceremonies for Christmas. “We will help secure Christmas celebrations in Poso but we can manage to secure only […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
We are passive consumers of the pornography of violence – The Guardian
Ours is the culture of the repeat, the freeze-frame and the slow-motion action sequence; ours is the highly advanced civilisation that developed the capability to put a camera on the nose of a laser-guided bomb so that, like Major “King” Kong (the deranged cold war warrior played by Slim Pickens in Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove), we […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Ryanair boss: ‘No company has done more in last 30 years to boost European integration’ – The Independent
Michael O’Leary, the controversial chief executive of Ryanair, claims that his airline now dominates Europe – and has outperformed all other organisations in unifying the Continent. The Ryanair boss was speaking exclusively to The Independent about the two decades since he took over in 1994. Today the airline carries more passengers than any other European […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Balinese Hindus commemorate victory of good over evil | The Jakarta Post
Millions of Balinese Hindus across the island observed Galungan, to commemorate good’s victory over evil, on Wednesday. From early morning, people flocked to temples and shrines to perform prayers. Wearing their best colorful Balinese attire, they brought offerings, including many kinds of fruit, cakes and canang sari (a delicate banana leaf arrangement with petals on […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Mass conversion in India PM’s home state sparks anger | Arab News
AHMEDABAD, India: Hard-line Hindu groups came under fire Sunday after some 200 Christians were converted in the Indian prime minister’s home state, amid increasing concern at the right-wing government’s perceived pro-Hindu tilt. The radical Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) said it converted Christian tribal people to their original Hindu faith in Prime […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
Respecting opinion of mankind – Uri Avnery
Almost a thousand Israeli personalities have already signed an appeal to European parliaments for their governments to recognize the State of Palestine. I am honored to be among the signatories, which include former ministers and members of the Knesset, diplomats and generals, artists and businessmen, writers and poets, including Israel’s three outstanding writers Amos Oz, […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
MH370 was ‘shot down by the US military’, former Proteus Airlines CEO claims – The Independent
A French former airline director has claimed that the US military may have shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and covered it up. Marc Dugain, who headed Proteus Airlines and is an established author, speculated that the Americans may have targeted the aircraft because they feared a September 11-style attack on a military base in […]
more…24 Dec, 2014
TripAdvisor fined in Italy over false reviews | GulfNews.com
Rome: Italy’s antitrust authority has slapped a 500,000 euro (Dh2.2 million) fine on TripAdvisor for failing to do enough to prevent false reviews. The move follows complaints from hoteliers of negative and, in some cases, defamatory reviews regarding their businesses. Italy is the world’s fifth largest destination for international tourism with about 46m international visitors […]
more…23 Dec, 2014
The CIA guide to how to travel like James Bond – The Independent
Take it easy at the Christmas party if you plan to fly the next day. According to the CIA’s secret travel guide for spies, travellers with “shaking or trembling hands, rapid breathing for no apparent reason, cold sweats, pulsating carotid arteries, a flushed face, and avoidance of eye contact” will arouse suspicion. That is one […]
more…23 Dec, 2014
Campaign in Argentine town calls for boycott of Israeli tourists – Haaretz
A campaign against Israeli backpackers has been launched in the Patagonian region of Argentina, where Israelis make up about 10 percent of the lucrative tourist trade. Posters appeared Monday in the city of Bariloche, a major tourism center located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains in which most of the stores have signs in […]
more…22 Dec, 2014
In pictures: Tragic human cost of the lies that led to war in Iraq – The Independent
When did you start getting into photography, and what do you enjoy most about it? Pretty early, but not seriously until the 1990s when I started doing my own LP covers. Why did you decide to photograph wounded veterans? What bothered me, was all the lies when we went to war in the Middle East: […]
more…21 Dec, 2014
Hindu Mahasabha wants to install Gandhi killer’s bust at public places – The Hindu
Projecting Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a ‘nationalist political leader’ and terming him as ‘an irreplaceable asset to the intellectual discourse of Hinduism’, the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha wants to install Godse’s busts at ‘public places’. The Mahasabha, which has already procured a sculpted Godse bust, currently on display at its headquarters in central […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Asia Times Online: Netanyahu shatters Israel’s image
