Tehran to host Islamic Conference of Information Ministers

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 14:51 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 Tehran (IINA) – The 10th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) will kick off here on Monday, under the theme “Media Convergence for Peace and Calm in the Islamic World”. The Conference, which will be held on December 3-4, will be preceded by a senior officials meeting to discuss the draft resolutions. Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani and Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance will participate in the opening session. The conference will discuss a number of important issues in the domain of information, including the role of the media in supporting the cause of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque through exposing the Israeli aggressive policy against the Islamic sanctities in Palestine. It will also discuss the means of boosting the information-related action, in cooperation with media institutions in OIC member states and international media institutions, to face the dangers of extremism and Islamophobia, support joint Islamic action, and coordinate information among the OIC institutions. Moreover, the conference will discuss strengthening the OIC's information role in assuming leadership of cultural exchanges, development and peace, in addition to the establishment of a publication unit in the OIC Information Department at the General Secretariat. AB/IINA

Ebola death toll hits 7,000: WHO

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 13:04 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 Geneva (IINA) – The World Health Organization (WHO) said the number of people infected with Ebola in West Africa has risen above 16,000, with the death toll reaching almost 7,000. The virus outbreak has centered on Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. They account for the vast majority of the cases reported to date, with about three dozen cases elsewhere. Liberia has recorded the highest number of cases and deaths, but the rate of infection is slowing there. The disease is now spreading fastest in Sierra Leone. Mali has recorded infections after patients crossed over from neighboring Guinea. It has reported two new cases this week. The WHO said that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo had ended. Its guidelines stated that a country can be declared free of the virus once 42 days, representing twice the maximum incubation period for Ebola, have passed and no new cases have been detected. AB/IINA

UN chief unveils plan for 'technology bank' for poorest countries

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 13:02 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 Kathmandu (IINA) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has announced a high-level panel to study the scope and functions of a proposed technology bank dedicated to helping the world's least developed countries (LDCs), BERNAMA reported. The panel is mandated to advise on the organizational and operational aspects of the technology bank and a science, technology and innovation supporting mechanism. "The panel will prepare practical recommendations on providing a strong impetus to accelerating structural transformation and sustainable development of the LDCs," a statement said. World Academy of Sciences executive director Romain Murenzi has been appointed as chairman of the panel which comprises ten members from least developed countries and their development partners. AB/IINA

Excess weight can cause cancer: Researchers

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 12:54 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 London (IINA) – Researchers say excess body weight causes around 481,000 new cancer cases a year in adults worldwide, Xinhua news agency reported. Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) used data from a number of sources including the Globocan database of cancer for 184 countries in their study. They created a model to estimate the fraction of cancers associated with excess body weight in 2012, and the proportion that could be attributed to increasing body mass index (BMI) since 1982. Based on the results, the researchers estimate that a quarter of all obesity-related cancers in 2012 (118,000 cases) were attributable to rising BMI in the population since 1982 and were therefore “realistically avoidable.” The findings reveal obesity-related cancer is a greater problem for women than men largely due to endometrial and post-menopausal breast cancers. In men, excess weight was responsible for 1.9 percent or 136,000 new cancers in 2012 while in women it was 5.4 percent or 345,000 new cases. The burden is far higher in more developed countries with almost two-thirds (64 percent) of obesity-related cancers occurring in North America and Europe. “Our findings add support for a global effort to address rising trends in obesity,” said lead researcher Dr. Melina Arnold from IARC. “The global prevalence of obesity in adults has doubled since 1980. If this trend continues, it will certainly boost the future burden of cancer,” she added. The study was published in British medical journal The Lancet Oncology on December 28. AB/IINA

Arabs to submit UN draft resolution on Palestinian state in days

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 12:47 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 Cairo (IINA) – Arab League foreign ministers endorsed on Saturday a draft resolution setting a timeframe for the creation of a Palestinian state. A follow-up committee including Kuwait, Mauritania, Jordan, and head of Arab League Nabil al-Araby made the comments in their closing statement, adding that Jordan, a member of the UN Security Council, would present the draft to the Council for a vote within days. AB/IINA

Albania celebrates 120th Independence Day

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Sunday 30 Nov 2014 - 11:26 Makkah mean time-8-2-1436 Tirana (IINA)- The Republic of Albania celebrates today the 102th anniversary of the Declaration of the Independence in the city Vlora. The President Bujar Nishani along with governmental officials attended the ceremony where the Albanian flag arose by the Daniel Godelli and Romela Begaj, the weightlifting champions. Albania proclaimed independence in 1912 by Ismail Qemali, founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government.

Ancient artifacts found in southern Laos' mine

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Thursday 20 Nov 2014 - 09:14 Makkah mean time-27-1-1436 Vientiane (IINA) – Artifacts dating back 2,500 years have been unearthed at a mine site in southern Laos, Xinhua news agency reported citing local media. People searching for unexploded ordnance from past wars at the PeunBaolo site of the MMG LXML Sepon mine – a subsidiary of the Australian Mining Group Minerals & Metals Group – found a bronze drum from the Dong Son era, said state-run media Vientiane Times. Crucibles, copper ingots, jewelry and ceremonial items are also among the relics uncovered at the site. A statement from MMG LXML Sepon said excavations at the site had uncovered evidence of ancient copper mining shafts and copper ingots traded across Southeast Asia in the old days. The bronze drum is now on display at the National Museum in Vientiane. AB/IINA

