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 […]

9 Jul, 2013

China Exclusive: Study tours suspended after Asiana plane crash

by Xinhua Writers Hu Tao, Yu Jingjing, Feng Yuan

HANGZHOU, July 8 (Xinhua) — Overseas study tours have been suspended after Saturday’s plane crash in San Francisco, which killed two Chinese girls from east China’s Zhejiang Province. Quzhou Municipal Education Bureau in Zhejiang has told schools and related agent institutions to suspend all summer camps and study tours. Two teenage girls from a middle […]

9 Jul, 2013

Jobless Chinese Youths Turning to Booming Security Industry

By WU NI

Beijing, (China Daily) – July 08, 2013 – When Bu Yanchuan graduated from Nanjing Normal University in 2009, he didn’t dare tell his parents and friends that he could only find a job as a security guard with a meager salary of 2,500 yuan ($408) per month. Now, the 26-year-old with a degree in international […]

9 Jul, 2013

Social, Economic Inequalities Will Trigger Future Crises – UN Secretary-General

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United Nations, Jul  8 2013 (UN News Centre) – Senior United Nations officials today emphasized that the international community must tackle social and economic inequalities between regions and within countries, adding that this is crucial to achieve sustainability and avert future crises. “If inequalities continue to widen, development may not be sustainable,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon […]

9 Jul, 2013

China Daily Commentary: Lessons from Egyptian irony

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The difficulty in judging Egypt’s latest political development stems from confusion over what kind of democracy to embrace July 08, 2013 (China Daily) – The Egyptian military’s decision to remove President Mohamed Morsi from power and suspend the constitution was said to be a response to days of mass street protests demanding the president step […]

9 Jul, 2013

Bill Blum: America’s Most Secretive Court May Also Be the Most Conservative – Truthdig

By the end of this month, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court is expected to issue what could be the most important order in its 35-year hidden history, ruling on a motion filed by the ACLU that asks the court to publish all of its prior opinions evaluating the meaning, scope and constitutionality of Section 215 […]

9 Jul, 2013

Alexander Reed Kelly: Truthdiggers of the Week: NSA Protesters

The current administration acts as though it is against the principles upon which the nation was founded. And one asks: Where’s the outrage? This Fourth of July it was in the streets of more than 100 American cities. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people took part in a nationwide rally against the government’s policy of domestic […]

9 Jul, 2013

Study: Many young assault victims have illegal guns and ready to use them – Michigan Radio

A study of young assault victims in Michigan finds many are at high risk for gun possession and aggression. The University of Michigan Injury Center conducted a survey of young people treated for assault injuries at an emergency department in Flint. Gun violence kills more teens and young adults than anything except auto accidents, according […]

9 Jul, 2013

Evo Morales to RT: Plane-grounding debacle will never be forgotten in South America

Morales blamed Washington for masterminding the audacious scheme. “At 3 or 4 pm we are forced to land the plane in Austria. At 6 pm the US ambassador delivers an extradition request in Bolivia, which is proof that is the work of the US, who used European countries for their aims,” said Morales. “My first […]

9 Jul, 2013

10 Most Shocking Things the FBI Has Done Since 9/11 – Alternet

The number of U.S. persons on the No Fly List has more than doubled since 2009, and people mistakenly on the list are denied their due process rights to meaningfully challenge their inclusion. In many cases Americans only find out they are on the list while they are traveling abroad, which all but forces them […]

9 Jul, 2013

The New York Times and the NSA’s Illegal Spying: CounterPunch

The first duty of the press is to obtain the earliest and most correct intelligence of the events of the time, and instantly, by disclosing them, to make them the common property of the nation. The statesman collects his information secretly and by secret means; he keeps back even the current intelligence of the day […]

9 Jul, 2013

Chris Hedges: What Global Trends Have In Common with “Moby Dick” – Truthdig

In our decline, hatred becomes our primary lust, our highest form of patriotism and a form of eroticism. We are made supine by hatred and fear. We deploy vast resources to hunt down jihadists and terrorists, real and phantom. We destroy our civil society in the name of a war on terror. We persecute those, […]

