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10 Sep, 2012

ADB: Eurozone Crisis Threatens Emerging East Asia’s Booming Bond Markets

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10 September 2012 (ADB Media release) – Emerging East Asia’s local currency bond markets have expanded to nearly $6 trillion, but policymakers in the region should brace themselves for further shock and volatility from the global financial markets, says a report published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “Our local currency bond markets are emerging […]

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10 Sep, 2012

Australia Warns Asian Travellers About Food Import Rules for Upcoming “Autumn Moon Festival”

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7 September 2012, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – A gift of mooncakes to mark the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a practice celebrated by Asian communities around the world. However, the tradition poses a biosecurity threat if it brings unwanted pests and diseases into Australia. Each year the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry […]

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10 Sep, 2012

Why India’s Small Towns Are Not Benefitting from Economic Progress

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India’s economic progress is not trickling down to its far-flung rural areas, exacerbating the rich-poor income gap and forcing rural-urban migration. Indian economic journalist Paromita Shastri addresses these questions in her book How India’s Small Towns Live (or Die), an extensive study of 30 small towns spread over the states of Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, […]

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10 Sep, 2012

Toyota’s Three NextGen Products Impacting the “Future of Mobility”

Emerging from a series of financial and quality-control problems, as well as the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Toyota Motors Corp has published its Sustainability Report 2011 identifying trends that will change the “future of mobility” and the kind of products and services that will be needed to match those trends. It projects demand for three key […]

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9 Sep, 2012

China To Host Int’l Forum For Muslim Entrepreneurs In Yinchuan

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 10 September 2012 (23 Shawwala 1433). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story.

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9 Sep, 2012

Iraq: Inside the Belly of CIA Beast – Countercurrents

Much to the bitter disappointment of international community, a report recently declassified by CIA reveals that a war that started in the name of democracy in Iraq in 2003 and claimed the lives of more than one million innocent Iraqis and thousands of US-led troops was waged on the basis of an unfortunate series of […]

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9 Sep, 2012

9th World Hindi Conference to be held in Johannesburg

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The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India with the support of Hindi Shiksha Sangh, South Africa and other stakeholders is organizing the Ninth World Hindi Conference [WHC] in Johannesburg, South Africa from 22-24 September, 2012. The Conference will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre. The tradition of the World Hindi Conferences began with […]

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9 Sep, 2012

New Visa Pact Signed as India, Pakistan Move to Facilitate Travel, Rebuild Bridges

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 8 (APP): Pakistan and India on Saturday signed new liberalized visa regime giving more concessions and simplifying the procedure to grant visa with a view to promote people to people contacts and enhance trade and business activities between two neighbours. The new visa regime agreement was signed here by Indian External Affairs Minister […]

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9 Sep, 2012

Future Mass Transit Rail Plans May Threaten Bangkok’s Heritage

Bangkok – A group of Thailand’s leading culture and heritage institutions has sent an open letter to the Bangkok Governor urging him to ensure that the Thai capital’s future development plans preserve the city’s historic, archaeological, artistic and architectural monuments, buildings and districts. The letter says that many of the city’s older areas, especially around […]

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8 Sep, 2012

Indian PM Tells Police Chiefs Of Concern Over “Deteriorating” Communal Relations

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New Delhi, 08-September, 2012 (PM’s Office) – Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has sounded a warning about a deterioration of communal relations in India, and rued the role of SMS text messages in exacerbating the situation. In an address to the Annual Conference of National Police Chiefs, Dr Singh noted that communal tensions would only […]

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8 Sep, 2012

The Hindu : Call to prevent plundering of education sector

In an open session organised by the SFI at Sellur, N. Ram, former Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, expressed concern that education had become completely commercialised and it had become like a business. “Top corporate houses and industrialists are giving concept papers to Government and they are being implemented. It is all the more worse with medical […]

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7 Sep, 2012

Australia Identity Theft Survey Reveals Extent of Threat, Suggests Protective Measures

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4 September 2012 (Australian Attorney-General’s Department, Minister for Emergency Management) – Almost 90 per cent of Australians surveyed are concerned about identity theft and 61 per cent think identity theft will increase over the next 12 months according to new research released today. Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said that while Australians are concerned about identity theft, […]

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7 Sep, 2012

PATA CEO, Travel Impact Newswire Editor Team Up for “Thrilla in Manila” Debate

Joint PATA-Travel Impact Newswire Announcement

September 6, 2012, Bangkok: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is to break new ground in the conduct and content of industry forums globally by holding the first-ever debate on the future of travel and tourism between the PATA CEO and a leading regional travel journalist. To focus on the topic, “The Future of Travel […]

