Author Archive
18 May, 2015
Africa’s Longest Canopy Walkway Opens in Nigeria
A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 18 May 2015 (29 Rajab 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 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
PATA 2015 events in Leshan and Bengaluru: What India can learn from China
The Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi is in China this week for an official visit. He no doubt will see just how far ahead China is of India on just about every aspect of development. Anyone who travels through the world’s most populous country cannot but be impressed by the smooth highways, well-functioning airports […]
more…16 May, 2015
Chinese Commentary: U.S. needs to work on own human rights record first before blaming others
Beijing, (Xinhua) May 13, 2015 – The United States, a self-proclaimed human rights watchdog, needs to examine itself critically and improve its own human rights record before blaming other countries for their violations. The UN Human Rights Council reviewed the U.S. human rights record Monday and found that the “preacher of human rights” itself was […]
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…14 May, 2015
The downside of Myanmar’s tourism boom, and 11 simple tips to stem the rot
Bangkok – Regional and international ecotourism experts are to convene for a May 19-21 conference in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar to discuss ecotourism in protected areas. According to the publicity material, topics include using ecotourism to finance nature conservation, transboundary heritage trails and much more! Before reaching for the sky, Myanmar needs to focus on […]
more…13 May, 2015
Risky drinking rising amongst women of higher income, education – OECD report
Bangkok — Changing lifestyles and increasing upward mobility amongst women is leading to a new kind of gender equality — women are becoming just as heavy drinkers as men. A report on harmful alcohol use in the OECD countries, released by the Paris-based organisation on May 12, says, “People with more education and higher socioeconomic […]
more…11 May, 2015
Muslim MPs up to record 13 in UK Polls
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 11 May 2015 (22 Rajab 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
more…11 May, 2015
Still no ASEAN brand logo at ATM Dubai country pavilions
Dubai – Malaysian Tourism Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Abdul Aziz has publicly provided his official commitment to ensure that all ASEAN member countries display the ASEAN logo at their country pavilions at future travel trade shows worldwide. He made this pledge at the Malaysian press conference in his capacity as representative of a […]
more…10 May, 2015
U.S. airlines’ “subsidies” allegations show American corporations cannot be trusted
The U.S. airlines’ dossier pointing fingers at the Gulf airlines over alleged subsidies and anti-competitive actions is so parochial and pathetically flawed that it does not deserve the respectability being showered on it. Indeed, it is a reflection of U.S. corporate hypocrisy, a clear indicator of how the Americans react when they get beaten at […]
more…10 May, 2015
In China, right balance needed between traditional and online taxi firms
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-05-06 – US-based taxi app provider Uber has been frequently hitting the headlines in recent months for being the target of regulatory crackdowns or law suits with regulators and taxi companies in a number of cities outside the US. In the latest incident, its office in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong province, was raided […]
more…9 May, 2015
At ATM Dubai, Gulf carriers in full battle cry against U.S. airlines’ claims of “subsidies”
Dubai – Chief executives of Etihad, Qatar Airways and Emirates are due in Washington DC for May 14 meetings with U.S. government officials to rebut allegations that their airlines are subsidised by their respective governments, giving them an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. airlines and their code-share and alliance partners. At the Arabian Travel Market […]
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…7 May, 2015
UN environment chief warns of ‘tsunami’ of e-waste at conference on chemical treaties
United Nations, (UN News Centre), 4 May 2015 – The head of the United Nations body tasked with setting the global environmental agenda today stressed the need to limit the use of dangerous chemicals and to find a solution to the masses of electronic waste building up around the world, as a Conference of Parties […]
more…7 May, 2015
Smartphone mania drives Chinese families apart
Beijing, (China Daily), 2015-05-06 – People should switch off their smartphones for an hour every day to prevent the use of mobile apps from eroding family ties and restricting direct communication between people, say researchers. The call was prompted by a survey carried out by Marriage and Family, a monthly magazine affiliated with the All-China […]
more…7 May, 2015
Thailand launches first campaign specifically to attract more Muslim visitors
Dubai — Thailand has launched a new campaign to position the Buddhist-majority kingdom as a Muslim-friendly destination and attract a larger share of the rapidly growing market for halal tourism. Launching the campaign at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) on 06 May 2015, Minister of Tourism and Sports Mrs Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul noted that it would […]
more…4 May, 2015
Obama’s Grandmother Performs Umrah
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 May 2015 (15 Rajab 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
more…3 May, 2015
Xinhua Interview: Situation in Gaza miserable with high unemployment rate: Palestinian minister
GAZA, April 30 (Xinhua) — The daily living situation is seriously miserable in the blockaded Gaza Strip, where unemployment rate in the impoverished coastal enclave climbed to 60 percent, a senior Palestinian official told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on the eve of the International Labor Day. Ma’moun Abu Shahla, minister of labor in the […]
more…3 May, 2015
Japan, Thailand host Palestinian tourism delegation on study trip
Bangkok – A delegation of Palestinian tourism officials and private sector executives has just completed a study tour of Thailand as part of efforts by the Japanese and Thai governments to help upgrade the quality of the tourism industry in the Israeli-occupied state. Funding for the delegation’s visit between April 26-May 2 was provided by […]