No Israeli government has shattered Israel’s international image more than the administration of Benjamin Netanyahu has done over the past six years. Not only have Netanyahu and his cohorts systematically engaged in rancorous public narratives against the Palestinians, they have taken action that could only attest to his unwavering commitment to expand the settlements and […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Dennis Kucinich: Three Members of Congress Just Reignited the Cold War While No One Was Looking – Truthdig
Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a far-reaching Russia sanctions bill, a hydra-headed incubator of poisonous conflict. The second provocative anti-Russian legislation in a week, it further polarizes our relations with Russia, helping to cement a Russia-China alliance against Western hegemony, and undermines long-term America’s financial and physical security by handing the […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Martin Place siege: Acknowledge errors to prepare for the future – Sydney Morning Herald
Australians approach the end of 2014 feeling markedly less secure than they began it. More than a feeling, this is a fact conceded by no less an authority than the government itself. Acting on the advice of its defence and security experts, the official “National Terrorism Public Alert System” currently ranks the domestic threat as […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
China Beware! The British Gunboats are Back! – People’s Daily Online
By David Ferguson December 16, 2014 – It’s ok. The headline is just a joke. We’re not coming back in our gunboats. We haven’t got any left. We will have an aircraft carrier some time in the next five years or so, but as a result of the joined up thinking of our outstanding politicians, […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
The lesson of the Sony hack: Don’t email. Don’t text. Don’t send photos – Sydney Morning Herald
This month’s news provides yet another occasion for a friendly public-service reminder to anyone who uses a digital device to say anything to anyone, ever. Don’t do it. Don’t email, don’t text, don’t update, don’t send photos. At least, don’t do it if you have any expectation that what you say will remain private — […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Magaluf declared ‘mature tourist zone’ in crackdown on drunken excess – The Guardian
Authorities in Magaluf will on Friday announce plans aimed at ridding the resort of its image as a place for alcohol-fuelled, sexually charged debauchery, especially among young British holidaymakers. Officials have also appealed to British police to help patrol Magaluf and its main tourist strip, Punta Ballena, after officers from France and Germany were brought […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Lee Daniels: ‘I was brainwashed by U.S. media about Arabs’ – GulfNews.com
Dubai – There’s never a dull moment during an interview with Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels. The man behind gritty dramas such as Precious and The Butler and who was on call at the Dubai International Film Festival to be the head of the Muhr Narrative Films jury commands your attention with his concise — albeit […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
India’s Modi orders party to rein in pro-Hindu agenda – Reuters
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned his lawmakers for the first time to stop promoting controversial issues such as religious conversions and to focus on economic reforms as he struggles to pass legislation needed to kickstart the economy. A right wing Hindu group called off a plan to convert thousands of Muslims to […]
more…19 Dec, 2014
Christian enclave in India fears violence as Hindus press for conversions – The Washington Post
ALIGARH, India — The trouble started a few months ago, when Hindu nationalists swept into a small village where several families had converted to Christianity more than a decade earlier. They held a fire purification ceremony with the villagers, tore a cross off the local church and put up a poster of the god Shiva. […]
more…17 Dec, 2014
‘Terror has no religion’: Russian MP urges media ban on phrase ‘Islamic terrorist’ — RT
A Russian lawmaker proposes a ban on expressions such as ‘Islamic terrorist’ and ‘Islamist militant’ in the mass media, claiming they give people the wrong impression about Islam and put ordinary believers at risk. Shamsail Saraliyev (United Russia) stepped up with this initiative at this week’s session of the State Duma Committee for Information Policy, […]
more…17 Dec, 2014
Delhi’s indifference to 1984 riots led to other massacres – Hindustan Times
The 30th anniversary has passed by — almost unnoticed — of the days when Delhi was engulfed in the tumult of the bloodiest frenzy of communal slaughter after the Partition riots, extinguishing over 3,000 lives. Ganga Kaur, who lost her husband, brother-in-law and four nephews in the carnage, sighs, “Every time November returns, we remember. […]
more…16 Dec, 2014
Sydney siege: Why my heart sank when I saw an Islamic flag – Sydney Morning Herald
By Mariam Veiszadeh As a mother and a fellow Australian, I join the rest of the nation in grieving the loss of two innocent Sydneysiders who so tragically lost their lives in the Martin Place siege. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, the rest of the hostages and their loved ones. I went […]
more…16 Dec, 2014
Iranian official: Canberra ignored Iran’s warning on hostage taker – PressTV
