31 Aug, 2017

In Palestine, UN chief says two-state solution ‘only way to guarantee peace’

United Nations, (UN News Centre) 29 August 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today reiterated his call for a political solution to the Middle East conflict that would end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and would create an independent Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. “It is my […]

29 Aug, 2017

Young people in despair as conditions deteriorate in Israeli-blockaded Gaza

GAZA, Palestine, 12 August 2017, (NNN-XINHUA) – Mahmoud Taha, a man in his mid-20’s from the Gaza Strip, is dominated by despair, due to the deteriorating conditions in the blockaded territory. Working 15 hours a day, Taha’s daily income is below 20 New Israeli Sheqel (NIS), or about six U.S. dollars, which forced him to […]

9 Aug, 2017

European taxpayers fork out another €20M to July payment of Palestinian salaries and pensions

JERUSALEM, 3 August 2017, (WAFA) — The European Union Thursday contributed €20 million to the payment of July salaries and pensions of 57,500 Palestinian civil servants and pensioners. This is the third yearly contribution in the framework of its Direct Financial Support to the Palestinian Authority (PA). “For the year 2017, the EU has allocated […]

3 Aug, 2017

Hundreds of Jewish extremists break into Al-Aqsa mosque compound

Jerusalem, 1 August 2017, (WAFA) – More than 800 Israeli settlers Tuesday forced their way into al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem, only a few days after the mosque was reopened to Muslim worshipers following a two-week closure by Israeli authorities. WAFA correspondent said about 870 settlers under heavy police protection entered the holy site […]

11 Jul, 2017

Museum Visits Top Half a Million through Access Program for Low-Income Families

WASHINGTON, 6 July 2017, BUSINESS WIRE–Museums for All, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), has facilitated more than 514,000 museum visits for low-income community members since its inception in 2014. There are currently 190 museums participating in this initiative to encourage families of […]

11 Jul, 2017

Japan’s Rakuten Ichiba Ceasing Ivory Sales

WASHINGTON, 6 July 2017, BUSINESS WIRE–The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) praised Japanese internet retail giant Rakuten Ichiba for its decision to end all sales of elephant ivory. Rakuten’s comprehensive policy change to ensure elephants are protected from the trade in ivory became effective July 1. “EIA commends Rakuten for supporting African countries in protecting their […]

3 Jul, 2017

EU pledges to help Israel suppress criticism – The Electronic Intifada

3 Jul, 2017

Toronto hotel is paying millions to drop Donald Trump’s name

3 Jul, 2017

A million bottles a minute: World’s plastic binge “as dangerous as climate change”

30 Jun, 2017

ASEAN to further empower persons with disabilities

PHUKET, 23 June 2017 (ASEAN media release) – The 3rd ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Regional Dialogue on the Mainstreaming of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the ASEAN Community was held on 19-21 June 2017 in Phuket, Thailand. The dialogue focused on the issues pertaining to access to justice, persons with […]

26 Jun, 2017

Israel’s failing P.R. campaign: The more Americans know, the less favorable they are

The news out of Israel is that a survey by an American Zionist group says that Israeli PR (or hasbara) isn’t working, and the more Americans learn about Israel, the less favorably they feel about the country. The Times of Israel describes the data as devastating: “‘Devastating’ survey shows huge loss of Israel support among […]

23 Jun, 2017

Thousands lose jobs as restive Kashmir’s tourism economy dwindles –  Hindustan Times

At the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Rizwan Ahmad Bhat stands next to his shikara (a traditional boat), named Do Badan Ek Jan (two bodies, one soul), waiting for tourists. Last year this time, the lake was packed with visitors exploring its waters and the views of the surrounding Zabarwan hills. This summer, the lake and […]

21 Jun, 2017

Are we sleepwalking towards another major Middle East war? – Sydney Morning Herald

Julien Barnes-Dacey, an analyst with the European Council on Foreign Relations, worries that the new US administration has not learnt the lessons of its predecessors in Iraq. Barnes-Dacey writes: “A fight against Iranian proxies in eastern Syria is likely doomed to failure and would distract attention away from other important areas of the country. A […]

21 Jun, 2017

This woman’s ‘thank you’ note to Pakistan for defeating India in cricket is a must read | The Indian Express

After the match, many took to social media and even news media to lambast Indian skipper Virat Kohli and the rest of the team for the poor performance. The ‘mauka mauka’ ad man ruled the Internet space as the green T-shirt finally worked its magic and Pakistan beat India in ICC Champions Trophy final by […]

20 Jun, 2017

Muzzling freedom of expression in India – The Hindu

By Kapil Sibal What I eat is part of my freedom of expression. It is part of my identity. Also my desire to eat what I want, unless prohibited by law, is a matter of my choice. Exercise of choice is part of a person’s individuality. No one can pre-empt my right to exercise that […]

13 Jun, 2017

EXPO-2017 Exhibition Opens in Astana

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, June 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The EXPO-2017 International Specialized Exhibition dedicated to Future Energy opened in Astana with a magnificent light and multimedia show. “This is a new achievement in the promotion of our country and Kazakhstan’s national brand in the international arena. As we have selected Future Energy as the theme of […]

12 Jun, 2017

Holy month of Ramzan makes the Hindu-Muslim bond stronger in Old Delhi – Hindustan Times

For members of the Muslim community, the holy month of Ramzan involves fasting, devotion and charity. In Old Delhi, the month holds significance for its Hindu brethren, too. In a show of solidarity, many are choosing to not eat anything for the whole day. Mohd. Shaan, owner of Kallan Sweet Shop in Old Delhi, tells […]

12 Apr, 2017

Meet Zia Hussain, the stranded Fulbright scholar barred from re-entering US – DAWN.COM

Syed Zia Hussain Shah, a 25-year-old graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and a Fulbright scholar, was on his way back from a winter break to continue his post-graduate studies at the University of Chicago when he was stopped from boarding a plane to the US. “When they checked my ticket at […]

10 Mar, 2017

OIC Secretary-General: Islamophobia is gradually becoming institutionalized

Geneva, 01 March 2013, (OIC) – The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen has expressed his serious concern that Islamophobia, an affront to human rights and dignity of Muslims, is gradually becoming institutionalized. Al-Othaimeen who sounded the warning in a remark at the High Level Segment of the 34th […]

10 Mar, 2017

Travel Ban II Poses Less Uncertainty for Global Biz Travellers, But Could Be PR Challenge For US Travel Biz

7 March (ACTE News release) — The global membership of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives regards the second version of a US travel ban as less threatening, yet the order, signed into effect on Monday, March 6, 2017, may still be a public relations misstep for the United States travel industry. According to a […]

25 Jan, 2017

Chris Hedges: Revolt Is the Only Barrier to a Fascist America

The destruction of democratic institutions, places where the citizen has agency and a voice, is far graver than the ascendancy to the White House of the demagogue Donald Trump. The coup destroyed our two-party system. It destroyed labor unions. It destroyed public education. It destroyed the judiciary. It destroyed the press. It destroyed academia. It […]

13 Jan, 2017

The world at a crossroads – M.K. Narayan, The Hindu

The policy outlook for 2017 appears not too promising. Geopolitical risks will remain high. No improvement in the present unstable global order appears likely. New terror patterns will increase the lethality of terror attacks. Digital disruption and cyberthreats are poised to grow. The economic outlook, likewise, appears pessimistic, with the global economy caught in a […]

13 Jan, 2017

UK: Israel funding spin trips as it smears critics – Al Jazeera

Israel is attempting to smear activists who question the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by helping to build racism cases against them, an investigation by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit reveals. The investigation, The Lobby, also uncovers Israel’s extensive, well-financed propaganda campaign in the UK to counter negative news stories about its policies and to fund […]

5 Jan, 2017

Israeli hysteria is solidifying country’s new status, as a rogue state – Philip Weiss, Mondoweiss

President Obama’s decision to allow passage of a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements as illegal has done more to change the shape of the conflict than any other action in the last ten years, even than Israel’s massacres in Gaza. He has nudged Israel, and the media, toward recognition of the country’s new […]

5 Jan, 2017

Man cuts out alcohol and coffee for two years and this is what happened | The Independent

Thousands of people are three days into a Dry January, the tedious annual ritual of skipping all alcoholic drinks for 30 days. But what happens if you manage to nail Dry January, then decide to keep going – for another two years? A New York designer did just that, and the results were genuinely surprising. […]

4 Jan, 2017

Kerala tourism lost revenue of Rs 1,000 crore since Nov 8: Tourism minister

Kerala’s tourism sector has registered an estimated loss of about Rs 1,000 crore, following a dip in the arrival of foreign and domestic tourists since the Centre announced demonetisation of high-value currencies, the state government said on Tuesday. The cash crunch has severely affected the sector and the loss was estimated to be about Rs […]

