11 Nov, 2013

Hundreds in Chicago protest against ABC’s racial rhetoric

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CHICAGO, Nov. 7- (Xinhua) – About 400 Chinese scholars, students and Chinese Americans gathered on Thursday in front of the building of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) Chicago Branch to protest against its rhetoric of racial discrimination. Protesters held placards reading “Stop Racism,” “Don’t let kids grow up in hatred,” “Teach kids love, not kill,” “Killing […]

10 Nov, 2013

U.S., Israel lose voting rights for failing to resume funding: UNESCO

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PARIS, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced Saturday that the United States and Israel lost their voting rights at the organization for not paying due contributions since November 2011. The U.S. and Israel stopped to pay their dues to the UN cultural organization in protest of UNESCO’s […]

10 Nov, 2013

Psychological survey reveals stress levels rising in Australia

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A new survey conducted by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) has revealed Australians are experiencing increased levels of stress and reduced wellbeing in the past 12 months. The Stress and Wellbeing in Australia 2013: A state-of-the-nation survey– released today to mark the start of National Psychology Week (10 – 16 November) -looked at the stress […]

10 Nov, 2013

How NSA Surveillance Has Chilled the Right to Association | Electronic Frontier Foundation

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has provided a federal judge with testimony from 22 separate advocacy organizations detailing how the National Security Agency’s (NSA) mass telephone records collection program has impeded the groups’ work, discouraged their members and reduced the numbers of people seeking their help via hotlines. The declarations accompanied a motion for partial […]

10 Nov, 2013

New Book Exposes Central Banks’ Destructive Policies, Warns of More Financial Crises

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HOBOKEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 07, 2013 – When Lehman Brothers went bankrupt and AIG was taken over by the US government in the fall of 2008, the world almost came to an end – stock markets went into free fall as trillions of dollars of wealth were wiped out. While the initial crisis is long gone, […]

10 Nov, 2013

Holiday Shopping Survey Finds U.S. Consumers Dialing Down the Holidays

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RIVERWOODS, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 07, 2013 – Americans are planning to celebrate this holiday season without all the fuss, according to the latest Discover Annual Holiday Shopping Survey. Gift cards are the most popular gift of the season, both to give and receive, and a majority plan to skip the hustle and bustle of holiday travel. […]

8 Nov, 2013

India Approves Collective Landing Permits for Group Tourists

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Ministry of Tourism, 08-November, 2013 – The Government has issued an order relating to Collective Landing Permit for Group tourists as per the notification issued by Ministry of Home Affairs. The facility of Collective Landing permit for Group tourists will be available at the following airports and seaports: Airports: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, […]

8 Nov, 2013

6 Things You Buy That Help Support Israeli Brutality | Alternet

When tax time rolls around each year, every American citizen gives $21.59 in military aid to Israel, according to the U.S. Campaign to End the Occupation. But that’s not the only way American citizens contribute to the Israeli military, which has occupied Palestinian land for 46 years, and the West Bank settlement project that accompanies […]

8 Nov, 2013

Now, the Untold Story Of What Happens When Soldiers Come Home | Alternet

At Bagram the three orthopedic surgeons work 14-hour days at a minimum with one night on call, the next night on backup, and the third night, if they’re lucky, asleep. When I talked with them in 2011 they were riding a long wave of wounds, and it was still spring. The winter when fighting falls […]

8 Nov, 2013

Major Upgrade for Incredibleindia.org to Enhance Functionality, User-Friendliness

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Ministry of Tourism, 07-November, 2013 – Ministry of Tourism has added three more services on its website www.incredibleindia.org to provide more comprehensive information to tourists at one place. The objective of the new changes is to put the entire gamut of tourism services online, from the initial planning of the trip to the final visit […]

8 Nov, 2013

Chinese see English literacy as gateway to good jobs, travel opportunities

By WANG HONGYI in Shanghai and JIN ZHU in Beijing

(China Daily), 2013-11-06 – English literacy in the Chinese mainland is expanding as people view mastery of the language as an invaluable bargaining tool for jobs. But the country still ranks low globally, a recent report shows. The mainland climbed two notches from 36th place last year to 34th on an annual list showing the […]

8 Nov, 2013

Beijing to cut new car quota by 37.5%

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BEIJING, 2013-11-07, (Xinhua) – The Beijing municipal government will slash its new car registration quota by 37.5 percent starting from 2014 and give more stake to new energy vehicles as part of its efforts to curb air pollution. According to an interpretation of a five-year vehicle emission reduction plan (2013-2017), the number of newly registered […]

