Author Archive
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…22 Dec, 2014
E-encyclopedia documents Haj through the ages
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 22 December 2014 (30 Safar 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 Malaysian […]
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…20 Dec, 2014
China, US vow to boost tourism
CHICAGO, (Xinhua), 2014-12-18 – China and the United States vowed on Wednesday to further enhance bilateral cooperation in boosting tourism and people-to-people exchanges. At a forum on China-US tourism cooperation held here as part of the ongoing 25th session of the US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang […]
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
Chinese commentator to U.S.: Criticizing is easier than self-criticism
Washington DC, (China Daily) 2014-12-12 – Now we all know why it’s never the United States, but the rest of the world that engages in torture. It’s simply because the US doesn’t call it torture, it calls it enhanced interrogation techniques, or EIT. But no matter how much nicer it sounds, EIT is heinous and […]
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
Chinese travel agencies told to regulate tourist behavior
Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-12-15 – Tourism authorities will urge travel agencies to monitor tour groups and will explore the use of personal credit reports to identify possible offenders in advance. The move comes after four Chinese travelers poured hot water on a Thai flight attendant and triggered public outrage online. The China National Tourism Administration […]
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
China corruption crackdown hits Macau’s gambling revenue
Beijing, (China Daily) Updated: 2014-12-19 – It is time for Macao to diversify its economy from an over-reliance on gambling, as this year may mark the city’s first yearly decline in gaming revenue, industry insiders and analysts urge. Macao is looking to develop as a leisurely tourist destination to offer visitors, mostly from the Chinese […]
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
Oman Air Launches Muscat-Jakarta Flights
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 15 December 2014 (22 Safar 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…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
All-around service is key to meeting Chinese needs abroad
(China Daily) 2014-12-13 – HNA Tourism Group made an interesting observation on its cruise ship Henna: While Western cruise-ship customers love lying on the deck taking in the sun, many Chinese travelers follow a decidedly Chinese pursuit and gather to play mahjong below deck. So the company has prepared mahjong sets on the ship in […]
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
Thai-Muslims to hold First Thailand Halal Assembly to boost travel, trade with Islamic World
Bangkok – An estimated 5,000 delegates are expected to meet in Bangkok between December 28 – 30 for the first “Thailand Halal Assembly 2014” to be held at the Bangkok Convention Center, Centara Grand Hotel at Central World. Organised jointly by the Halal Science Center of Chulalongkorn University, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand and […]
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…11 Dec, 2014
Climate Change: Oh, when will they ever learn?
Beijing, (China Daily) 2014-12-06 – Oh, when will they ever learn?The annual ritual of UN climate change conference is on in the Peruvian capital of Lima in a year which is almost certainly going to be the hottest on record. Twenty-two years have passed since the first international climate conference in Rio de Janeiro in […]
more…10 Dec, 2014
“Remarkable Indonesia” showcase in Bangkok highlights culture, builds ASEAN integration
Bangkok – A “Remarkable Indonesia Showcase 2014” was held from 8 to 11 December 2014 at Central Court, Central World in downtown Bangkok. At the official opening ceremony on 9 December. Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand, Mr Lutfi Rauf called it an “iconic event that showcases a variety of fashion products, cultural performances and food and […]
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
Malaysia sets up Malay Language Development Centre in China
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 08 December 2014 (16 Safar 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…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…6 Dec, 2014
Trade unions go on the offensive in India, call nationwide strike to protest anti-labour policies
This week’s 30th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster is stark reminder that India’s relationship with capitalism has not always been a happy one. 5 December 2014, Geneva, ITUC media release – As the world’s largest democracy again remembers those who died from the toxic gas leak at the US-owned Union Carbide factory on the night […]
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
Beijing tightens rules for airports
Bejing, (China Daily) Updated: 2014-12-03 – The Beijing government has issued new airport rules with an eye on the growing number of conflicts between passengers and carriers in recent years. The rules forbid entering an airport-controlled area without an airport pass, entering a taxiway, forcibly boarding and occupying an aircraft, climbing over and destroying airports’ […]
