18 Jul, 2013

New alcohol-free bar debuts in London’s trendiest district – The Independent

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The last time dry bars could be described as being in vogue, we had a Queen Empress on the throne and men still wore stove pipe hats. And yet, bang in the middle of London’s most trendy borough, a new one is set to open this weekend. Called Redemption, it harks back to the inglorious […]

17 Jul, 2013

“Fish cannot go to court”: EC seeks opinions on improving access to environmental justice

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Brussels, 15 July 2013, European Commission Press release – The European Commission has launched a public consultation on ways to improve access to justice in the field of the environment. Access to justice – the right to challenge decisions or omissions by public bodies that are suspected of not complying with environmental law – is […]

17 Jul, 2013

People’s Daily Commentary: ‘Prism’ burns America’s Internet supremacy

Edited and Translated by Zhang Qian

July 16, 2013 (People’s Daily Online) – Finally, Snowden has made his reappearance. Speculation concerning his whereabouts has excited considerable media attention around the world, but this should not become a pretext for avoiding the hard questions around the Prism event. Washington still owes a reasonable explanation to a lot of countries, including China. And […]

17 Jul, 2013

Global Times Commentary: Washington must overhaul bipolar way of thinking

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July 16, 2013 – The annual China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) just concluded. Both sides can now reflect and think about the future. But can Washington put behind its Cold War mind-set, and will current US policy lead to peaceful and constructive relations with China? Some critics believe the current US policy will lead […]

17 Jul, 2013

Tips to Safeguard Against Ruining the Summer Vacation

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San Diego, California (PRWEB) July 16, 2013 – Now that many U.S. families are about to take their 2013 summer vacation, American Travel Suppliers has released a set of travel tips for families to follow to help them have a safe vacation. These suggestions include things like how to insure important documents are never lost, […]

17 Jul, 2013

Secret court allows Yahoo to disclose U.S. surveillance data requests

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July 16, 2013 – [JURIST] – (University of Pittsburgh School of Law) – The US Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on Monday granted a motion by Yahoo to declassify a 2008 FISC judgment that required the company to comply with government requests for user information under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The FISC also […]

17 Jul, 2013

Whistleblower Doctor Exposed Illegal Activities That Forced U.S. Hospital to Pay $39 Million

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Editor’s Comment This press release by the U.S. law firm Goldberg Kohn, reproduced verbatim, indicates that whistleblowers are not only coming forward but also getting legal support, which is  being publicised by the lawyers. It should set off warning bells in the health & wellness sector, and the medical system as a whole. If treated […]

17 Jul, 2013

Man sells wife to buy liquor, arrested – Hindustan Times

Mumbai – An alcoholic has been arrested for allegedly selling his wife to a friend for Rs.25,000 to finance his drinking, police said Sunday. Read the rest: Man sells wife to buy liquor, arrested – Hindustan Times.

17 Jul, 2013

Visa officers’ strike in Canada to hit Indian students most – Hindustan Times

Canada may have issued a record number of visas to Indians, but the figures could dwindle due to an ongoing strike of visa officers since April. With India being home to Canada’s largest overseas visa office, the strike by a union of Canadian foreign service officers may affect the plans of thousands of Indian students […]

17 Jul, 2013

Macau becomes a gold mine for U.S. casino companies – The Japan Times

The gambling mecca of Macau now handles more wagers than all U.S.-based commercial casinos put together, and many of those bets end up swelling the balance sheets of U.S. corporations. But as U.S. gambling companies have remade Macau, Macau has also remade them. Chasing riches, these companies have been hit with allegations of improper conduct, […]

17 Jul, 2013

Ross Gittins on why Australians are losing their egalitarianism – Sydney Morning Herald

I was chastened years ago on an industrial relations junket as a guest of the German government. The Aussies in the group went out to see the sights one night in Munich. When, eventually, we decided to go back to the hotel we realised one of the group was missing. I said I thought he […]

17 Jul, 2013

Dead Pigs Dumped Near Muslim Graves in Australian cemetery – WAToday

Authorities are investigating an incident in which two dead pigs were dumped in the Muslim section of a Baldivis cemetery. Two pigs’ heads and a pile of entrails were left beneath a sign denoting the Muslim burial area of Rockingham Regional Memorial Park. Cemetery staff discovered the carcasses on Monday morning and notified police, the […]

17 Jul, 2013

Modi gets RSS nod to raise Ram temple issue in 2014 polls – Hindustan Times

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday endorsed BJP poll campaign chief and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s plan to raise the Ram temple issue in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This emerged in a meeting – which lasted for two-and-a-half hours — between Modi and Bhagwat at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Tuesday evening, […]