8 Nov, 2013

China expected to pursue new growth model

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BEIJING, (Xinhua) 2013-11-07 – The upcoming policy meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is expected to unveil a package of measures to deepen reforms to achieve sustainable economic development, said experts. The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which is expected to steer the country to an historic turning point, […]

8 Nov, 2013

China urges developed countries to meet climate financing commitments

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Beijing, (Xinhua) November 05, 2013 – A senior Chinese official on Tuesday urged developed countries to keep their commitments on climate financing and outline concrete actions ahead of a number of key meetings on climate change. Developed nations should promise to inject funds of no less than the fast-start funding between 2013 and 2015, said […]

8 Nov, 2013

Call to limit tourist access to Balinese Hindu temples

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Bali, 2013-11-07, (Jakarta Post) – Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has proposed that temples be excluded as tourist destinations on the island to limit, or even prevent, tourists visiting the places of worship. “Further discussion with the island’s tourist industry will be necessary to consider the proposal. It is high time for us to limit […]

8 Nov, 2013

240 Asia-Pacific Sites To Benefit From Milestone U.N. Pact To Boost Dry Ports

Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil was the only travel industry journalist to cover this historic meeting

Bangkok – A total of 240 Asia-Pacific sites in and around cities stretching from Istanbul to Zamboanga city have been identified for future development as dry-ports under a landmark agreement signed here today. The move will set the stage for the next phase of economic growth in the world’s most populous region by linking coastal […]

8 Nov, 2013

Kerry warns Israel of isolation, violence if peace talks fail | Arab News

AMMAN, Jordan: US Secretary of State John Kerry issued a stark warning to Israel on Thursday, saying it faces international isolation and a possible explosion of violence if it does not make progress in peace efforts with the Palestinians. Kerry issued the blunt remarks in a joint interview with Israeli and Palestinian television channels, ensuring […]

8 Nov, 2013

Indonesia urges Australia, US to come clean on spying | The Jakarta Post

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on the United States and Australian governments to stop their spying activities from their embassies in Jakarta or risk damaging their relations with Indonesia. “The President has asked that wiretapping never happens again. We will also fix the state information system,” presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said on Wednesday. […]

8 Nov, 2013

NSA and GCHQ mass surveillance is violation of European law, report finds – theguardian.com

The authors of a new study on mass-scale surveillance have accused US and EU countries’ intelligence services of violating European law and urged the European parliament to take action. Sergio Carrera, a Spanish jurist, and Francesco Ragazzi, a professor of international relations at Leiden University in the Netherlands, who co-wrote the paper, made the appeal […]

7 Nov, 2013

Online Chinese travel search platform Qunar makes debut on Nasdaq

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Beijing, (Xinhua) 2013-11-05 – A prominent search-based online commercial platform for the Chinese travel industry, Qunar Cayman Islands Limited, debuted Friday at the Nasdaq Global Market with the pricing of 15 U.S. dollars a share for its initial public offering (IPO). Shares of the Beijing-based company, under the ticker symbol of QUNR at the Nasdaq, […]

7 Nov, 2013

Chinese luxury shoppers get more sophisticated

By Wang Wen

Beijing 2013-11-05, (China Daily) – Chinese luxury consumers are getting more sophisticated, as they increasingly look for unique products and expect professional services. It’s widely known that Chinese tourists are supporting the global luxury market, but the reasons behind the overseas trips of Chinese luxury consumers are changing. “Finding unique items not available in their […]

7 Nov, 2013

To Shape Policy Agenda, EC invites votes on what Europe could look like in 2050

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Brussels, 5 November 2013 (European Commission Media Release) – What future do you want? In 2050, will the economy be fundamentally altered because home 3D printers mean you can press a button to print your own clothes, a new sofa or kitchen table? Will cancer be a thing of the past thanks to nano-robots which […]

7 Nov, 2013

India needs political will to address root causes of terrorism – Hindustan Times

Terrorism is a manifestation of a larger conflict that emanates out of political failures. Therefore, the solution also lies in a better political management of terrorism. So far, whether it is response or resolution, politics has failed to shape an effective response to the challenge. Politics has to ensure that there is a better outreach […]

7 Nov, 2013

Why bogus overseas colleges target Chinese students

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Beijing, November 06, 2013, (People’s Daily Online) – The bogus college, also known as a ‘diploma mill’, general refers to an unaccredited higher education institution that offers fake academic degrees for money. To create a semblance of authenticity and to lure students, many of them choose names that closely resemble the names of respected and […]

7 Nov, 2013

UN’s Asia-Pacific Chief Outlines Five Challenges Facing Region’s Future Transport Needs

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Opening Statement by Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Forum of Asian Ministers of Transport, Bangkok, 7 November 2013 Just a few weeks ago, the world celebrated the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I have a […]