Israel to demolish homes of 3 Jerusalem attack suspects

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Thursday 20 Nov 2014 - 09:24 Makkah mean time-27-1-1436 Bethlehem (IINA) – The families of three Palestinians, who are suspected of carrying out the recent attacks in Jerusalem, received notices that their homes will be demolished on Wednesday, Ma'an news agency reported. The families of Ibrahim al-Akkari and Muhammad Jaabis – both of whom ran over Israeli pedestrians – as well as Mutaz Hijazi, who shot and injured the Jewish extremist Yehuda Glick, all received demolition notices. A Ma'an reporter said, citing the Jaabis family, that they will appeal the demolition decision although the Israeli occupation authorities signaled earlier in November that the homes of any Palestinian who attacked Israelis would be demolished. The news came only hours after the home of Abd al-Rahman al-Shaludi in Silwan was demolished by Israeli authorities as punishment for ramming his vehicle into a crowd of settlers, killing two of them in late October. "The Israeli occupation wants to break up our family and displace us. They think that by demolishing the houses of martyrs they will deter the people of Jerusalem and Palestine, but violence begets violence," his mother told Ma'an earlier on Wednesday. Rights watchdogs have widely criticized the Israeli policy of home demolition, saying that it contributes to a cycle of violence and merely inflicts collective punishment on family members. AB/IINA

Qatar pledges safe World Cup in 2022

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Thursday 20 Nov 2014 - 09:20 Makkah mean time-27-1-1436 Berlin (IINA) – Qatar will deliver a safe World Cup football finals in 2022 and has made big strides in the area of labor rights, an organizer said in an interview published Wednesday. "We are taking security very seriously for everyone at the World Cup. We have no doubts that security in 2022 will be impeccable," said Nasser al-Khater, managing director of the World Cup organizing committee. He also pledged that Qatar will "stage a spectacular tournament that will exceed all expectations. "It will be a historically compact World Cup which will allow fans, the media and officials to attend more than one game per day and to spend the entire World Cup in one accommodation," al-Khater added. AB/IINA

UN blacklists Libya’s Ansar al-Sharia militant group

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Thursday 20 Nov 2014 - 09:10 Makkah mean time-27-1-1436 New York (IINA) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday blacklisted a Libyan militant group accused of involvement in the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. Ansar al-Sharia Benghazi and Ansar al-Sharia Derna, both have ties with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, were added to the al Qaeda sanctions list and will face an arms embargo, assets freeze and global travel ban at the request of Britain, France and the US. "Both groups are responsible for acts of terror in Libya, including bomb attacks, kidnappings, and murder," British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement. "This decision sends a clear message that the international community will take action against extremist groups in Libya who pose a threat to peace and security,” he added. AB/IINA

Australia cuts resettlement of asylum seekers in Indonesia

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 12:00 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Canberra (IINA) – Australian Immigration Ministry announced that asylum seekers who registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Indonesia after June 30 this year will not be eligible for resettlement in Australia. Previously, asylum seekers had been placed on a waiting list, where they would remain in Indonesia before being redirected to Australia. The move is part of attempts to curb people smugglers' practice of using Indonesia as a transit location for Australian shores. "While nine of 10 months of 2014 have passed without a successful people smuggling venture to Australia, we know smugglers continue to encourage asylum seekers to travel illegally to Indonesia for the purpose of seeking resettlement in Australia,” Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said in a statement on Wednesday. "These changes should reduce the movement of asylum seekers to Indonesia and encourage them to seek resettlement in or from countries of first asylum," he said. Australia will continue to resettle some refugees who registered with UNHCR in Indonesia before 1 July 2014. However, there will not be as many places allocated, meaning the waiting period in Indonesia to be resettled in Australia will be much longer. “Australia's 2014/15 humanitarian program would provide 13,750 places, including 11,000 places for people, nearly all of whom will be in countries of first asylum,” Morrison added. However, Australia's decision to further limit resettlement drew outrage from opposition members, who slammed the policy and labeled it "a disgrace." AB/IINA

UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Health arrives in Malaysia

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 11:27 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Putrajaya (IINA) – UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Health Dainius Puras has arrived on Wednesday in Malaysia on an official visit, which will conclude on December 2, in order to assess the efforts of the government towards the realization of the right to health in the country, BERNAMA reported. During the visit, Puras is scheduled to have a series of meetings and dialogue sessions with representatives from the Health Ministry; Rural and Regional Development Ministry; Economic Planning Unit; Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Human Resources Ministry. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that Puras, an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), is also scheduled to make courtesy visits to various medical and healthcare facilities in the country. It said Puras would consider issues related to the enjoyment of the right to health, including availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare services and facilities, as well as the underlying determinants of health in the country. "The information gathered during his visit will be included in the Special Rapporteur's report to the UNHRC in June 2015," the statement added. AB/IINA

World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day today

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 10:38 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Geneva (IINA) – World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day, being observed yearly on November 19, is a global effort to raise people’s awareness of COPD and advocate for better care for patients. According to the latest WHO estimates, currently 64 million people have COPD and 3 million people died of COPD. WHO predicts that COPD will become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030. COPD is a lung disease, often mistakenly nicknamed “smokers cough”. It causes wheezing, breathlessness and damages the tiny air sacs at the tips of the airways and the airways themselves. This makes it hard to move air in and out of the lungs. COPD is incurable disease and treatments only affect symptoms, however it is largely preventable and with further research, it could be much better treated and managed. The most common symptoms of COPD are breathlessness, or a 'need for air', excessive sputum production, and a chronic cough. The main risk factors for COPD include tobacco smoking and air pollution. AB/IINA