A senior Iranian diplomat says the Australian government had ignored Iran’s repeated warnings about the criminal record of the man involved in the recent hostage-taking incident in Australia. Ebrahim Rahimpour, who serves as Iran’s deputy foreign minister for Asia and Oceania, said Iran had repeatedly informed the Australian government about the criminal record of the […]
more…16 Dec, 2014
Australians support Muslims as #illridewithyou hashtag goes viral — Sydney Morning Herald
In a climate of fear and uncertainty, Australians have banded together to show their support for the Muslim population. The #illridewithyou hashtag amassed almost 120,000 tweets on Monday evening, as Australians took a stand against anti-Muslim sentiment in the wake of the Martin Place siege. A young Brisbane woman, Rachael Jacobs, appears to have inspired […]
more…16 Dec, 2014
American values only exist in Hollywood films | GulfNews.com
By Linda Heard It is irksome to hear US presidents admonishing other countries on human rights and alleged crimes against humanity, while trumpeting their own country’s set-in-stone values. A nation either operates on a certain set of values, ethics and principles or it does not. Values cannot be cherry-picked as a matter of convenience. US […]
more…16 Dec, 2014
Australian Muslim groups condemn Sydney cafe siege | GulfNews.com
Sydney: More than 40 Australian Muslim groups on Monday jointly condemned a siege at a Sydney cafe, in which hostages were taken by an armed man and a black flag displayed. “We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instill fear and terror into their hearts,” they said […]
more…15 Dec, 2014
Fifth column: Stop Hindutva now | The Indian Express
by Tavleen Singh There exists today the bizarre situation in which our strongest prime minister in decades is allowing Hindu fanatics in the Lok Sabha and Hindu fanatical organisations outside to blacken his image. The MPs who have been most offensive wear saffron robes signifying asceticism and renunciation. So what they are doing in Parliament […]
more…14 Dec, 2014
Native American Council Offers Amnesty to 220 Million Undocumented Whites – The Daily Currant
A council of Native American leaders has offered partial amnesty to the estimated 220 million illegal white immigrants living in the United States. At a meeting of the Native Peoples Council (NPC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico yesterday, Native American leaders considered several proposals on the future of this continent’s large, unauthorized European population. The elders […]
more…14 Dec, 2014
Portugal’s parliament calls for recognition of Palestinian state – Haaretz
The Portuguese parliament passed a resolution Friday recommending that the government recognize a Palestinian state, the portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã reported. Only nine members of the 230-member Assembly of the Republic voted against the resolution, which was jointly sponsored by the country’s three largest parties: Social Democratic Party, the People’s Party (both right-wing parties […]
more…14 Dec, 2014
Six months of Modi govt: Movie without a script – The Indian Express
The bad fight scenes are piling up. Modi’s ambiguous admonition notwithstanding, his party is feeling incredibly empowered to spread communal poison. Other parties in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh may be fishing as well. The excuse that these storm troopers are fringe elements, marginal to the party, simply does not wash. The number of inflammatory […]
more…13 Dec, 2014
New evidence Bush misled Americans into Iraq war – senator — RT USA
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has released new information claiming the Bush administration misled the American people in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said on Thursday that a 2003 CIA cable warns the administration of former President George W. Bush against making reference to claims that […]
more…13 Dec, 2014
Investigators confirm Heathrow plane in near miss with drone – The Guardian
Aviation near-miss investigators have expressed considerable concern that a device believed to be a drone came within 20ft of an incoming passenger plane at Heathrow airport. The Airbus A320 was 700ft from landing when the pilot reported seeing a small black object to the left of the aircraft, the report by the UK Airprox (aircraft […]
more…13 Dec, 2014
Romancing the Taj: Online tickets for visiting monument of love from Dec 25 – Hindustan Times
Your wait for a glimpse of the world’s most famous monument to love is about to get much shorter. Come December 25 and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) will introduce online ticketing for visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, ASI director general Rakesh Tiwari said. The e-ticketing facility will be introduced on a trial […]
more…13 Dec, 2014
PressTV – US Congress approves over half a trillion dollars in military spending
The US Congress approved a massive military spending bill on Friday worth more than half a trillion dollars, which includes billions of dollars for waging wars and developing nuclear weapons. The legislation sets the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal year 2015 at $577 billion, including a base budget of $496 billion and $64 billion for conflicts […]
more…13 Dec, 2014
Asia Times Online: The cleansing of India