7 Nov, 2013

Our Legacy for Future Generations: Greenhouse Gases in Atmosphere Reach New Record

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Geneva, 6 November 2013, (World Meteorological Organization) – The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new record high in 2012, continuing an upward and accelerating trend which is driving climate change and will shape the future of our planet for hundreds and thousands of years. The World Meteorological Organization’s annual Greenhouse Gas […]

7 Nov, 2013

Venice to ban giant cruise ships – theguardian.com

Italy is to begin limiting large cruise ship traffic in the Venice lagoon, with the biggest vessels – of more than 96,000 tonnes – to be banned from November next year. Venice has seen a string of protests against the rising traffic of cruise ships, amid growing fears over the impact of these giant vessels […]

6 Nov, 2013

Heightened Jewish activism on Temple Mount may spark widespread conflict – Haaretz

Though few Israelis are aware of it, tensions around the Temple Mount are surging. Since the January general election, right-wing and religious groups have stepped up their efforts to change the status quo between Jews and Muslims at this ultra-sensitive site Read the rest: Heightened Jewish activism on Temple Mount may spark widespread conflict – […]

6 Nov, 2013

India needs alternative policies to prevent rise of communalism – Hindustan Times

On the two most important issues before the Indian people — growing economic burdens and relentless price rise and unscrupulous loot of our resources through corruption — there is very little to choose between the Congress and the BJP in terms of their policies. Both the BJP and the Congress pursue similar policies of economic […]

6 Nov, 2013

Heart of India? MP district is finishing off the girl child – Hindustan Times

Kharauwa, a tiny hamlet 35 km northwest of Bhind district headquarters, looks like any other village in the country from the outside. But look deeper and the difference is apparent: very few female kids play in its lanes and bylanes. Dig deeper and the reason is not very difficult to fathom: Female infanticide and foeticide […]

6 Nov, 2013

More businesses admit misrepresenting menu items | The Japan Times

Major department store chains Takashimaya Co. and Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores Co. separately said Tuesday that some of their restaurants and stores misrepresented items on their menus, becoming the latest in a string of companies to own up to food fraud. Takashimaya said the misrepresentations involved 62 menu items at five of its department stores […]

6 Nov, 2013

New Japanese secrecy law seen best serving bureaucrats | The Japan Times

Yukiko Miki was shocked in 2012 when she received the results of the information disclosure request she filed with the Cabinet Office seeking the minutes of meetings held to discuss the creation of a state secrets bill. The meetings, attended by officials from various government agencies and other experts, took place from 2008 to 2009 […]

6 Nov, 2013

New Zealand approves email and phone-snooping law – theguardian.com

New Zealand’s parliament has narrowly passed new legislation compelling telecommunication companies to allow the intelligence agencies to access customers’ emails, texts and phone calls. Under the telecommunications interceptions and security capability bill, firms must also consult with the electronic eavesdropping agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau, (GCSB), when developing new infrastructure and networks, and allow […]

6 Nov, 2013

EU Helps Young Journalists Launch Initiative to Promote “Beautiful Palestine”

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JERUSALEM, November 2, 2013 (WAFA) – Young Palestinian journalists launched Friday an initiative that combines voluntary work as well as promotion of local tourism, said a press release by the European Union (EU). The EU and Journalists without Borders (JWB) launched “Beautiful Palestine” initiative in partnership with young Palestinian journalists and photographers in an effort […]

6 Nov, 2013

Ramesh likens Narendra Modi’s rise to Third Reich – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: The government stepped up its criticism of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime-ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday, painting him as a dangerous extremist and comparing his rise to the birth of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. Jairam Ramesh, a senior cabinet minister close to the leadership of the Congress party, said Modi’s career […]

6 Nov, 2013

New Confederation Set up to Protect Rights of 53 million Domestic Workers

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(Montevideo) Human Rights Watch media release, 28 Oct 2013 – The founding of a global federation of domestic workers is a sign of the growing strength of the movement, and a key moment to assess progress for workers long excluded from basic labor protections, the International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN), the International Trade Union Confederation […]

6 Nov, 2013

Civil Society Groups Blast World Bank’s “Doing Business” Report as Bad for Business

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28 October 2013 (ITUC media release): On the eve of the release of the World Bank’s Doing Business 2014, civil society organisations have called on the World Bank to implement the major recommendations delivered by an independent panel in June, which included ending the ranking of countries according to an “Ease of Doing Business” index […]

6 Nov, 2013

The Attack on U.S. Wages and Labor Standards – Economic Policy Institute

Over the past two years, state legislators across the country have launched an unprecedented series of initiatives aimed at lowering labor standards, weakening unions, and eroding workplace protections for both union and non-union workers. This policy agenda undercuts the ability of low- and middle-wage workers, both union and non-union, to earn a decent wage. This […]

6 Nov, 2013

Drone Victims Tell Empty US House Their Story; Is America Listening?