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7 Sep, 2012

NYPD Opens Up New Bureau–in Israel | Alternet

Looks like the trigger-happy NYPD is jet setting all over the world, exporting its particularly oppressive strategy of law and order. Among other offenses–such as killing unarmed African American children, stopping and frisking 700,000 (mostly black and brown) people a year and illegally surveilling thousands of Muslim Americans–the NYPD has recently come under fire for […]

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7 Sep, 2012

When Did Dissent Become a Crime? America’s Police State on Steroids at the Conventions | Alternet

The biggest impact of militarized policing is not at the conventions themselves, but in the long term. The two political conventions coincide with the Summer Olympics. The international games proved to be a handy way to push out the poor from city centers by constructing stadiums and Olympic villages that are repurposed for tourism, consumption […]

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7 Sep, 2012

PressTV – Obama once again bows down to Israel over Palestine

As a former law professor, President Obama knows something about international law and US constitutional law which he taught at the University of Chicago. But he repudiated both, besmirched his academic bona fides, violated Democratic Party rules and hurt his campaign on 12/5/12 by ordering the Democratic Party to summarily change earlier a twice debated […]

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7 Sep, 2012

Univ of Toronto Study: Morning People are Happier Than Late-Nighters

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Sparta, NJ (PRWEB) September 06, 2012 – A new study from the University of Toronto suggests what many suspected all along; that morning risers are happier than their late night counterparts and have a more positive and upbeat outlook. The results, which entailed the habits of two groups, young adults and older adults, also identified […]

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7 Sep, 2012

Washington Post Breaks Lockstep on Israel and Iran | Focal Points, the Blog of FPIF

Maybe — facetiousness alert! — the United States should call Israel’s bluff: we’ll bomb Iran for you if you make your nuclear-weapons program public, sign the NPT, and open your program to IAEA inspections. via Washington Post Breaks Lockstep on Israel and Iran | Focal Points, the Blog of FPIF.

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7 Sep, 2012

Democratic Leaders Undermine Israeli-Palestinian Peace and Their Own Procedures | FPIF

The craven way in which the Jerusalem amendment was pushed through demonstrates that the Democratic Party is not a democratic party. It has shown to the world an essentially authoritarian mindset, both in terms of its willingness to undermine international law in its support of the expansionist goals of allied right-wing governments as well as […]

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7 Sep, 2012

Patrick Pexton: What about Israel’s nuclear weapons? – The Washington Post

Among the less benign reasons U.S. sources don’t leak is that it can hurt your career. Said Perkovich: “It’s like all things having to do with Israel and the United States. If you want to get ahead, you don’t talk about it; you don’t criticize Israel, you protect Israel. You don’t talk about illegal settlements […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Five Resolutions to Keep Your Family Healthy

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Albany, NY (PRWEB) September 04, 2012 – As the kids head back to school and the cooler weather settles in, now is the time to mark new beginnings. Forget Jan. 1 – here are some “fall resolutions” that are easy to make and stick to. 1. REVAMP YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE PLANS Breakfast: Don’t skip […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Innovations in Onboard Meal Menus Drives Global In-Flight Catering Services Market

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San Jose, California (PRWEB) September 03, 2012 – As the competition heats up in the airline industry to attract and retain passengers, various airlines are devising innovative strategies that differentiate them from competitors and simultaneously allow them to operate at lower costs. In this direction, services provided in-flight remain pivotal in offering unique flight experiences, […]

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6 Sep, 2012

U.S. Shoppers Warned: Buy Foreign Made Products And the Next Job Loss Could be Yours

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Arcanum, OH (PRWEB) September 04, 2012 – The following message has been issued to serve as a reminder to all U.S. shoppers during this Labor Day shopping season: All American Clothing Co. and Josh Miller, producer of the upcoming documentary film ‘Made in the USA: The 30 Day Journey” were both involved in making the […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Shrinking U.S. Middle Class Threatens Economic Growth, Says Financial Newsletter

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New York, NY (PRWEB) September 04, 2012  – According to Michael Lombardi, lead contributor to Profit Confidential, the American middle-class segment is shrinking, as it currently makes up about 51% of the U.S population, compared to 61% in 1971. As Lombardi notes, economic growth occurs when there is a rising demand for goods and services, […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Cultural Awareness Author Offers Key To Calming Hostilities In Afghanistan

