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Author Archive

25 Dec, 2014

What I’ve learned from living through three wars in the Gaza Strip

Alaa Radwan Alaa Radwan Alaa RadwanBy By Alaa Radwan in Gaza I am 22 years old now; and three times in my lifetime wars have taken place. The first war was the hardest and the most shocking to me since it was the first. Later I tried to get myself “used” to the worst so […]

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25 Dec, 2014

Christmas message from Jerusalem: Join the Babe of Bethlehem in Creative Resistance

Muna Mushahwar and Robert Smith, Co-Moderators, PIEF Core Group

Christmas greetings from Jerusalem. Even in the midst of lights and decorations in the Christian Quarter, Scout groups marching in Bethlehem, and amazing parties in Beit Sahour and Beit Jala, the reality of the situation in Israel and Palestine continues to challenge our Christmas joy. Just today, we received news that demolition orders have been […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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: […]

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22 Dec, 2014

E-encyclopedia documents Haj through the ages

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 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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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19 Dec, 2014

Chinese commentator to U.S.: Criticizing is easier than self-criticism

By Chen Weihua

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 […]

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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, […]

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19 Dec, 2014

Chinese travel agencies told to regulate tourist behavior

By Su Zhou

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 […]

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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 — […]

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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 […]

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19 Dec, 2014

China corruption crackdown hits Macau’s gambling revenue

By DENG YANZI/ZHANG HAIZHOU

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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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, […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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15 Dec, 2014

Oman Air Launches Muscat-Jakarta Flights

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 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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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14 Dec, 2014

All-around service is key to meeting Chinese needs abroad

By Wang Chao

(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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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11 Dec, 2014

Climate Change: Oh, when will they ever learn?

By O P Rana

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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8 Dec, 2014

Malaysia sets up Malay Language Development Centre in China

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 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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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. […]

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6 Dec, 2014

Trade unions go on the offensive in India, call nationwide strike to protest anti-labour policies

by David Browne

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Beijing tightens rules for airports

By Wang Wen

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’ […]

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3 Dec, 2014

Multinationals in China set for tougher scrutiny over tax evasion, transfer-pricing

By LI XIANG

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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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1 Dec, 2014

Al-Quds, Konya Declared Islamic Tourism Capitals for 2015, 2016

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 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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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29 Nov, 2014

Macy’s says “huanying” to Chinese tourists

By AMY HE

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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27 Nov, 2014

Durham County boots security firm G4S over profiteering from Israeli occupation

Source: Announcement by Jewish Voice for Peace

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. […]

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27 Nov, 2014

Beijing mulls APEC car restrictions for long-term use

By Zheng Jinran

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 […]

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26 Nov, 2014

In U.S., 37% Do Not Feel Safe Walking at Night Near Home

by Andrew Dugan

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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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24 Nov, 2014

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to perform at Nobel Peace Prize Concert

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 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 […]

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