“We do not kill our cattle the way the US is killing humans in Waziristan with drones.” – Rafiq ur Rehman “I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer grey skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are grey.” – Zubair Rehman, 13 “Now, I am always scared.” – Nabila […]

6 Nov, 2013

Fanatic Jewish settlers, led by Rabbi, storm Al-Aqsa Mosque

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Ramallah, Tuesday, 02 Muharram 1434/ 05 November 2013 (IINA) – A group of Jewish settlers on Sunday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex in occupied Jerusalem and raised the Israeli flag. Sheikh Najeh Bkeirat, the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound manager, said that the settlers headed by the rightist Rabbi Yehudah Glick entered the complex through the Al-Magharebah […]

6 Nov, 2013

EU needs to combat corruption by better protecting whistleblowers: Amnesty Int’l

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5 November 2013, Transparency International Secretariat – Most European Union countries fail to legally protect whistleblowers enough from retaliation in the workplace, shutting out an important actor in the fight against corruption, according to a new report from Transparency International. Whistleblowers play a prominent role exposing and preventing corruption, yet only four EU countries – […]

6 Nov, 2013

Hotel Institute Updates Responsible Alcohol Service Training Program

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Orlando, Florida, November 2013—The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has revised its responsible alcohol service seminar, Controlling Alcohol Risks Effectively® (CARE), with new and expanded content, additional activities and discussion questions, updated instructor materials with a new, easy-to-use format, and a new training DVD. The  DVD features several new training scenarios as well […]

5 Nov, 2013

A Sensex gone awry – The Hindu

This reflects a larger feature of the equity market in India. It is thin or shallow in at least two senses. First, only stocks of a few companies are actively traded in the market. Thus, although there are more than 5,000 companies listed on the stock exchange, the BSE Sensex incorporates just 30 companies. Second, […]

4 Nov, 2013

India’s National Tribal Crafts Mela Promotes Products Made by Under-privileged

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Ministry of Tribal Affairs, 01-November, 2013 – Union Minister for Tribal Affairs MR V. Kishore Chandra Deo inaugurated the “Adishilp: the National Tribal Craft Mela” in New Delhi today. Organized by TRIFED at Dilli Haat the 11 day mela showcases the unique and exquisite tribal arts and crafts of the country. The main objective of […]

4 Nov, 2013

1,550 flights, over 167,000 pax affected by LAX shooting

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) — A total of 1,550 flights with an estimated 167,050 passengers were affected by the shooting at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Friday, an airport spokeswoman said Saturday. Nancy Suey Castles, the spokesperson, told media that of those flights, 724 were scheduled arrivals with an estimated 67,850 passengers while 826 […]

4 Nov, 2013

Chinese high-speed trains venture overseas

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BEIJING, Nov. 3, (Xinhua) — Parallel to the development of domestic high-speed rail, the Chinese government and rail enterprises are actively seeking customers overseas. In a meeting with a trade ministers from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) last week, Premier Li Keqiang thanked them for traveling by high-speed train from south China […]

4 Nov, 2013

South African Crime at Lowest Levels in 15 Years, Says IHS Crime Index

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 31, 2013 — The IHS Crime Index has found that crime in South Africa is at its lowest level in 15 years. IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS), the leading global source of information and analytics, reveals key findings from this edition of the index below. Key findings: 1. The most dangerous metro is the […]

4 Nov, 2013

TSA union calls for armed guards at every checkpoint – USA Today

WASHINGTON — The union representing airport screeners for the Transportation Security Administration says Friday’s fatal shooting of an agent at Los Angeles International Airport highlights the need for armed security officers at every airport checkpoint. “Every local airport has its own security arrangement with local police to some type of contract security force,” said J. […]

4 Nov, 2013

Blockbuster Islamic Expo “1001 Inventions” Now Showing In Malaysia

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 November 2013 (01 Muharram 1435). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

4 Nov, 2013

Feeding on fires – The Hindu

Thanks to the manipulative politics of politicians and parties, primarily the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party, Uttar Pradesh remains a tinderbox. As elections approach, the State has become a battleground for clashes between castes and communities. A rumour or even an ordinary incident of law and order trouble can quickly assume communal overtones, […]

4 Nov, 2013

India, Pakistan forces celebrate Diwali at Wagah border – Indian Express

Indian and Pakistani forces at the border in Attari exchanged sweets on the occasion of Diwali Sunday. Border Security Force’s officiating DIG, Deby Joseph, along with other officers and jawans, gifted different types of traditional Indian sweets to their Pakistani counterparts. Read the rest: India, Pakistan forces celebrate Diwali at Wagah border – Indian Express.