9 Jul, 2013

Hitting the reset: NSA spying targeted BRICS — RT News

Members of BRICS featured high on the list of countries singled out for special consideration by the National Security Agency’s intensive Prism program, which collected data on billions of telephone and internet records globally. An article published at the weekend in Brazil’s O Globo newspaper makes the observation that “Brazil…appears to stand out on maps […]

9 Jul, 2013

Anti-Muslim riots haunt shattered Myanmar city – DAWN.COM

MEIKTILA, Myanmar: The thugs ordered Kyaw not to look as they killed his classmates, but the terrified teenager still caught glimpses of the merciless beatings as a wave of anti-Muslim killing engulfed his school town in central Myanmar, leaving dozens dead. “They used steel chains, sticks and knives… there were hundreds of people. They beat […]

8 Jul, 2013

In China, thinking small begins to yield results

By WANG CHAO and LIU LU

Beijing, July 08, 2013,  (China Daily) – You can spot them all across China in different shapes and sizes, ranging from small restaurants, hair salons and shops to a host of enterprises that make a variety of goods. Though these micro and small enterprises have been largely inconspicuous, they are often the essential springboard for […]

8 Jul, 2013

Samsung Heads Asia’s Top 1000 Brands for Second Year

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HONG KONG, July 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Samsung has claimed the number one spot in the Campaign Asia-Pacific 2013 Asia’s Top 1000 Brandsreport, the biggest and most influential survey of the brands that consumers most value in the region. It marks the second consecutive year that Samsung has clinched the coveted top spot, signalling that […]

8 Jul, 2013

July 23 deadline for Emirates Future Artists competition, US$5,000 prize

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 08 July 2013 (29 Sha’baan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TRAVEL NEWSWIRE EXTENDS ALL READERS FELICITATIONS FOR THE HOLY MONTH OF RAMADAN 1434 Ramadan Mubarak. […]

7 Jul, 2013

European Parliament to probe US surveillance, seeks more whistleblower protection

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Brussels, 04-07-2013, European Parliament Media release – Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee will conduct an “in-depth inquiry” into the US surveillance programmes, including the bugging of EU premises and other spying allegations, and present its results by the end of this year, says a resolution passed by the full House on Thursday. Parliament’s President and political […]

7 Jul, 2013

Ageing populations are an opportunity, not a threat, “if coupled with smart policies”

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Geneva, UN Economic Commission for Europe, 01 July 2013 – Current population dynamics in Europe, North America and Central Asia must be seen as an opportunity, not a threat, senior officials of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) said at the opening of the high-level ICPD regional […]

7 Jul, 2013

World Meteorological Report: 2001-2010 Was a Decade of Climate Extremes

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GENEVA, 3 July 2013, (World Meteorological Organization) – The world experienced unprecedented high-impact climate extremes during the 2001-2010 decade, which was the warmest since the start of modern measurements in 1850 and continued an extended period of pronounced global warming. More national temperature records were reported broken than in any previous decade, according to a […]

7 Jul, 2013

Powerful Posters Bring Wildlife Protection Message to Millions on Shanghai Metro

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Shanghai, 1 July, 2013 (UNEP Media release) – A major poster campaign aimed at sensitizing the public to the true cost of illegal wildlife products such as ivory and rhino horn is reaching millions of travellers on the Shanghai metro system each day. The recent spike in elephant killings in Africa, now at their highest […]

7 Jul, 2013

Chomsky: How Do We Defend Ourselves from the Corporate and Imperial Forces That Threaten Us? | Alternet

The legitimacy of borders – of states, for that matter – is at best conditional and temporary. Almost all borders have been imposed and maintained by violence, and are quite arbitrary. The Lebanon-Israel border was established a century ago by the Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing up the former Ottoman Empire in the interests of British and […]

6 Jul, 2013

Actress Rituparna Sengupta harassed at Toronto airport | GulfNews.com

Kolkata: Leading Bengali film actress Rituparna Sengupta was harassed for hours at Toronto Pearson International Airport despite having a valid visa and other travel documents, the celebrated artist alleged Saturday. Sengupta, now in Canada to attend a Banga Sammelan, broke down during her ordeal Thursday as she was kept waiting for five and a half […]

