15 Jul, 2015
Why is the United States Still Terrorizing Laos? – Centre for Research on Globalization
Last month, the United States announced a new aid package of $15 million for the unexploded ordnance (UXO) sector in Laos. The aid package—the highest annual amount the US has ever given for UXO cleanup in Laos—brings to total about $85 million the US has given to Laos for UXO cleanup since 1993. This is […]
more…12 Jul, 2015
A photowalk through historic Hyderabad, Pakistan – DAWN.COM
Hyderabad, one of Pakistan’s most historic cities, has sadly not received the recognition it deserves. The history of this land on the Ganju Takkar hillock can be traced back to the Mauryan era (322-185 BC). The heritage and culture has been overlooked to an extent where even the city’s own residents, in general, are not […]
more…12 Jul, 2015
Claiming to preserve Jerusalem, Israeli archaeologists wreck Palestinian heritage | The Electronic Intifada
In an administrative building buried deep in the spaciously built suburbs of West Jerusalem, the latest phase of a long-standing struggle over a corner of land in the heart of the city concluded last week. Israel’s National Planning Committee has overseen an appeal by several bodies who oppose the further expansion of the powerful settler […]
more…11 Jul, 2015
Saudis more law-abiding abroad | Arab News
JEDDAH: A local survey found that almost half of Saudis abide by rules and laws in public places outside the Kingdom more than they do inside the country. More than one-third of the respondent sample said they violate road traffic signs and directions. The survey, conducted by Tagreed Al-Jadaani, professor of home economics at King […]
more…11 Jul, 2015
Female foeticide, India’s ‘ticking bomb’ – Al Jazeera English
Bibipur, India – The jubilant young man’s arrival brought an abrupt halt to the card game contested by the turbaned group sitting under the tree. He thought he had good news for them: “I’ve been blessed with a baby girl!” he announced proudly. The response was not what he expected – the group’s shock quickly […]
more…11 Jul, 2015
Israeli women launch fast for peace on Gaza war anniversary – DAWN.COM
JERUSALEM: Israeli Jews and Arabs launched a collective fast on Wednesday – the anniversary of last year’s Gaza war – to back their demands for peace with the Palestinians. Members of the “Women Wage Peace” group set up a protest tent outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official Jerusalem residence and plan to take it in […]
more…11 Jul, 2015
Chinese tourism to Japan expected to be hit by stock market woes – Japan Times
TOKYO – The plunge in China’s stock market and concerns about its economic growth are having effects well beyond the nation’s borders — with shares of Japanese companies that benefit from Chinese tourists also declining. Tourism has boomed in Japan as the yen has weakened, with visitors from mainland China more than doubling in the […]
more…8 Jul, 2015
Muslim girl named best-dressed student at US school – DAWN.COM
NEW YORK: A hijab-wearing Muslim of Palestinian descent has been named the best-dressed girl at a school in New Jersey state, according to a website. Abrar Shahin, a student of Clifton High School, sports a black skirt and skinny jeans, ankle-high boots and a cropped white blazer in her yearbook photo. Her make-up is just […]
more…8 Jul, 2015
Israel’s Army Of Spin-Doctors Is Doomed To Defeat – Jonathan Cook, Countercurrents
Nazareth: The Israeli government believes it is locked in an epic struggle to save Israel from the growing movement calling for an international boycott. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that Israel must quickly “rebrand” itself to avoid pariah status. Ordinary Israelis are therefore being conscripted into an army of spin-doctors in a campaign termed “hasbara” […]
more…8 Jul, 2015
Welcome to Modistan | Arab News
Can one imagine David Cameron or Barack Obama or Angela Merkel or Francois Hollande making trips abroad, while their respective countries reel from blood-soaked trails of the most sinister scam? Can one imagine the leaders not succumbing to calls for resignation, when that scam leaves behind 48 unexplained deaths? Logic says they should step aside […]
more…8 Jul, 2015
The blood-soaked trail of India’s massive Vyapam scam – Quartz
While shady deals aren’t exactly unusual in Asia’s third largest economy, the Vyapam scam—or the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board scam—is getting murkier and scarier by the day. Since 2007, thousands of applicants in Madhya Pradesh have allegedly paid bribes to manipulate examination results for government jobs and medical colleges, according to police. A number […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Riyadh’s Ramadan tents are a big draw | Arab News
RIYADH: Hotels in the capital have made special arrangements by setting up Ramadan tents, where diners can visit to begin and break their fast with special suhoor and iftar meals during the ongoing fasting month. As the Ramadan tent is a popular phenomenon in the Kingdom and other Arab countries, Arab News explored the special […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Ku Klux Klan plans July 18 rally as black churches burn – Sydney Morning Herald
Charleston: The Ku Klux Klan plans to rally in South Carolina, even as black churches have been warned to take “necessary precautions” as authorities in southern states investigate several church fires over the last week. The Loyal White Knights chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, based in Pelham, North Carolina, said it will rally at […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Alibaba founder Jack Ma’s tips for success in business | Asia Times
Want to be a successful entrepreneur in these hard times? Jack Ma, e-commerce giant Alibaba’s billionaire founder, has some useful tips for you. He jotted them after being inspired by some people he met during his travels. Jack Ma says entrepreneurs should be grateful to their customers Never think of becoming rich overnight. Running a […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
New Muslims describe their Ramadan experience | GulfNews.com
Dubai: For most Muslims, Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar, is a time to practise self-discipline and spiritual reflection. Along with abstaining from food and drink from dusk to dawn for 30 consecutive days, Muslims should refrain from sinful behaviour and speech, and redirect their focus from life’s distractions to worship and […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
7/7 anniversary: Islamophobia and the London bombings, one decade on — RT UK
Blair’s speech, which branded Islamic extremism an “evil ideology” with “devilish logic,” was not the beginning of Islamophobia in Britain. As Merali notes, it is tempting to see such events as a starting point when in fact they are part of a “trajectory” of popular sentiment. But by saying the acts were “founded in belief,” […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Waqf Minister: Jewish extremists committed 184 violations against Islamic Holy Sites in two months
RAMALLAH, July 5, 2015 (WAFA) – At least 184 violations by Israeli authorities against the holy sites in East Jerusalem and Hebron were reported in the recent two months, Sunday reported Yousef Id’ies, Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs. While violations in Jerusalem mainly involved provocative visits by extremist Jewish settlers, those in Hebron included […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
European taxpayers fork out €18.1M for Palestinian salaries, pensions for June
RAMALLAH, July 6, 2015 (WAFA) – The European Union and the Netherlands Monday announced a contribution of around €18.1 million ($20 million) to the Palestinian Authority’s payment of June salaries and pensions. This contribution, which is channelled through the financial mechanism launched in 2008 to support the PA Reform and Development Plan (2008-2010) and subsequent […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
British PM missing the lessons of 7/7 | GulfNews.com
Like Blair, the current British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is preoccupied with ‘spin’; the main debate exercising the British establishment at the moment is whether or not the media should call Daesh the ‘Islamic State’ or by its Arabic acronym, Daesh. With this extremist entity continuing to expand across Iraq and Syria, and with outposts […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Firm faith: The company bosses who pray – BBC News
Saying prayers with colleagues would feel a bit uncomfortable, too intimate an activity in the workplace for many people. Yet at Chinese real estate giant Tentimes Group, that is exactly what they do in the boardroom before making important decisions. Three-quarters of the firm’s eight-strong senior management team are Christians and founder and chairman Wang […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Indonesians going abroad must report online: Ministry | The Jakarta Post
The case of an Indonesian believed to have gone missing in Syria has prompted the Foreign Ministry to issue a regulation requiring any Indonesian traveling outside the country to report online before departure. The regulation, which is aimed at helping the ministry to monitor Indonesian citizens abroad, will be issued in August. Foreign Ministry spokesman […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
Sikh pilgrims bring memories of a past life to Hassanabdal, Pakistan – DAWN.COM
After waiting for 70 years, Karanveer Singh, a pilgrim from Hoshiarpur in India, is finally allowed to visit Pakistan. Mixed feelings of nostalgia and reverence overtake him as he pays homage to Maharaja Ranjit Singh on his 176th death anniversary. In the midst of rituals and preparations, he yearns to meet someone from Toba Tek […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
American White Supremacists Extend Their Reach Through Websites – New York Times
As investigators comb through the data streams of Mr. Roof’s electronic equipment, a four-page manifesto apparently written by him before the killings offers a virtual road map to modern-day white supremacy. It contains bitter complaints about black crime and immigration, espousing the virtues of segregation and debating the viability of an all-white enclave in the […]
more…7 Jul, 2015
A glimpse of Palestinian reality few American Jews ever see — Ha’aretz
The everyday inequalities of life in the West Bank are unfamiliar to the average American. Matters such as the quality of school your child goes to, the amount of water available to you, and the number of hours you’ll wait at a checkpoint to go to work in the morning are just a few of […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
More Britons believe that multiculturalism makes the country worse: Poll
More people in Britain believe that multiculturalism makes the country worse than those who believe it makes the country better, according to a new survey. The survey by YouGov, commissioned by the Huffington Post, demonstrates a large decrease in the proportion of the population who believe that multiculturalism benefits the country. The latest figures, polled […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
Mass killings may be contagious: US study
MIAMI: Mass killings in the United States may be contagious, according to a study Thursday which found that each deadly tragedy can increase the likelihood of another incident soon to follow. Scientists examined data from 1998 to 2013 on school shootings and other mass killings in the United States, according to the findings in the […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
Tunisian campaign uses terrorism images in the West to bring back tourists – The Independent
A provocative advertising campaign featuring images of terror attacks in Western capitals urges tourists not to abandon Tunisia in the wake of its own terror attack. The campaign, launched by a Tunisian communications firm, asks “would you stop visiting” alongside images of London during the 7/7 bombings, New York during the 9/11 attack on the […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
Indonesian alcohol prohibition bill could soon become law: The Jakarta Post
Indonesia’s alcohol prohibition bill is one step closer to becoming law with the House of Representatives agreeing on Friday to further discussion of the bill. All party factions handed over written approvals on the deliberation of the bill during the House’s plenary meeting on Friday. Deputy chair of the House’s legislative body, Firman Soebagyo, said […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
As scams and scandals rage in India, Prime Minister keeps mum | Arab News
The Modi government is in a free fall ever since it completed one year in office on May 26. Brickbats are raining over the government from all sides and the rain of brickbats is sure to turn into torrential rain when Monsoon session of the Parliament begins on July 21. Few governments have had such […]
more…5 Jul, 2015
Japan’s Transport Ministry draws up bill to restrict drone flights | The Japan Times
TOKYO – The transport ministry has drawn up a bill aimed at introducing restrictions on drone flights, following incidents earlier this year, including one in April in which a small unidentified drone was flown on to the roof of the prime minister’s office in central Tokyo. The bill to amend the aviation law, submitted to […]
more…3 Jul, 2015
Rights Groups Ask Oprah Winfrey to Renounce Jewish Diamond Mogul over Rights Abuses
NEW YORK, July 2, 2015 (WAFA) – Nine organizations and 34 individuals from the United States, Palestine, Israel and South Africa called on Wednesday on the US celebrity Oprah Winfrey to publicly distance herself from the companies of Israel billionaire Lev Leviev. Winfrey have recently worn Leviev diamonds on the cover of the May 2015, […]
more…2 Jul, 2015
Japanese population posts largest annual decline on record | The Japan Times
Kyodo Jul 1, 2015 – Japan’s population excluding resident foreigners totaled 126,163,576 as of Jan. 1, down 271,058 from a year earlier, the biggest decline since the current population survey started in 1968, the government said Wednesday. That was the sixth straight annual decline, with the data showing the drop is accelerating as the number […]
more…2 Jul, 2015
The coming death of democracy: The rising threat to investigative journalism
It used to be possible to promise confidentiality to sources – guaranteeing protection of their identities, even on pain of jail – in countries where legal source protection frameworks were robust. But, internationally, ethical commitments to, and legal protections for, journalistic sources are being undercut by surveillance (both mass surveillance and targeted surveillance), and mandatory […]
more…30 Jun, 2015
Australian Greek community prepares exodus, sends money home — Sydney Morning Herald
Australian Greek communities are preparing for an influx of migrating relatives as Greece’s economy crumbles and its banks bolt their doors. Global sharemarkets suffered from panic selling on Monday in the wake of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pulling out of negotiations late last week for emergency funding in order to put the options to […]
more…30 Jun, 2015
They are neither a ‘state’ nor ‘Islamic’: Why we shouldn’t call them Isis, Isil or IS – The Independent
By Rehman Chishti The shocking attack last week at a peaceful Tunisian tourist resort has shown us once again that terror continues to be a threat. There is no question that the group behind this attack, which refers to itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) or as “Islamic State” is an […]
more…28 Jun, 2015
Will US churches help bring down Israel’s prison walls? | The Electronic Intifada
Three churches will debate resolutions this month to divest from companies supporting the Israeli occupation. The Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ and Mennonite Church USA will each discuss Palestine during their conventions. The discussions are taking place amid strenuous efforts by the Zionist lobby to counter the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) […]
more…28 Jun, 2015
The idea of Europe: Why five axioms that defined a scintillating culture are under threat – Dileep Padgaonkar
The spectre haunting Europe today is the sceptre of a terminal, and possibly irreversible, decline of its economic, political and, above all, cultural influence in the world. How serious is its existential angst? George Steiner, a much-acclaimed novelist, critic, cultural philosopher and academic, seeks to answer this question with unmatched eloquence, erudition and sensitivity. Earlier […]
more…28 Jun, 2015
India in danger of a return to authoritarianism – Indian Express
Can a 1975 Emergency-like situation recur again, is a question that is wrongly posed. What needs to be considered is whether authoritarianism can once again emerge to threaten the democratic system. All the basic causes for the Emergency four decades ago — a crisis of the political system, problems of stability and economic discontent — […]
more…27 Jun, 2015
West Bank museum to ‘keep Palestine’s memory alive’ – Al Jazeera English
Birzeit, occupied West Bank – The steady thud of hammers echoed throughout the valley and a large crane swung overhead as dozens of construction workers laboured in the summer heat. Located on the campus of Birzeit University, a Palestinian academic institution in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the half-finished building – the Palestinian Museum – is […]
more…27 Jun, 2015
NEC tests disaster warning system in the Philippines
Tokyo, June 24 2015 – NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), in collaboration with the Philippine government’s Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the state-run broadcasting company, People’s Television Network (PTV), has built and conducted a field trial for a disaster information system enabling the provision of disaster-related information through the use of terrestrial digital broadcasting. […]
more…27 Jun, 2015
Vatican signs historic accord with Palestine – The Times of India
VATICAN CITY: The Vatican on Friday signed a historic first accord with Palestine, two years after officially recognizing it as a state. The accord, a treaty covering the activities of he Church in the parts of the holy land under Palestinian control, was the first since the Vatican recognized Palestine as a state in February […]
more…25 Jun, 2015
Indian media “falling in line with govt” – Kuldip Nayar, The Indian Express
One current development is ominous. Soft Hindutva is overtaking the print and electronic media. They go out of their way to blackout the minority point of view. One glaring example is a recent statement by a Muslim woman from Mumbai. She said that, as a Muslim, she could not get a house in any posh […]
more…25 Jun, 2015
Study: Female business owners need to set boundaries to achieve better work-life balance
You say you care about work-life balance, but do you, really? A new survey found that while women small business owners claim to value work-life balance more than men, women are less likely than men to actually take steps to achieve that elusive goal. Capital One’s latest Spark Business Barometer polled small business owners about […]
more…24 Jun, 2015
White Americans, not Muslims, are biggest terror threat in U.S. – New America Foundation study
White Americans are the biggest terror threat in the United States, according to a study by the New America Foundation. The Washington-based research organization did a review of “terror” attacks on US soil since Sept. 11, 2001 and found that most of them were carried out by radical anti-government groups or white supremacists. Almost twice […]
more…24 Jun, 2015
Norwegian doctor authors book recording mercilessness of Israeli war machine: The Guardian
The book contains dozens of harrowing photographs, many of badly injured children, taken by Gilbert during his stay in Gaza last summer, although the most graphic were excluded. He describes his camera as “my Kalashnikov”, saying that this kind of medical documentation of war is a powerful weapon – and one that is feared by […]
more…24 Jun, 2015
Exposed: Lawyers filmed explaining how to steer corrupt cash into Australia – Sydney Morning Herald
Australia has been exposed as a safe haven for corrupt funds from overseas after a pair of top lawyers were caught on video explaining how regional leaders steal money from their own people and park it in bank accounts here. Covertly-filmed footage using operatives posing as Australian businessmen opens an unprecedented window into how Australian […]
more…24 Jun, 2015
Indian govt cancels licences of 4,400 NGOs, top universities affected
New Delhi – The Home Ministry on Tuesday cancelled registration to receive foreign funds of over 4,400 non-governmental organisations including Delhi University, Supreme Court Bar Association and Kabir, an NGO started by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. All associations were given proper notice by the Foreigners Division of the home ministry with adequate time to […]
more…23 Jun, 2015
African leaders want indictments of Bush, Blair and Netanyahu — National Public Radio
June 15 – As you surely heard, Sudan’s president, Omar al-Bashir, was able to visit South Africa and then fly out today ahead of calls for his arrest for charges pending against him in the International Criminal Court stemming from the genocide in Darfur. He was able to get away because some in South Africa […]
more…23 Jun, 2015
Australian Senator’s anti-halal crusade unleashes torrent of anti-Muslim hate
Liberal senator Cory Bernardi’s inquiry into halal food has attracted a flood of hateful and sometimes downright bizarre submissions. A month after Senator Bernardi successfully set up a Senate committee inquiry into the “third party certification of food”, the probe has already attracted 220 written submissions from the Australian public. While the inquiry is supposed […]
more…23 Jun, 2015
U.K. warms to idea of Japanese-style office naps | The Japan Times
Kyodo Jun 18, 2015, LONDON – Taking a quick nap at your desk or even in a meeting is not an uncommon sight in Japanese offices, but it’s something you’re unlikely to find in Britain, where workers are expected to remain alert at all times. In Japan, the practice is known as inemuri — taking […]
more…22 Jun, 2015
Israeli curbs on Palestinian movements, Gaza blockade must be lifted – UN expert Makarim Wibosono
United Nations, UN News Centre, 19 June 2015 – The international community must ensure the promise of universal human rights no longer rings hollow to Palestinian “living under the 48-year-long Israeli occupation,” today said a UN independent expert. “The crisis in war-torn Gaza is deepening. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, there are daily […]
more…22 Jun, 2015
First International Yoga Day marked worldwide
United Nations, UN News Centre, 21 June 2015 – The first International Day of Yoga is being celebrated around the world today following recognition by the United Nations General Assembly that the holistic benefits of the ancient Indian practice and its inherent compatibility with the principles and values of the UN. The inaugural Day has […]
more…22 Jun, 2015
Thousands rally against church arson by Jewish extremists
JERUSALEM, June 21 (Xinhua) — Thousands of Christians rallied Sunday afternoon outside the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish in northern Israel, in protest of the arson attack by Jewish extremists last week. A police spokesperson told Xinhua that some 3,000 people attended the rally at Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee. […]
more…21 Jun, 2015
What if the Charleston killing was carried out by a Muslim – The Nation, Thailand
Last week, a 21-year-old white male walked into a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina and shot dead nine people attending an evening Bible study. The young man, Dylann Storm Roof, was caught not long after the incident. He confessed to the killings of the nine African-American in an act that the local police […]
more…21 Jun, 2015
How Android mobile apps are mining your personal data – Sydney Morning Herald
One in four apps on an Android mobile phone is loaded with an excessive number of un-related “trackers” that are funnelling valuable personal information to third parties. Popular games apps My Talking Tom and Swamp Attack in the Google Play store are among the worst apps, each loaded with more than 20 “connected trackers”, a […]
more…20 Jun, 2015
Five-day ‘fasting’ diet that could lower your chances of heart disease, cancer and diabetes – The Independent
A simple five-day diet that mimics fasting can bring a host of health benefits, including cutting the risk of heart disease and cancer and boosting the immune system, American scientists believe. A team at the University of Southern California has developed the diet, which they call the ‘Fasting Mimicking Diet’ (FMD), which only needs to […]
more…20 Jun, 2015
The picture that exposes America’s racist double standards?
A day after the massacre, suspected gunman Dylann Roof was in custody, arrested in neighbouring North Carolina. But even the manner of his arrest says a lot about race relations in the US, particularly with regards to the police. Roof, suspected of murdering nine people in cold blood, was escorted from a building with police […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Shooters of color are called ‘terrorists’. Why are white shooters called ‘mentally ill’? – The Washington Post
Police are investigating the shooting of nine African Americans at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston as a hate crime committed by a white man. Unfortunately, it’s not a unique event in American history. Black churches have long been a target of white supremacists who burned and bombed them in an effort to terrorize the black […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Why don’t Americans call mass shootings ‘terrorism’? – The Guardian
The excuses to call a white, male mass-killer anything but “a terrorist” are familiar – they’re part of a refrain repeated over and over again when a horrific crime intended to terrify a group of people is committed by a white man. It’s a refrain of denial. (The same denial happened when Elliot Rodger penned […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Why is the Media So Reluctant to Call Dylann Roof a Terrorist? – Alternet
By Terrell Jermaine Starr Who gets labeled a terrorist is usually a product of race, theirs and white-dominated newsrooms. So far, we know that Dylan Roof, a 21-year-old white man, is in custody in connection with the shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Charleston, S.C., where nine people were killed. Images of Roof […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
4 Muslims seek damages for time on U.S. Govt’s no-fly list – Newsday
New York: Four Muslim men who claimed in a lawsuit that they were put on the government’s no-fly list because they refused FBI efforts to recruit them as informants to spy on their mosques have been told that they are now free to fly. The news came on the eve of a federal court hearing […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Japan set to ease visa rules for foreign ski instructors amid tourism surge | The Japan Times
Tokyo: The government may ease visa requirements for foreign ski instructors by March next year to cope with a recent surge in foreign tourists visiting resorts in Japan, officials said Thursday. The move comes amid rising calls from some of the nation’s prominent ski resorts asking for a greater number of foreign instructors, said a […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Sikh barred from club over turban in New Zealand | GulfNews.com
Auckland: A 30-year-old Sikh man working in New Zealand was barred from a club because of his turban, prompting him to lodge a complaint alleging religious discrimination. Gurpreet Singh, a real estate agent was not allowed to enter the Manurewa Cosmopolitan Club in Auckland for lunch with colleagues as he breached the club’s no-headwear policy. […]
more…19 Jun, 2015
Indonesian President breaks fast with orphans | The Jakarta Post
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo invited 400 orphans to a fast breaking gathering at the State Palace on Thursday and he used the occasion to present bicycles to ten selected orphans. The President presented the bicycles to the orphans who correctly answered one of his ten questions. The questions asked were related to the Prophet, angles, […]
more…18 Jun, 2015
“True Americans” called to join anti-Islam rally planned for Tucson – Phoenix New Times
An anti-Islam, freedom-of-speech rally will take place outside the Tucson Islamic Center on Saturday, July 18. The event is modeled after a protest at the Phoenix Islamic Cultural Center on May 29, which purportedly was a reaction to the two men who opened fire on a Muhammed cartoon drawing contest in Garland, Texas, earlier this […]
more…18 Jun, 2015
A trip into the heart of Palestine | GulfNews.com
By Marwan Asmar Dust flew as I kicked the ground, little particles of dirt slowly settling around me. It was then that I realised I was standing on the land of Palestine — a land that I was away from for the past 30 years, a land that’s a distant memory. After nearly two decades […]
more…18 Jun, 2015
Hindu organizations demand ban on convent schools – The Times of India
PANAJI: ‘All India Hindu Convention’, organized by the right-wing organization Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, on Wednesday demanded a ban on convent schools, claiming that these schools do not allow Hindu students to follow religious traditions. The convention also demanded a ban on cow slaughter in the entire country. “Hindu students studying in convent schools are barred […]
more…15 Jun, 2015
The Evil That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Israel’s Apartheid – Truthdig
For the most part, in the mainstream U.S. press at least, the decorum that forbids use of the A-word remains in place. Yet increasingly, as Israel continues to colonize the West Bank with settlers, and its army ensures their dominion over the lands they occupy, adhering to the A-word ban requires shielding one’s eyes, or, […]
more…14 Jun, 2015
Malaysia’s all-girl ensemble charms New York | GulfNews.com
The contrast in weather could not have been more glaring for the 69 members of the all-girls ensemble who had recently arrived from Malaysia to perform at the Carnegie Hall in New York: from the tropical heat and sunshine that are characteristics of the Southeast Asian nation to the blizzard that was pounding New York […]
more…14 Jun, 2015
PressTV – Israel to dump refuse on Palestine lands
Israel has decided to seize some 202 acres of privately owned Palestinian land in the West Bank to make a new dumping grounds for its illegal settlements. The lands belong to around 140 Palestinian families from Rammoun and Deir Dibwan near Ramallah, the International Middle East Media Center reported on Sunday. The targeted area contains […]
more…14 Jun, 2015
Pankaj Mishra: Modi should learn from the Chinese their deliberate rejection of self-promotion – The Hindu
Fortunately, India is too diverse a place for any Modi to flourish. A truly authoritarian leader like Suharto won’t be able to flourish for long in India. Sixty five years of deeply flawed democratic processes have nevertheless created an India where someone like Mr. Modi can enjoy only limited successes. And he still seems to […]
more…11 Jun, 2015
Jews, Muslims Join Hands At Salaam Shalom Kitchen To Serve Nottingham’s Needy
Muslims and Jews in the United Kingdom have teamed up to work toward a common goal — eradicating hunger in their city of Nottingham. The Salaam Shalom Kitchen, or SaSh, is a project of the Nottingham Liberal Synagogue and Himmah, an Islamic social justice group. Members of the two worship centers are joining forces on […]
more…11 Jun, 2015
‘Quit India’: Movement to make people leave country gathers pace – Hindustan Times
The trend of asking people opposed to the politics of the NDA to leave India was probably kicked off by senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh in April last year. He had blatantly asked people “opposed to Modi” to go to Pakistan since they would have no place in India. Last month, minister of state for […]
more…8 Jun, 2015
Jewish billionaires meet to muzzle growing US movement to boycott Israel – The Guardian
The American gambling magnate and major Republican party donor Sheldon Adelson is hosting a closed-door meeting of pro-Israel billionaires and activists at his Las Vegas casino this weekend, to combat the burgeoning movement on US university campuses to boycott the Jewish state. The gathering comes amid growing Israeli alarm at the rise of the decade-old […]
more…8 Jun, 2015
Tourism accelerating degradation of Boracay coral reefs – Manila Bulletin
Filipino and Japanese experts have warned of the continuous degradation of the Boracay ecosystem with the unabated commercial development and unmonitored snorkeling and diving activities as among the tourism-related activities in the island. Takahiro Morita, senior representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Philippines, said the threat of degradation was primarily on […]
more…8 Jun, 2015
Before & After: Nepal’s heritage sites on shaky ground after devastating quake
Kathmandu, UN News Centre, 5 June 2015 – Against the backdrop of Nepal’s humming capital of Kathmandu, in a centre just off Durbar Square, it would be difficult to miss the elderly woman smiling warmly in a bright red sari. She is among those offering traditional, homespun goods, the cultural heritage of the country that […]
more…3 Jun, 2015
Israeli Army Blocks Construction of Four Bethlehem Homes
BETHLEHEM, June 2, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli army on Tuesday notified local residents of Um Salmouna, a village located to the south of Bethlehem, to stop the construction of four houses, according to local sources. The houses are owned by local Palestinian families, and each of the houses has an area of 200 square meters, […]
more…3 Jun, 2015
US Congress passes surveillance reform in vindication for Edward Snowden – The Guardian
The US Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would end the bulk collection of millions of Americans’ phone records, the most significant surveillance reform for decades and a direct result of NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden’s revelations to the Guardian two years ago. Senators voted 67-32 to pass the USA Freedom Act, which overwhelmingly cleared […]
more…3 Jun, 2015
California man brutally beats 82-year-old Sikh he mistook for a Muslim – The Independent
An 82-year-old Sikh grandfather was brutally beaten with a steel pipe by a man who reportedly targeted him for looking like one of “those people”. Piara Singh was attacked outside his gurdwara in Fresno California where he was preparing free meals to give to the homeless. He suffered a punctured lung and head injuries and […]
more…31 May, 2015
Pupils experience day as special needs individuals | GulfNews.com
Abu Dhabi: Mir Rayyan Sultan’s beloved grandfather is facing gradual loss of vision, and the 11-year-old often wonders what it might be like for him. So, when his school offered him a chance to experience a day as a special needs individual, he volunteered to go about his day blindfolded. “I thought it would be […]
more…25 May, 2015
Absolutely Nothing: A U.S. Veteran’s Savage Indictment of the Iraq War
The Wikipedia says Operation Iraqi Freedom started on the 20th of March, 2003, which is just another reason why you shouldn’t believe anything you read in the Wikipedia (don’t, just don’t). That’s not correct, the war began a day earlier. See, I was there on the night the war really started, at precisely 2200 hours, […]
more…19 May, 2015
Modi’s first year in power a disaster for India: CPM head Yechury | The Indian Express
Dubbing the Narendra Modi Government’s performance in its first year as a “disaster”, CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Tuesday said the NDA dispensation at the Centre will be better known for bypassing parliamentary procedures. “We are seeing a very dangerous and disastrous trend emerging after the BJP came to power an year ago. […]
more…19 May, 2015
NSA Whistleblower William Binney: Seeking Blackmail Power, U.S. Officials Enabled 9/11
William Binney, a 31-year NSA veteran, blew the whistle on the agency when he realized technology that he had developed to protect Americans was being used to spy on them. In a wide-ranging, 45-minute discussion (produced by Josh Scheer with support from KPFK Radio), he and Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer discussed who’s responsible for the […]
more…17 May, 2015
The A$1.8m cost of entertaining foreign leaders in Australia – Sydney Morning Herald
Taxpayers forked out nearly $1.8 million to wine, dine and entertain foreign dignities during a flurry of high-profile diplomatic engagements in Australia. Documents prepared by the department serving Prime Minister Tony Abbott show hosting just five world leaders – Japan’s Shinzo Abe, Britain’s David Cameron, France’s Francois Hollande, China’s Xi Jingping and India’s Narendra Modi […]
more…16 May, 2015
Will Israelis filmed killing Palestinian teens on Nakba Day get away with murder? | The Electronic Intifada
On 15 May 2014, an Israeli Border Police officer took aim at Nadim Nuwara and pulled the trigger of his M16 rifle. The live bullet struck Nuwara, 17, in the chest and exited through his back, killing him at the scene. CCTV cameras captured the shooting, allowing for detailed forensic video, sound and spatial analysis […]
more…16 May, 2015
Road signs with Muslim names defaced in Delhi – Hindustran Times
New Delhi – Signs of roads in the national capital named after Muslim personalities such as Emperor Akbar and Firozshah have been defaced and posters of the right-wing group Shiv Sena Hindustan were pasted on them. The names on the signs were blackened late on Wednesday. The posters in Hindi read: “Islamisation in India will […]
more…9 May, 2015
Drugs and terrorism threat: thousands of Sydney airport staff not security-checked – Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney – Thousands of airport staff are working without federal police or ASIO clearance, security experts warn in the wake of a drug smuggler’s claim that Sydney baggage handlers were part of his criminal network. Peter Gardner, a 26-year-old dual Australian-New Zealand citizen who could face execution in China after he was caught last year […]
more…9 May, 2015
South African Jews apologize to displaced Palestinians — Haaretz