India is in the throes of the Swacchh Bharat Abhiyan, in other words a campaign to clean India. This, as one has now got to see, has to do with lots of famous people picking up brooms and cleaning streets that are already clean or have been specially littered for the photo-op. TV advertisements pointing […]
more…12 Dec, 2014
Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Godse is a ‘nationalist, not traitor’: BJP lawmaker
Stirring a political hornet’s nest, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Sakshi Maharaj said that Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Vinayak Godse was equally a patriot and a nationalist, and should not be seen as a traitor or considered as one. Godse had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi by shooting him in the […]
more…10 Dec, 2014
UP: Day after ‘homecoming’, Muslim families deny embracing Hinduism – Hindustan Times
About 57 Muslim families contested on Tuesday hard-line Hindu groups Dharma Jagaran Manch and Bajrang Dal’s claim that they have switched to Hinduism, saying they were tricked into a conversion event couched as a “homecoming ceremony” in Agra. Noor Mohammad, one of the people who alleged that the two Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh offshoots had lured […]
more…10 Dec, 2014
PH pushes developing nations to cut emissions – Manila Bulletin
December 10, 2014, Lima, Peru, (The New York Times) – As the torrential rains of typhoon “Ruby” flood the Philippines, driving millions of people from their homes, the Philippine government arrived at a United Nations climate change summit meeting on Monday to push hard for a new international deal requiring all nations, including developing countries, […]
more…10 Dec, 2014
Indian, Pakistani Nobel prize winners ask leaders to embrace peace | The Indian Express
Indian Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai on Tuesday said trust and friendship is key to sustainable peace in South Asia, as they asked the leaders of the two countries to embrace peace. “Trust and friendship is important for sustainable peace between India and Pakistan,” 60-year-old Satyarthi told reporters here on […]
more…10 Dec, 2014
Hindu extremist group ‘re-converts’ 200 Agra Muslims, says more in line – The Times of India
AGRA: Members of at least 57 Muslim families were converted to Hinduism at a ceremony called ‘Purkhon ki ghar vapsi’, a mass conversion jointly organized by Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Bajrang Dal in Agra on Monday. RSS regional head Rajeshwar Singh said more than 200 Muslims […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
UK media ‘gagged over bid to report MP child sex cases’ – The Observer
The security services are facing questions over the cover-up of a Westminster paedophile ring as it emerged that files relating to official requests for media blackouts in the early 1980s were destroyed. Two newspaper executives have told the Observer that their publications were issued with D-notices – warnings not to publish intelligence that might damage […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
Declare Bhagavad Gita national scripture: Sushma – Hindustan Times
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday urged the Centre to declare the Bhagavad Gita a national scripture and applauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for presenting the book to world leaders. “PM Modi gifted the Gita to US President Barack Obama, which means it has already received the honour of a national scripture. What we […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
Taj Mahal part of ancient temple, claims UP BJP chief – The Times of India
BAHRAICH: After Azam Khan’s demand of handing over the Taj Mahal to UP waqf board, the state’s BJP chief Laxmikant Bajpai on Sunday sought to drag the famed mausoleum into another row by claiming that it was a part of an ancient temple. Bajpai told reporters that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan “purchased a part of […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
Snowden film ‘CitizenFour’ wins top documentary award – DAWN.COM
LOS ANGELES: CitizenFour, filmmaker Laura Poitras’s documentary about National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden, was given the top award for best feature by the International Documentary Association on Friday. The IDA award for CitizenFour follows the film’s best documentary win at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards this week. It was also nominated for […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
Pakistani university student shot dead in Chicago – DAWN.COM
A Pakistani student enrolled in Loyola University was fatally shot in Chicago on Friday during an attempted robbery, the Chicago Tribune reported. Accompanied by his brother, 23-year-old Mutahir Rauf was walking by 1300 block of West Albion Avenue in Roger Park neighbourhood, when he was stopped by two men on foot, a block from the […]
more…9 Dec, 2014
Mass surveillance exposed by Snowden ‘not justified by fight against terrorism’ – The Guardian
The “secret, massive and indiscriminate” surveillance conducted by intelligence services and disclosed by the former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden cannot be justified by the fight against terrorism, the most senior human rights official in Europe has warned. In a direct challenge to the United Kingdom and other states, Nils Muižnieks, the commissioner for human […]
more…8 Dec, 2014
Israel authors call on European parliaments to recognize Palestine – Haaretz