6 Jul, 2013

India Taps Kuwaiti, UAE Funds to Finance US$1 Trillion Infrastructure Projects

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Ministry of Finance, 05-July, 2013 – Mr Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance said that Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs) are going to play a key role in the financing of the overall requirements of Infrastructure funding. He added that higher ratings would make an IDF competitive in the refinancing market. Mr […]

6 Jul, 2013

Renovated gallery of Decorative Arts reopened at National Museum, New Delhi

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New Delhi, 5 July 2013 – Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Union Minister of Culture here today re-opened the renovated gallery of Decorative Arts-I at the National Museum. Decorative arts are those arts related to the design and decoration of objects of utility. Artifacts of this group are crafted for daily, ceremonial and religious uses from a […]

6 Jul, 2013

Australia says passenger movement charge helping fund tourism development

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04 July 2013 – Australian Tourism Minister Gary Gray said 20 per cent of the additional revenue raised by the passenger movement charge was given back to the industry through grants. This includes the four-year $48.5 million Asian Marketing Fund and the $48.5 million Tourism Industry Development Fund, which help to stimulate tourism demand by […]

6 Jul, 2013

Australia Takes First Asian Century Step, Launches Indonesia Country Strategy

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CANBERRA, 2013-07-05 (Xinhua) – Visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday launched Towards 2025: Indonesia Country Strategy, part of the Australia in the Asian Century initiative in Indonesia capital Jakarta. The strategy outlines how Australians can harness and develop the skills needed to deepen and strengthen the engagement with the country’s important northern neighbor, […]

6 Jul, 2013

India Promulgates Ordinance To Boost Food Security for the Poor

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President’s Secretariat, 05-July, 2013 – The President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee promulgated the National Food Security Ordinance, 2013 today. The Ordinance is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people. It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices. The Food Security Bill has […]

6 Jul, 2013

China Issues Guidelines to Stabilise Capital Flows

By CHEN JIA and ZHENG YANGPENG

Beijing, (China Daily), 2013-07-06 — A specific guideline to stabilize capital flows was issued by the central government on Friday. It particularly encourages more private funds to take part in reform of financial institutions at various levels. The State Council, or the nation’s cabinet, said China’s financial system and economy are “stable and sound”, with […]

6 Jul, 2013

Multinationals in China face increased scrutiny

By WANG ZHUOQIONG and LIU JIE

Beijing, 2013-07-06, (China Daily) – China is expanding its investigations into the food, dairy and pharmaceutical industries, raising questions about whether the days of “supranational treatment” for multinationals have ended. The investigations signal that these companies face increased scrutiny of their operations in the country. The State Administration for Industry & Commerce is investigating the […]

6 Jul, 2013

Chinese Retail Industry Projects Steady Growth

By Li Jiabao

Beijing, 2013-07-05 (China Daily) – Despite China’s slowing economic growth, the retail industry in the world’s second-largest economy will maintain sustainable growth in the medium and long term, commerce officials said on Thursday. Meanwhile, the industry is undergoing a transformation and the government will make more efforts to enhance its quality and efficiency and to […]

6 Jul, 2013

China, Pakistan ink landmark transport pact to access Gwadar Port

By LI XIAOKUN and ZHANG YUNBI

Beijing, 2013-07-06, (China Daily) – China and Pakistan signed an agreement on Friday on the blueprint for a huge transport project linking northwestern China to the Arabian Sea. Observers said the project, named the “China-Pakistan economic corridor”, will open a new route for China’s goods and energy. It will also give a strong boost to […]

6 Jul, 2013

European Alliance for Apprenticeships Launched to Help Alleviate Youth Joblessness

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Brussels/Leipzig, 2 July 2013 – European Commission Press release – The European Alliance for Apprenticeships is launched today by Commissioners Androulla Vassiliou (Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth) and László Andor (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) at the 2013 WorldSkills competition in Leipzig, Germany. The Alliance will help to fight youth unemployment by improving the quality […]