more…3 Dec, 2014
Multinationals in China set for tougher scrutiny over tax evasion, transfer-pricing
Beijing, (China Daily), 2014-12-03 – China will establish a comprehensive system to monitor foreign companies’ profitability to curb cross-border tax evasion, the State Administration of Taxation said. The move is one of several steps against tax avoidance taken by the agency to protect the country’s interests as the world’s top destination for foreign direct investment. […]
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…1 Dec, 2014
Al-Quds, Konya Declared Islamic Tourism Capitals for 2015, 2016
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 01 December 2014 (09 Safar 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…1 Dec, 2014
China to boost students’ soccer skills
BEIJING, (Xinhua), 2014-11-27 — Many people blame academic pressure and lack of school soccer for China’s terrible soccer team, but that may be about to change thanks to a new evaluation system that will take into soccer skills. China’s education minister Yuan Guiren said on Wednesday that soccer will be factored in when forming a comprehensive […]
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
Macy’s says “huanying” to Chinese tourists
New York, (China Daily USA), 2014-11-28 – The presence of a China-themed float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time was perhaps symbolic of the rising importance of Chinese customers to one of the world’s largest department stores. The Macy’s in Herald Square in New York has undergone a $400 million renovation […]
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…28 Nov, 2014
Ex-Thai Foreign Minister calls on Israel to end “cage-like existence” of Palestinian people
United Nations Asia-Pacific HQ, Bangkok – Thailand is proud to have recognised the state of Palestine, and “does not wish to see a colonial-like situation happening to fellow human beings such as the Palestinians in this 21st century,” former Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told a high-level turnout here on Nov 25. In a keynote […]
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…27 Nov, 2014
Durham County boots security firm G4S over profiteering from Israeli occupation
Landmark victory in North Carolina Thank Durham County for ending million dollar contract with occupation profiteer G4S Dear Supporter, Many of us were in the streets last night: protesting the injustice done in #Ferguson, demanding that #blacklivesmatter, re-committing to fighting against this system of injustice. A system we know will come down brick by brick. […]
more…27 Nov, 2014
Beijing mulls APEC car restrictions for long-term use
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2014-11-26 – Beijing is considering turning a temporary restriction on private vehicles — a system based on odd-even license plate numbers that was used during the APEC meetings — into a long-term policy, drawing praise as well as concerns from the public. “We have received much positive feedback on the odd-even license plate traffic […]
more…26 Nov, 2014
In U.S., 37% Do Not Feel Safe Walking at Night Near Home
WASHINGTON, D.C., 25 Nov 2014, Gallup.com — Fewer than four in 10 adults in the U.S. (37%) say there is an area within a mile of where they live where they would be afraid to walk alone at night, similar to Americans’ attitudes over the last decade and a half. Most Americans continue to feel […]
more…26 Nov, 2014
Indonesian President sets new leadership standards during private Singapore visit | The Jakarta Post
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo returned to Indonesia on Sunday after completing a short trip to Singapore, where he attended his son’s graduation ceremony, snapped selfies with his son’s college friends and had a courtesy-call meeting with the prime minister of the city-state. Jokowi and First Lady Iriana arrived in Singapore on Friday evening to attend […]
more…26 Nov, 2014
Advancing ASEAN cultural integration: Mosque tours workshop held in Bangkok
Bangkok – The goal of ASEAN cultural integration took a major step forward over the Nov 15-16 weekend with the first workshop on guiding visitors through Islamic mosques in Thailand. About 30 Muslim guides and travel industry executives attended the workshop organised by Imam Abdul Ahad (Mr. Thanarat Watcharapisud) of the Haroon Mosque, one of […]
more…24 Nov, 2014
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform at Nobel Peace Prize Concert
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 24 November 2014 (02 Safar 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…24 Nov, 2014
Glimmer of Hope for Thailand: Uptick in Oct marks first monthly arrivals growth in 2014
Bangkok – A 67% surge in arrivals from China helped Thailand record an overall growth of 6.14% in visitors in October, the first month of positive growth this year. It was the first glimmer of hope that the third-quarter 2014 will generate an uptick, if not an outright upturn, in visitor arrivals and help Thailand […]
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 […]
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