OIC participates in International Conference on Female Genital Mutilation

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 10:02 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Copenhagen (IINA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in a meeting on ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), which was held under the patronage of the Crown Princess of Denmark on November 11 at the Danish parliament. The OIC’s participation in the high level meeting came upon the invitation of the Danish government and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) regional Nordic bureau. Deputy Permanent Observer of the Geneva Delegation to the United Nations Ms. Aissata Kane, who represented the OIC in the meeting, delivered a statement on behalf of the Secretary General Iyad Madani. The OIC was the only intergovernmental organization invited to this important conference which was convened with the aim of coordinating joint actions for ending the harmful practice of FGM/C worldwide. Around 250 representatives from various spheres participated in the conference, including the members of Danish parliament, civil society, media and community workers from main Nordic countries. The statements delivered during this first session of the conference focused on the necessity to further strengthen international cooperation and national commitments for combating the practice of FGM/C in 29 African countries, as well as in other Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Following the political segment of the conference, a second technical session was organized to brief the conference on the progress made by the joint UNFPA and UNICEF program, Tostan and Orchid projects, which are mainly funded by the Nordic countries for the purpose of fighting the FMG/C in West Africa. Successful programs and community projects for combating this violation of women's and girls' rights were presented with the view to highlighting the realizations, as well as the challenges met during the implementation of FGM/C ending programs. AB/IINA

Thailand on alert against bird flu

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 10:04 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Bangkok (IINA) – Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has directed all its provincial offices to be on high alert against all strains of bird flu during the winter period particularly in border areas, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported. Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Narong Sahamethapat told reporters that the move was made in response to reports of an outbreak of H5N8 bird flu strain at a poultry farm in the Netherlands on November 17. Dr. Narong said a bird flu outbreak may re-emerge as birds are migrating from cold areas overseas to warmer areas in the country despite no bird flu cases being reported in Thailand since 2006. "Thailand remains at risk of a re-emergence of an avian flu outbreak especially the H5N1 strain because cases have been reported in neighboring countries," he said. No cases of H5N8 have been reported in Thailand so far. AB/IINA

Spanish parliament passes motion to recognize Palestine

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Wednesday 19 Nov 2014 - 10:02 Makkah mean time-26-1-1436 Madrid (IINA) – Spanish parliament on Tuesday passed a non-binding motion, calling the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to recognize the Palestinian state. The symbolic motion was adopted nearly unanimously in the lower house of parliament, with 319 in favor, two against and one abstention. “The only message we want to send tomorrow is to Israel and to Palestine: you both should sit down and work together and look for a way out in this moment, when everything is blocked,” Spanish parliamentarian Trinidad Jimenez, who spearheaded the initiative, said earlier Tuesday. Last month, British and Irish lawmakers approved similar motions, calling on their governments to recognize Palestine. Sweden government went a step further and officially recognized a Palestinian state on October 30, prompting a strong protest from Israel, which swiftly withdrew its ambassador from Stockholm. Last week, French government said the National Assembly will vote on November 28 on a largely symbolic resolution in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state, hoping it could help end the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. AB/IINA

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UN official for fighting Ebola in Guinea found dead in his hotel room

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 08:11 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Kigali (IINA) – UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Ebola Emergency Response has been found dead in his hotel room in the Guinean capital, Conakry, a Rwandan official said late Monday in Kigali. Kanyankore Marcel Rudasingwa, a Rwandan, who had recently been appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to coordinate anti-Ebola efforts in Guinea, was found dead in his hotel room in Conakry. "We are very sad to hear the death of a Rwandan national who was confirmed dead in his hotel room while on a UN duty mission to fight Ebola in Guinea," said Nathan Mugume, head of communications at Rwanda Biomedical Centre. He said the circumstances of Rudasingwa's death remained unknown. Rudasingwa is the second international personality who died mysteriously in Guinea. Graseciliano Jazbatolo, the head of the Cuban medical delegation, also died in similar circumstances. Before his appointment, Rudasingwa had worked for nearly 20 years on different positions within the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), where he held various managerial and leadership positions in Kenya, Mali, Guinea and Denmark. AB/IINA

Musim Information Ministers to meet in Tehran early in December

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 11:51 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold the 10th Islamic Conference Session of Information Ministers in Iran’s capital, Tehran, on December 3-4. The conference will discuss topics such as strengthenign media support to the Palestinian cause, Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as the media role of member states in exposing the “Judaisation” policy and the fallacies of distorting facts exercised by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian holy sites. The conference will explore initiatives to be taken by the media in serving issues of Muslim world in collaboration with media institutions from OIC member states and international media institutions. It will also consider garnering support for joint Islamic media institutions. AB/IINA

Bahrain's Embassy in Japan receives voters

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 11:07 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Tokyo (IINA) – Casting of votes began at the Kingdom of Bahrain's embassy in Japan in the 2014 parliamentary and municipal elections, Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported. Bahrain embassy in Tokyo was the first diplomatic mission to open its doors for voters. Bahraini citizens residing there began to cast their votes at the ballot-boxes in the embassy, launching the elections abroad which will take place inside Bahrain on November 22. According to the polling regulations, Bahraini citizens residing in Japan can cast their votes from 9:00 am until 5:00 Japan's local time. Electors who had not registered their names abroad will be allowed to participate in the same way as those who had registered within the previously announced duration. AB/IINA