4 Nov, 2013

¥1 trillion of taxpayer money for Fukushima decontamination | The Japan Times

In a major policy shift, the government will use more than ¥1 trillion in public funds to clean up contaminated areas around the Fukushima No. 1 plant, according to sources. The plan revealed Friday to alleviate the financial burden Tokyo Electric Power Co. was supposed to shoulder is in line with a ruling Liberal Democratic […]

4 Nov, 2013

The roots of the decline of the American empire | GulfNews.com

The influential media in the United States continues to be preoccupied with the aftermath of the government shutdown, and especially with the Obamacare — the object of the Republicans’ continuous ire — and whose web-based launch earlier this month experienced technical glitches. The other object of Republicans versus Democrats dispute was resolved when the Republicans […]

4 Nov, 2013

Maung Zarni: Aung San Suu Kyi and the world of Buddhist Islamophobia – Al Jazeera

Aung San Suu Kyi, one of the contemporary world’s most celebrated icons of human rights, non-violence and reconciliation, crossed the line into Myanmar’s world of “Buddhist” Islamophobia. Disturbingly, on BBC Radio Four’s flagship programme, “Today”, she characterised the waves of organised violence and Nazi-like hate campaigns currently being committed by her fellow Buddhists – the […]

4 Nov, 2013

Full Text: Indian Vice President’s Powerful Lecture at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

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The Vice President of India Prof Dr M. Hamid Ansari delivered a Lecture on “Identity and Citizenship: An Indian Perspective” at Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in London on 01 November 2013. Dr Ansari was on a State visit to UK from 31st October to 1st November, 2013. Following is the text of the lecture: […]

4 Nov, 2013

Gallup: U.S. Obesity Rate Climbing in 2013

by Lindsey Sharpe

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 1, 2013 (Gallup Inc.) — The adult obesity rate so far in 2013 is 27.2%, up from 26.2% in 2012, and is on pace to surpass all annual average obesity rates since Gallup-Healthways began tracking in 2008. The one-percentage-point uptick in the obesity rate so far in 2013 is statistically significant and […]

4 Nov, 2013

6 Ways the Out-of-Control Airline Industry Is Ripping Off America | Alternet

High-fives are happening on Wall Street. Airlines are making giant profits again, record-breaking profits! The days of bankruptcies, which peaked between 2001 and 2008, may soon be a memory. Have bold thinking, dramatic innovation and better service turned things around? Not exactly. Sky-high profits are coming at the expense of the taxpayers, airline workers, and […]

4 Nov, 2013

11 Key Issues Tourism Ministers will sweep under the carpet at WTM London

Exclusive analysis by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – Like all travel industry forums globally, the World Travel Market, which opens in London today, is becoming a mutual-admiration club of people preaching to the converted. The programme of events has the usual air of “sameness” to it – bursting with techno-babble interspersed with awards ceremonies, updates on destination marketing plans, new product […]

4 Nov, 2013

Lila Abu-Lughod: Do Muslim Women Need Saving? | TIME.com

I suspect that the deep moral conviction people feel about the rightness of saving the women of that timeless homogeneous mythical place called Islamland is fed by something else that cannot be separated from our current geopolitical relations. Blinded to the diversity of Muslim women’s lives, we tend to see our own situation too comfortably. […]

2 Nov, 2013

Chinese Investor Plans US$1.54 Billion Port City In Colombo

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COLOMBO, Nov 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — A mega development project to build a 1.43 billion USD port city along the shoreline of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo will be put for Cabinet approval next month with construction expected to begin in December, an official says. The project, which aims to reclaim a 230-hectare site from the sea […]

2 Nov, 2013

Corporation Launched to Develop High Speed Rail Corridors in India

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New Delhi, Ministry of Railways, 29-October, 2013 – The Minister of Railways Mr Mallikarjun inaugurated a two day international technical conference on “High Speed Rail Travel; Low Cost Solution” in New Delhi today. While addressing the conference, the Railway Minister said that India’s primary focus has been to provide a mass mode of safe, reliable […]

2 Nov, 2013

India Upgrades Bhubaneswar, Imphal to International Airport status

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New Delhi, Cabinet media release, 30-October, 2013 – The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for declaring the Bhubaneswar and Imphal airports as international airports to fulfill the long pending demand of people as well as the State Governments of Odisha and Manipur. Declaration of these airports as international airports will offer improved connectivity, wider […]