Renowned Israeli authors Amos Oz, David Grossman and A.B. Yehoshua have signed a letter calling on European parliaments to recognize a Palestinian state. According to the Gush Shalom organization, Oz, Grossman and Yehoshua join some 800 Israeli signatories, including Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg and former Minister Yossi Sarid. On Sunday […]
more…7 Dec, 2014
Indian citizens head immigration queue for Australia – Sydney Morning Herald
Indian citizens are flocking to Australia to work, beating the once-dominant British expats, while the granting of Australian citizenship is at a six-year high, according to migration figures released this week. The statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development show there has been 46.6 per cent increase in the number of people becoming […]
more…6 Dec, 2014
The world has had enough of the Israeli occupation – Haaretz Editorial
As Israel turns its attention inward to an election campaign, the world is continuing to take steps against Israel’s obstinacy to make peace and its ongoing occupation and settlement building. Barak Ravid reported in Thursday’s Haaretz that the Obama administration is considering taking stronger measures against construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem settlements. […]
more…5 Dec, 2014
Former Bega Cheese CEO likely to remain on bail over child sex offences – Sydney Morning Herald
The confessed child sex offender and former head of Bega Cheese, Maurice van Ryn is likely to remain on bail if he can arrange effective electronic monitoring and prove his family members have put up a $700,000 surety, a court has been told. Last month Mr Van Ryn, the Chief Executive Officer of the cheese […]
more…5 Dec, 2014
Music becomes collateral damage in souring of Pak-India ties – DAWN.COM
After the Lahore-based Sachal Jazz Ensemble’s seven Pakistani artists were denied permission to perform at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on December 1, the band decided to cancel the Bangalore concert scheduled for the following day and returned home. The Ensemble comprising musicians from India, Pakistan and the UK were on a […]
more…5 Dec, 2014
Asia Times Online: “The Hunger Games” are real in Gaza
By Ramzy Baroud I could have never imagined myself drawing parallels between my refugee camp, Nuseirat, in the Gaza Strip, its heroic people, and a Hollywood movie; the struggle of my people is too sacred for that. But I couldn’t help it as I watched the latest from The Hunger Games franchise, Mockingjay. A feeling […]
more…5 Dec, 2014
UAE luxury yacht market remains buoyant | GulfNews.com
Dubai: Superyachts in the UAE have caught a wave of fresh interest over the last year from residents of the Arabian Gulf, Russian and European tourists. The market for superyachts, which are more than 30 metres in length, has bounced back from the 2008 financial crisis. “We see a consistent growth in the [boating] market […]
more…5 Dec, 2014
US removes Saudi businessman from sanctions list after 13 years without charge | Arab News
A leading Saudi businessman and philanthropist has been removed by the US Treasury Department from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list. This development marks the conclusion of Sheikh Yassin Kadi’s challenge to the restrictive measures after a 13-year battle, which started with the imposition of sanctions in October 2001. Kadi had already been de-listed in […]
more…4 Dec, 2014
100 days on: Gaza’s children speak out – The Independent
Standing outside a youth centre in the north of Gaza, Mohammed, a confident 12-year-old,says he works hard at sciences in school and has big dreams: “I want to be an astronaut, I want to be the first astronaut from Gaza.” For children in the war-ravaged region, imaginations remain intact. But 100 days after the seven-week […]
more…4 Dec, 2014
The rise of India’s Saffron brigade – The Hindu
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat set the target of one crore volunteers and one lakh Shakhas in five years’ time at a three-day youth camp in early November in Agra. The Sangh has been working hard on getting these numbers. The rigorous daily Shakha has a weekly avatar — the IT Milan for IT, management and […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
British Muslims raise concern over new anti-terror law – DAWN.COM
LONDON: British Muslim rights groups and ordinary faithful said they felt singled out by a tough new anti-terror law unveiled on Wednesday, labelling the planned legislation divisive and rushed. While there is agreement on the need to prevent would-be British militants from joining the ranks of the Islamic State group, there is also unease over […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
Record numbers of UK working families in poverty due to low-paid jobs – The Guardian
Insecure, low-paid jobs are leaving record numbers of working families in poverty, with two-thirds of people who found work in the past year taking jobs for less than the living wage, according to the latest annual report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The research shows that over the last decade, increasing numbers of pensioners have […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
When cricket bat and beard = “anti-Semitic killer” – DAWN.COM