Mobile transaction users to surpass 2 billion by 2017: Report

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 10:01 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 London (IINA) – Over two billion mobile phone or tablet users will make some form of mobile commerce transaction globally by the end of 2017, up from 1.6 billion this year, a research showed by Juniper Research on Monday. According to the report, mobile consumption of services such as banking, money transfer and purchases of goods and services was surging as consumers were either migrating from desktop usage or becoming first-time e-commerce users through their smart phones or tablets, said the Britain-based high-tech industry research company. The report found that in a number of developed markets, mobile devices would account for over half of online transactions within five years. It also highlighted the opportunity for mobile to offer consumers in emerging markets first-time financial inclusivity through the provision of mobile wallets, enabling services beyond payments such as savings and micro-insurance. The report also recommended the integration of operator billing capabilities with websites to monetize digital content amongst a wider user base. AB/IINA

Kerry travels to Europe as deadline looms for Iran nuclear talks

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 09:19 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Washington (IINA) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry headed for Europe Monday for talks for nuclear talks with Iran as a November 24 deadline for a deal looms, the Associated Press (AP) reported. "We are obviously entering in a key period with the negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program," Kerry said before leaving for London for meetings with European and Mideast officials. Negotiators from Iran and world powers will meet Tuesday in Vienna for a new round of talks, which will probably continue until the November 24 deadline, according to an Iranian negotiator. Iran and the P5+1 group – the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – reached an interim deal last November to halt Tehran's nuclear programs in exchange of limited easing of sanctions. After failing to narrow down gaps on core issues during six- month negotiations for a comprehensive deal, Iran and the P5+1 group agreed in July to extend the nuclear talks for other four months till November 24. AB/IINA

UN: Drowning kills 372,000 people each year

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 08:16 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Geneva (IINA) – A newly-released World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that drowning claims the lives of 372,000 people each year, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said Monday. The WHO released on Monday the global report on drowning: Preventing a leading killer, which reveals that drowning kills more than 40 people every hour and is among the 10 leading causes of death for children and young people in every region, Xinhua reported. Haq said at a daily briefing that the report calls for a substantial scaling-up of efforts and resources to prevent drowning, and outlines several actions to be taken by both national policy-makers and local communities. "It also draws attention to the need to make drowning prevention an integral part of a number of current debates, such as climate change which leads to increased flooding; mass migrations, including of asylum seekers travelling by boat; and issues such as rural development, water and sanitation," he added. AB/IINA

OIC chief welcomes appointment of Burkina Faso's interim president

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 06:53 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani has welcomed on Monday the appointment of Michel Kafando as the new Burkina Faso’s head of the National Transitional Council. Madani, while congratulating the new interim head of state for the confidence reposed in him by all the stakeholders through this election, expressed the hope that Kafando would bring his rich experience in public life to steer the country towards a credible and acceptable transition. He also commended the stakeholders and the military for their spirit of compromise and act of maturity they have demonstrated in the last two weeks, leading to the adoption of the political charter to guide the transitional process. The Secretary General reiterated the OIC’s solidarity with the people of Burkina Faso and assured them of its commitment to support the transitional authorities in their difficult task to restore democracy to the country. AB/IINA

Bangladesh Navy seizes Myanmar boat

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Tuesday 18 Nov 2014 - 09:05 Makkah mean time-25-1-1436 Dhaka (IINA) – Bangladesh navy forces on Monday intercepted a boat carrying more than 600 illegal migrants in the Bay of Bengal close to the country's southeastern border with Myanmar, officials said. The navy vessel acting on a tip-off intercepted the boat about 40 nautical miles southeast of Saint Martin's Island on Monday evening. The navy arrested 14 crew members of the boat hoisting Myanmar flag. An official said the majority of the illegal migrants, including dozens of women and children, came from different areas in Bangladesh and also comprising Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. The boat was expected to reach the shore by Tuesday morning. All crew members who are from Myanmar, as well as the illegal migrants will be handed over to local police. AB/IINA

Nigerian army regains control of Chibok from Boko Haram

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Monday 17 Nov 2014 - 12:45 Makkah mean time-24-1-1436 Abuja (IINA) – The Nigerian army has regained control of the north-eastern town of Chibok, where more than 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram militants more than six months ago, army officials said. Nigerian army spokesman Brigadier General Olajide Olaleye said that Chibok was regained on Saturday, about 48 hours after it had been captured by Boko Haram. “Chibok is firmly in the hands of the Nigerian army,” he said, urging the residents to return to their homes. The town of about 60,000 in Nigeria’s Borno state had been captured by Boko Haram insurgents on Thursday night. Thousands of residents fled when the rebels entered the town shooting from pick-up trucks and motorcycles. Two days later Chibok was recaptured by the Nigerian troops, said Colonel Sani Usman, deputy director of army public relations. AB/IINA

On Day of Tolerance, Ban urges leaders to protect people from persecution

Monday 17 Nov 2014 - 11:02 Makkah mean time-24-1-1436

New York (IINA) – Making International Day of Tolerance, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged on Sunday world leaders to protect people from persecution and to encourage tolerance for all regardless of nationality, religion, language, race, sex or any other distinction that obscures common humanity.

“We live in an era of rising and violent extremism, radicalism and widening conflicts that are characterized by a fundamental disregard for human life,” Ban said in his message on the eve of the Day, being observed yearly on November 16.

“There are more people displaced by fighting today than at any period since the end of the Second World War,” Ban said, adding that innocent lives are being lost in senseless clashes around the world. The youngest victims are robbed of their childhoods, conscripted and abused, or even kidnapped simply for wanting an education.