4 Jan, 2017

Shiv Visvanathan on the coming of the post-truth society – The Hindu

The idea of democracy is in a state of flux. An ordinary citizen doesn’t know how to read the events that unfold around him. He knows that democracy is a relationship between knowledge and power. But what does he do when the power of truth confronts the truth of power? He often confuses the two, […]

22 Dec, 2016

India’s small businesses facing ‘apocalypse’ – The Guardian

India’s vast informal economy has been reeling since 8 November, the morning after India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced the sudden voiding of the country’s two most-used bank notes. It is the largest-scale financial experiment in Indian history: gutting 14 trillion rupees – 86% of the currency in circulation – from the most cash-dependent major […]

21 Dec, 2016

“We can expert more hell on earth under Trump” — PressTV analyst

US neoconservatives who facilitated the September 11, 2001 terror attacks to launch war in the Middle East are now supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state, an American scholar says. “Trump, once again, is surrounding himself with 9/11 criminals; virtually all of his important foreign policy appointments are part of […]

29 Nov, 2016

The links between an Australian billionaire and Netanyahu’s family – Haaretz.com

New details have emerged on the ties between Yair Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, and Australian billionaire James Packer, a close confidant of the prime minister. It seems that the younger Netanyahu has received more than just a few free nights in Packer’s Tel Aviv apartment, as was reported two weeks ago. Channel 10’s […]

29 Nov, 2016

UN Security Council Seats Taken by Top Global Arms Exporters

Nine of the world’s top ten arms exporters will sit on the UN Security Council between mid-2016 and mid-2018. The nine include four rotating members — Spain, Ukraine, Italy and the Netherlands — from Europe, as well as the council’s five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to […]

29 Nov, 2016

California law students take pledge against Israel travel junket

Law students at the University of California, Berkeley say that almost 90 classmates have pledged not to participate in a privately funded free trip to Israel. The trip will be facilitated by a New York City-based Israel advocacy organization that has received funding from the Israeli government. “People said, ‘I wasn’t going anyway, I’m happy […]

11 Nov, 2016

Jordanian airline takes jab at Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ in Election Day ad

Jordan’s national airline carrier has posted an advertisement that takes a jab at presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims by offering an Election Day sale of fares to locations in the United States while Muslims are still let into the country. “Just in case he wins…Travel to the US while you’re still allowed […]

3 Nov, 2016

Israeli officer says he made up one of the IDF’s most iconic tales of heroism – Haaretz.com

A senior Israeli army officer who fought in the Yom Kippur War says he made up one of the most famous tales of Israeli heroism in that war, in an effort to boost morale. In a report broadcast Friday night on Channel 2, Israel Defense Forces Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Nafshi said he concocted the […]

3 Nov, 2016

How Britain Destroyed the Palestinian Homeland – Ramzy Baroud, Al Jazeera

By Ramzy Baroud When I was a child growing up in a Gaza refugee camp, I looked forward to November 2. On that day, every year, thousands of students and camp residents would descend upon the main square of the camp, carrying Palestinian flags and placards, to denounce the Balfour Declaration. Truthfully, my giddiness then […]

29 Oct, 2016

Advocates say complaints of ‘flying while Muslim’ often go nowhere – The Washington Post

Ever so often, a Muslim is removed from a flight because the person posed an imaginary threat that had more to do with Islamophobia than terrorism, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says. CAIR says recent terror attacks and the debate over immigration during this year’s presidential campaign have contributed to a sharp increase in […]

29 Sep, 2016

Roula Allouch, U.S. Civil Rights Advocate, on Muslims and Travel – New York Times

Roula Allouch, 36, is a Cincinnati lawyer and the chairwoman of the national board of directors of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, one of the nation’s largest civil rights and advocacy groups for the American Muslim community. Raised in Kentucky, she is a member of the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative for the […]

26 Sep, 2016

Switzerland votes in favour of greater surveillance – The Guardian

Swiss voters have approved a new surveillance law, after the government argued that security services needed enhanced powers in an increasingly volatile world. The proposed law won 65.5% support, final results on Sunday showed. Switzerland’s police and intelligence agencies have had limited investigative tools compared with other developed countries. Phone tapping and email surveillance were […]

26 Sep, 2016

Facebook says sorry for disabling accounts of Palestinian journalists, activists – Hindustan Times

Facebook has apologised for disabling accounts of several Palestinian journalists and activists, saying “the pages were removed in error and restored as soon as we were able to investigate”. An anti-Facebook campaign was launched after the social networking giant deleted the accounts of Palestinian journalists and several publications last weekend, TRTWorld reported on Monday. “Our […]

21 Sep, 2016

Germany charges official with spying on Sikhs for India – The Indian Express

BERLIN: A German immigration official has been arrested and charged with espionage for an Indian secret service for allegedly spying on members of the Sikh religion, prosecutors said Tuesday. The 58-year-old German national, identified only by the initials T S P, was accused of “espionage activity and violation of professional secrecy rules in 45 cases,” […]

17 Sep, 2016

How Everything Became War – Book Review – Truthdig

The laser-guided Hellfire missile is highly accurate. When one is fired from a Predator drone at an alleged enemy of the United States, whether in the deserts of Yemen, the mountains of Pakistan or elsewhere, it rarely misses. The remarkable innovation of pairing an unmanned aerial vehicle with a deadly precise missile emerged soon after […]

15 Sep, 2016

Pro-Israel donor suspended by Labour | The Electronic Intifada

A millionaire donor to the UK’s Labour Party has been suspended by party officials after lashing out at supporters of left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn as Nazis. The BBC reported on Sunday that Michael Foster had been suspended for breaching party rules prohibiting abuse. Foster is a supporter of Israel, and last year heckled a speech […]

15 Sep, 2016

What Did We Buy With the $5 Trillion That the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Have Cost Us? – Juan Cole – Truthdig

A Brown University political scientist estimates that as of 2016, The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have cost the American taxpayers $5 trillion. That number isn’t important when we consider the human cost: Some 7,000 US troops dead, 52,000 wounded in action; hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead who wouldn’t otherwise be, 4 million displaced and […]

13 Sep, 2016

India’s anti-Muslim campaign continues, Urdu cultural centre shut down

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) might have quite missed the irony of this action on their part – barely two years after they named a crossroads in Bhendi Bazaar, the city’s Muslim enclave, as the “Urdu Markaz Chowk” the authorities shut down the Urdu cultural centre after which the square was named within two days […]

9 Sep, 2016

I didn’t realize how often Muslims get kicked off planes, until it happened to me – Niala Mohammad, The Guardian

A recent news report documented the removal of two Muslim women working for the federal government from an American Airline flight. On its surface the airline staff appeared to be upholding safety regulations, but in reality they were engaging in discriminatory practices. I know this to be true because I was one of the two […]

9 Sep, 2016

Kerala govt to check Hindutva extremist outfits, ban arms training in temples | The Indian Express

Moving ahead with its resolve to check the activities of the Sangh Parivar outfits at the temples of the state, the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala is all set to come out with a circular banning any type of arms-training drills at the shrine complexes. The state Devaswom department has taken the initiative to issue […]

8 Sep, 2016

10 new wars that could be unleashed as a result of the one against ISIS – The Washington Post

The borders of the Islamic State’s “caliphate” are shrinking fast. The group’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria are collapsing one by one. The U.S.-led war has reached a point where questions are being raised about what comes next. So far, the answer seems likely to be: more war. That’s partly because the U.S. strategy for […]

6 Sep, 2016

One man’s nightmare experience of applying for a German visa in Karachi – DAWN.COM

By Umair Ali Khan — I was recently awarded a fellowship by the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM) in Germany. After receiving the necessary documentation from my host institution Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), I proceeded to apply for a German visa on Aug 26. From the German consulate website, I […]

6 Sep, 2016

Prison tourism: Spend a day in this 220-year-old Telangana jail – Hindustan Times

You forfeit your freedom the moment you step in and the huge door closes behind. You then get stripped of your belongings one by one: the pen, the wrist watch, mobile phone and everything else. Stripped to the bone, a coarse khaki white dress with blue stripes is handed over to wear. You are then […]

29 Aug, 2016

Stop feeding the news machine – World News Publishing Focus

Newsrooms should stop burdening their resources to provide continuous breaking news updates that the audiences don’t need, Laufer said. “If your house is on fire, you will need to know about it immediately so that you can leave. But if someone else’s house is on fire, and he or she is on another continent an […]

29 Aug, 2016

To curb plastic bottles, “water ATMs” to be installed in Chandigarh – The Indian Express

With an aim to conserve the environment and to minimise the usage of plastic bottles, the civic body has decided to set up water ATM’s at 20 different locations in the city by this month. The water ATM’s would help curbing usage of 26,000 kilograms of plastic bottles used in Chandigarh per year. A committee […]

29 Aug, 2016

Five reasons to wear a burkini, and not just to annoy the French – The Guardian

By Remona Aly Wahey – it’s that time again, people! The burkini is all the rage for the ump-flippin-teenth time, and our latest dip into controversial swimwear politics comes from – you’ll never guess – the French. The mayor of Cannes is going trigger-ban happy by curtailing the right to swim while covered on the […]

29 Aug, 2016

Israeli prison ‘like being inside a grave’ – Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera: Can you tell us about your time in solitary confinement? Amal al-Sada: I was completely isolated. I did not see day or night. It was like being inside a grave. I spent two weeks without a shower because the bathroom I had was open and directly facing the door of the cell, so […]

29 Aug, 2016

Indian Railways helps passengers quench their thirst, get a good sleep – The Hindu

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the Bangalore division of the South Western Railways (SWR) launched an e-bedroll facility and water-vending machines at the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Station (earlier known as City Railway Station) on Monday morning. The e-bedrolls kits are of two types – one containing two cotton bed sheets and […]

29 Aug, 2016

Record payouts to UK veterans with mental health disorders – The Independent

The number of serving and ex-forces personnel being awarded compensation for mental disorders has hit record levels, leading to fears that we are now starting to see the true cost of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in the form of the mental scars left on those who had to fight them. Analysis of Armed Forces […]

29 Aug, 2016

BJP Chief: Nationalism questioned in the name of freedom of expression – Hindustan Times

BJP President Amit Shah said on Sunday nationalism was being questioned in the name of freedom of expression and “propaganda” against nationalism could not be considered as freedom of speech. “It has become a fashion for some people nowadays to question nationalism. This is being done in different places and new theories are being planted. […]

29 Aug, 2016

Israeli firm accused of creating iPhone spyware – The Guardian

An Israeli technology company has been accused of creating and supplying an aggressive interception program capable of taking over Apple’s iPhones and turning them into remote spying devices, after it was allegedly used to target a Middle Eastern human rights activist and others.The discovery, announced on Thursday, prompted Apple to issue an urgent software update […]

26 Jul, 2016

“Terror”: This hypocritical catch-all term has finally caught us out – Robert Fisk, The Independent

The frightful and bloody hours of Friday night and Saturday morning in Munich and Kabul – despite the 3,000 miles that separate the two cities – provided a highly instructive lesson in the semantics of horror and hypocrisy. I despair of that generic old hate-word, “terror”. It long ago became the punctuation mark and signature […]

24 Jul, 2016

India-born Muslim heads security at a US Hindu temple – Times of India

WASHINGTON, PTI | Jul 24, 2016: A Mumbai-born Muslim police officer is the security incharge of the largest Hindu temple in the Indianapolis city of US, setting an example of inter- faith cooperation and social harmony at a time when religious intolerance rhetoric is on the rise due to the election cycle. An eight-degree black-belt […]

24 Jul, 2016

Gaza’s rich history is potential tourism draw – The Electronic Intifada

On a sandy Rafah hilltop in mid-April, a few workers were digging carefully into the dry land. The excavators, their tools basic, were from Gaza’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The site they were digging — at 40 acres, Tel Rafah is among the largest of Gaza’s 30-odd archaeological sites — is believed to contain […]

20 Jul, 2016

Indian Culture ministry readies “grading system” for artists, writers – Hindustan Times

The government has decided to introduce a rating system for artists and writers on the basis of which they will get to represent India, the Indian Express has reported. The culture ministry, under a pilot project, has already graded 185 artists into three categories — O (outstanding), P (promising), W (waiting), a report said Monday. […]

20 Jul, 2016

American Nuremberg: The U.S. Officials Who Should Stand Trial for Post-9/11 War Crimes

No subject is more hotly debated than the extreme measures that the U.S. government has taken after 9/11 in the name of national security. Torture, extraordinary rendition, drone assassinations, secret detention centers (or “black sites”), massive surveillance of citizens. But while the press occasionally exposes the dark side of the war on terror and congressional […]

20 Jul, 2016

The PM and the politics of questioning – The Hindu

Recently, there were two interesting developments. First, as the second anniversary celebrations of the BJP-led NDA government began, a BJP spokesperson tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the “most hardworking PM ever in Indian history”. The reason was that Mr. Modi delivered a speech every 45.6 hours in two years. And second, this summer, […]

16 Jul, 2016

What an official 9/ 11 photographer filmed and why he says it cost him his freedom

HOURS after planes flew into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, Kurt Sonnenfeld was given unrestricted access to ground zero. Sonnenfeld was working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an organisation tied to the US Department of Homeland Security and charged with co-ordinating first response to disasters. Armed with camera gear, […]