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(PRWEB) September 04, 2012  – CNN reports while U.S. commander General John Allen blames the latest string of insider attacks by members of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) against Western troops on shortened tempers due to Ramadan and the oppressive August heat, the Afghan government complains that foreign troops continually ignore key aspects of […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Higher Fees Spell Changes For U.K. Students Planning Gap Year Break

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Brighton, UK (PRWEB UK) 4 September 2012 — A-level results day – and, for many, the days that follow – is a particularly stressful time for A-level students. This year, faced with higher university fees and changes to the admissions system, an increased number of young people found themselves chasing fewer places through Clearing and […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Small London Travel Firm Taps India’s Best Homestays, Guest Houses, B&Bs

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London, UK (PRWEB UK) 3 September 2012 – A new breed of independent travellers to India are using a small London travel company called Home & Hospitality to tap into local knowledge, handpicked homestays, bed & breakfasts and trusted guides to create bespoke and culturally authentic travel experiences and tours in India. Independent travellers in […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Five Unique Uses For Smartphones

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Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 01, 2012  – Technological developments have transformed what’s possible with smartphones, but sometimes even these gadgets are used for jobs outside of the norm. Gadget insurance brand, Protect Your Bubble, reveals its list of the five most unconventional uses for mobile phones: 1.    A medical guide for life saving surgery A British […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Study Reveals Differences Between Men and Women Leaders

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Omaha, NE (PRWEB) September 01, 2012  – Quantum Workplace released a 2012 leadership research study revealing the public perceptions of men’s and women’s leadership skills. It’s been well established that significant employment and income gaps exist between men and women leaders, yet a connection has not been drawn between these gaps and each group’s leadership […]

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6 Sep, 2012

Central Park Skywriting to Promote Peace Following Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting

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New York, NY (PRWEB) August 31, 2012  – A skywriting message flew over Central Park on Sunday, August 26, 2012 to commemorate victims of the shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek on August 5. The message was organized by Taj Chahal, an entrepreneur who is spreading acceptance for the Sikh community. […]

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5 Sep, 2012

Sec-Gen Surin: ASEAN Identity, Cultural Integration As Important As Economics To Avoid Conflict

Exclusive Report by Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire

BANGKOK – In a frank and forthright SWOT analysis of the future of regional integration, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan has warned that the birth of the ASEAN Community will create both “winners and losers”, and the management of ethnic, religious and identity differences in one of the world’s most culturally diverse regions will be […]

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4 Sep, 2012

‘Judaization’ of Jerusalem targets Islamic relics – Muslim cleric — RT

The occupation regime treats Palestinians in a way that is far from humane. They are cruel, oppressive, they don’t have mercy. There is one issue that is not reported in the media – I am talking about Palestinian women who don’t always get a chance to give birth at a hospital. The occupiers stop ambulances […]

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4 Sep, 2012

Chinese Companies Expanding Abroad Urged to be Wary of Investment Risks

China Daily Commentary

September 03, 2012 – The Ministry of Commerce’s latest estimates show that China’s outbound direct investment reached 74.65 billion yuan ($11.8 billion) in 2011, a historical high. At the same time, it noted more than 27 percent of the enterprises that State-owned companies have set up overseas reported losses for that year. That loss percentage […]

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4 Sep, 2012

US, China Corporate Profit Gap Growing

By Chen Yang (Global Times)

Beijing, September 03, 2012 – The profit gap between China’s 500 largest enterprises and their US counterparts is growing wider, with the economic slowdown seriously affecting profits at domestic manufacturing companies, the China Enterprise Confederation (CEC) said over the weekend. China’s top 500 enterprises, ranked by annual revenue, made a combined profit of 2.1 trillion […]

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4 Sep, 2012

India Details Projects to Clean Up Polluted Rivers

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03-September, 2012 (Ministry of Environment & Foests) – The following information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Mrs Jayanthi Natarajan to the Parliament. The Ganga Action Plan (GAP) was launched by the Government in 1985, for pollution abatement activities in identified polluted stretches of river Ganga and later […]

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4 Sep, 2012

Secrets of the Chinese Travelers

(China Daily)

New couples celebrating their weddings in Sanya, in South China’s Hainan province. Sanya is one of the most popular tourist packages bought by online shoppers in China, according to a survey by Taobao, China’s largest online marketplace. (Photo/China Daily September 03, 2012 – Hong Kong, Beijing and Hainan province’s Sanya remain the most popular tourist […]

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4 Sep, 2012

How World Opinion is Kidnapped by West’s “Int’l Community” Rhetoric

People's Daily Online

September 01, 2012  – Since the Industrial Revolution in Britain, the self-centered way of thinking that long formed in Western powers has been swelling with the constantly consolidated powers. One of the performances is that some Western politicians often make improper comments in the name of “international community” when they talk about the international affairs […]