2 Nov, 2013

Bone flutes suggest 9,000-year-old Chinese music tradition

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ZHENGZHOU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) — Three flutes made of bones of red-crowned cranes have been excavated at an ancient tomb in central China’s Henan Province, further evidence of remote ancestors playing music long before they could write, archeologists announced on Friday. They believe that the musical instruments, excavated earlier in October from Jiahu, site of […]

2 Nov, 2013

Tourism fest raises toast to world’s tallest Buddha

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IANS, Nov 1, 2013, – The world’s tallest Buddha statue celebrated its 1,300th anniversary with a cultural festival in Leshan city in China’s Sichuan province. The Leshan Giant Buddha festival is expected to attract global attention to the statue’s conservation issues, said Li Wenfei, director of a management committee of Mount Emei and Leshan Giant […]

2 Nov, 2013

In love with Lanka – DAWN.COM

Marco Polo once wrote that Sri Lanka is “the finest island in the whole world”. He was not far from the truth. Sri Lanka is indeed a well-preserved reservoir of nature, a centre of culture and a land like no other. Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, it encompasses every aspect a traveller’s […]

2 Nov, 2013

Exhibition retraces evolution of Zoroastrianism – DAWN.COM

LONDON: Years of exploration and careful coordination across the seas from Pakistan and India to Hong Kong and the United States have culminated in a unique exhibition retracing the evolution of Zoroastrianism. The display is both engrossing and informative. Zoroastrianism may only have a modest following of two million worldwide, but before Islam, it was […]

2 Nov, 2013

India, Turkey lead in 143.3 mn false & duplicate Facebook accounts

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New York, Fri Nov 01 2013, Press Trust of India – An estimated 14.3 crore accounts on the popular social networking site Facebook may be false or duplicate, with a major chunk of them coming from developing markets like India and Turkey. (one crore is 10 million). Facebook, which boasts of 119 crore accounts globally, […]

2 Nov, 2013

Indonesia summons Aussie ambassador over spying claim | The Japan Times

SYDNEY – Australia’s ambassador met with Indonesian government officials who summoned him Friday following reports that the Australian Embassy in Jakarta is a hub for Washington’s secret electronic data-collection program. A document from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, published this week by German magazine Der Spiegel, describes a signals intelligence program called “Stateroom” in […]

2 Nov, 2013

More restaurants tied to food fraud | The Japan Times

Following Hankyu Hanshin Hotels Co.’s recent admission that dozens of its restaurants misrepresented the food on their menus, “revelations” have emerged that several other establishments around the nation are doing the same thing. The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Osaka and the Renaissance Sapporo Hotel in Hokkaido, for example, recently admitted using ingredients that are cheaper or […]

2 Nov, 2013

Port developments threaten Great Barrier Reef – Sydney Morning Herald

Much of the Great Barrier Reef is continuing to degrade, especially areas closest to the mainland, where new port developments are awaiting approval from the federal government. The latest strategic assessment of the reef confirmed that, while there were pockets of good news, hard coral had declined by half since 1986 in the bottom two-thirds […]

2 Nov, 2013

Everyone’s dirty little secrets exposed in high-tech neighbourhood watch – Sydney Morning Herald

Somewhere between the cyber espionage that outed the US as Big Brother Inc and the phone-hacking scandal that sank Rupert Murdoch’s British form of journalism, the real news of the world may be Spies ‘R’ Us. There is now enough equipment available via the internet to turn Australians into our own James and Ja’mie Bonds. […]

2 Nov, 2013

How Obama created endless war on terror – Asia Times Online

On January 21, 2013, Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term as president of the United States. Just as he had promised when he began his first campaign for president six years earlier, he pledged again to turn the page on history and take US foreign policy in a different direction. “A decade of […]

1 Nov, 2013

India Launches Portal for Booking Nationwide Bus Travel

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Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, 31-October, 2013 – Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Minister of Road Transport & Highways launched India’s first integrated National Transport Portal “www.busindia.com” here today. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Fernandes said busindia.com will address the need of a single window application, like IRCTC, through which users can seamlessly plan their bus […]

1 Nov, 2013

10 Healthiest Eating Habits across the Globe

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Bohemia, NY (PRWEB) November 01, 2013 – According to an article published by Greatist on October 28th titled “10 Surprising, Healthy Eating Habits From Around the World,” there is an issue with obesity in many countries, including the United States. However, there are many healthy diets around the globe that help promote lower obesity rates. […]