Even without a concealed cricket bat, he would have stuck out like a sore thumb. Being bearded and brown in Brussels sets you apart, but not necessarily in a good way. Assim Abbasi, 22, attracted sudden notoriety when the police in Brussels circulated his photographs that showed him carrying a concealed object. The police believed […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
British Muslims face worst job discrimination of any minority group – The Independent
Muslims are facing the worst job discrimination of any minority group in Britain, according to new research which found that they had the lowest chance of being in work or in a managerial role. Muslim men were up to 76 per cent less likely to have a job of any kind compared to white, male […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
Crossing borders: Why every Indian should visit Pakistan – DAWN.COM
By Nikita Singla I said, “I want to go to Pakistan…” but, I couldn’t finish before the reactions came flying in: “There are so many new places you can see, then why Pakistan?” “If a war starts between India and Pakistan, the first thing they will do is seal the borders and you will be […]
more…2 Dec, 2014
What America’s police departments don’t want you to know – The Washington Post
Michael Brown’s death was part of a tragic and unacceptable pattern: Police officers in the United States shoot and kill civilians in shockingly high numbers. How many killings are there each year? No one can say for sure, because police departments don’t want us to know. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, in 2013 […]
more…2 Dec, 2014
Meet the real turkeys in America | The Japan Times
Before the tryptophan in the turkey induces somnolence, give thanks for living in such an entertaining country. This year, for example, we learned that California’s Legislature includes 93 persons who seem never to have had sex. They enacted the “affirmative consent” law directing college administrators to tell students that sexual consent cannot be silence but […]
more…2 Dec, 2014
Australian Police in doghouse over strip searches – Sydney Morning Herald
Invasive strip searches by police have increased by almost a third in NSW over the past five years, with thousands of people stripped naked on the basis of sniffer dogs incorrectly indicating they are carrying drugs. Distressed patrons from music festivals and other events report being forced to take all their clothes off and squat […]
more…30 Nov, 2014
Gadhimai Hindu festival: Global condemnation of slaughter of more than 5,000 buffaloes – The Independent
The slaughter of more than 5,000 buffaloes at the Gadhimai Hindu festival in Nepal has drawn global condemnation from animal charities. Many more buffaloes and farm animals including chickens, goats and pigs are due to be killed as part of what is thought to be the world’s largest animal sacrifice ritual. Devotees believe the event […]
more…30 Nov, 2014
Young Londoners flee capital for the regions | The Observer
Young ambitious thirtysomethings are leaving London in droves. Record numbers are turning their backs on the capital and flocking to England’s regional cities, according to an analysis of official data that suggests a significant exodus from London is under way. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that, in the year to June […]
more…29 Nov, 2014
MILF decommissioning fighters starting Jan 2015 | Manila Bulletin
Manila The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has agreed to start the decommissioning of its estimated 11,000 fully armed combatants and weapons by January, 2015. However, ammunitions are not covered by the decommissioning in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). Mohagher Iqbal, chairman of the MILF peace panel in the peace process […]
more…29 Nov, 2014
Airline surcharges fly high despite slump in fuel prices — Sydney Morning Herald
Passengers will be wishing Australia had taken a leaf out of Hong Kong’s book before the Christmas holidays, the busiest flying time of the year. Since January, the Chinese territory’s aviation regulators have forced Qantas and other airlines to drop passenger fuel surcharges on long-haul flights by almost a third to $HK628 ($95). ‘I can […]
more…29 Nov, 2014
The two signs you’re a workaholic – Sydney Morning Herald
There’s never been an easier time to be a workaholic. If you’re so inclined, you have at your disposal a number of contraptions and factors to get you hooked. There’s the ubiquitous ‘smart’ phone, with your job merely a tap away. There’s the ‘do more with less’ mantra, compelling you to fill the gap. And […]
more…27 Nov, 2014
Near-collisions between drones, airliners surge, new FAA reports show – The Washington Post
Pilots around the United States have reported a surge in near-collisions and other dangerous encounters with small drones in the past six months at a time when the Federal Aviation Administration is gradually opening the nation’s skies to remotely controlled aircraft, according to FAA records. Since June 1, commercial airlines, private pilots and air-traffic controllers […]
more…24 Nov, 2014
Muslims, Buddhists team up to bring about peace for Rohingya | The Jakarta Post
Muslims and Buddhists in Indonesia are joining forces to push for conflict resolution in Myanmar, where the Rohingya Muslim minority has been persecuted and denied citizenship for more than three decades. Indonesia’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said that in collaboration with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and the Council of Buddhist Communities (Walubi), […]
more…24 Nov, 2014