17 Jul, 2013

6 Whistleblowers Who Turned Out To Be Right After Being Ignored – Huffington Post

When Edward Snowden revealed himself as the whistleblower who leaked information about the National Security Agency’s data collection program, he became the subject of troves of media attention and an international manhunt. Such a situation is relatively rare. Consider the many whistleblowers — especially those in corporate America — who cry foul, only to watch […]

17 Jul, 2013

Met chief sorry for police spies using dead children’s identities – guardian.co.uk

Britain’s most senior police officer has offered a general apology for the “morally repugnant” theft of dead children’s identities by undercover spies who infiltrated political groups. But Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, has refused to tell any families if the identities of their children were stolen by the undercover officers. He said he wanted […]

17 Jul, 2013

Asia Times Online: Tour of shame for Myanmar President Thein Sein

BANGKOK – Myanmar’s President Thein Sein travels to London and Paris this week, where he will meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande. Now that decades-long European Union economic sanctions against Myanmar have been lifted – with the exception of an arms embargo – trade and investment are expected to dominate […]

16 Jul, 2013

Little respite seen for youth, low-skilled workers worst hit by jobs crisis in OECD countries

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Paris, (OECD media release) 16/07/2013 – Unemployment in OECD countries will remain high through 2014, with young people and the low-skilled hit hardest, according to a new OECD report. Download the data in Excel for all OECD countries The Employment Outlook 2013 says that jobless rates will fall only slightly over the next 18 months, […]

16 Jul, 2013

China’s cash-thirsty small business get more loans

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BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — China’s banks extended more loans to the country’s small and micro-sized enterprises, as cash-strapped companies played a pivotal role in stabilizing employment, official data showed Monday. By the end of May, the credit balance of small and micro-sized enterprises totaled 16 trillion yuan (2.58 trillion U.S. dollars), accounting for 22.22 […]

16 Jul, 2013

Merkel calls for stronger Europe, global data rules

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BERLIN, July 15 (Xinhua) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Sunday for strict global rules on the protection of personal data in the wake of the recently revealed U.S. surveillance activities in EU and Germany. In a TV interview with the public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening, Merkel said Germany wanted internet companies to tell […]

16 Jul, 2013

Indian Tourism Minister: 180 Monuments up for “adoption” by corporate sector

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 15-July, 2013 – Union Tourism Minister Mr K. Chiranjeevi has called for the active involvement of the corporate sector to “adopt important tourist sites and monuments as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.” Chairing the meeting of National Tourism Advisory Council here today, he noted that the Indian […]

16 Jul, 2013

Wealth gap eroding New Zealand’s egalitarian society: study

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WELLINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) — New Zealand’s widening wealth gap is having a major impact on the country’s sense of “wellbeing, ” according to the country’s first social index. The survey of 9,962 adult New Zealanders found that compared with 22 European countries using the same measures, New Zealand ” consistently ranks near the bottom” […]

16 Jul, 2013

Drone strikes ineffective and only serve to help anti-Americanism

By Aftab Hussain (Global Times)

Islamabad, 15 July, 2013 – On June 8, a US drone attack in North Wazirstan killed seven people. It was the first drone attack since Nawaz Sharif took office as Pakistan’s prime minister for the third time. He condemned the attack as a violation of the country’s sovereignty. Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), are […]

16 Jul, 2013

More Whistleblowing: Police spy says UK Home Office issued passports in names of dead children | The Guardian

A second police spy has said the Home Office was aware that undercover police officers stole the identities of dead children to infiltrate political groups. Peter Francis, a former undercover officer turned whistleblower, said the Home Office helped the spies by providing false passports in the names of the dead children. His claim comes as […]

16 Jul, 2013

Chris Hedges: Locking Out the Voices of Dissent – Truthdig

The goal of the corporate state is to criminalize democratic, popular dissent before there is another popular eruption. The vast state surveillance system, detailed in Edward Snowden’s revelations to the British newspaper The Guardian, at the same time ensures that no action or protest can occur without the advanced knowledge of our internal security apparatus. […]

16 Jul, 2013

‘Biased’ Israeli visa plan pits U.S. Congress against White House | The Japan Times

Some critics are sensitive about expressing their reservations in public, wishing to avoid getting in a public argument with a close ally, with the bills’ supporters or with the powerful pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. Boxer said the law will benefit U.S. citizens by specifically requiring the secretaries of state and homeland security to certify that Israel […]