5 Jul, 2013

How I Joined Glenn Greenwald and Amy Goodman as an Official, Self-Hating Jew | Alternet

How could such an asymmetrical conflict – with one of the most sophisticated armies in the world pitted against a stateless, powerless people – be viewed and dismissed by so many in America as a dumb conflict between two ideologically-bent peoples? Lists like the one I’ve been included on and the principles that underlie it […]

5 Jul, 2013

Glenn Greenwald: Top Officials Are Lying to Our Faces About U.S.Govt Spying | Alternet

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What kind of journalist – or citizen – would focus more on Edward Snowden’s tonal oddities and travel drama than on the fact that top US officials have been deceitfully concealing a massive, worldwide spying apparatus being constructed with virtually no accountability or oversight? Just ponder what it says about someone who cares more about, […]

5 Jul, 2013

African-Americans Compare Treatment of Palestinians to U.S. Segregation Laws

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WASHINGTON, July 2, 2013 (WAFA) – African Americans, including Angela Davis and actress Lisa Gay Hamilton, released a statement reaffirming parallels between Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and discrimination against African Americans living under Jim Crow in the United States, a press release by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation said on Monday. The […]

5 Jul, 2013

EU Contributes €2.4M for Preservation of Palestinian Heritage in Jerusalem

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JERUSALEM, July 3, 2013 (WAFA) – The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) signed on Tuesday a €2.4 million agreement with Al-Quds University aimed at the preservation of Palestinian cultural heritage in Jerusalem’s Old City, an EU press release said. The agreement was signed in the presence of Michael Köhler, director […]

5 Jul, 2013

Activists Protest G4S Security Company’s Cooperation with Israel

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BRUSSELS, July 1, 2013 (WAFA) – Dozens of activists took off to the streets of Brussels on Friday to inform people about a British-Danish security company based in the UK that is involved in the detention of Palestinian children. The activists denounced the fact that G4S, a private military and security company that is allegedly […]

5 Jul, 2013

U.S. still dodging key question on Snowden’s revelations

By Chen Weihua

Beijing, 2013-06-28, (China Daily) – Yahoo News has done an interesting analysis of the 444 briefings through June 18 by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and found 13 distinct ways in which he dodges reporters’ questions. For example, he replied with “I don’t have the answer” 1,905 times; “I would refer you to someone […]

5 Jul, 2013

Value of education rises in crisis but investment in this area is falling, says OECD report

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PARIS, 25/06/2013 (OECD News release) – The jobs gap between well-educated young people and those who left school early has continued to widen during the crisis. A good education is the best insurance against a lack of work experience, according to the latest edition of the OECD’s annual Education at a Glance. Unemployment rates are […]

5 Jul, 2013

Vietnamese Websites fined for granting on-line visas illegally

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Hanoi, 01/07/2013 (Vietnam News Agency) – Information and Communications inspectors have punished websites using the gov.vn domain name for granting visas illegally. Vietnamvisa.gov.vn had its domain name registered by the People’s Committee of the Dang Xa Commune in Gia Lam district, visavietnam.gov.vn was registered by the Statistics Office of northern Bac Giang Province’s Luc Ngan […]

5 Jul, 2013

Ratio of youths among Korean working population falls to all-time low

By Kim Rahn

Seoul, (Korea Times), 01 July 2013 – The nation’s workforce is getting old, with people aged between 15 and 29 taking up 15.1 percent of the total working population, the lowest in 30 years, according to Statistics Korea, Monday. The trend is expected to continue because the portion of the young will reduce in the […]

5 Jul, 2013

Loving partner, money, social activity key to happiness – study

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Press Trust of India, Melbourne  July 2, 2013 – A loving partner, a household income of up to USD 100,000 and finding a purpose in life is the new “golden triangle of happiness”, a new Australian research has claimed. Having a good intimate relationship was rated higher than money and being fat was no barrier […]

5 Jul, 2013

Amnesty Int’l: US bid to hunt down whistleblower “gross violation of human rights”