“I call on all people and governments to actively combat fear, hatred and extremism with dialogue, understanding and mutual respect. Let us advance against the forces of division and unite for our shared future,” the UN Chief urged.

Democratic and peaceful societies are not immune from prejudice and violence. And there is growing hostility and discrimination towards people crossing borders in search of asylum or opportunities denied to them at home.

“Hate crimes and other forms of intolerance mar too many communities, often stoked by irresponsible leaders seeking political gain,” Ban said.

Echoing that sentiment, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova said that tolerance is a principle that is more relevant now than ever and it is under serious threat.

“Cultural diversity is being targeted by extremist groups seeking to impose their sectarian vision on the world, and minorities are being persecuted, falling victim to attempts at 'cultural cleansing',” Ms. Bokova said.

Within societies, economic and social crises are sometimes used as a pretext for blaming and rejecting others.

Additionally, it is no longer enough to live side by side, in passive indifference – tolerance requires active vigilance, renewed each day, against xenophobia, discrimination and hatred, she stressed.

Tolerance is at the heart of the United Nations Charter as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And UNESCO is guided by the conviction that lasting peace starts in the minds of men and women, by nurturing principles of tolerance through dialogue and cooperation.

“We learn through tolerance to reconcile the universal rights that bind us together with the diversity that gives us so much, and to see that we need others, in all their diversity, so that we can be fully ourselves,” she said, highlighting that this is the spirit of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022).

“Tolerance is also at the root of the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, awarded this year to two human rights activists – Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanat from Mali and Francisco Javier Estévez Valencia from Chile,” Bokova added.

AB/IINA

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UAE, Palestinian PMs discuss situation in Jerusalem

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Monday 17 Nov 2014 - 11:00 Makkah mean time-24-1-1436 Dubai (IINA) – The United Arab Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum received here on Sunday Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, UAE state news agency (WAM) reported. Sheikh Mohammed and his Palestinian counterpart reviewed the current developments in the Palestinian territories, particularly the humanitarian conditions in which the Palestinian people are living and the Zionist aggressions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the Arab and Islamic identity of Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, "affirming the right of the sisterly Palestinian people to life and legitimate rights guaranteed by international laws and the United Nations." “The UAE government and its people stand beside the Palestinian people and extend a helping hand to them to enable them protect the Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem,” Sheikh Mohammed said. For his part, Rami Hamdallah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed and to the UAE's wise leadership for its keen interest to provide support and care to Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to the Palestinian people in their just cause. AB/IINA

Obama confirms killing of U.S. hostage by IS

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Monday 17 Nov 2014 - 10:15 Makkah mean time-24-1-1436 Washington (IINA) - US President Obama on Sunday confirmed that the American hostage Peter Kassig had been killed by Islamic State (IS) militants. Kassig, a U.S. aid worker, "was taken from us in an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity," Obama said in a statement issued by the White House. A video posted online shows a masked militant standing over a severed head which he says is that of Kassig's. The video also showed what appeared to be a mass beheading of more than a dozen of Syrian soldiers. "Today we offer our prayers and condolences to the parents and family of Abdul-Rahman Kassig, also known to us as Peter," Obama said. "We cannot begin to imagine their anguish at this painful time." Obama praised Kassig as "a humanitarian who worked to save the lives of Syrians injured and dispossessed by the Syrian conflict" and described his deeds as "selfless acts of an individual who cared deeply about the plight of the Syrian people." "Today we grieve together, yet we also recall that the indomitable spirit of goodness and perseverance that burned so brightly in Abdul-Rahman Kassig, and which binds humanity together, ultimately is the light that will prevail over the darkness of ISIL," he added. Kassig is the third U.S. hostage killed by IS in less than three months. Previous American victims were journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. AB/IINA

Indonesia aims to lower poverty rate by 6% by 2019

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Monday 17 Nov 2014 - 10:10 Makkah mean time-24-1-1436 Jakarta (IINA) – Indonesia’s Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar said that the government's poverty alleviation program is expected to reduce poverty rate by 5-6 percent in 2019, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported. "The government provides not only assistance but also organizes many other programs to lower poverty rate by 5 to 6 percent in five years' time," Khofifah said Sunday. The minister said part of the government's assistance would be in the form of irrigation improvement programs for agriculture and community development. "Magic cards, such as the Indonesia Health Card (KIS), Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) and Prosperous Family Card (KKS) are used for the purposes of poverty alleviation,” she added AB/IINA

Effat University will host First Conference on Islamic Behavioral Finance

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 11:05 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Jeddah (IINA) – Effat University of Jeddah will host the First International Conference on Islamic Behavioral Finance on November 18-19. The conference, which is to be organized by Effat University in line with the progress made in the recently emerging Islamic financial system, is aimed to contribute to the development of Islamic behavioral finance, and to mark the university’s aspiration to become a regional leader in Islamic finance education and research. Participants in the conference will be briefed on the behavioral Islamic finance and the key issues marking the current practice of Islamic finance industry. The conference is also a great opportunity for international networking, particularly with the expected international attendance from various Islamic finance institutions. Over the past few decades, the behavioral finance theory has largely contributed to the understanding of various financial phenomena that are still puzzling under the standards of finance principles. These theoretical principles were further developed and empirically tested resulting in a more sound conventional finance theory. Thus, the behavioral aspect imposed itself as an indispensable component of the finance theory. The same principle applies to the recently emerging Islamic financial system. In this context, though there have been tremendous studies on Islamic finance and Islamic investment, there are very few studies that have addressed specific topics within the behavioral finance framework. Moreover, it is needless to say that currently, majority of the issues faced by Islamic finance and its future is highly related to the behavior of investors as well as the other market players. Furthermore, the financial theory has long demonstrated that the investment patterns always have long run impacts on the market movements. In this regard, behavioral finance offers a comprehensive set of tools to identify these investment patterns and their possible influence on the overall development of Islamic finance. Source: Effat University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia AB/IINA