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3 Sep, 2012

Europe to Foster Wireless Innovation Through Sharing of Radio Spectrum

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Brussels, 3 September 2012, European Commission Press release – The European Commission today unveiled plans to deal with the exponential growth in mobile and wireless data traffic by enabling wireless technologies, including broadband, to share the use of the radio spectrum. With new technologies it is possible to share radio spectrum amongst several users – […]

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3 Sep, 2012

Students at S. African university boycott Israel – Yahoo! News

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Students at South Africa‘s University of the Witwatersrand say they are adopting an academic and cultural boycott of Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people. A statement Monday says the school’s student representative council is calling for an immediate investigation into any academic, financial and cultural relations with Israeli institutions. Read more: […]

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3 Sep, 2012

European Heritage Days: 50 Countries Open Rarely Seen Sites

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Brussels, 03 September 2012, European Commission Press release – Over the coming month, more than 20 million people are expected to take advantage of free access to thousands of rarely opened sites and special events as part of the European Heritage Days, which take place every September in 50 countries across Europe. “The European Heritage […]

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3 Sep, 2012

Indonesia Aims for Economic Hub Status by Developing its Seaports

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

  A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 03 September 2012 (16 Shawwala 1433). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

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2 Sep, 2012

Tony Blair should face trial over Iraq war, says Desmond Tutu: The Observer

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for Tony Blair and George Bush to be hauled before the international criminal court in The Hague and delivered a damning critique of the physical and moral devastation caused by the Iraq war. Tutu, a Nobel peace prize winner and hero of the anti-apartheid movement, accuses the former British and […]

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2 Sep, 2012

Glenn Greenwald skewers US injustices in compelling latest book | The Electronic Intifada

Greenwald’s most recent book, With Justice and Liberty for Some, demonstrates structural injustice in the US: “how the law is used to destroy equality and protect the powerful,” as the book’s subtitle spells out. There is a dialectic relationship, Greenwald contends, between the private law enjoyed by the country’s most wealthy and politically powerful, and […]

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1 Sep, 2012

Exhibition Association Warns Members About “Misleading” Directory Scams

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31 Aug 2012 – UFI, the global association of the exhibition industry, has warned members to beware of scams purporting to provide “misleading directory services.” Published in the September 2012 edition of its newsletter, the full text of the warning reads thus: In the past we have provided you with information concerning a scam perpetrated […]

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1 Sep, 2012

Travel Managers Survey: Risk Management Remains Top Issue

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30 Aug 2012 (AirPlus International) – Risk management remains top of mind amid ongoing worldwide economic, political and ecological uncertainty. As worldwide economic and political situations remain volatile, the issue of traveler safety and security continues to be an ongoing challenge for travel managers. Add in the increasing frequency and rising strength of natural disasters […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India-Asean Pledge To Finalise Services Agreement by December

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Ministry of Commerce & Industry, 31-August, 2012 – At the 10th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers Consultations in Siem Reap, Cambodia today, Union Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles, Mr Anand Sharma, and the ASEAN Economic Ministers reviewed the impressive growth in total trade since the signing of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement. Since 2011, bilateral […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India Imposes Stringent Mobile Radiation Standards

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Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, 31-August, 2012 – Effective 1st September 2012, India will be among the select few countries in the world to have stringent EMF (Electromagnetic Frequency) Radiation Standards, established in the interest of public health, for mobile towers and mobile handsets. Indian standards would now be 10 times more stringent than […]

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31 Aug, 2012

New List Reveals Healthiest Places to Work in America

Pack a healthy lunch, and keep a stash of healthy snacks (granola bars, fruit, etc) in your desk drawer. Get up from your desk, and take regular 5-minute walk breaks. Drink lots of water. Fill a water bottle up at the nearest cooler or water fountain and keep it at your desk. Take the stairs. […]

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31 Aug, 2012

China, Egypt Back Palestine Statehood

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BEIJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) — China and Egypt have reaffirmed their support for an independent State of Palestine, according to a joint press communique issued here on Thursday. The independent state should have full sovereignty established on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, said the communique, which also backed […]

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31 Aug, 2012

Why Americans Must End America’s Self-Generating Wars « THE INTERNET POST

To define this prevention of war as an achievable goal may sound pretentious. But the necessary steps to be taken are above all achievable here at home in America. And what is needed is not some radical and untested new policy, but a much-needed realistic reassessment and progressive scaling back of two discredited policies that […]

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31 Aug, 2012

“Marginal Drop” in Indian Forest Cover

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Ministry of Environment and Forests, 29-August, 2012 – The details of the India State of Forest Report, 2011 (ISFR) published by Dehradun –based Forest Survey of India is as follows:- • India State of Forest Report 2011 is the twelfth such report. The first report was published in 1987. • Forest and tree cover of […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India Sets Up New Department of Disability Affairs

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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 30-August, 2012 – A new Department of Disability Affairs has been set up as per the  Cabinet Secretariat’s notification dated 12.05.2012 to ensure greater focus on policy matters regarding disability issues. Having a separate budget will help strengthen existing schemes, formulation of new schemes, promotion of technological innovation and […]

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31 Aug, 2012

U.S. Shares Responsibility for Rachel Corrie’s Death | FPIF

It appears that both Republicans and Democrats believe that the lives of Americans who work for peace and justice in conflict areas are secondary to ensuring the profits of American arms merchants and the pursuit of narrowly defined strategic objectives. Perhaps the best thing we can do in memory of Rachel Corrie, Furkan Dogan, and […]

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31 Aug, 2012

California State Assembly Seeks to Stifle Debate on Israel

The California State Assembly has just passed a bipartisan resolution (HR 35) by voice vote which constitutes a serious attack on academic freedom and the rights of students and faculty to raise awareness about human rights abuses by U.S.-backed governments. While purporting to put the legislature on record in opposition of anti-Semitism on state university […]

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31 Aug, 2012

U.S. Imprisons More People Than Any Other Country in the World | Alternet

A new video created by the Brave New Foundation and endorsed by a wide range of groups, from the ACLU and the NAACP to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the United Methodist Church, examines the ways in which prison is like a beast. “The U.S. is paying to have more than 2.3 […]

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31 Aug, 2012

India To Spend Billions on Upgrading Railways

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New Delhi, 30-August, 2012 (Ministry of Railways) – India is projecting private investment of more than IRs 79.83 crores in a range of railway projects to be developed under the upcoming 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa said in a reply to a question in Lok Sabha […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Sikh-led prayer and GOP convictions – CNN.com

If Mitt Romney and Republican leaders want the historic Sikh invocation to be more than tokenism — and are serious about preventing another Oak Creek — they cannot continue to let hateful speech within their own party go unchecked. In a time when hate groups are on the rise, the Republican Party must accept responsibility […]

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30 Aug, 2012

The GOP has a Muslim problem – CNN.com

A Catholic priest, a rabbi, an evangelical minister, a Sikh, a Greek Orthodox archbishop and two Mormon leaders walk into the Republican National Convention. It sounds like the beginning of a joke. But the Republican Party’s decision to invite representatives from all of these faiths to speak at this week’s convention, but to exclude a […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Russian central banker outperformed US Fed’s Bernanke – rating — RT

The Chairman of Russia’s Central bank Sergey Igantiev beats US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke and the ECB head Mario Draghi in the World’s Top Central Bankers 2012 rating, organised by Global Finance magazine. Russia’s Ignatiev was rated B+, improving his result from last year’s B rating. Meanwhile America’s Bernanke was rated B by Global […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Islam is inseparable part of Russia’s society and culture – Putin — RT

President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Russian Hajj Mission on its 10th anniversary, and said that Islam has become integral to Russia’s religious, cultural and social fabric. “Traditions of Islam are based on eternal values of kindness, mercifulness and justice. Millions of people in our country practice this ancient religion,” Putin wrote in a telegram published […]

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30 Aug, 2012

India Pushes Reinvigorated Non-Aligned Movement, Reform of Global Governance

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Tehran, 30-August, 2012 (Indian Prime Minister’s Office) – Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address delivered today at 16th NAM Summit in Tehran: “I congratulate His Excellency Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on assuming the Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement. Mr. Chairman, India will extend […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Business Travel Paperwork Wastes Time, Hits Productivity – Survey

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LONDON-August 30, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–A YouGov survey commissioned by Concur of over 1,000 UK business travellers surveyed reveals the major pain points associated with business travel and the extent to which these factors affect employee satisfaction and productivity. Business travel is a significant part of employees’ job function with over one half of those surveyed travelling […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Burmese Trade Union Leader Cleared to Return from Exile

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29 August 2012 (ITUC Press Release): The International Trades Union Congress (ITUC) has welcomed the imminent return to Burma of the leader of the country’s trade union movement, Maung Maung, following a decision by the government to remove some 2,000 people from a black-list of over 6,000 banned from entering the country. Maung Maung is […]

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30 Aug, 2012

U.S. Office Workers Say Promotions Depend More On Politics Than Hard Work

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NEW YORK & SUNNYVALE, Calif.- 29 August 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–PARADE Magazine teamed up with Yahoo! Finance for the Job Happiness Survey to discover how Americans view their jobs, working cultures, career priorities, and prospects. Based on the findings, it is clear that Americans are putting more value on every penny earned. Below are some of the […]

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30 Aug, 2012

Job freeze now hits headhunters – Hindustan Times

The global economic uncertainty and its impact on business sentiments have claimed a new victim — headhunters or recruitment agencies. With companies turning choosy both on hiring and spending, staffing firms are facing pricing pressures, said industry experts. “Costs are under pressure as the cycle to close the recruitment process has become longer,” said Manish […]

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29 Aug, 2012

Israel’s possible strike on Iran threatens Middle East stability | ArabNews

THE decision to launch a deadly strike against Iran’s nuclear sites has been taken. It now rests with two men, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hawkish Defense Minister Ehud Barak. According to Western and Israeli press reports, quoting informed intelligence sources, the attack will take place in the coming 12 weeks, most likely […]

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29 Aug, 2012

Number of Pakistani expats exceeds 1.5 m | ArabNews

The number of Pakistani expats in Saudi Arabia is consistently increasing and currently exceeds 1.5 million. Pakistani Ambassador Mohammed Naeem Khan said yesterday that the Pakistanis were “committed and conscientious workers” because of their proximity to the Kingdom and its people, especially in terms of religion and age-old ties. via Number of Pakistani expats exceeds […]

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29 Aug, 2012

Minority rights and the Indonesian diaspora | The Jakarta Post

The 2010 census revealed there were about 63,000 Indonesians registered in the United States, making them the 15th largest Asian minority after the Myanmarese. Human rights, however, may foil Indonesia’s bid to achieve the goal of increasing power and culture abroad, as it has been experiencing a brain drain during its modern history due to […]

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29 Aug, 2012

National Security? Or Job Security for the Security Apparatus?

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The following press release issued following an American Legion National Security Symposium makes clear that hyping up the threat to U.S. national security is all about creating job security for the defense and military apparatus which is becoming increasingly worried about the consequences of a reduced military budget. The transport, travel & tourism industry is […]

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29 Aug, 2012

NY Stock Exchange CEO Report Urges Less Regulation, Reduced Debt, Lower Taxes

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NEW YORK-August 28, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–Global CEOs and U.S. small business owners are strongly urging political leaders and candidates for office to focus tax reform, regulation, the size of government and entitlements, and the national debt to stimulate the economy, growth and job creation, according to a newly released report from NYSE Euronext (NYX). Among those […]

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29 Aug, 2012

New Model Sought to Drive Sales as ‘Deal Fatigue’ Sets in

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MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.-28 Aug 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–“Deal fatigue” appears to be slowing consumer enthusiasm for daily deal sites such as Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN)—and the Aristocrat Group Corp. (OTCBB: ASCC) is working on a new coupon model to offer buyers something different. Although Groupon and its largest competitor, Living Social, have built tremendous market share in the […]

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29 Aug, 2012

China’s Economic Transition Starts

By Liu Shijin (China Daily)

Beijing, August 28, 2012 – China’s economy grew by 7.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, continuing a downward trend that began two years ago. At such a time, it’s important that we make the economy stable for the present to ensure that long-term development occurs. The slowdown is the result of a […]

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29 Aug, 2012

U.S. State Dept to Spend $750 Million to Revamp Visa, Consular Services

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ARLINGTON, Va.-August 28, 2012-(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Department of State has selected Accenture Federal Services as one of nine prime contractors to provide technical support and consulting services under a $750 million Development, Modernization, Enhancement (DME) contracting vehicle. The DME has a one-year base, with four, one-year options. The State Department’s DME is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) […]

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29 Aug, 2012

US launches financial attacks against its allies – People’s Daily Online

The United States and Britain have claimed they have “special relations” for a long period. But recently, the United States has cracked down on large British banks successively. Barclays Bank was accused of manipulating the exchange rate. HSBC Bank was charged of laundering money for drug cartels. Presently, Standard Chartered Bank also turns into the […]

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29 Aug, 2012

Egypt Looks East: New President Visits China Before U.S.

Source: Global Times

Global Times Editor’s Note: New Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi picked China rather than the US for his first visit to a big power, which has caused some stir. The visit, scheduled from August 28 to 30, is intended to bring Sino-Egyptian relations into a new stage. Is Egypt looking east? What does the visit mean […]

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29 Aug, 2012

European Commission to Probe Proposed Buyout of Aer Lingus by Ryanair

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Brussels, 29 August 2012 – European Commission Press release – The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation (phase II) under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by the low cost carrier Ryanair, which was notified to the Commission on 24 July 2012. Both are major players in the Irish […]

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28 Aug, 2012

Republican Jews Hone Message in Tampa – Forward.com

A key message for Jewish Republicans at the convention will be advancing the image of Mitt Romney as more supportive of Israel than Obama. Helping to make the point will be several events hosted during the convention by the Republican Jewish Coalition, including a “Salute for pro-Israel Elected Officials” and an event honoring Republican governors. […]

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28 Aug, 2012

Japan Survey Claims: Women Less Employable After Starting a Family

Tokyo, Aug 21, 2012 – (JCN Newswire) – In a recent Employee Insights Survey of female professionals in Japan, 77% of respondents believe women are less employable if they decide to start a family. In contrast, only 3% feel women are more employable, while 20% believe starting a family does not affect a woman’s chances […]

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28 Aug, 2012

JETRO Releases 2012 Global Trade and Investment Report

Tokyo, Aug 9, 2012 – (JCN Newswire) – JETRO today released its “2012 Global Trade and Investment Report”.

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28 Aug, 2012

McKinsey Report: Winning the US$30 trillion Decathlon

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(Source: McKinsey & Company) – By 2025, more than half of the world’s population will have joined the consuming classes, driving annual consumption in emerging markets to $30 trillion. Global companies must master ten key disciplines—or miss the defining growth opportunity of our times. Ten disciplines, one goal CEOs recognize that winning in emerging markets […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Droughts Flag Need to Better Manage Water Resources, Safeguard Food Security

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27 August 2012, Stockholm/Rome (FAO media release) –Drought in some parts of the world has hurt global grain production and contributed to food price spikes virtually every other year since 2007, highlighting the need to transform the way water is used – and wasted – throughout the entire food chain. This is one of the […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Record $66.3 Billion in US Arms Sales Abroad in 2011 — Antiwar.com

Heavily backed by the US government, US arms makers are a serious growth industry, not only providing weapons to America’s own enormous military for its assorted adventures, but capturing the vast majority of the foreign arms market on the planet as well. The new figures released in a study for Congress show several records being […]

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27 Aug, 2012

TSA spends millions on failed shoe scanning devices — RT

The US government has tested several scanning devices meant to detect explosives and weapons in passengers’ shoes at airports. Millions of dollars later, the Transportation Security Administration has concluded the devices are ineffective. The TSA has been testing shoe scanners made by companies in the US and abroad since 2007. One of the four shoe […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Indonesia’s Mbaru Niang Tops 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards

UNESCO Media release

Bangkok, 27 August 2012 — Mbaru Niang, a village of traditional houses in Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia has been honoured with the Award of Excellence in the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The two Awards of Distinction include the Sethna Buildings in Mumbai, India and the Water Systems in […]

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27 Aug, 2012

How Much Water Will 2 Billion Tourists Guzzle?

A major United Nations report being discussed at the World Water Week now underway in Stockholm provides ample food for thought for the travel & tourism industry: Can it cope with the pressures of managing the generation, consumption and disposal of water by more than two billion international and domestic tourists annually? From Kenya to […]

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27 Aug, 2012

Rachel Corrie’s mother: ‘I know this won’t be the end’ – The Guardian

The verdict in the lawsuit, she says, is part of a process, “one piece of what we’ve done. In terms of what happened to Rachel and the accountability that we’re seeking, the process has shown there are huge problems here [in Israel] in investigations and the legal system. There continue to be things that need […]

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26 Aug, 2012

Mauritania’s Date Palms: Cultural Heritage and Means of Survival

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Muqbil

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the Islamic countries for the week ending 27 August 2012 (09 Shawwala 1433). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story.

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25 Aug, 2012

EXCLUSIVE: Thai “Salesmonk” Urges Visits to Buddhist Sites in Pakistan

BANGKOK – A prominent Thai Buddhist monk has called on the world’s Buddhists to visit Pakistan if they wish to get a better idea of Buddhist history and the centres of learning that contributed to its spread. Describing himself as a “salesmonk” rather than a “salesman” for the Buddhist heritage sites of Pakistan, the Venerable […]

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25 Aug, 2012

We are Women Against Rape but we do not want Julian Assange extradited – guardian.co.uk

When Julian Assange was first arrested, we were struck by the unusual zeal with which he was being pursued for rape allegations. It seems even clearer now, that the allegations against him are a smokescreen behind which a number of governments are trying to clamp down on WikiLeaks for having audaciously revealed to the public […]

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24 Aug, 2012

PressTV – Israelis warn Tel Aviv of Iran strike aftershocks

Hundreds of Israelis have taken to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest against a potential military strike by the Israeli regime on Iran. In separate demonstrations across Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, the protesters chanted slogans such as ‘No to war’ and carried signs, condemning the Israeli authorities for social inequality and the government’s […]

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24 Aug, 2012

PressTV – Good leaks, bad leaks reveal US hypocrisy

“Only Bad Leaks (ones that expose government wrongdoing) are punished, while Good Leaks (making Obama look good) are overlooked if not officially sanctioned,” Glenn Greenwald wrote in article on the Guardian website amid reports of a forthcoming book recounting the experiences of a US Navy Seal who participated in the alleged raid on Osama bin […]

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24 Aug, 2012

Cold War over, but vigilance still necessary – People’s Daily Online

As the world’s largest power, the US has the greediest pursuit of security. It often guards against other countries in an aggressive way, including adopting policies of containment. This is the real reason that post-Cold War global politics haven’t settled down strategically. The history of the Cold War may not be repeated between China and […]

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24 Aug, 2012

US should stop military build-up in Asia Pacific: China Daily

The US politicians have to understand that the biggest enemy their country faces is not China’s rise, which is inevitable. It is Washington’s inability to co-exist and cooperate with an emerging power. Washington should revise its false-hearted China policy, and keep good faith with the “stay-neutral” stance toward the regional territorial disputes. If the United […]

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24 Aug, 2012

Global Experts Poll: Economic Confidence at Lowest Level in Five Quarters

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Geneva, Switzerland, 22 August 2012 (World Economic Forum media release) – Confidence in the state of the world economy is at its lowest ebb since the World Economic Forum started its Global Confidence Index five quarters ago. The relative optimism of the previous quarter evaporated against a backdrop of slowing growth in the US and […]

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24 Aug, 2012

Pew Survey: The Lost Decade of the U.S. Middle Class

Pew Research Center

22 Aug 2012 – As the 2012 presidential candidates prepare their closing arguments to America’s middle class, they are courting a group that has endured a lost decade for economic well-being. Since 2000, the middle class has shrunk in size, fallen backward in income and wealth, and shed some—but by no means all—of its characteristic […]

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24 Aug, 2012

Corporate Culture Report Reveals a Need For Cultural Transformations

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Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) August 23, 2012 — Insigniam, an international management consulting firm, has released a corporate culture report that diagnoses the problems of corporate culture behind many organizations, such as BP, Penn State and Microsoft. These organizations have made the news due to issues with safety and policy, scandal and narrow profit margins. It […]

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23 Aug, 2012

French Tourists in Sri Lanka jailed for kissing a Buddha statue — RT

Three French tourists convicted in Sri Lanka for desecrating a temple by photographing themselves kissing and posing with a Buddha statue have been sentenced by magistrates to six months in jail, suspended for five years.­ One of the photographs featured a woman pretending to kiss the statue on the lips, and a man imitating the […]

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23 Aug, 2012

Brazil Invited to Join U.N. Palestinian Refugee Agency – Inter Press Service

“This is not a small conflict; it is central to our history and to our world today. Brazil is a world power – maybe Brazilians don’t yet fully appreciate that, but its economy, its political importance, its capacity to influence processes in the world have become much greater and, therefore, I hope that Brazil will […]

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23 Aug, 2012

MasterCard Survey: Parents of College Freshmen Worried About Children’s Ability to Manage Money

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PURCHASE, N.Y.- August 21, 2012 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–Almost 65 percent of parents of college-aged young adults worry most about their child’s ability to manage money and spend wisely, according to a recent MasterCard Student Transition survey. In fact, two in five parents believe their young adults will run out of money in the first month of […]

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23 Aug, 2012

Oct 7 Sewa Day Volunteers Stand up for Human Rights with Amnesty

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LONDON- August 21, 2012 -(BUSINESS WIRE)–A partnership between Sewa Day 2012, which encourages social action, good deeds and public service and Amnesty International, the campaigning human rights organisation has been announced. “We are very pleased that we are joining forces with Amnesty International. Through co-operating all our volunteers will receive support and materials, ensuring that […]

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