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2 July 2013, (Amnesty International media release) — The US authorities’ relentless campaign to hunt down and block whistleblower Edward Snowden’s attempts to seek asylum is deplorable and amounts to a gross violation of his human rights Amnesty International said today. “The US attempts to pressure governments to block Snowden’s attempts to seek asylum are […]

5 Jul, 2013

Europe Plans To Change Rules To Allow State Subsidies For Airports, Airlines

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Brussels, 3 July 2013, European Commission – In a major policy shift, the European Commission has initiated a review of EU state aid rules so as to pave the way for public financing of airports and start-up aid to airlines. The draft review proposal has now been placed for public comment. The following are the […]

4 Jul, 2013

STOP using Google, Facebook if you fear US spying, says Germany | Mail Online

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Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday that ‘whoever fears their communication is being intercepted in any way should use services that don’t go through American servers.’ Friedrich says German officials are in touch with their U.S. counterparts ‘on all levels’ and a delegation is scheduled to fly to Washington next week […]

4 Jul, 2013

Indian-American Businessman Sets up New “Centrist” Political Party in U.S.

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Springfield, VA (edited version of a PRWEB news release) July 04, 2013 – An American businessman whose birthright can be traced back to South India has set up what he refers to as a “new Independent Party” known as Proud American. Announcing this today, the U.S. Independence Day, Mr Krishnan Suthanthiram said, “Wishing you a […]

4 Jul, 2013

U.S. Islamic Advocacy Group Reminds Americans about Days of “Tyrannical British Rule”

By Robert McCaw

On July 4, CAIR will mark Independence Day by joining fellow Americans at the “Restore the Fourth” rally in Washington, D.C. and in cities across the country in support of the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches. These efforts come at a time when the country’s national security and law […]

4 Jul, 2013

Most Still Proud to Be American But 71% say Declaration Signers Would Be Disappointed

by Frank Newport

PRINCETON, NJ — July 4, 2013 – Gallup – As the United States celebrates Independence Day, most of its adult residents continue to say they are proud to be an American, including 57% who are extremely proud and 28% who are very proud. This high level of pride in being an American has varied only […]

4 Jul, 2013

Global Peace Index 2013: An Alternative Means of Tracking Tourism Competitiveness

Another Ground-breaking Travel Impact Newswire exclusive

The publication of the latest 2013 Global Peace Index (GPI) in June 2013 offers the travel & tourism industry an opportunity to develop a new set of competitiveness indicators that go beyond jobs and economic growth and focus on the wider goal of building peace and stability. Travel & tourism is inextricably linked to conflict […]

4 Jul, 2013

FREE Download: School Course Modules on Peace & Tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

The Institute for Economics and Peace does not only produce the annual Global Peace Index. It has an entire school course called the “Building Blocks of Peace”, including lesson plans and activities designed for 14 -16 year olds. One of the four modules is specifically on peace and tourism. Available for free download from the […]

3 Jul, 2013

First Australian Muslim minister racially abused for taking oath on Quran – Hindustan Times

Hours after Ed Husic became Australia’s first ever Muslim minister, he was flooded with online racial abuse for taking oath of office on the Quran. 43-year-old Husic, was appointed as parliamentary secretary to prime minister Kevin Rudd and parliamentary secretary for broadband yesterday . Husic, son of Bosnian migrants, was the first MP to be […]

2 Jul, 2013

Are the German police using racial profiling? DW.DE

Biplab Basu is waiting at the heavy door of “ReachOut,” a small organization that helps victims of rightwing extremism and racism. Basu himself has often encountered racism, he recounts. A couple of months ago, he and his daughter were the only ones who were checked by police in a train approaching the Czech-German border. Basu […]

2 Jul, 2013

EU Cities/Regions Get Star Ratings for Active & Healthy Ageing Projects

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Brussels, Europa Press Releases, 2 July 2013 – 32 cities and regions across Europe have been rewarded for new ways of helping older people. These award-winners have been implementing innovative technological, social or organisational solutions to enhance the efficiency of health and social care systems, and have been presented with awards from European Commission Vice-President […]