Surgeon with Ebola taken to U.S from Sierra Leone fore treatment

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 10:36 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Nebraska (IINA) – A surgeon from Sierra Leone, who is critically ill with Ebola, has been taken to the United States for treatment, BBC reported. Dr. Martin Salia, 44, who has US residency permit and married to an American, arrived in Omaha on Saturday afternoon and was transferred to an isolation unit at the Nebraska Medical Center. The doctor, who tested positive for the virus on Monday, had been working as a general surgeon at Kissy United Methodist Hospital in the Sierra Leone capital, Freetown. It is not clear whether he was involved in the care of Ebola patients. "Information coming from the team caring for him in Sierra Leone indicates he is critically ill – possibly sicker than the first patients successfully treated in the United States," the Nebraska hospital said in a statement. Dr. Salia is the 10th person to be treated for Ebola in the US. All but one – a Liberian man named Thomas Eric Duncan – have recovered. AB/IINA

Malaysia’s economy grows by 5.6% in Q3

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 09:30 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Kuala Lumpur (IINA) – Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia Dr. Zeti Akhtar said that the Malaysian economy grew by 5.6 percent in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 5.0 percent during the same period last year. “Malaysia GDP expanded by 6.5 percent, compared to 6.4 percent previously,” Dr. Akhtar said. She noted that the positive growth recorded in all economic sectors, especially the construction sector (9.6 percent), services (6.1 percent), manufacturing (5.3 percent), agriculture (4.0 percent), and mining (1.4 percent). She said that the private sector remained the key growth driver during the third quarter of 2014, pointing out that inflation rate declined to 3.0 percent. AB/IINA

Thousands march in Bethlehem to mark Independence Day

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 09:27 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Bethlehem (IINA) – Thousands marched in the streets of the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday to mark Palestinian Independence Day and the 10th anniversary of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death, Ma’an news agency reported. Palestinians marched through the main streets of the city waving Palestinian and Fatah flags. The march went from the governmental compound near Duheisha refugee camp past the city's central Fatah office and then onward to the Nativity Church in the historic center. The celebrations came on the 26th anniversary of the Palestinian declaration of independence, signed by the Palestinian National Council on 15 November 1988. In the document, Palestinian leaders led by Arafat, declared the existence of a State of Palestine inside the 1967 borders and the State's belief "in the settlement of international and regional disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the charter and resolutions of the United Nations." AB/IINA

Toll in Libya's Benghazi clashes rises to 356

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 09:21 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Tripoli (IINA) – At least 16 people were killed in violent clashes between Libyan army and militant groups in the city of Benghazi on Saturday, bringing death toll to 356 since the beginning of the violence about a month ago, sources said. "The center has received 16 dead bodies killed in clashes and random shooting," a medical source in Benghazi Medical Centre said. The Libyan army, backed by gunmen loyal to retired Major General Khalifa Haftar, has been waging a street war against militias in Libya's second city Benghazi since mid-October, in an attempt to regain control of the city. Since the battles broke out a month ago, at least 356 people have been killed, medical sources said. AB/IINA

Pele thanks fans after discharge from hospital

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Sunday 16 Nov 2014 - 09:25 Makkah mean time-23-1-1436 Rio de Janeiro (IINA) – Brazilian football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who is better known as Pele, has thanked fans for their support after his discharge from a Sao Paulo hospital. The 74-year-old player was cleared by doctors to return home on Saturday, three days after undergoing surgery to remove kidney stones. "Thanks to all my fans from around the world who expressed their concern and wished me a quick recovery," Pele said on Twitter. "I dedicate everything that I have to you. I am well and I will recover well. I am very grateful for the affection and support." Pele was admitted to hospital with abdominal pains on Wednesday, just hours after canceling a scheduled appearance at the Pele museum. AB/IINA

Albanian Weightlifter Romela Begaj, champion of the World

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Friday 14 Nov 2014 - 17:34 Makkah mean time-21-1-1436 Albanian Wightlifter Almaty, (IINA) - Albanian weightlifter Romela Begaj was declared champion of the world in the style of secession in 63 kg weight. In the Championship held in Kazakhstan, Begaj lifted 113 kg in this style leaving behind famous weightlifters in the international arena. Begaj lifted 108 kg in the first test, failed in second with 113 kg and reached third World Cup triumph in Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, in boost style Romela lifted 132 kg finishing in ninth place, while in general rankings finished in seventh place. The 2014 World Weightlifting Championship opened on November 4 and will be wrap up on November 16. PB/IINA

OIC Ministerial Committee on Palestine, Al-Quds sets up Action Group

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Thursday 13 Nov 2014 - 14:36 Makkah mean time-20-1-1436 Rabat (IINA) – The Ministerial Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in charge of the action plan for Al Quds Asharif and Palestine has announced the setting up of an action group tasked with acting internationally to defend this cause in line with a well-defined action plan. "We agreed to set up one working group which will lead to the creation of three groups each with a specific mission as part of actions to be carried out internationally, mainly with the superpowers," Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar told reporters here on Wednesday. Also present were OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani and the Jordanian and Palestinian foreign ministers, Nasser Jouda and Riad Al Maliki respectively. “The action group, based on international systems of reference, will be launched in mid-December with the aim of making the OIC's voice heard by influential powers, putting an end to the Israeli assaults and practices in the Palestinian territories, ensuring respect for international law and securing rights of Palestinian people,” Mezouar said. He added that the proposed measures and actions will support the creation of a conducive climate for serious talks to reach a two-state solution to the Palestine issue. AB/IINA

UN special envoy: Combating stigma integral to Ebola response

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Thursday 13 Nov 2014 - 11:29 Makkah mean time-20-1-1436 New York (IINA) – UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Ebola Dr. David Nabarro made a passionate appeal on Wednesday to combat stigmatization surrounding the Ebola by calling for a global social media campaign to “express solidarity and to show we are against discrimination.” “It is really important that we all understand the roots of the stigma and work to address it,” Dr. Nabarro said, briefing to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) at UN headquarters. The Special Envoy said that even UN people travelling from affected countries have been stranded in airports for 24 hours and “treated as criminals.” He suggested that we engage with those who are reacting in extreme ways. “Craig Spencer’s discharge was helpful in reducing that fear,” Dr. Nabarro said, referring to the New York doctor who was diagnosed with Ebola, and greeted with a hug by the New York City Mayor, after being released from hospital on Tuesday. In his briefing, Dr. Nabarro said that 2 or 3 million of the world’s population were now “emotionally engaged” in the issue with hundreds of thousands working on the Ebola response. While noting “some signs of progress,” he cautioned that they are “small signs”, and that “there is not enough certainty to say that we know the trajectory toward the end of the outbreak.” AB/IINA

Sudan commerce minister praises ITC’s support for Khartoum to join WTO

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Thursday 13 Nov 2014 - 10:29 Makkah mean time-20-1-1436 Khartoum (IINA) – Sudanese Minister of Commerce Osman Omer Al-Sharif has praised the efforts of the International Trade Centre (ITC) in supporting Sudan to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported. The minister said this when he addressed a workshop on Agriculture and Trade Facilitation, organized by the National Secretariat for WTO Affairs, in collaboration with the ITC and the WTO here Wednesday. The ITC is a subsidiary organization of the WTO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and provides trade-related technical assistance to countries. The holding of the workshop came as part of the National Secretariat’s efforts to raise awareness of the importance of the Sudan's accession to the WTO, besides the contribution to the consolidation of trade and negotiating capacity. Al-Sharif pointed out that the 19th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali last year resulted in the signing of several agreements among member states, particularly in the field of agriculture and trade facilitation. "This is the third workshop of the National Secretariat, the International Trade Centre and partners including government institutions and the private sector, represented by the Sudanese Businessmen and Employers Federation for its effecting role in the leadership of the national economy," Al-Sharif said. He hoped that the workshop could come up with recommendations to contribute to the efforts being exerted to facilitate trade, which is an essential factor for boosting the economies of the developing and least developed countries. AB/IINA

9-year-old boy wins ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ award

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Thursday 13 Nov 2014 - 09:40 Makkah mean time-20-1-1436 London (IINA) – The National History Museum in London, which has been organizing their annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest since 1964, has awarded this year’s title to Carlos Perez Navel. Carlos, a 9-year-old boy from Spain, was the Grand title winner in Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which includes photographers up to 17 years of age. Carlos’ parents are tireless travelers, and they always take their son to all their trips around the world. When he was 4, he started taking photos of all the nature he saw – first with a compact camera and now with professional equipment. He gets a bigger lens every time he goes abroad. Carlos doesn’t need to be in far away sites to take nice photos – during the school year, the flora and fauna in his garden and surrounding Teruel can’t escape the “clicks” of his camera. Source: INHABITOTS AB/IINA

Israel approves 200 new settler homes in Jerusalem

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Thursday 13 Nov 2014 - 08:38 Makkah mean time-20-1-1436 East Jerusalem (IINA) – Israeli occupation authorities approved on Wednesday plans to build 200 settler homes in Ramat Shlomo, a settlement neighborhood of East Jerusalem. An Israeli official at the Jerusalem Municipality said that the new construction is "vital for the development of the city and to attract young couples." The move comes at a time of daily clashes between the occupation forces and the Palestinian youths, following a series of Al-Aqsa Mosque stormings and the continuing construction in the settlements. This is the third time Israel has approved new construction for settlers in East Jerusalem, bringing the total number of authorized housing units this month to 978 in the settlements of Ramat Shlomo, Ramot and Har Homa. The Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which were harshly condemned by the international community, are illegal under international law. AB/IINA

Mali confirms new case of Ebola

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 13:53 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Bamako (IINA) – The government of Mali confirmed the country's second case of Ebola late on Tuesday, Reuters reported. In a statement via Twitter, Mali's Information Minister Mahamadou Camara said “prevention measures” were being taken, but gave no details on the case. Mali became the sixth West African country to record a case of Ebola when a two-year-old girl from Guinea died in October. It has not recorded any confirmed cases since then, and 108 people linked to the girl were due to complete their 21-day quarantine period on Tuesday. Medical officials and diplomats said Mali's new Ebola case was a nurse who had been in contact with a man who arrived from Guinea and died in late October at the now locked down Pasteur Clinic. A medical officer, who asked not to be identified, said the nurse who had Ebola died on Tuesday evening while another doctor had been quarantined. AB/IINA