16 Jul, 2016

How Buddhist tax accountants and whistle blowers can change the world

By Max Lawson I can only guess at the panic in the boardrooms of the investment banks and particularly at the big four accounting firms – Deloittes, PwC, KPMG and Ernst & Young, who between them have almost complete oversight over the business of aggressive tax planning by the major corporations. But no amount of […]

16 Jul, 2016

Violence stalks journalists across India as perpetrators roam free – Hindustan Times

Journalists across the country are increasingly facing threats and intimidation. As per available data, shared in the Lok Sabha by Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, Minister of State (Home Affairs), in March, a total of 114 cases were registered under attack on media person (grievously hurt) during 2014. Some 32 persons were arrested. However, the cases hardly […]

8 Jul, 2016

Bravo Britain: How the Chilcot Report will benefit global travel & tourism

The Chilcot report investigating the British government’s decision-making under former Prime Minister Tony Blair over the 2003 attack on Iraq will, over time, have a hugely positive impact on global travel & tourism. It has made a quantum-leap contribution to the global principles of good governance, transparency, accountability and the pursuit of truth. If the […]

5 Jul, 2016

London mayor appoints Indore-born Rajesh Agrawal as deputy – Hindustan Times

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday appointed Indore-born Rajesh Agrawal as his deputy mayor for business to boost the city’s interests following the European Union referendum. Khan tasked Agrawal, who arrived in Britain in 2001 and grew a two-person enterprise into a multi-million pound business, with championing London’s interests and protecting jobs and growth while […]

28 Jun, 2016

Brexit: BBC journalist called a ‘p**i’ as Muslim Council warns of rising Islamophobia – The Independent

A BBC journalist has been called a racially abusive term she had “not heard since the 80s” as reseachers warned the EU campaigns have “stoked” Islamophobia in Britain. Sima Kotecha, who is a reporter for Radio Four, expressed her shock after being called a “p**i” in her home town of Basingstoke in the immediate aftermath […]

28 Jun, 2016

This country is no longer safe for immigrants – The Independent

Much of liberal Britain woke up this morning (or went to bed) believing they’d encountered a different side to the country. That 17 million odd people voted to leave the EU was an indication of racism and xenophobia, it was immediately decided that this was anti-migrant vote. The shock and surprise was palpable. There’s a […]

28 Jun, 2016

Israel accused of ‘cruel and inhuman’ border crossing conditions for Palestinians by NGO – The Independent

A human rights NGO has accused Israel of forcing Palestinians to withstand “cruel and inhuman” conditions at its borders. The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, also known as B’Tselem, said even those with legitimate work permits were being made to wait for hours in extremely hot weather. B’Tselem posted an […]

28 Jun, 2016

Across the world minds are narrowing. We must fight back – The Guardian

This may seem like an unrelated pair. One was a British MP, one a Pakistani singer. But within one week, the two were killed by their countrymen. They were humanists. They faced outwards, at a moment when fascists are trying to shove us into cages of religion or race. They stood up for universal values, […]

28 Jun, 2016

‘My family doesn’t feel safe here any more’: Eastern Europeans on Brexit – The Guardian

I feel scared after the referendum. In my workplace I have heard people saying things, such as: “Pack your bags and get the fuck out.” Followed by, “If you want I can give you a suitcase.” This referendum has not led to communities coming together in any way – the opposite has happened. Now I […]

22 Jun, 2016

A dangerous game in Kairana – The Hindu

It is now beyond a shadow of doubt that BJP MP Hukum Singh’s infamous list, made up of members of Hindu families that had allegedly fled his Lok Sabha constituency Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh and in neighbouring Kandhla in Shamli district, was a piece of fiction. Many of those who figured in the list […]

18 Jun, 2016

Why are we so reluctant to label white attackers as terrorists? – Yasmin Ahmed, The Independent

We find it difficult to accept that white terrorist organisations are alive and kicking in the west. Some fringe far right groups have already advocated “militant direct action” in achieving their aims. Had a group of Muslims claimed to be specialising in “militant action” in the UK, surely the threat would be taken far more […]

17 Jun, 2016

As It Shapes ISIS-Centric Narrative, Orlando Police Reject FoI Request for Audio of Shooter’s 911 Call | Alternet

Hours after Omar Mateen opened fire in the LGBTQ Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, the Orlando Police Department informed the media that Mateen had sworn allegiance to ISIS in a call to its 911 emergency line. This single detail became the focus of all the coverage that followed, prompting politicians from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump […]

17 Jun, 2016

Corporate Media’s Spin on Orlando Shooting Is Boosting America’s Dirty Wars in Muslim-Majority Countries | Alternet

Within hours of Sunday morning’s horrific massacre at the LGBTQ Pulse club’s Latin night, numerous political elites were already banging the drums for retaliatory military escalation against ISIL and hardline crackdown against Muslim-American communities. Major media outlets enabled this war crescendo by uncritically amplifying hawkish voices while repeatedly failing to mention that there is no […]

17 Jun, 2016

Questions and Anomalies Surround ‘Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History’: Memory Hole

The “worst mass shooting in U.S. history” is reported to have occurred between 2 am and 5 am on Sunday morning, June 12, at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The “act of terror” is said to have produced 49 dead and 53 injured. A 50th death was that of the “shooter,” identified as Omar […]

17 Jun, 2016

Israel ‘cuts off water supply to West Bank’ during Muslim holy month – The Independent

Israel has cut off the water supply to large areas of the West Bank, Palestinian authorities have claimed. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have reportedly been left without access to safe drinking water during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting, at a time when temperatures can exceed 35C. The northern city […]

15 Jun, 2016

No jokes please, we’re Indian – The Hindu

Sometimes the reaction is the real joke. The police force in India’s financial capital have sought legal opinion to check if they have grounds to file an FIR against a comedian for a video he recently posted on the messaging application, Snapchat. The Mumbai police were following up on a complaint from the Maharashtra Navnirman […]

15 Jun, 2016

A satiated Ramadan – Times of India

By Eternally Hungry I stopped the car near a footpath and thought of sharing the sheer delights with the street children. Well yes, because I wouldn’t have eaten them anyway. I asked one of them if they could eat mutton and the answer shook me forever, “Bhookh mein kuch bhi chalega”. I got up instantly, […]

15 Jun, 2016

Hindu Sena cuts cake for Trump, ‘messiah against Islamic terror’ – The Indian Express

Little-known right wing group Hindu Sena on Tuesday celebrated US Republican party candidate Donald Trump’s birthday at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. With a birthday cake, balloons and posters — including one showing Trump brandishing a gun, the group celebrated Trump’s birthday. The Hindu Sena called Trump the ‘saviour of humanity’ and the ‘messiah […]

15 Jun, 2016

Growing Islamophobia will only make America more unsafe – DAWN.COM

THE horror of the recent Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub that left almost 50 dead and dozens injured has shaken the United States. It is the biggest act of terrorism on American soil since the 9/11 tragedy. There has been across-the-board sympathy and a show of solidarity with the victims of the mindless and […]

15 Jun, 2016

America’s new terror reality – The Hindu

The toxic forces of global jihadist terror, lax gun control laws and pernicious homophobia converged on Sunday night at a gay club in Orlando, Florida. The outcome was the worst mass shooting incident in U.S. history. Omar Mateen, 29, a U.S.-born son of Afghan immigrants, killed 50 people and injured at least 53 using both […]

15 Jun, 2016

Breaking the Israel-Palestine logjam – The Hindu

The problem in the case of the Israel-Palestine conflict is that there’s a pro-Israel bias among the Western powers which stops them from putting real pressure on Tel Aviv to deliver. Israel knows that it can get away with anything. It’s the only nuclear armed nation in West Asia, though it hasn’t officially declared that. […]

15 Jun, 2016

The way Australian billionaires earn their wealth – Sydney Morning Herald

It turns out Australia has a disproportionate share of the world’s billionaires. We have about 0.33 per cent of the global population but account for 1.8 per cent of all billionaires, the research shows. And its finance and property – not mining – that has created more Australian billionaires than any other industry. The Peterson Institute paper says 31 per cent of […]

15 Jun, 2016

‘Ramadan Tov’: How to stop funding Israel’s occupation – Al Jazeera

Established in 2005, BDS is a Palestinian-led global movement that calls for an economic, academic and cultural boycott of Israel until it complies with international law and grants Palestinians their rights. Abu Helal says that one of the factors that sets this campaign apart from previous ones is the use of the word “tov” which […]

15 Jun, 2016

How did one of the worst paedophiles in history get away with his crimes? – The Guardian

The head of the American Nicaraguan School, Dr Gloria Doll, immediately confronted Vahey with the cache of images. He confessed that he had spent a lifetime drugging his pupils and abusing them. “I was molested as a boy, that is why I do this,” he told Doll, according to an FBI affidavit. “I have been […]

15 Jun, 2016

Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was a child of America not ISIS — RT Op-Edge

Though much is being made of Mateen’s radicalization and pledge of allegiance to ISIS – and of the fact he was investigated by the FBI not once, not twice, but three times without further action taken and was still able to freely purchase the AR-15 assault rifle he used to carry out his massacre – […]

15 Jun, 2016

‘Endemic US mass shootings driven by gun culture & nihilistic rage’ — RT Op-Edge

Due to widespread Islamophobia many US citizens are rushing to blame Islamist radicalism for an “endemic” of mass shootings and do not realize that the government’s own gun policies only fuel the violence, RT America’s Chris Hedges believes. Although most people in the US assume the radical ideology and Islamic terrorism are behind the present-day […]

14 Jun, 2016

Visa Study: Households Traveling Internationally Will Surpass 280 Million By 2025

SAN FRANCISCO, 9 June 2016, (BUSINESS WIRE)–Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) today released the results of a new study that forecasts a significant increase in international travel by households globally over the next decade. The study estimates that roughly 282 million households will plan at least one international trip per year by 2025, up nearly 35 percent […]

14 Jun, 2016

Humana Works to Break Americans’ Habit of Spending 93% of Life Indoors

CHICAGO, 9 June 2016, (BUSINESS WIRE)–As a proud partner of the National Park Service Centennial, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is encouraging Americans to get out and enjoy nature this summer. Humana’s increased emphasis on embracing the health benefits of the outdoors is supported by a recent Harris Poll survey commissioned by the company, which revealed […]

14 Jun, 2016

New Airbnb Feature Allows Employees to Book Business Travel for Co-Workers

SAN FRANCISCO, 8 June 2016, (BUSINESS WIRE)–Airbnb today announced the launch of a new tool that allows employees to book business travel for co-workers. As business travel has tripled in growth on Airbnb in 2016, this new feature allows business partners like travel managers and executive assistants to be able to book Airbnb listings on […]

14 Jun, 2016

Millennials at Forefront of Shift toward “Experience-Based” Spending – Research

NEW YORK, 9 June 2016, (BUSINESS WIRE)–The Millennial Generation is the largest in U.S. history and will heavily influence the fortunes of commercial real estate and the retail sector for the next half century, according to The Age of Experience-Based Retail, a new study by the research arm of MetLife Investment Management (MIM). The Millennial […]

13 Jun, 2016

Orlando Killer Worked For Company Transporting Illegal Immigrants Inside US; Was Interviewed By FBI 3 Times

In a surprising discovery, the Palm Beach Post first reported that according to state records, Orlando shooter Omar Mateen – who as we reported earlier was licensed as a security guard and also holds a firearms license – was employed by the US subsidiary of G4S plc, a British multinational security services company, whose US-headquarters […]

10 Jun, 2016

Only Solution to Palestinian Terrorism Is the End of the Occupation – Haaretz Editorial

It’s amazing how the Israeli government does not learn its lesson and recognize what should have been clear long ago: The terror will continue as long as the Palestinian people have no hope on the horizon. No military steps will eradicate it and no boastful declarations will end it. The only way to deal with […]

9 Jun, 2016

Hindutva terror is as grave a threat to the Indian people as Islamist terror — Harsh Mander, The Indian Express

Apologists suggest that Hindutva terror is only a recent development; a retaliation to Islamist terror. This obscures the fact that it was Hindutva terror and violence that took Mahatma Gandhi’s life, demolished the Babri Masjid leading to the bloodiest communal clashes in post-Independent India, and organised many communal massacres of minorities. Hindutva terror banks on […]

7 Jun, 2016

Remembering Muhammad Ali: “I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland”

On the occasion of the passing of legendary athlete and struggler for justice, Muhammad Ali, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins millions around the world in remembering Ali’s historic legacy of commitment to the liberation of oppressed peoples and his willingness to sacrifice in order to adhere to those principles. In 1985, Ali traveled to […]

6 Jun, 2016

More Time to Unwind, Unless You’re a Woman – The New York Times

If people in all of these groups are working less, then someone must be working more. The answer, overwhelmingly, is women, who have taken on an Atlaslike role in supporting American economic growth. There are reasons to believe that at least some of the growth in female work hours has been an unfair burden. It […]

6 Jun, 2016

Norway becomes first country to commit to zero deforestation – The Independent

Norway has become the first country in the world to commit to zero deforestation. The Norwegian parliament pledged the government’s public procurement policy will become deforestation-free after a committee of MPs recommended imposing regulations to ensure the state did “not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest”. Norway funds forest conservation projects worldwide and also supports […]