2 Jul, 2013

“What is Data Mining” Article Shows What Was Known About the NSA Before Snowden

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Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 02, 2013 – In a bid to show just how much was known about NSA activity before the recent Edward Snowden controversy, idcloak has republished its January 2013 article What Is Data Mining, What Is NSA’S Utah Data Center, And What Data Collection Methods Are Being Used There? The article points […]

2 Jul, 2013

Deutsche Bank Survey: Investors Seek Higher Due Diligence Emphasis at Hedge Funds

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LONDON & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–July 01, 2013 – Deutsche Bank today identified the changing regulatory environment as the most significant factor driving the growing importance of operational due diligence (ODD) amongst hedge fund investors. Deutsche Bank’s Hedge Fund Consulting Group’s second annual operational due diligence survey, which polled investors globally representing over $2.13tn of total […]

2 Jul, 2013

Americans Feel More Divided than Any Time since Civil Rights Era, Values Survey Finds

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 28, 2013  — With July 4th approaching, more than 60 percent of Americans say the nation is more divided as a country now than it was 10 years ago, with even higher percentages saying America is at least as fragmented now as it was during the Great Depression, Vietnam, and Watergate. And […]

2 Jul, 2013

China Issues New Visa Category to Attract Talent

By Hu Min

July 01, 2013, (Shanghai Daily) – New exit and entry regulations which take effect from today promise more convenience for foreigners coming to China to work with the introduction of a “talent introduction visa.” But the revised Entry-Exit Administration Law is also aimed at cracking down on foreigners who work or stay in the country […]

2 Jul, 2013

Another early warning: U.S. Again Putting Global Financial System at Risk

By Kevin P. Gallagher (China Daily)

2013-07-01 – The US economy continues to have a hard time recovering from the global financial crisis. So the last thing one would expect the US government to do is to engage in policies that open the floodgates to severe risks in financial markets again. And yet it is precisely doing that. For all the […]

2 Jul, 2013

Massive debt plagues China’s local governments

By WEI TIAN

Beijing, 2013-07-01, (China Daily) – How much have China’s local governments borrowed? The answer has always been shrouded in mystery. The last official update was released by the National Audit Office in mid 2011. It put the nationwide figure at 10.7 trillion yuan ($1.75 trillion) by the end of 2010. Last week, the audit office […]

2 Jul, 2013

Xinhua Commentary: Snowden case vindicates need for global cybersecurity rules

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BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) — The Edward Snowden case plus the latest revelations by a German magazine that the United States was eavesdropping European Union (EU) offices give rise to the need for international regulations on surveillance activities. The EU has warned the Obama administration of “grave adverse consequences” and demanded “swift and concrete” answers. […]

2 Jul, 2013

Asia Times Online: State complicity in Myanmar pogroms

MEIKHTILA – The government of Myanmar’s President Thein Sein, so active in its efforts to assure Western governments and investors that the new Myanmar will never return to the dark days of the previous ruling military junta, has so far wholly failed to prevent the contagious spiral of brutal attacks on Muslim communities carried out […]

1 Jul, 2013

CAIR Issues Backgrounder: The Extrajudicial Exile of Muslim-American Citizens

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 01 July 2013 (22 Sha’baan 1434). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

1 Jul, 2013

People’s Daily editorial stresses stronger ties with masses

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(Xinhua) July 01, 2013 – BEIJING,  — The Communist Party of China (CPC) and its members must always bear in mind that cutting themselves off from the masses is the biggest threat to the ruling party, according to the CPC flagship newspaper People’s Daily. The CPC is founded among the people and powered by the […]

30 Jun, 2013

How to motivate your BORED staff – Sydney Morning Herald

What’s the difference between a company staffed by a motivated team and a company staffed by an unmotivated team? Success and failure, according to the owner of one of Australia’s most iconic brands. Mr Whippy owner Stan Gordon, chief executive of Franchised Food Company, which also owns Cold Rock Ice Creamery, Pretzel World and Nutshack, […]

29 Jun, 2013

Christian Coptic Leader Calls Egyptian Government “Fascistic Regime”