1 Nov, 2013

Tourists invited to live like Gandhi in his ashram – DAWN.COM

AHMEDABAD: Tourists searching for peace and simplicity can for the first time check in to Mahatma Gandhi’s most famous ashram in India. But don’t expect modern comforts. And chastity is required. For 1,000 rupees ($16) a night, tourists can sample the lifestyle of India’s famously ascetic independence leader by staying at the first ashram he […]

1 Nov, 2013

Swedish children complain their parents spend too long on phones | The Guardian

More than a third of children in Sweden’s cities complain that their parents spend too much time staring at phones and tablet computers, leading doctors in the country to warn that children may be suffering emotional and cognitive damage. According to a survey by YouGov, 33% of parents in Sweden’s major towns and cities have […]

31 Oct, 2013

New Islamic Economic Forum Digital Era Projects $1.2 Trillion Global Trade Increase

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 30, 2013 – In the presence of seventeen State Leaders and witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohamed Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Patron of the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation, the WIEF publicly announced a landmark MOU between the Global Coalition for Efficient Logistics (GCEL) and the Islamic Center for Development of […]

31 Oct, 2013

Foreign investors eye Indonesia’s small islands | The Jakarta Post

The beauty of the archipelago has charmed a number of foreign investors to pour some of their money into the development of ecotourism on Indonesia’s small islands. Swedish Ambassador Ewa Polano said on Tuesday that Indonesia, which had an immense number of small islands, offered lots of potential for ecotourism that businesses and local communities […]

31 Oct, 2013

PATA CEO Fudges Role as Panel Moderator at ITB Asia

Imtiaz Muqbil

Singapore, 24 Oct 2013 – For those who have seen PATA at its peak, to see it playing a distant second-fiddle on the ITB Asia media events programme was a sorry experience. Even more grim was to see its ongoing struggle for relevance as it tried, vainly, to honour the promise to offer “valuable new […]

31 Oct, 2013

ABC apology fails to appease Chinese Americans – People’s Daily Online

An Asian-American rights group has expressed its dissatisfaction with ABC’s apology over the inappropriate handling of children’s remarks in a TV show, Sing Tao Daily has reported. In ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” one child suggested that a solution to the U.S. sovereign debt issue could be to “kill everyone in China,” and another suggested putting […]

31 Oct, 2013

NSA infiltrates links to Yahoo!, Google data centres worldwide, Edward Snowden documents say

Washington: The US National Security Agency has secretly broken into the main communications links that connect Yahoo! and Google data centre around the world, according to documents obtained from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and interviews with knowledgeable officials. By tapping those links, the agency has positioned itself to collect at will from among hundreds […]

31 Oct, 2013

Australia’s Asia spy network exposed – Sydney Morning Herald

Australia’s electronic spy agency is using the nation’s embassies to intercept phone calls and internet data in neighbouring countries, according to new information disclosed by intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden and a former Australian intelligence officer. The secret Defence Signals Directorate operates clandestine surveillance facilities at embassies without the knowledge of most Australian diplomats. Fairfax Media […]

29 Oct, 2013

Obama, Congress Owe Snowden Thanks, and a Pardon – Truthdig

Now we know that even the president needs leaks from Edward Snowden to be fully informed about the dastardly acts of his own top spy agency. It was Snowden’s recent revelations that led Obama to order an investigation into spying on private communications of 35 world leaders, including our closest allies, a clear betrayal of […]

29 Oct, 2013

What Happens to Customer Reward Points and Miles After You Die?

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CINCINNATI-October 24, 2013-(BUSINESS WIRE)–None of us wants our dying words to be, “Make sure you redeem all my points and miles.” So plan ahead. Research released today by COLLOQUY shows the after-death transfer to loved ones or friends of rewards earned in customer loyalty programs may not always go as smoothly as expected or desired. […]

29 Oct, 2013

Wynn Resorts 3Q 2013 Earnings Up 9.6% in Macau, only 1.1% in Vegas

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LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–24/10/2013 – Wynn Resorts, Limited (Nasdaq:WYNN) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013. Net revenues for the third quarter of 2013 were $1,390.1 million, compared to $1,298.5 million in the third quarter of 2012. The increase was driven by a 9.6% revenue increase from its Macau operations and […]

29 Oct, 2013

Indian President Warns: Water Security Crises Likely as Demand Outstrips Supply

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President’s Secretariat, 28-October, 2013 – The following is the full text of the speech by the President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration of the Second India Water Forum 2013 organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) 1. It is indeed a privilege for me to be present amidst you this morning […]

28 Oct, 2013

Iran Mulls Selective Visa-on-Arrival Facilities

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 28 October 2013 (23 Dhul Ḥijjah 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

28 Oct, 2013

UN Rights Experts Urge Transparency In Use Of Armed Drones, Citing Risks Of Illegal Use