16 Jul, 2013

Israeli PM threatens to strike Iran – Al Jazeera English

Netanyahu went on to say that Israel had a more narrow timetable than Washington, implying it may have to take unilateral action to halt Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. “Our clocks are ticking at a different pace. We’re closer than the United States. We’re more vulnerable. And therefore, we’ll have to address this question of how […]

15 Jul, 2013

GM crops remain problematic for Asian countries

By Wang Zichen and Liu Tong (Xinhua)

HARBIN, July 13 (Xinhua) — The role of genetic modification (GM) technology in Asian agriculture remains unclear and individual countries have adopted different approaches to tackle the sensitive subject. At a food security meeting held by ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries this week, participants from ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) […]

15 Jul, 2013

Fanatic Jewish settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex

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Ramallah, 15 July 2013 (IINA) – A group of fanatic Jewish settlers yesterday stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex in occupied Jerusalem for prayers, a Palestinian official said. Sheikh Najeh Bkeirat, the Al-Aqsa Mosque Complex manager, said that 180 settlers, including 18 rabbis, entered the compound through the Al-Magharebah gate. Bkeirat added that settlers walked around […]

15 Jul, 2013

Chinese firms ‘need self-defense strategy’ as European trade protectionism grows

By BAO CHANG

Beijing, 13 July 2013 (China Daily) – Trade remedy investigations against China are at a peak this year. So Chinese companies should safeguard their interests by actively defending themselves through effective measures, a commerce official said. Zhou Dalin, deputy director-general of the bureau of fair trade for imports and exports of the Ministry of Commerce, […]

15 Jul, 2013

Malaysia To Host World Tourism Conference in Oct 2013

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 15 July 2013 (07 Ramadan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

15 Jul, 2013

Berlin Wall hosts giant portraits of world’s barriers – Ahram Online

Giant portraits of the world’s most tense borders went on display Tuesday on the longest remaining stretch of the Berlin Wall, in what organisers called a protest underlining the futility of barriers to resolve conflict. The “Wall on Wall” project by German photographer Kai Wiedenhoefer features 36 panoramas taken in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Cyprus, the […]

14 Jul, 2013

BBC News – UK soldier and veteran suicides ‘outstrip Afghan deaths’

More British soldiers and veterans took their own lives in 2012 than died fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan over the same period. BBC Panorama learned that 21 serving soldiers killed themselves last year, along with 29 veterans. The Afghanistan death toll was 44, of whom 40 died in action. Read the rest: BBC News – […]

14 Jul, 2013

78% of CEOs Say Ad & Media Agencies Are Not Performance-Driven Enough

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– July 11, 2013 — 78% of CEOs around the world believe Ad & Media Agencies are not performance-driven enough and do not focus enough on helping to generate the (real and P&L-quantifiable) business results they expect their Marketing departments to deliver. That’s one of the findings tracked by The Fournaise Marketing Group – […]

14 Jul, 2013

Ten Ways a Simple Rubber Band Can be of BIG Help

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Hot Springs, AR (PRWEB) July 09, 2013 – Spring cleaning has passed, and for many the time has come for summer organizing. Arkansas-based Alliance Rubber has created a list of useful household tips using the simple and inexpensive rubber band. Organizing can be made simple and cost effective. The following is a top 10 list […]

14 Jul, 2013

New ITUC Report: “Severe Violations” of Trade Union Rights Continuing

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Unemployment rates and income inequality are increasing globally. Trade unionists continue to fight for jobs, rights and equality. This fight often costs them their jobs, and sometimes even their lives, in various parts of the world. Since 2006, the ITUC, the largest and most democratic social movement of the world, has been monitoring violations of […]

14 Jul, 2013

18 European sustainable mobility initiatives get funding support

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Brussels, 8 July 2013, European Commission Press release – As part of its three-year Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign “Do The Right Mix”, the European Commission has today released the names of another 18 campaigner-led actions to be awarded funding. Each action will receive up to EUR 7000, which can be used to strengthen activities promoting […]

14 Jul, 2013

Global Trades Union Appeal: Organise for October 7, World Day for Decent Work

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4 July 2013: In the six years after the launch of the World Day for Decent Work (WDDW) tens of millions of people have taken action on October 7 to stand up for union rights and decent work. This year again, unions from across the world will be calling in unison for social justice and […]

14 Jul, 2013

New Era of Motivational Speaking Emerges

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Miami, FL (PRWEB) July 12, 2013 – Out with the old; in with the new. Steven Jobs ushered in a new technological age with Apple, Inc., Jay – Z has become the Holy Grail of the music industry with the partnership of Samsung and now Craig Stafford creates a new form of motivational speaking. SMS […]

