POLITICS & POLICY

World Muslimah Beauty Pageant Receives Backlash from Own Muslim Community

Organizers of the World Muslimah Beauty Pageant meant to create a venue where it can not only denounce the machinations of the British-run Miss World pageant, but also empower Muslim women all around the world. It would have been a great catalyst if the whole Muslim community supported it.

Israel – Palestine Conflict: Renew Peace Prospects Amid Neighbourhood Turmoil – U.N. Envoy

Twenty years of endless negotiations and conflict in the Middle East since the signing of the Oslo Accords has undermined the belief that peace was possible, but the same 20 years of peace efforts had also demonstrated that fair, reasonable and legitimate solutions could be found, said Robert Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, in his briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday.

French Baby Milk Danone, Dumex in Hot Seat, Accused of Bribery in China

Dumex, an infants' and children's nutrition company that is a subsidiary of French food-products multinational corporation Groupe Danone, is currently in the hot seat in China. State television China Central Television on Monday reported that the company allegedly bribed hospital personnel so that its milk powder will be given preference to newborn babies.
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Australia PM Tony Abbott Leaves Out Tourism from Cabinet (VIDEO)

New Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott has raised eyebrows when he deliberately axed the Tourism Minister from his Cabinet. A Gold Coast tourism industry leader described the move of Mr Abbott as alarming. Martin Winter, Gold Coast tourism head, said the absence of a Tourism minister may cause a division of responsibilities. Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb will be left in charge of international tourism while Industry Minister Ian McFarlane will be responsible for boosting domestic...

Australia: Trade and Investment with APEC Grows – DFAT Report

More than two thirds of Australia’s total trade is with fellow APEC members says a new report published by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). It lends credence to the fact that building closer multilateral trading bloc help in enhancing and investment performance.

Lessons for Syria: Two Years later, Libya’s Democratic Transition Faces Numerous Challenges

Two years after the fall of the authoritarian regime, the democratic transition process in Libya continues to faces a number of challenges, with pronounced political disagreements, a disruption of the country’s oil exports, and security problems in recent months, Tarek Mitri, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) told the Security Council on Sunday.

Most Syrians Killed in Unlawful Conventional Attacks: Says UN Human Rights Panel

As the U.S. and its allies clamour to punish the Assad government in Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians and rebels, a vast majority of Syrians have been killed in unlawful attacks using conventional weapons such as guns and mortars, with children making up a large proportion of the casualties. These are the findings of a United Nations appointed human right probe which is calling for a halt to weapons being supplied to both Government and the rebel forces.

New Zealand Celebrities Support Deep Sea Oil Drilling Protests (VIDEO)

New Zealand celebrities joined protests against proposed laws that will remove the requirement of public consultation on applications for deep-sea gas and oil drilling activities. The proposed law will also abolish the right to conduct a protest at sea. Actors and celebrities like Lucy Lawless, Sam Neill, Robyn Malcom and Sir Ted Thomas, a former Supreme Court judge among others, supported the protests by Maori and environmental groups to urge New Zealand's government not to pass the law.

India: Hindu Nationalist BJP Bites the Bullet, Anoints Controversial Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi its Prime Ministerial Candidate for 2014 Elections

Finally, Narendra Modi has had it his way. After dodging for months and amid high political drama, the right wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in India has formally announced that the controversial Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will be the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 central-level general elections.

David Cunliffe Hailed New Zealand Labour Party Leader, PM John Key Has New Opponent

New Zealand's Labour Party has elected David Cunliffe as its new leader to run for the 2014 election and hopefully block Prime Minister John Key's plan to seek a third term in office. Mr Cunliffe won a caucus vote among affiliated unions and party members. The 50-year-old bested Maori Affairs spokesperson Shane Jones and deputy leader Grant Robertson for the position. David Cunliffe replaced David Shearer who left the Labour leadership vacant in August.

The Battles for Energy Supermacy

The story of Tokyo winning the Olympic bid caught everyone's attention this week, but everyone was focusing on the wrong get together involving Japan.

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