Foreign workers in demand amid tourism surge | The Japan Times
Demand for foreign workers has been strong in Japan over the past few years as the number of foreign tourists rises and an increasing number of domestic companies aim to expand their business abroad. Since its establishment in 2004, Globalpower Inc., a Tokyo-based staffing agency specializing in foreign nationals, especially those with strong Japanese-language skills, […]
more…24 Nov, 2014
Thailand: Malls here, malls there, malls everywhere – The Nation
The proliferation of shopping malls here has reduced entertainment to acquisition, success to greed, interaction to purchasing, and humans to mere buyers and sellers. Our mall culture has sown the value of money and material things as absolute. Everything can be measured by the act of consumption. It is, in turn, providing a fertile petri […]
more…23 Nov, 2014
UK employers told to look out for the signs of domestic violence – The Independent
In the advice from the Government’s health agency, managers will be asked to spot sudden shifts in behaviour, or changes to clothing and appearance which may disguise bruising, and are to be encouraged to approach staff sensitively and offer help. One in four women and one in six men experience domestic violence at some point […]
more…23 Nov, 2014
Broadway hotel fined a couple £100 for bad review on Tripadvisor — The Guardian
The Broadway, a labyrinthine budget hotel in Blackpool’s South Shore area, made international news this week, when it emerged it had charged a couple from Cumbria £100 for slagging it off on TripAdvisor. Tony and Jan Jenkinson found the charge on their credit card bill after describing the hotel as a “FILTHY, DIRTY ROTTEN STINKING […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
Denial is not a cure for historical abuse, truth is – Hindustan Times
History should not extend itself into the present and colour our evaluations of a people today. For example, we don’t need to settle scores with today’s British for the actions of their ancestors. And furthermore, if Indian Christians are not blamed for British excesses just because the British happened to be Christians, why should Indian […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
Modi, I will remain RSS swayamsevaks: Rajnath – Hindustan Times
Asked about the RSS, which is seen as the spiritual and ideological guide of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said, “RSS is not an external force. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I are both from the RSS. Where is the question of RSS influence? “The PM and I will remain RSS swayamsevaks all our […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
2002 Gujarat riots: US court seeks response to objections over PM Modi’s immunity | The Indian Express
A US court has asked the State Department to respond by December 10 to the objections raised by a rights group over the immunity granted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with a lawsuit filed against him for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The American Justice Center (AJC) had filed a […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
‘Papal visit can help bring peace to Mindanao’ | Manila Bulletin
Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad yesterday said the forthcoming apostolic visit of Pope Francis to the country “as an opportunity to bring peace in Mindanao.” In an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas, Jumoad said that even if the Pope will not visit Mindanao, “the Prelature of Isabela in Basilan hopes that the historic visit will finally […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
Asia Times Online: A U.S. General’s Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Why We Lost: A General’s Inside Account of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, by Daniel P Bolger “I am a United States Army general, and I lost the Global War on Terrorism,” Lieutenant-General Daniel Bolger begins his history of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. “It’s like Alcoholics Anonymous; step one is admitting you have a […]
more…22 Nov, 2014
BBC News – Women bosses ‘more depressed’ than male counterparts
Women are more likely than men to display symptoms of depression when in a position of authority at work, according to US scientists. In men, authority, such as the ability to hire and fire people, decreases depressive symptoms, the study said. The study, published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, looked at 2,800 […]
more…21 Nov, 2014
Fears grow about Hindu ‘Modi-fication’ of education – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Indians were flying aeroplanes, carrying out stem cell research and may even have been using cosmic weapons 5,000 years ago, according to the chairman of India’s leading historical organisation. Professor Y Sudershan Rao, the head of the Indian Council of Historical Research, has been criticized by fellow historians for comments that Hindu epics […]
more…21 Nov, 2014
UCLA students vote in favor of Israel divestment – Haaretz
The UCLA undergraduate student government passed a resolution that calls for the University of California to divest from American companies that are accused of abusing Palestinian human rights. The student government passed the divestment resolution by a vote of 8 to 2, with two abstentions on Tuesday night. The passing vote comes nine months after […]
more…21 Nov, 2014
Woman opens professional cuddling shop – The Independent