14 Jul, 2013

Survey: 2 Out of 3 Parents Worry About Ads in Kids Apps

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Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 13, 2013 – It’s nothing new. Many application developers have business models that rely on third party advertising to support their no cost apps – even those developed for small children. 100 Things, a company developing picture book kids apps, released the results of a consumer survey it conducted that […]

14 Jul, 2013

Free meals help mosque show Islam to Japan – The Japan Times

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As the Muslim monthlong fasting period known as Ramadan began Tuesday, Tokyo Camii, the largest mosque in Japan, began providing free “iftar” (evening meals) to 200 visitors, regardless of religion, to introduce residents to Islamic culture. The first day began with “azan,” the Muslim call to prayer recited at dusk. Azan is called before every […]

14 Jul, 2013

Number of nonregular workers hits record high | The Japan Times

Nonregular workers made up a record-high 38.2 percent of the workforce last year, topping the 20 million mark for the first time, a government survey has revealed. The workers, who include part-time and contract employees, totaled 20.42 million, up 1.52 million from the previous survey in 2007, the data released Friday by the Internal Affairs […]

14 Jul, 2013

Are consultants worth the money? Sydney Morning Herald

They are the management consultants – influential guns for hire whose services come with a hefty price tag, staffed by the brightest, youngest things top-notch universities can produce. Since the first, McKinsey & Co, arrived in Australia in 1962, the top companies – McKinsey, Bain & Co and Boston Consulting Group (BCG)- have become ubiquitous, […]

14 Jul, 2013

Saudi labour crackdown to hit Asia hard – GulfNews.com

The clampdown could hurt countries from Egypt to the Philippines that rely on Saudi Arabia’s economy to prop up their own with money sent from abroad. Neighboring Yemen, whose economy is significantly bolstered by remittances, has already warned the measures could destabilize its fragile government. Saudi Arabia is the third-biggest global provider of worker remittances […]

14 Jul, 2013

S. American states to recall envoys from Europe — RT News

South American countries belonging to the Mercosur trade bloc have decided to withdraw their ambassadors for consultations from European countries involved in the grounding of the Bolivian president’s plane. “We’ve taken a number of actions in order to compel public explanations and apologies from the European nations that assaulted our brother Evo Morales,” explained Venezuela’s […]

13 Jul, 2013

India Inaugurates Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show 2013

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Ministry of Textiles, 12-July, 2013 – The Union Minister of Textiles Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao today inaugurated the 6th edition of the Indian Fashion Jewellery and Accessories Show (IFJAS 2013) here today. The show is organised by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH). Dr. Rao said that the exporters have promised to take the […]

13 Jul, 2013

India To Boost R&D In Bid to Become One Of Top Five Knowledge Powers

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New Delhi, Ministry of Science & Technology, 12-July, 2013 – The Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) today released a white paper on Stimulation of Private Sector’s investment into Research & Development. Union Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Mr S.Jaipal Reddy, speaking on the occasion, said business […]

13 Jul, 2013

India To Launch SMS Portal For Poor Farmers

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Ministry of Agriculture, 11-July, 2013 — An SMS portal for farmers, the Kisaan SMS Portal, will be launched by the President Mr Pranab Mukherjee on 16th July, 2013. The Kisaan Portal aims at reaching information, advisories and services through SMS to more than 12 crore (1.2 billion) farmers across the country. Being an instant and […]

13 Jul, 2013

Chinese cinemagoers tired of watching American superheroes saving the world

By Zhu Jin

Beijing, (China Daily), 2013-07-12 – It seems to be the best of times for China’s film industry. With Tiny Times raking in 263 million yuan ($42.89 million) in the last four days of June (it was released on June 27), the domestic film market registered its highest half-yearly box office returns -10.9 billion yuan in […]

13 Jul, 2013

China’s economic transformation a boon for U.S.: analysts

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — As China and the United States are seeking to cast a new relationship model, the latter needs to be more prepared for a Chinese economic transformation that could create massive opportunities instead of threats, analysts have said. Concluding on Friday in Washington, the two-day annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue […]

13 Jul, 2013

Xinhua Insight: China’s economy caught in balancing act

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — Attempting to balance economic development in the face of a global meltdown with reform efforts that will likely slow the economy is proving to be difficult for Chinese authorities. However, Premier Li Keqiang gave some suggestions on dealing with the conundrum in a speech delivered during an inspection tour of […]

13 Jul, 2013

China Tells U.S. to “Review the Past” in Defining the Future

by Xinhua writer Wang Fengfeng

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Xinhua) — U.S. and Chinese officials concluded their fifth round of annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) here on Thursday. In this first annual dialogue held after a leadership change in the world’s two major countries, the two sides forged ahead to find a new path for a new type of major-country […]

13 Jul, 2013

China eyes energy-saving, IT industries to spur domestic demand

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BEIJING, July 12 (Xinhua) — China is to speed up development in the energy-saving industry and promote consumption of IT-related products and services as it looks to spur domestic demand and push economic upgrading. Stimulating growth in the two sectors is a multi-purpose approach aimed at easing resource restraints, unleashing consumption potential, stimulating effective investments […]

13 Jul, 2013

India Visa on Arrival Scheme +38% in First Half 2013

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New Delhi, Ministry of Tourism, 12-July, 2013 – Visa on Arrival (VOA) scheme of the Government continues to be popular with foreign tourists. It registered a growth of 22.9 percent during June, 2013 as compared to June, 2012. During the month, a total number of 1,062 VoAs were issued as compared to 864 during June, […]

13 Jul, 2013

Samsung Offers Nearly 3,000 Teens a College Experience to Inspire Careers in Science

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RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 11, 2013–Samsung today announced its Summer Science Program, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education program for high school youth from across the United States. With Samsung’s support, nearly 3,000 teens will attend week-long immersion sessions at one of six participating universities across the country during the summer. The universities […]

13 Jul, 2013

UN Rights Chief Urges Protection For Individuals Revealing Human Rights Violations

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United Nations, Jul 12 2013 United Nations, (UN News Centre) – A senior United Nations official today stressed the need to respect the right to privacy, using the case of United States citizen Edward Snowden to illustrate the urgent need to protect individuals who reveal human rights violations. “Snowden’s case has shown the need to […]

13 Jul, 2013

Social Media at Weddings: “Consequences of hasty sharing can be catastrophic”

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SUNNYVALE, Calif.-July 11, 2013-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wedding season is in full swing in the U.S. If you aren’t jetting off to a wedding every other weekend, chances are your social media accounts have been invaded with an overwhelming number of wedding posts and photos. You are not alone. In fact, seven in 10 twitter-using wedding guests admitted […]

13 Jul, 2013

Myanmar turns blind eye to massacre of young Muslims | The Japan Times

MEIKHTILA, MYANMAR – Their bones are scattered in blackened patches of earth across a hillside overlooking the wrecked Islamic boarding school they once called home. Smashed fragments of skulls rest atop the dirt. A shattered jaw cradles half a set of teeth. And among the remains lie the sharpened bamboo staves attackers used to beat […]

13 Jul, 2013

America’s dirty war at home – The Japan Times

Hannah Arendt identified “the boomerang effect of imperialism on the homeland” in “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” but the academic Douglas Porch has used the history of Britain, France and America to demonstrate that all the rhetoric about bringing, respectively, Britishness, liberty and freedom and democracy to the “little brown people who have no lights” is […]

12 Jul, 2013

Telstra storing data on behalf of US government – Sydney Morning Herald

Telstra agreed more than a decade ago to store huge volumes of electronic communications it carried between Asia and America for potential surveillance by United States intelligence agencies. Under the previously secret agreement, the telco was required to route all communications involving a US point of contact through a secure storage facility on US soil […]

12 Jul, 2013

India Sets Up First Women-Only University

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Cabinet, 11-July, 2013 – The Union Cabinet has approved setting up a National University for Women in Uttar Pradesh by the name of “The Indira Gandhi National University for Women”. This will be the first university of the country to be established exclusively for women. The cost involved is Rs.500 crore during the 12th Plan period. […]

12 Jul, 2013

EC bid to curb European toxic waste shipments to Asia, Africa

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Brussels, 11 July 2013, European Commission Press release – The European Commission took action today to tackle illegal waste shipments that are causing damage to human health and the environment. The Commission proposed stronger legislation on national inspections of waste shipments to ensure that all Member States have similar levels of control. Around 25 % of […]

12 Jul, 2013

New EU Rules to boost cosmetics safety, combat misleading claims

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Brussels, 11 July 2013 European Commission Press release – As of today, cosmetics on shop shelves, both manufactured in the EU and imported from third countries, should be fully compliant with the Cosmetics Regulation ensuring strengthened safety standards and providing better information for the consumers. Neven Mimica, European Commissioner for Consumer Policy, said: “From daily […]

12 Jul, 2013

€600 million research to unblock European airspace congestion

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Brussels, 10 July 2013, European Commission Press release – The European Commission has today announced €600 million of new funding to unblock congestion in Europe’s airspace. The Commission is looking to head off a capacity crunch as the number of flights is forecast to increase by 50% over the next 10-20 years. The goal is […]

12 Jul, 2013

European Commission launches strategy to globalise universities, attract students

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Brussels, 11 July 2013, European Commission Press release – The international higher education landscape is changing dramatically in shape and size, with greater competition from countries such as China and India. This calls for an overhaul in the way Europe’s 4,000 universities operate – not only internationally, but also in how they deliver education to […]

12 Jul, 2013

India Sets Up First National Aviation University

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Cabinet, 11-July, 2013 – The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to the proposal for setting up of a National Aviation University (NAU) in the name of Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University at the District of Rae Bareli in the State of Uttar Pradesh. as a Central University. The Cabinet also approved the proposal to […]

12 Jul, 2013

More Chinese cities likely to curb car purchases

By LI FANGFANG

Beijing, (China Daily) 2013-07-11 – Eight more cities are likely to announce policies this year curbing the purchase of vehicles for private use, as worries about pollution and traffic congestion rise around the country, an official from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Wednesday. Four cities already have such curbs: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou […]

12 Jul, 2013

Did Korean culture contribute to Asiana crash? – Japan Times

The investigative report said that Park was irritated by their late departure from London. The report said that though Yoon was communicating correct information to the tower, Park spoke at him in a “derogatory” fashion, saying, “Make sure you understand what ground control is saying before you speak.” Seconds later, he barked: “Answer them! They […]

12 Jul, 2013

Japan plans easier residency status for “highly skilled professionals” – Japan Times

Japan might make it easier for “highly skilled professionals” to acquire permanent residency status so it can lure the talent it needs to rejuvenate the stagnant economy. Under discussion is cutting the minimum requirement for consecutive years of stay to three years from five, Immigration Bureau official Yusuke Takeuchi told The Japan Times on Thursday. […]

12 Jul, 2013

Neoliberalism and public unrest: Time to connect the dots – Al Jazeera English

Political and economic elites, working in tandem, have managed to neutralise the aspirations of ordinary people, in part spurring the disenfranchisement driving the protests. Whether it is the removal of subsidies protecting the poor against inflation and price shocks in Egypt, or the enormous cost of hosting high profile sporting events in Brazil at the […]

12 Jul, 2013

Jim Dean, PressTV – NSA spying never catches Israelis – Why not?

The field reports from Afghanistan and Iraq involved Israelis being picked up as contractors doing very nasty things, and yes, doing them even to American troops. None of that stuff made its way into the leakers shocking release pile. We have people who wrote some of those reports, and they were major headlines. My verdict? […]

12 Jul, 2013

Executive Travel Directors Reveals 4 Reasons to Outsource Travel Staff

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Chicago, IL (PRWEB) July 10, 2013 – Over the years, meeting planners have assumed more and more responsibilities in the already taxing program coordination process. While letting go of the reins on such an involved project may be a little worrisome, partnering with a third-party staffing supplier can take a lot of administrative stress off […]

12 Jul, 2013

China issues timetable for govt info disclosure, foreign travel included

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BEIJING, 2013-07-10, (Xinhua) – The State Council, China’s Cabinet, on Wednesday issued a timetable for disclosing government spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips, as well as information on investigations into major accidents. According to the State Council’s plan, provincial governments should disclose their spending on the three items starting from 2013, and municipal and county […]

12 Jul, 2013

American Intellectuals’ Widespread Failure to Stand Up to Billionaires and Authoritarian Power | Alternet

Given the considerable resources in the United States spent to subsidize intellectual work, why are so many intellectuals—journalists, academics, writers—not critiquing the many hierarchical institutions and not highlighting the disastrous consequences of these systems? Why are so many intellectuals instead providing support for the institutions and systems? Why is the majority of intellectual work in […]

11 Jul, 2013

11 Big Myths About the Economy That Are Destroying America | Alternet

As we can see from the current dismal state of economic affairs, economies are incredibly complex systems, and policymakers who are forced to act in the face of this uncertainty and complexity want guidance. And over the last half century, neoclassical economists have not only been more than happy to offer it, but largely been […]

11 Jul, 2013

Travel to benefit by more competition in mobile communications, says OECD

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Paris, (OECD media release), 11/07/2013 – OECD countries must ensure mobile markets remain open and competitive in order to sustain innovation and meet rising demand for data services, according to a new OECD report. It indicates that travel could be a major beneficiary of this. Communications Outlook 2013 says that revenues from data services are […]