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) – Oct 25 2013 – Expressing concern about the potential for illegal use of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, two United Nations human rights experts today called on States to be transparent in their use, to investigate allegations of unlawful killings and to respect the full range of applicable […]

28 Oct, 2013

Myanmar: UN Expert Urges Greater Efforts To Curb Anti-Muslim Sentiment

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Oct 25 2013 – The United Nations expert on Myanmar today cautioned that the situation in Rakhine State is feeding a winder anti-Muslim narrative in the country which threatens the ongoing reform process aimed at a more open and broad-based democracy. Speaking to journalists in New York, the UN Special […]

28 Oct, 2013

UN-Backed Forum On Internet Governance Sees NSA Spying as “Major Emerging Issue”

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) Oct 25 2013 – While reaffirming the need to strengthen the multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance, the United Nations-backed forum on the issue, known as the IGF, concluded today in Bali, Indonesia with an acknowledgement that surveillance is the major emerging issue of the year. Over four days, the Internet […]

28 Oct, 2013

Brand USA faces tough media barrage at ITB Asia

Imtiaz Muqbil

SINGAPORE, 23 Oct 2013 – The Brand USA delegation at the ITB Asia press conference faced a barrage of questions about visa delays, lengthy CIQ queues, the U.S. government shutdown, shootings in public places and the impact of superhero Hollywood movies on the country’s “image”. Although Mr Jay Gray, Vice President of Global Partnership Development […]

28 Oct, 2013

Head of Ritz-Carlton Osaka claims deceiving menus were just honest mistake | The Japan Times

JIJI, Oct 26, 2013, OSAKA – False food menus at the Ritz-Carlton Osaka, a luxury hotel affiliated with Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., were caused by human error, the establishment’s general manager said Saturday. At a news conference, Oriol Montal apologized for the incident, which he said was caused by a lack of knowledge and training […]

28 Oct, 2013

No business like war business – DAWN.COM

Humanity has always been fascinated by wars, soldiers, blood, and gore. As a result, children from just about every culture have grown up on a steady diet of heroic battles, deeds, and heroes. So it was only natural for cinema to pick up from where theater and books (and comics) had left off. The first […]

26 Oct, 2013

The future of Laos: A bleak landscape | The Economist

From a window seat flying above Laos a visitor gets a sense of the state’s weaknesses. Deforestation stretches all the way to the Chinese border. It is so recent and so extreme that scientists from Sweden’s Lund university picked Laos as a testing ground for a new method of monitoring economic activity from space. By […]

26 Oct, 2013

32 tips to get your kids back outdoors – theguardian.com

Outdoor games such as den-building and hide-and-seek seem to belong to a bygone era, having been ousted from children’s affections by tablets, games consoles and smartphones. However, a new campaign launched last night is aiming to challenge this trend, and take steps towards “rewilding” our kids. The Wild Network – a newly formed group of […]

25 Oct, 2013

Rahul Gandhi: BJP inciting Hindus against Muslims

Stating that communal forces had killed his grandmother and father and “will probably kill me too”, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a blistering attack on the BJP on Wednesday, accusing it of inciting Hindus against Muslims. He also targeted the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, as he drew a veiled analogy between the recent […]

25 Oct, 2013

Shot and Killed at Work? It Happened to 375 People Last Year. | Alternet

It’s every employer’s worst nightmare. An angry employee with a gun takes out his revenge on a boss, coworkers or both. Last year, Andrew J. Engeldinger did it when he killed five and injured three after being fired from his job at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis. Lawrence Jones did it when he killed two […]

25 Oct, 2013

NSA Monitored Calls of 35 World Leaders | Alternet

October 24, 2013 | The National Security Agency monitored the phone conversations of 35 world leaders after being given the numbers by an official in another US government department, according to a classified document provided by whistleblower Edward Snowden. The confidential memo reveals that the NSA encourages senior officials in its “customer” departments, such the […]

24 Oct, 2013

India, China Links to be guided by “Five Principles of Panchsheel”

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New Delhi, Prime Minister’s Office, 23-October, 2013 – India and China have issued a Joint Statement that headlined, “A vision for future development of strategic and cooperative partnership”. It commits the two countries to following the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence [Panchsheel] in guiding bilateral links across all sectors, from economic development to settling border […]

24 Oct, 2013

State of Economy will Influence U.S. Consumers to Save Heavily this Holiday Season

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AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — With Black Friday fast approaching, consumer confidence may have an impact on holiday shopping. The current state of the economy will drive 41% of consumers to look for ways to save money on their holiday shopping this year, seeking out bargains and coupons. In response to the economic doldrums […]