Professional cuddler Samantha Hess has opened a pro cuddling shop, where for $60 customers can get an hour’s worth of spooning and “the level of human contact that we want or need in order to be our optimal selves.” Located in Portland, Oregon, the shop is called Cuddle Up To Me and is already very […]
more…21 Nov, 2014
India set to become the next lackey of Israel
While every other ally of Israel has distanced itself from Israel’s policies after its offensive in Gaza this summer – especially on settlements – India has pledged to strengthen its relations with the country. A visit by India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Israel this month became an chance for India to proclaim its steadfast […]
more…21 Nov, 2014
Men fall in love faster than women, but wait longer to say so, survey finds – The Independent
Men appear to be shier than women when it comes to confessing their love to a new partner, but get that fuzzy feeling faster than women, according to new research. While women typically say ‘I love you’ three months earlier than men, it is actually men who succumb to love sooner– on an average of […]
more…20 Nov, 2014
Beware of cover for making anti-Muslim bigotry respectable – Sydney Morning Herald
In the case of contemporary anti-Muslim feeling, there are frequently racialised elements. Religion can be used as a surrogate for race. When we see verbal and other attacks against Muslim Australians, it is often accompanied by a nastiness that resembles racial hatred. Anti-Muslim sentiment can be based on negative racial stereotypes about people from the […]
more…20 Nov, 2014
A view of India based on hatred – Vir Sanghvi, Hindustan Times
But that doesn’t explain the rancour, the viciousness of the responses and the bitterness displayed by many of those attacking Nehru and especially by the angry army of abusive trolls on social media who spend their days posting abuse all the way from Vancouver to Versova. That anger stems from two entirely separate factors. The […]
more…20 Nov, 2014
Uber executive stirs up privacy controversy – The Washington Post
An Uber executive’s suggestion that the company should investigate the private lives of journalists has sparked a backlash against the popular car service, offering a potent reminder that tech companies are amassing detailed — and potentially embarrassing — records of users’ communications, Internet traffic and even physical movements. The controversy stemmed from remarks by Uber […]
more…19 Nov, 2014
The Right-wing route is wrong – Hindustan Times
The current flavour of the month for the chatteratti is the 125th birth anniversary of the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. For the media, ‘Breaking News’ is generating a debate on why the Congress has not invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to its international seminar on Nehru’s worldview and legacy. The government of […]
more…18 Nov, 2014
Diabetes growing rapidly in GCC region | GulfNews.com
Dubai: Despite a slew of diabetes health awareness campaigns, the prevalence of the disease is soaring as the globe observes World Diabetes Day today. Type 2 diabetes is caused due to a decadent lifestyle and bad nutrition and the rate is not only climbing but it is expected to get far worse in the Middle […]
more…18 Nov, 2014
£10 charge to be introduced for up to 5.5m visitors to the UK, Labour says – The Guardian
Labour will seek to beef up its pitch to voters on immigration with a pledge to pay for 1,000 extra border guards by imposing a charge on visitors from the US and 55 other countries. Yvette Cooper, shadow home secretary, will criticise other parties for engaging in an “arms race of rhetoric” on the issue, […]
more…18 Nov, 2014
Asia Times Online: The siege of Julian Assange is a farce
The siege of Knightsbridge is a farce. For two years, an exaggerated, costly police presence around the Ecuadorean embassy in London has served no purpose other than to flaunt the power of the state. Their quarry is an Australian charged with no crime, a refugee from gross injustice whose only security is the room given […]
more…18 Nov, 2014
UK Budget cuts forcing cuts in school student exchange trips – The Independent
Whether a joyful summer away from the prying eyes of parents, or a tedious fortnight in a dreary provincial town, foreign exchanges have been a rite of passage for generations of British teenagers. But many children today are missing out on the mind-expanding opportunities offered by language and cultural exchanges, as budget cuts and safety […]
more…18 Nov, 2014
Facebook, Google and Apple lobby for curb to NSA surveillance – The Guardian
A coalition of technology and internet companies is lobbying to curb US National Security Agency surveillance powers and for more transparency on government data requests. The Reform Government Surveillance coalition, including Facebook, Google, Twitter, Microsoft and Apple, added its support for the race to pass a bill through the US Senate before the end of […]
more…16 Nov, 2014
16 Indian political parties to observe Dec 6 as communal harmony day in Bengal – The Times of India
KOLKATA: Sixteen Left parties on Sunday decided to observe Dec 6 – the day when the 16th century Babri mosque was destroyed in 1992 – as communal harmony and unity day across West Bengal by bringing out rallies and holding street corners. Making the announcement after a meeting of the Left parties, Communist Party of […]
more…
Loading ...