There were once 600 homes in the village. Prickly-pear cactus are scattered about. The 800 wells dug into the hill bear witness to the lives and memories the JNF sought to erase. Only the cemetery remains intact, rows of neglected graves surrounded by barbed wire, which the DPs say the Israeli authorities have forbidden them […]
more…2 May, 2015
Trans-Sulawesi railway project to begin soon, using Chinese tracks | The Jakarta Post
The central government will start the construction of a 143-km railway line from Makassar to Parepare, both cities in South Sulawesi, in early July and will buy the tracks direct from China, an official has confirmed. Director General of Railways of the Transportation Ministry Hermanto Dwi Atmoko said the local administrations had committed to complete […]
more…1 May, 2015
US panel questions Hindu fundamentalist parties over attacks on religious minorities – The Times of India
NEW DELHI: A US panel tracking international religious freedom has, in its latest report on India, noted that religious minorities in the country were exposed to “derogatory” comments by leaders of the ruling BJP as well as “violent attacks and forced conversions by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)” since the […]
more…26 Apr, 2015
Silicon Valley got it wrong: the open-plan office trend is destroying the workplace
By Lindsey Kaufman A year ago, my boss announced that our large New York ad agency would be moving to an open office. After nine years as a senior writer, I was forced to trade in my private office for a seat at a long, shared table. It felt like my boss had ripped off […]
more…25 Apr, 2015
Government names 18 ‘Japan Heritage’ sites in tourism drive | The Japan Times
The Cultural Affairs Agency said Friday it has chosen 18 sets of cultural assets spread across more than half of the 47 prefectures to attract more tourists and revitalize communities and economies overshadowed by Japan’s biggest cities. The first batch of so-called Japan Heritage sites includes the well-known Shikoku Henro pilgrimage trail and former educational […]
more…23 Apr, 2015
Leaked Sony emails reveal Hollywood execs efforts to support Israel – Mondoweiss
Top Hollywood bosses enjoy a strong relationship with the Israeli government and various pro-Israel lobbying groups across the United States, according to a cache of Sony internal emails leaked to Wikileaks and published for the first time last week. The emails reveal a dinner between Sony executives and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; the presenter of […]
more…23 Apr, 2015
Shiv Sena forces cancellation of Pak singer Atif Aslam’s Pune concert – The Hindu
The Shiv Sena has once again forced the cancellation of a concert by Pakistani singer Atif Aslam that was scheduled to be held at Hadapsar in Pune city this Saturday. The Sena has threatened to disrupt the event if it proceeded as per schedule. Confirming the cancellation of the April 25 event, the Anjaneya Sathe […]
more…20 Apr, 2015
Mumbai: When a great city dies | The Indian Express
Mumbai has an active civic culture of debate and dissent that has enabled it to withstand poor governance and political ineptitude, but violence and intimidation are of a different order and they threaten to completely denude the already shrinking space for democratic processes. Educated young people in the city eschew political engagement precisely for this […]
more…20 Apr, 2015
Two decades after Oklahoma City bombing, the crime still sears workers – The Washington Post
Sunday marked the 20th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The crime still sears federal employees. Timothy McVeigh, an Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was executed for what the FBI called “the worst act of homegrown terrorism in the nation’s history.” Terry Nichols, an Army buddy, […]
more…20 Apr, 2015
California drought spurs protest over ‘unconscionable’ bottled water business – The Guardian
Californians facing the prospect of endless drought, mandated cuts in water use and the browning of their summer lawns are mounting a revolt against the bottled water industry, following revelations that Nestlé and other big companies are taking advantage of poor government oversight to deplete mountain streams and watersheds at vast profit. An online petition […]
more…20 Apr, 2015
India’s socio-political fabric faces “twin threats of communalism, neoliberalism” | GulfNews.com
Subhashini Ali, yet another first-time entrant in the politburo was of the view that the party has to strengthen its base by involving people from the backward classes in mass movements. “We must be strong from within by expanding the support base and the best way to do that is to protect the interest of […]
more…20 Apr, 2015
Alwaleed foundation buys 100 artworks by special-needs children | Arab News
Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation purchased all the 100 artworks that had been put for auction at the “Salman In Their Eyes” exhibition which concluded here on April 16. The three-day exhibition, organized by the Disabled Children’s Association (DCA), was the first of its kind to deliver a message of love and loyalty to the king […]
more…19 Apr, 2015
Kingfisher fined for ‘duping’ flyers to take low-cost flight – The Times of India
MUMBAI: The problems don’t seem to be ending for Vijay Mallya. Sending a strong signal to all airlines, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on Thursday ordered the defunct Kingfisher Airlines to deposit Rs 25 lakh in the Consumer Welfare Fund of the Government of India as fine for making fliers take the low-cost airline, […]
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