11 Jul, 2013

Chinese institutions eyeing properties abroad

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Shanghai, 2013-07-11, (China Daily) — Limited investment options and abundant liquidity are prompting Chinese investors to look abroad for alternative opportunities, and a real estate consultancy is forecasting that mainland individuals will put up to 1.1 trillion yuan ($179 billion) into global real estate markets. Chinese individuals, property developers and institutions have increased their holdings […]

11 Jul, 2013

Orchestra Maestro Zubin Mehta To Receive 2013 Tagore Award For Cultural Harmony

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New Delhi, Ministry of Culture, 10-July, 2013 – The Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony, 2013 is being conferred on the noted Maestro, Zubin Mehta. A High-level Jury under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj […]

11 Jul, 2013

India Plans New Initiatives to Boost Handicraft Sector

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New Delhi, Ministry of Textiles, 10-July, 2013 – Dr. Kavuru Samba Siva Rao, the Minister of Textiles today chaired a meeting with the members of All India Handicrafts Board comprising of officials from different Ministries and Departments of Central and State Governments, apart from the non-official members with diverse backgrounds and experiences representing almost all […]

11 Jul, 2013

China: US’ “double standards on global network security must end”

Author: Jia Xiudong, Edited and Translated by Zhang Qian

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online) July 10, 2013 – The Prism incident has exposed a worldwide problem of network security. Long-term, large-scale network monitoring and data theft by the United States in other countries has aroused international concern and provoked international reflection on network security rules. Few countries would now disagree on the importance of ensuring […]

11 Jul, 2013

China Offering Grants to Lure Native Talent Back Home

By Zhao Xinying

Beijing, 2013-07-11, (China Daily) – China is offering financial grants and other benefits to boost its ability to lure top experts in science and engineering back home from posts overseas. Zhan Wenlong, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said it is making full use of recruitment plans such as the One Hundred Talents Program […]

11 Jul, 2013

Anti-Tobacco Advertising Measures Growing Strongly Worldwide – WHO Report

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10 July 2013 | Panama City, Panama (World Health Organization) – At 2.3 billion, the number of people worldwide covered by at least one life-saving measure to limit tobacco use has more than doubled in the last five years, according to the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2013. The number of people covered […]

11 Jul, 2013

Australia sets up A$36m centre to support businesses in the Asian Century

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Canberra, 08 Jul 2013 (Australian government media release) – Australia’s small to medium-sized businesses will get the support they need to take up new opportunities in Asian markets under a new $36 million national investment unveiled today. Trade Minister Richard Marles and Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the new National Centre for Asia Capability […]

11 Jul, 2013

Singaporeans To Hit the Road in First Four-Day National Day Weekend In Over A Decade!

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Singapore – 11 July, 2013 – With the upcoming consecutive Hari Raya Puasa and National Day holidays on 8 and 9 August, the region’s online travel agent, ZUJI, has identified six of the top short-flight-time destinations from around the region, and six of the top long-haul flights to Europe for travellers willing to tag a […]

11 Jul, 2013

Prof Mazin Qumsiyeh: People of the West Must Stop Backing their Governments’ “Sick Games”

Citizens of Western Countries must demand that their governments stop supporting this sick game of divide and conquer that also fosters Christian, Islamic and Jewish fanaticism. Long-term, there will be separation of religion from state politics whether in Palestine Israel as a “Jewish state” or in Egypt or elsewhere. We will have our own renaissance. […]

11 Jul, 2013

1,460 Indian lawmakers facing criminal cases: Survey – The Times of India

Imtiaz Muqbil

NEW DELHI: A total of 1,460 MPs and MLAs have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits submitted to Election Commission before contesting elections. An analysis of affidavits filed by 4,807 sitting MPs and MLAs carried out by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch ( NEW) in the wake of today’s […]

11 Jul, 2013

UN Secretary-General: “Dangerous Polarization Taking Place Within Myanmar”

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United Nations, Jul 10 2013 (UN News Centre) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today told a group of Myanmar’s international partners that continued support will be vital for the country, which has taken some important steps in the past year, but faces a number of challenges, including national reconciliation and communal violence. “The Government and people […]

11 Jul, 2013

Failing duty to protect Great Barrier Reef – Sydney Morning Herald

For millions of people overseas, the reef is their lasting memory of visiting the country, and reef tourism rakes in more than $5 billion a year from its human visitors. Whether we like it or not, Australians have a responsibility for looking after the reef. And we are letting it slip away. That’s crystal clear. […]

11 Jul, 2013

New Questions About Sheldon Adelson’s Casino Operations in Macau – ProPublica

A few days after Las Vegas Sands fired the president of its Macau casinos in July 2010, the company copied the hard drives of his office computers and moved the data to its headquarters in Las Vegas. In the months that followed, the company now acknowledges, its lawyers reviewed those records as they prepared to […]