French lawmakers to vote on recognition of Palestine November 28

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 15:00 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Parris (IINA) – French lawmakers will vote on November 28 about whether to recognize the Palestinian state, AFP reported on Wednesday. In a draft of the proposed resolution, the French National Assembly says that "The Assembly calls on the French government to recognize the Palestinian state as an instrument to achieve a final settlement of the conflict." French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has previously said that France would eventually have to recognize Palestine but wished to choose the right moment to do so. "The question is when and how? Because it is necessary that this recognition is useful in efforts to break the deadlock and contribute to a final settlement of the conflict," he added. Last month, British MPs voted to recognize Palestine as a state while Sweden officially recognized Palestine last week. AB/IINA

Pope Francis: There is need for peaceful dialogue, juxtaposition with Islam

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 13:16 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Rome (IINA) – Pope Francis expressed his conviction that "there is a growing need to build a peaceful and constructive dialogue with the juxtaposition of the Muslims in Africa," AGI, an Italian news agency, reported. Pope made this request to the African bishops of Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, whom he met on Tuesday. "The Church be a witness for the love of the Lord for all without distinction of religion or community group," Pope said, and praised in this context the efforts of the Church in Africa to spread human values and work in the health and education fields. AB/IINA

China urges Bosnia to implement ‘Dayton Peace Accord’

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 11:24 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 New York (IINA) – China on Tuesday called on all ethnic communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement so as to register greater achievements in development, reported Xinhua news agency. China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Min made the appeal at a meeting of the UM Security Council on the question of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Wang noted that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stable and its economic development has achieved progress recently, saying that China welcomes this development and respects the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the country. "We believe that the people of Bosnia have the right to determine its own possible development and diplomatic policy," he added. Wang also called on the international community to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in achieving sustainable economic and social development and lasting peace in face of complex challenges. "The international community, when addressing the question of Bosnia and Herzegovina, should adopt a balancing and cautious approach and give dual attention to the opinions and concerns of all parties," he said. The UN Security Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution to renew a multinational stabilization force of the European Union (EU) in Bosnia and Herzegovina for another year to oversee the peace accord, underlining its commitment to the political settlement of conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. The Security Council recognized that "the full implementation of the Peace Agreement is not yet complete," said the resolution. The Dayton Peace Agreement was reached on 21 November 1995 in Dayton, Ohio, the United States, and signed in Paris on December 14 the same year. It ended a war that lasted three and a half years and left about 100,000 people dead. AB/IINA

West Bank mosque burned in suspected settler attack

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 11:22 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Ramallah (IINA) – A mosque in the West Bank was burned overnight in a possible attack by extremist Israeli settlers, Palestinian officials said on Wednesday. The first floor of the mosque in the village of al-Mughayir, near Ramallah was set on fire, causing extensive damage to the carpets and structure. “The settlers set fire to the whole of the first floor of the mosque” in the village of al-Mughayir, near the Shilo Jewish settlement,” the officials said. It was the second time the mosque had been attacked, after a similar blaze in 2012, the officials added. AB/IINA

Russia, Kyrgyzstan agree on regional air defense

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 11:18 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Moscow (IINA) – Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and his Kyrgyz counterpart Abibilla Kudaiberyiev agreed on guidelines for building up joint efforts to resist challenges and threats in the region of Central Asia, TASS, the Russian news agency, reported. The defense ministries of Russia and Kyrgyzstan are drafting an agreement on creating a common regional air defense system, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press-office said after talks between the two sides. “For the purpose of jointly maintaining the security of Kyrgyzstan’s air space, the defense ministers have made a decision to prepare for signing an agreement on the creation of a common regional air defense system of Russia and Kyrgyzstan,” Shoigu said. “Guidelines have been identified for building up joint efforts to resist challenges and threats in the region of Central Asia,” the press-office said, adding that in view of the current events in Afghanistan Shoigu and Kudaiberdyiev considered ways of enhancing the combat capabilities of the Kyrgyz armed forces and the Russian air base at Kant. AB/IINA

Indonesia, Europe sign pact to conserve endangered species

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Wednesday 12 Nov 2014 - 11:12 Makkah mean time-19-1-1436 Bogor (IINA) – Indonesia and Europe have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to save Indonesia's endangered endemic species, ANTARA, the Indonesian news agency, reported. The MoU was signed between the Indonesian Zoo Association (PKSBI), the Forestry Ministry and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) at a zoo management workshop in Cisarua, West Java on November 6. Participants at the workshop included directors of zoos and wildlife parks, as well as representatives of PKSBI, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Animal Asia Foundation and Berlin Park. Biodiversity Conservation Director Bambang Adji said the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation had urged all conservation agencies to focus their efforts on breeding one model species as a way to save endangered species. The endangered animal species include the Java bull (Bos javanicus), anoa (Bubalus quarlesi) and hog deer (Babyrousa babirussa). AB/IINA

Philippine government destroys $50.13 million worth of illegal drugs

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Tuesday 11 Nov 2014 - 13:00 Makkah mean time-18-1-1436 Manila (IINA) – The Philippines' anti-narcotics agency on Tuesday destroyed US$50.13 million worth of illegal drugs, Xinhua news agency reported. Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Arturo Cacdac Jr. said all the confiscated drugs weighed 559 kilograms were destroyed through thermal decomposition in a facility in northern Philippine province of Cavite. “Today’s destruction is the highest in terms of total value and gross weight of dangerous drugs destroyed since the country’s shabu haul of over 700 kilograms in May 2008,” Cacdac added. AB/IINA