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WASHINGTON, June 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Coptic Solidarity recently held its fourth Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. titled “To What Extent Will the U.S. and the International Community Support an Islamist Government in Egypt?” Renowned speakers shared expertise and recommendations clarifying priorities facing the increasingly marginalized Coptic community and the embattled people of Egypt. Speakers included […]

29 Jun, 2013

Just worrying about being stressed can make you ill, reports Hypnotension

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London, UK (PRWEB UK) 29 June 2013 – Hypnotension reports news of new research published this week showing that stress can raise the possibility of a person having a heart attack by 50% and people who think stress is damaging their health are most at risk. Simply having a negative perception of stress more than […]

29 Jun, 2013

India Expects Lower Costs, More Efficiency as Bangkok Visa Office Changes Hands

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The Indian Embassy’s outsourced visa processing contract for Thais and foreigners resident in Thailand has changed hands. Effective 8 July, it will be handled by IVS Global Services under a three-year contract, replacing the former processing agency VFS Global. This is the second contract that IVS has won in the last few months; […]

29 Jun, 2013

U.S. Professor Banned in Phoenix for “Controversial” Analysis of Int’l Law in the Middle East

It is extremely disturbing that a state bar association, which presumably has an interest in defending the right of free expression, would prevent me and the other panelists from presenting our papers at its convention because of their presumed political content. For if raising legal concerns about certain policies of Israel’s right-wing government can be […]

29 Jun, 2013

Indian State Commissioners review implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act

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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 28-June, 2013 – The Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Kumari Selja inaugurated the 12th National Meeting of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities to review implementation of PwD Act here today. The Minister in her address said that a meeting of this kind provides an important […]

29 Jun, 2013

Keep Safe & Travel On: Visa’s Tips for a Fraud-Free Summer Holiday

By Jag Mistry, Corporate Relations, Visa Inc.

You could be lying on the pristine beaches of Phuket this weekend, or trekking along the Great Wall of China the next. With budget flights on the rise and an ever abundant array of attractive travel packages on offer, getting away to an exotic locale or a dazzling metropolis has never been easier. It’s no […]

29 Jun, 2013

Edward Snowden Isn’t on the Run… We Are | Common Dreams

When the animated debate—“Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor?” started, I wrote a piece urging to consider him not as a “hero” or “traitor” but “simply as a teacher—who provided knowledge to expose yet another aspect of the inverted totalitarianism in the United States.” After everything that has been revealed since, there has […]

29 Jun, 2013

The Wonderful American World of Informers and Agents Provocateurs | Common Dreams

As the Boston marathon bombing illustrates, there are homegrown terrorists capable of producing the weapons they need and killing Americans without the slightest help from the U.S. government. But historically, it’s surprising how relatively often the gendarme is also a ringleader. Just how often is hard to know, since information on the subject is fiendishly […]

29 Jun, 2013

Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Slams Surveillance State, Hails NSA Whistleblower | Common Dreams

The king just goes out and has anyone rounded up, killed, put in secret prisons. When I was brought up, I was taught that communist Russia was the ones that were gonna kill us and bomb our country and all this. And communist Russia was so bad because they followed their people, they snooped on […]

29 Jun, 2013

Indian Minister Voices Deep Concern Over Deteriorating Water Resources

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Ministry of Water Resources, 28-June, 2013 – Union Minister for Water Resources Mr Harish Rawat has deep concern over ever deteriorating situation of water resources and stressed on adopting dedicated efforts for the cause of conserving water and serving Humanity. Inaugurating a Seminar on water conservation in NCT Delhi here today he said it is […]

29 Jun, 2013

Airports Lead India’s Infrastructure Projects Plans for FY 2013-14

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Prime Minister’s Office, 28-June, 2013 – A meeting was held by the Prime Minister today to finalise infrastructure targets for 2013-14. The meeting was attended by the Finance Minister, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Ministers and Secretaries of key infrastructure Ministries, i.e., Power, Coal, Railways, Roads, Shipping and Civil Aviation. The Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission […]