11 Oct, 2011

Scientific And Financial Backing Essential To Fight Droughts And Famine

Oct 10 2011 (UN News) – Scientific and financial resources are needed to counter the growing risks of droughts that all too frequently lead to famine and poverty, the United Nations said today as a conference opened in the Republic of Korea on desertification. During the two-week session of the Conference of the Parties to […]

11 Oct, 2011

Systematic Torture In Afghan Detention Facilities – UN Report

Oct 10 2011 — A new United Nations report released today cites evidence of the “systematic” torture and mistreatment of detainees in Afghan detention facilities, including of children, and provides recommendations which it hopes will spur the necessary reforms. The report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is the result of extensive interviews […]

11 Oct, 2011

Algerian Soccer Great Rabah Madjer To Become UN Goodwill Ambassador

Oct 10 2011 (UN News) – Retired Algerian soccer striker Mustapha Rabah Madjer, who played in two World Cups and starred on the Portuguese club team FC Porto in the 1980s, is to become a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of his work with young people and promotion of sports values. UN Educational, Scientific […]

11 Oct, 2011

States Urged To Fulfil Obligation To Prevent Violence Against Women

Oct 10 2011  (UN News) – An independent United Nations human rights expert told the General Assembly today that violence against women across the world continues to be pervasive and widespread and reminded States of their obligation under international law to protect women. “Whether it occurs in times of peace and conflict, the various forms […]

11 Oct, 2011

Obama’s Israel problem | Jordan Times

What is it about Israel that reduces America’s president to Jell-O? Why, for that matter, are all American politicians so afraid to be critical of Israeli policies? Is it fear of being called an anti-Semite? Or is it the “Jewish vote”? On the face of it, Democrats don’t have that much to fear. Polls suggest […]

10 Oct, 2011

Gulfnews : America’s misreading of the Arab Spring will backfire

The pending American veto at the UN Security Council against the Palestinian application for full membership to the UN and the Congressional move to block $200 million Dh734 million in financial aid to the Palestinian National Authority shows the extent to which US policy towards the Arab World is helplessly stacked in the pre-Arab Spring […]

10 Oct, 2011

Facebook’s power should worry us all

If Facebook was a government agency, its power would be as undisputed as it would be frightening. For a single organisation to know as much as it does about the habits, interests and behaviour of 10 million Australians is unsettling. If a government department had so much up-to-the-minute information about who we know, where we […]

10 Oct, 2011

Scipione slams ‘drink until you drop’ culture

NSW needs to debate the manner in which alcohol is advertised and marketed to ensure children and teenagers are not getting the wrong message about drinking according to the Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione. Deeply concerned about a prevalence of drinking to excess among young people, Mr Scipione warned that the ”drink until you drop” culture […]

10 Oct, 2011

China wins battle against ‘four evils’ – People’s Daily Online

China has investigated 7,165 places and arrested more than 17,000 involved the “four evils” since a campaign was launched. A crackdown was set to begin on the “four evils” on Aug. 22. The “four evils” include“black workshops” that make and sell bogus food and medicine, “black factories” that make counterfeit goods, “black markets” that sell […]

10 Oct, 2011

Opinion: Is 3rd round of Quantitative Easing coming? – People’s Daily Online

The U.S. Federal Reserve had a meeting in Washington in August when officials of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were also having meetings there. The whole world turned their eyes to whether the Fed chairman Ben Bernanke would announce a decision about initiating the third round of Quantitative Easing monetary policy. The […]

10 Oct, 2011

Rich, poor divide at heart of Wall Street protests – People’s Daily Online

The “Occupy Wall Street” demonstration, which has lasted three weeks, has spread to all parts of the Untied States. The Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg recently warned that street riots might occur in the Untied States due to the high unemployment rate. Apparently, it is the gloomy economy and high unemployment rate of the […]

10 Oct, 2011

US media blackout of protest is shameful – chinadaily.com.cn

One of the best-kept secrets in the United States over the past two weeks seems to be the protest on and near Wall Street in New York. More than 1,000 people protested on the first day, September 17, marching and chanting slogans. Yet the demonstration, known as Occupy Wall Street, did not appear on the […]

10 Oct, 2011

Israeli settlements a thorn – chinadaily.com.cn

When Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas formally presented the application to the world body on Friday, disregarding the strong opposition from Israel and the United States, opponents predicted that the move would ignite a new round of violence in a region beset by decades of bloodshed. In the past week, however, the Palestinian response has been […]

10 Oct, 2011

Income divide causes fiscal crises in Europe, US – chinadaily.com.cn

The United States is facing three big difficulties currently. The first one is the high unemployment rate. At present, the unemployment rate of the Untied States runs high at nearly 10 percent. The second one is the high federal debt. The governmental debt keeps inflating, the debt ceiling keeps popping up and rising, and the […]

10 Oct, 2011

US protesters march against war – chinadaily.com.cn

Ten years of war took a heavy toll on all military families around the country. Pat Alviso, a Marines mom whose son Beto has been deployed four times — twice to Iraq, and twice to Afghanistan — said the war left deep scars on his son. “Every time we see him, he is different,” Alviso […]

9 Oct, 2011

Policy difficult to defend | Jordan Times

It cannot be easy for the new American ambassador Stuart Jones and other ambassadors in Arab capitals to defend their government’s political stands. They see that decision makers in Washington make it a point to alienate the Arab masses who used to be friendly to the American people. One answer to the question “why they […]

9 Oct, 2011

‘There is no sensible alternative to a two-state solution’ | Jordan Times

Against the backdrop of the expansion of settlements, I asked myself whether a two-state solution was feasible. The optimists still think it is – just. But time is running out. There are still Palestinians who, despite the wall that separates their villages from Israeli settlements (but often also from their land) and the daily restrictions […]

9 Oct, 2011

Occupy Wall Street exposes underlying US problems – People’s Daily Online

“Occupy Wall Street” is an ongoing series of demonstrations in New York City which has lasted for three weeks since September 17. The headquarters of the protest is based in Zuccotti Park, formerly “Liberty Plaza Park”, and was originally called for by the Canadian activist group Adbusters. The participants of the event are mainly protesting […]

9 Oct, 2011

Gulfnews : Asian languages in demand at Zayed University

While English remains the dominant language people learn in addition to their mother tongue, an ever-increasing number of students are learning Asian languages. A survey at Zayed University (ZU) showed Korean and Chinese as the most desired languages to learn. Asian languages look more appealing to ZU students this academic year than it was last […]

9 Oct, 2011

Plenty in Murdoch’s pockets despite missing bonus millions – SMH

The earnings of the News Corp executives are extreme examples of the types of remuneration that have angered investors around the globe. If any part of News Corp’s move from Adelaide to Delaware in 2004 was a desire to avoid scrutiny, rather than just reflecting that the centre of gravity of its business is now […]

9 Oct, 2011

States push for student visa change – Sydney Morning Herald

THE NSW government will join with Victoria to push for wider changes to visa restrictions after the federal government was accused of ”effectively strangling” the overseas student market. Only weeks after Canberra said it would fast-track student visas and give foreign students two years of post-study work – provided they graduated with a degree – […]

7 Oct, 2011

Michael Moore: How I Became Anti-War | Truthout

I can’t quite remember when I turned against the idea of war, but I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that I didn’t want to die. From pretty much the sixth grade on, I was firmly, solidly, against dying. But up until then, I spent many years dying with verve in our […]

7 Oct, 2011

An Open Letter to Wall Street | Truthout

Now is the time to bone up on your coping skills, because three weeks is nothing. The people camped out on Wall Street are not leaving unless and until they are cleared out by force. They look all kinds of silly in their outfits, and some of their statements don’t make a whole lot of […]

7 Oct, 2011

It is Time to Keep Marching to Take Back America’s Dream | Truthout

Attendees at the Take Back the American Dream conference piled into buses at high noon Wednesday and took their stand on the grounds of the Capitol, joined by hundreds of other demonstrators, from grassroots activists to dozens of unemployed people. The above video tells the story better than words. The rally was dominated by the […]

7 Oct, 2011

Fear of an Islamic Planet | Truthout

You can’t support democracy only when it produces results that you like. You have to support the whole deal, and that includes fusions of religion and politics, some more noxious than others. In his survey of the Arab world called The Arabs, updated in 1985, the journalist Peter Mansfield concluded in his final chapter that […]

7 Oct, 2011

Occupy Your City and Make History | Truthout

The Occupy Wall Street protest is a full bore indictment against corporate greed and dysfunctional government. It’s a demand for nation building here at home. People young and old are taking the streets, sleeping in tents, donating pizza, even publishing their own Occupy Wall Street Journal newspaper, to let our government and corporations know that […]

7 Oct, 2011

Something Big Is Happening: Occupy Together | Truthout

To paraphrase one of Bob Dylan’s songs of youthful protest, “Something’s happening here, and you don’t know what it is, do you Ms. Bellafante?” A New York Times writer, Ginia Bellafante, is but one of many establishment reporters and pundits who’ve been covering the fledgling “Occupy Wall Street ” movement — but completely missing the […]

7 Oct, 2011

Economic “Experts” Got Crisis All Wrong | Truthout

It took bad thinking and bad policy by many players to get us into the state we’re in; rarely in the course of human events have so many worked so hard to do so much damage. But if I had to identify the players who really let us down the most, I think I’d point […]

7 Oct, 2011

The Week Politics Changed | Truthout

Washington – American politics reached a pivot point this week. A new story line will now define how voters and the media see what’s going on. Since Election Day in 2010, the prevailing narrative has been about a resurgent conservatism, a president on the defensive, big government under attack, the deficit as the dominant issue, […]

7 Oct, 2011

Got Class Warfare? Occupy Wall Street Now! | Truthout

Warren Buffet is certainly right in claiming that there is class warfare in the United States and the rich are winning. while at the same time claiming that his billionaire friends “have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress.”(16) What Buffet misses in spite of the best of intentions is that his billionaire friends […]

7 Oct, 2011

Bids Open for 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Cultural Heritage Awards

Bangkok (UNESCO Media release) – Entries are now being accepted for the 2012 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Awards recognize the achievement of the private sector and public-private initiatives in conserving or restoring structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region. The deadline is 31 March 2012. Since the Awards […]

7 Oct, 2011

UN Chief Cites ‘Often Inspiring’ Arab Spring In Message To Governance Forum

Oct 3 2011 (UN News) — A three-day United Nations-sponsored forum on democratic governance opened today in Oslo, Norway, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon citing the revolutions of the so-called Arab Spring in North Africa and the Middle East as “dramatic and often inspiring changes.” “The issues you have come together to discuss are critical to […]

7 Oct, 2011

New Delhi Meeting Prepares For 2012 UN Summit On Sustainable Development

Oct 3 2011 (UN News) – A United Nations-sponsored meeting on a green economy and inclusive growth opened in New Delhi, India, today with a senior official warning that a summit on sustainable development in Brazil next year will not succeed without renewed political commitment on a global scale. “As an international community and as […]

7 Oct, 2011

Cities At The Frontline Of Global Fight Against Climate Change

Oct 3 2011 (UN News) – United Nations officials today urged the international community to take action against mounting threats posed by climate change on the world’s urban areas, warning that climate-related events could force up to 200 million people worldwide to flee their homes by 2050. But the officials also noted that while cities […]

7 Oct, 2011

States To Grasp Last Chance Ahead Of Major Conference on Climate Change

Oct 3, 2011 (UN News) – The United Nations climate change chief today called on governments taking part in negotiations this week to urgently scale up their efforts to combat the problem ahead of a UN-led conference on the issue starting next month in Durban, South Africa. The preparatory negotiations, which started today in Panama […]

7 Oct, 2011

UN Calls for Integration of Social Concerns Into Economic Recovery Policies

Oct 3 2011 (UN News) — A senior United Nations official today urged countries to pursue economic policies that take social considerations into account to ensure that the poor, youth, persons with disability and the elderly do not continue to bear the brunt of fiscal austerity measures and unemployment in the uncertain global economy. “Successful […]

7 Oct, 2011

Democracy And Rule Of Law Can Help Cut Annual Global Weapons Expenditure of US$1.6 Trillion

Oct 3 2011 (UN News) — The twin forces of democracy and the rule of law can help advance progress on disarmament and positively impact the work of the United Nations committee that deals with the issue, a top United Nations official said today. “Democracy and the rule of law are two powerful forces in […]

7 Oct, 2011

New UN Study Shows Murders Highest in Parts of The Americas and Africa

Oct  6 2011 — Young men in Central and South America and southern and central Africa are most at risk of being killed in cases of intentional homicide, while women face increased likelihood of being murdered in domestic violence, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a report unveiled today. Evidence […]

7 Oct, 2011

5 October World Teachers’ Day – Seeking At Least Two Million Teachers

Paris, 04 October – Ahead of World Teachers’ Day, 5 October – dedicated this year to the theme of “teachers for gender equality” – UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics has published data demonstrating that at least two additional million teachers will be needed to meet the internationally agreed goal of universal primary education by 2015. Shortages […]

6 Oct, 2011

Global Trade Unions Seek End To Garbage-In, Garbage-Out Economic Policies

Imtiaz Muqbil

If world leaders really wish to stop the repeated cycle of economic and financial crises and create a new agenda for change, they need to start listening less to the people at the top and more to those at the bottom, according to global trades unions.

5 Oct, 2011

Abbas to Europe, Latin America over UN statehood bid – Jordan Times

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas flew to Europe on Tuesday to kick off a week-long tour which will also take him to Latin America to shore up support for his UN membership bid, Agence France-Presse reported. The UN membership request, which Abbas formally presented to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on September 23, is being studied […]

5 Oct, 2011

Australian Reserve Bank officials in evidence cover-up

SOME of the Reserve Bank’s most senior officials were involved in covering up extensive evidence of corruption at the central bank’s subsidiaries, Note Printing Australia and Securency. An investigation has found top Reserve officials suppressed damaging information in 2007 and 2008 about the payment of secret commissions to middlemen hired by the Reserve firms to […]

4 Oct, 2011

Another 9/11 That Changed the World — But In a Non-Violent Way

Mrs Nagma Malik, Charge d'Affaires, Indian Embassy, Bangkok

On the 11th of September 1906, a young lawyer, dissatisfied with the idea of mere passive resistance, unveiled the concept of ‘Satyagraha’ in Johannesburg, South Africa. The young Gandhi described satyagraha as ‘a force which is born of truth and love of non-violence”. For him, it was the end of a quest for a moral equivalent of war.

4 Oct, 2011

How sleep can save your life – The Independent

Sleeping well is vital for physical, mental and emotional health. But there has been a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take, with research showing that at any one time, one person in five feels unusually tired and one in ten has prolonged fatigue. “Sleep is nature’s way of providing us with […]

4 Oct, 2011

Why protecting the world’s wildlife is good for our wallets – The Independent

A new world body on wildlife and ecosystems protection being set up by the UN must avoid blaming developing nations, where most of the world’s biodiversity loss is occurring, says a top British scientist. Overconsumption by rich western nations is as big a driver of global environmental degradation as the rapidly growing populations of developing […]

4 Oct, 2011

Bloggers say Arab Spring has gone global – Africa – Al Jazeera English

TUNIS, Tunisia – New forms of activism that have evolved in the Arab world in 2011 are being picked up by activists in the West, speakers at the Third Arab Bloggers’ Meeting have affirmed. The meeting is the first since the uprisings began, and brings some of the most prominent bloggers in the region together […]

4 Oct, 2011

Waking up from the American Dream – DAWN.COM

Ronald Reagan’s slogan in his 1984 reelection campaign was “Morning in America.” Looking back at that moment from this distance, it feels as if it’s been downhill ever since. Having found my voice and vocation as a traveling writer who tries to listen patiently and compassionately to ordinary people in countries that are anything but […]

3 Oct, 2011

Senior PLO Official Saeb Erekat Says US Cannot “Blackmail” Palestine Over UN Bid

“Everyone who believes in the two-state solution should support (the UN bid), as preserving peace should come through accepting Palestine as a member of the UN,” the former chief Palestinian negotiator told a press conference. Palestinians’ right to self determination is “non-negotiable,” he said, slamming US pressure via financial sanctions. The UK newspaper The Independent […]

3 Oct, 2011

Palestine accuses US of delaying UN bid – chinadaily.com.cn

Reyad al-Malki, the Palestinian National Authority’s (PNA) foreign minister, told the “Voice of Palestine” radio that the US administration “is following the principle of procrastination and postponement in dealing with our bid in the Security Council.” On September 23, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted the request for full membership of a Palestinian state in the […]

3 Oct, 2011

International community should help Palestinians and peace | Jordan Times

Instead of halting settlement construction, Israel has announced plans to add another 1,100 homes to the settlement of Gilo in occupied East Jerusalem. The announcement laid bare Israel’s real intentions. The European Union and the United States have condemned the Gilo project. China, Egypt, Russia and other major powers have added their voices to the […]

3 Oct, 2011

Rich people are being ‘demonized’ for flaunting their wealth. Poor dears! – The Washington Post

        Admirers of the rich, led by pundits and politicians on the right — from Laura Ingraham to Larry Kudlow — have long derided the victimization claims of African Americans, women, gays and the unemployed, but now they’re raising their voices to defend the rich against what they see as an ugly […]

2 Oct, 2011

Rise in people seeking food handouts – The Independent

Britain has seen a sharp rise in the number of people receiving food handouts, according to a charity. FareShare, which redistributes surplus food from major manufacturers and supermarkets to social care charities, said its donations now go to 35,000 people a day, an increase from 29,000 last year. It follows the largest ever yearly rise […]

2 Oct, 2011

Invasion of the body scanners – Comment is free – The Observer

We seem to have swallowed the security nightmare of airports without much fuss. Someone uttered the magic words “international terrorism” and we accepted (in traditional British manner: grumbling passivity) that we must now queue for several hours, remove shoes and belts, pick up a few verrucas from the airport floor, submit to any indignity suggested […]

2 Oct, 2011

Grand Opening of Ayurvedic Wellness Center in Merrifield

Ayurveda, the 5000 year old healing science from India, provides knowledge and tools for cleansing, healing, and balancing the mind, body and soul. Apurva Wellness Center, founded on the the holistic wellness philosophies of yoga and ayurveda, announces the grand opening of its first center in the Merrifield area. The center offers a wide range […]

2 Oct, 2011

India’s Largest Social Network SMS GupShup Expands Leadership Team, Adds New Locations, Multiplies Reach

SMS GupShup now has over 50 million users, outpacing both Twitter and Facebook in India. To meet the demands of its growing audience, GupShup has doubled its in-house staff this year, going from 100 employees in 2010 to 200 this year. The majority of SMS GupShup employees come from premium engineering and business institutes like […]

2 Oct, 2011

Zabasearch.com Cautions Citizens to be Careful of ‘Travelers’ and ‘Criminal Gypsies’

Zabasearch.com, a leading online public records and people search engine, wishes to alert and educate consumers about roving bands of criminals called ‘Travelers’ or ‘Criminal Gypsies’. According to a recent article from The Chicago Sun-Times, these door-to-door scam artists roam around the country in large groups, living together in roving bands that proudly make a […]

2 Oct, 2011

Sexual health misconceptions among young Australians

Young Aussies are unaware of important sexual health facts and it’s putting them at risk, according to results from the Bupa Sexual Health Survey 2011* released last month. The survey of 18-35 year old Australians has revealed a series of myths and misconceptions regarding sexual health, highlighting the need for young Australians to stay up […]

2 Oct, 2011

Heathrow Losing Asian Flight Links To Paris, Frankfurt, Research Shows

Imtiaz Muqbil

London’s Heathrow airport is losing is European hub status to Frankfurt and Paris will need to boost connections with cities in Asia and numerous other “emerging market” cities if it hopes to narrow the gap, according to an economic research paper published on September 30.

1 Oct, 2011

Global Youth Campaign to Make Rio+20 a Green Economy Hit

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bandung, 1 October 2011 (UN Environment Programme) – While some UN conferences can become over-preoccupied with commas and square brackets, young people from across the globe today underlined their singular and committed preoccupation–action to save and fast track a future for planet Earth.

1 Oct, 2011

Prison Planet.com » 12 Signs That Americans Who Love Liberty And Freedom Should Watch Their Backs

Just like the rest of the western world, America is being transformed into a “Big Brother” police state control grid. Nearly everything that you do is being watched and monitored. A whole host of organizations know that you are on this website right now. If you want to go to an NFL game next weekend, […]

1 Oct, 2011

Libya and the Big Lie: Using Human Rights Organizations to Launch Wars

The claims of the Libyan League for Human Rights (LLHR) were never supported or verified. The credibility of the United Nations must be questioned as well as the credibility of many humanitarian and human rights organizations that have virtually pushed for a war. At best the U.N. Security Council is an irresponsible body, but it […]

1 Oct, 2011

American Awakening Cometh: US Steelworkers Support the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Protest Movement

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America‘s largest industrial union with 1.2 million active and retired members, today issued the following statement in support of the Occupy Wall Street protest movement:

1 Oct, 2011

Hollywood Film Awards Gives Back

In addition to celebrating accomplishments on screen, the Hollywood Film Awards established the “Hollywood Gives Back” program to expand and continue highlighting and assisting important local and national charities to fundraise. Over the years, the Hollywood Film Awards has contributed to such charities as: The Art of Elysium; Artists For Human Rights; Artists for Peace […]

1 Oct, 2011

The Strong Woman’s Approach to Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Managing RA: The Strong Woman’s Approach, is an online resource designed to educate and empower women living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), launched today at HealthyWomen.org. There are 1.3 million Americans living with RA, and women are two to three times more likely to develop the disease than men. Managing RA: The Strong Woman’s Approach provides […]

1 Oct, 2011

AJC Applauds Canadian Foreign Minister’s Support for Israel at UN

The foreign minister reiterated Canada’s firm opposition to the Palestinian bid for UN recognition of statehood without first reaching an agreement with Israel. “Our government’s position has been clear. The only solution to this issue is one that is negotiated by the parties themselves,” said Baird. AJC Executive Director David Harris, who, together with an […]

1 Oct, 2011

Leading Palestinian IT Outsourcing Company ASAL Joins Cisco-Sponsored Delegation to USA

ASAL Technologies is the largest ICT company in Palestine and a premiere software solutions provider. ASAL’s clients include a large number of local, regional and international companies such as Cisco Systems, Intel, Volvo and Mellanox. “The Quality of the work is high and good relationships have been formed between or R&D team and ASAL’s team. […]

1 Oct, 2011

Australian activists put Palestine travel ban on trial – The Electronic Intifada

They had no trouble boarding an Aegean Air flight from Athens which arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at 4:30am on Monday, 11 July. “I think we took them totally by surprise,” says Hale. “When they said, ‘What is the purpose of your visit to Israel?’ And we said ‘We don’t want to visit Israel, we […]

1 Oct, 2011

Holiday to be boon for places overseas – chinadaily.com.cn

BEIJING – Even as some travel destinations struggle to attract tourists, flocks of Chinese are expected to go overseas during the National Day holiday, according to the country’s top tourism think tank. The China Tourism Academy, a research institute, forecasts that 2.2 million Chinese tourists will travel overseas during the weeklong holiday that starts on […]

1 Oct, 2011

Full-blown economic crisis unlikely in China – chinadaily.com.cn

BEIJING – A global recession could be the biggest risk facing China, but a full-blown economic crisis is unlikely, given the nation’s relatively healthy balance sheets, said Huang Yiping, chief economist of emerging Asia at Barclays Capital, the investment banking arm of Barclays PLC, on Thursday. “A global economic recession could cause a hard landing […]

1 Oct, 2011

Study: Israeli Occupation Costs Palestinian Economy $7 Billion

BETHLEHEM, Sept 30 (NNN-Ma’an) — A Palestinian Authority ministry and national research institute released a joint study Thursday which estimates that the Israeli occupation cost the Palestinian economy around $7 billion in 2010. “Without the occupation, the Palestinian economy would be almost twice as large as it is today,” the PA Ministry of National Economy […]

1 Oct, 2011

Social network websites ‘pose a challenge’ – People’s Daily Online

Networks such as Facebook and Twitter pose new problems for social management, Wang Chen, minister of the State Internet Information Office, said in a keynote speech at the 4th UK-China Internet Roundtable. “Many people are considering how to prevent the abuse of these networks following violent crimes that took place in some parts of the […]

1 Oct, 2011

Covert agreements with US be made public — DAWN.COM

ISLAMABAD: PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif asked the government on Friday to disclose terms of engagement with the United States under which the so-called war on terror was being fought. He said at a press conference that the nation had the right to be informed about the covert agreements. According to official estimates, he said, […]

1 Oct, 2011

Anti-US protests in Pakistan follow defiant declaration – DAWN.COM

Charges by a top US general that Pakistan’s spy agency had supported this month’s attack on the US mission in Kabul has added to anti-American sentiment in a country where a poll in June showed that almost two-thirds of the population considered the United States an enemy. “The prevailing view in Pakistan is that because […]

1 Oct, 2011

America’s Dangerous Game at the UN

An American veto would be neither a big deal nor a bad thing. It would unequivocally confirm the sad and humiliating reality, now almost universally recognized, that the United States of America is enslaved to Israel, paying tribute and taking orders. By doing so, an American veto would definitively disqualify the United States from playing […]

30 Sep, 2011

International star Natacha Atlas announces Israel boycott – The Electronic Intifada

International singer and songwriter Natacha Atlas has announced publicly that she is canceling a planned concert in Israel and will boycott the country “until this systemised apartheid is abolished once and for all.” In a statement on her official Facebook page, Atlas wrote: Read the rest International star Natacha Atlas announces Israel boycott | The […]

30 Sep, 2011

Palestinian olive trees destroyed in West Bank attack – Jordan Times

HEBRON, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Dozens of Palestinian olive trees were destroyed in an attack near the city of Hebron, local residents said on Thursday, calling it an act of revenge carried out by Israeli settlers. The Israeli military confirmed that “about 40” trees were burnt and uprooted in the village of Shuweikeh, south of […]

30 Sep, 2011

Census count finds decreasing white population in 15 states – The Washington Post

A Census Bureau analysis of the 2010 count showed that the number of non-Hispanic whites rose over the decade from 194.5 million to 197 million, but the 1.2 percent growth rate fell far short of the national increase of 9.7 percent. Non-Hispanic whites are now 64 percent of the population, down from 69 percent a […]

30 Sep, 2011

US ‘threat’ unites Pakistan – DAWN.COM

US accusations that Pakistan is supporting Afghan insurgents have triggered a nationalist backlash and whipped up fears of an American invasion, drowning out any discussion over the army’s long use of jihadi groups as deadly proxies in the region. The reaction shows the problem facing the United States as it presses Pakistan for action: Strong […]

30 Sep, 2011

Oil, Palestine and a Pathan cabbie | Opinion | DAWN.COM

Thousands of Pathans from Pakistan drive taxis in the Gulf states. They are mostly scrupulously honest and hardworking individuals. Unlike other expatriates from Asian countries who submit tamely to the occasional road rage of a brash petrodollar rich Arab youth, the hardy Pathans would offer stiff resistance. For this they were sent home occasionally only […]

30 Sep, 2011

Tony Blair: Time to go? – Opinion – Al Jazeera English

There is always something for Tony in what Tony does, and nowadays he’s trying to renew his tenure as the International Quartet’s point man on Palestine. The Quartet, composed of the US, EU, UN and Russia, is supposedly responsible for making pace between Israel and the Palestinians. If I remember correctly, Blair negotiated his salary […]

29 Sep, 2011

Juan Cole: Palestine Vote Showcases the Decline of American Power – Truthdig

The United States, castigated by its critics as recently as a decade ago as a “hyper-power,” is now so weak and isolated on the world stage that it may cast an embarrassing and self-defeating veto of Palestinian membership in the United Nations. Beset by debt, mired in economic doldrums provoked by the cupidity and corruption […]

29 Sep, 2011

Michael Moore: Arrest Wall St. Bankers, Not Wall St. Protestors – AlterNet

MICHAEL MOORE: Well, it’s highly ironic that now over 100 of the protesters have been arrested and not a single banker, a CEO from Wall Street, anyone from corporate America — nobody, not one arrest of any of these people who brought down the economy in 2008. Who created schemes, financial schemes that not only […]

29 Sep, 2011

100 Days of Solidarity to End the U.S. Occupation of Iraq | | AlterNet

Despite the fact that there is a Bush-era agreement with the Iraqi government to leave, despite the fact that the majority of Iraqis and Americans don’t support a continued U.S. presence, and despite the fact that Congress is supposedly in an all-out austerity mode, strong forces – including generals, war profiteers and hawks in both […]

29 Sep, 2011

How Face Recognition and Digital Fingerprinting Are Creeping Into the U.S. Workplace | | AlterNet

FaceIN uses two cameras to map a worker’s face, converting the width of their cheekbones, depth of their eye sockets, nose shape, and other unique facial features into an ID code. Every day after that, workers punch in by standing in front of a machine that recognizes them after a two-second face scan. Unlike the […]

29 Sep, 2011

Palestine in Criminal Court Triggers Western, Israeli Fears – IPS ipsnews.net

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 27, 2011 (IPS) – If Palestine fails to achieve full statehood recognition at the United Nations, the only other viable option is to get “enhanced” observer status with the 193-member General Assembly, the U.N.’s highest policy making body. But that proposed new status has already triggered Israeli and Western fears that Palestinians […]

29 Sep, 2011

Palestinian Trade Union Chief: Exceptional Opportunities for Tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

28 September 2011: The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) says that a free Palestine will thrive economically when it is rid of the Israeli occupation, and tourism will play a major role.

29 Sep, 2011

Palestinian Call to Action: Celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem

Imtiaz Muqbil

The following announcement has been issued by the Palestine Justice Network to support the pursuit of an independent Palestine, free of the Israeli occupation.

29 Sep, 2011

Ecotourism Can Play Vital Role In Maintaining Healthy Forests

Imtiaz Muqbil

27 September, 2011, Rome (UN Food & Agriculture Organisation) – The continuing boom in ecotourism has the potential to save endangered forests or destroy them, depending on how effectively tourism expansion is managed, an international partnership for forest conservation and improvement cautioned today.

29 Sep, 2011

Australia must learn about its neighbours or suffer 100 years of solitude

Despite this reliance on Asia, most Australians do not know that much about it, especially compared with the North Atlantic. We can name small US states and dank British towns. We know American movies are made in Hollywood and San Francisco’s Silicon Valley is home to some of the world’s biggest information technology firms. But […]

29 Sep, 2011

Mecca for the rich: Islam’s holiest site ‘turning into Vegas’ – The Independent

Few are willing to discuss their fears openly because of the risks associated with criticising official policy in the authoritarian kingdom. And, with the exceptions of Turkey and Iran, fellow Muslim nations have largely held their tongues for fear of of a diplomatic fallout and restrictions on their citizens’ pilgrimage visas. Western archaeologists are silent […]

28 Sep, 2011

Western debt crisis shows 10 contradictions – People’s Daily Online

Of the 10 contradictions above, the primary one is the contradiction between the super-high social welfare level and political system of the West. If the West does not solve the “ultra-democracy” issue of its political system and the “advocacy of super high social welfare” issue of its culture, the 10 contradictions will hardly be solved […]

28 Sep, 2011

China needs caution in expanding economic presence in Europe – People’s Daily Online

China has to be cautious while expanding in Europe Emotionally, China is willing to give a hand to the European countries in difficulties. However, practically, China has to comprehensively consider many factors including the investment return, security, risk and national interests and therefore has be cautious while expanding in Europe. China certainly can buy some […]

28 Sep, 2011

South Africa should support boycott of Israel – Al Jazeera English

South Africa has been cast into a situation where it has to choose between supporting a Palestinian proposal at the UN, or supporting the Israeli-US mafia which has been trying to intimidate states into opposing the Palestinian bid. For a country – and a ruling party – which have had good relations with the Palestinian […]

28 Sep, 2011

Impact of Domestic Violence on Children and Families is Focus of New PR Campaign

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — A new public awareness campaign debuts today in the Los Angeles area that targets children and families affected by Domestic Violence.  This campaign is a partnership between INOBTR and Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII), which supports CII’s Project ERIN (Emergency Response Intervention Network) program.  This campaign and program have […]

28 Sep, 2011

“What’s Your Dream Job?” Asks a Recent Survey

  Overland Park, KS (PRWEB) September 27, 2011 — Nearly everyone has spent some time gazing out of their office window, or at their cubicle walls, daydreaming about their perfect job. Many respondents from a recent survey, conducted by Persuadable Research, painted a similar picture of the characteristics that their ideal job would include. The […]

28 Sep, 2011

Boomers Greed Led To Global Financial Crisis

The most privileged, most profligate generation in human history – my generation, the baby boomers (most often defined as those born 1946 to 1964) – drove the world for the past decade to this moment of reckoning, running up a gigantic bill that has now come due. Responsibility for this bill lies mainly with the […]

28 Sep, 2011

The fear factor is a mover and a shaker

IT’S not something economists emphasise. Indeed, they prefer not to think about it because it reminds them of the limits of their so-called science. But the peregrinations of the economy are as much about psychology – moods and feelings – as about tangible economic forces. When you view the economy from outside, what you see […]

28 Sep, 2011

Hotels expect 50% drop / Survey predicts huge income losses for Fukushima properties : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE

Hotels and traditional inns in Fukushima Prefecture are expected to see their income drop by about 50 percent in the year following the March 11 disaster from the corresponding period in the previous year, according to a survey by an industry association. Following the outbreak of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power […]

28 Sep, 2011

Goldman Sachs rules the world: UK trader

“For most traders, we don’t really care that much how they’re going to fix the economy, how they’re going to fix the whole situation, our job is to make money from it,” he said. “Personally I’ve been dreaming of this moment for three years. I have a confession, which is I go to bed every […]

28 Sep, 2011

Asian powers start key dialogue – chinadaily.com.cn

BEIJING – China and India launched a Strategic Economic Dialogue on Monday in a sign that both Asian powers are seeking closer economic ties despite differences over issues such as South China Sea disputes. Analysts said that the dialogue will strengthen economic development and their sway over international affairs, such as the European sovereign debt […]