11 Jul, 2013

Exposed: US bankrolling of anti-Morsi activists – Al Jazeera

Berkeley, United States – President Barack Obama recently stated the United States was not taking sides as Egypt’s crisis came to a head with the military overthrow of the democratically elected president. But a review of dozens of US federal government documents shows Washington has quietly funded senior Egyptian opposition figures who called for toppling […]

10 Jul, 2013

Australia launches world-first technology to help vision-impaired enjoy live theatre

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Canberra, (Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers), 9 July 2013 – From today, a cutting-edge new app will enable people who are blind or vision impaired to enjoy live theatre by providing high-quality audio descriptions on their mobile devices, including smart phones and tablets. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Amanda Rishworth today launched the […]

10 Jul, 2013

Seven Things Really Beautiful People JUST DO

Bethany Londyn, CEO of ShopAddiKt

Portland, OR (PRWEB) July 09, 2013 – First lets discuss the definition of Beautiful: According to Merriam-Webster: 1- Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically 2- Of a very high standard; excellent. So based on this definition, obviously beauty is in the eyes or senses of the beholder as it come in various forms for every […]

10 Jul, 2013

Global Corruption Barometer: Bribery still very high but people ready to fight back

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Berlin, 9 July 2013 (Transparency International) – More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the last two years, according to the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption from Transparency International, but survey participants also firmly believe they can make a difference and have the will to take action against graft. […]

10 Jul, 2013

Latin American Nations Voice Concerns To UN Chief Over Rerouting Of Bolivian Leader’s Plane

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United Nations, Jul  9 2013  (UN News Centre) – Five Latin American nations voiced their concerns to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today about the recent incident in which the aircraft carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales was not allowed by several European nations to fly over their airspace on suspicion that United States whistleblower Edward Snowden was […]

10 Jul, 2013

British public wrong about nearly everything, survey shows – The Independent

A new survey for the Royal Statistical Society and King’s College London shows public opinion is repeatedly off the mark on issues including crime, benefit fraud and immigration. The research, carried out by Ipsos Mori from a phone survey of 1,015 people aged 16 to 75, lists ten misconceptions held by the British public. Read […]

9 Jul, 2013

Privacy Rights Group Petitions U.S. Supreme Court to Halt NSA Surveillance

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 8, 2013) (epic.org media release) — The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) has filed an emergency petition with the United States Supreme Court in order to stop the NSA’s surveillance of domestic telephone communication records. EPIC said that the “ongoing collection of the domestic telephone records of millions of Americans” had created […]

9 Jul, 2013

Indian External Affairs Minister Visits Palestine, Grants $1M in Budget Support

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RAMALLAH, July 4, 2013 (WAFA) – E. Ahamed, Indian minister of state for external affairs, who is on an official visit to Palestine, Thursday met with Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Ramallah, during which he handed over Hamdallah a cheque of one $million as part of the budgetary support pledged by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan […]

9 Jul, 2013

IATA opposes Hyderabad airport’s proposed 100% hike in landing fees

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New Delhi, July 8, IRNA — Civil aviation industrys apex body, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has opposed the GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHAIL) plan for an 100 per cent increase in international aircraft landing fee. The move will hurt airline operations, IATA has said, requesting the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) to […]

9 Jul, 2013

China’s Ping An Insurance to buy Lloyds Building in London: Savills

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LONDON, July 8 (Xinhua) — Ping An Insurance Group agreed to purchase the Lloyds Building from Commerz Real, a German closed-end fund, for 260 million pounds (388 million U.S. dollars), London-based property broker Savills said Monday. The transaction represents the first purchase by a Chinese insurance company in Britain. The Lloyds Building, a landmark property […]

9 Jul, 2013

Chinese job seekers abroad urged to look before they leap

By HE DAN

Beijing,  (China Daily) – Beijing, July 08, 2013 – Chinese people seeking employment abroad should sign proper contracts, receive safety training, research their destination countries thoroughly and only work through companies qualified to supply staff abroad, experts say. Huang Leping, director of the Beijing Yilian Legal Aid and Research Center of Labor, an NGO dedicated […]

9 Jul, 2013

Travel, MICE cuts included in Chinese govt’s austerity campaign

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BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has issued a circular ordering China’s central government agencies to cut their general expenditures in 2013 by 5 percent, a move to push the frugality campaign launched by the country’s new leadership. According to the circular, a whole slew of fees shall be cut, including […]