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…30 Apr, 2015
PATA bottoms out, plans to rebuild chapters as part of U-shaped recovery plan
LESHAN, China – When immediate past PATA Chairman Scott Supernaw opened the Chapters Colloquium at the PATA annual summit on 25 April, he made a stunning public admission. Referring to a restructuring of chapters now under way, he took a page from PATA history, saying, “I personally think we made a mistake that we forced […]
more…27 Apr, 2015
First Central Asia Water Museum opens in Bishkek
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 27 April 2015 (08 Rajab 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
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
Middle East’s largest theater complex to open in Tehran
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 20 April 2015 (01 Rajab 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
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
Australia charts 10-year plan to boost international education, training
Canberra, 20 April 2015, Austrade media release – Austrade, the Australian Government’s international education promotion agency, is holding a series of open workshops across Australia seeking input on future directions for Australia’s international education and training sector. The workshops are part of the AIE 2025 Roadshow and will help develop a long-term market plan, Australian […]
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
In memoriam: Thai tourism and aviation pioneer Chatrachai Bunya-ananta
One of Thailand’s most eminent aviation and tourism pioneers, Mr. Chatrachai Bunya-ananta, the first civilian to become President of Thai Airways International, passed away on April 18 at the age of 82. Ailing for several months with a blood infection, he had been in and out of hospital since December 2014. Mr. Chatrachai was one […]
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, […]
more…19 Apr, 2015
China flags another 11.7% budget cut for official travel, transport & receptions
Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-04-18 – Government budgets for overseas travel, official vehicles and receptions will be reduced by 11.7 percent this year to promote frugality, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday. It said 6.31 billion yuan ($1.03 billion) has been allocated to cover expenses related to these three categories. The budget for government vehicles, […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Philippines crafts roadmap to boost handicraft industry – Manila Bulletin
Manila – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the University of the Philippines Institute for Small-Scale Industries (UP-ISSI) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formulate the “Strategy Roadmap for Gifts, Decors and Houseware Industry” for 2013-2030. During the recent “GDH Gifts, Decors and Houseware Industry Situationer and Workshop”, DTI and UP-ISSI […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Grape picking boosts tourism in La Union | Manila Bulletin
Bauang, La Union — Grape picking straight from the vines of a plantation in Barangay Urayong here has been attracting foreign and local tourists in this town thereby contributing to the province’s tourism industry. This town, known as the “Fruit Capital of La Union,” has been promoting various high-grade varieties of fruits like guapples or […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
No More Excuses on Patriot Act Surveillance Reform | Human Rights Watch
This week, Human Rights Watch took two major steps to challenge the US government’s invasive and unrestrained collection of our personal data. HRW, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, sued the US Drug Enforcement Agency for illegally collecting records of our international calls as part of a secret mass surveillance program that has been ongoing […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Work-life balance now an important criteria for Chinese job-seekers
Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-04-09 – Companies need to take personal concerns into account when advertising for staff, because job hunters in China now think a work-life balance is as important as a higher salary, according to a survey from human resources firm Hudson Global Inc. The Hiring Report 2015 said that 61 percent of the […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Indonesian Bill on alcohol ban gets secular backing | The Jakarta Post
Lawmakers from secular parties have added their voices to those of their counterparts in Islamic parties in support of a bill prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic beverages. The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party respectively the largest party and second- and fourth-largest parties in the House of […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Bali tourist areas exempt from beer ban | The Jakarta Post
The Trade Ministry’s new regulation on alcoholic beverages, scheduled to take full effect on Thursday, will not be enforced on Bali as the ministry has decided that tourism areas would be exempted from the ban. On Thursday minimarkets, small vendors and beachside beverage vendors across the country were to stop selling beer. Bali administrations, retail […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
How to respond to nasty emails – Sydney Morning Herald
Catherine Gerhardt had just launched her business when she received an email so nasty she still hasn’t forgotten it. “It really felt like that person had kicked me in the guts,” she says. “I honestly felt physically unwell – not only when I read the email, but also afterwards as you find you keep mulling […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
Noam Chomsky: ‘Any reader of Orwell would be perfectly familiar’ with US maneuvers – RT USA
Major American media organizations diligently parrot what US officials want the public to know about global affairs, historian Noam Chomsky told RT. To US leaders, any news outlet that “does not repeat the US propaganda system is intolerable,” he said. The culpability of the West – namely the United States – for world affairs, such […]
more…18 Apr, 2015
China: Upcoming Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to operate in ‘transparent way’
Beijing (China Daily) 2015-04-16 – Financial transparency, corporate governance and high standards in top management skills will be the cornerstones of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Already 57 countries have joined the AIIB with South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, France, Germany and Italy all signing up as founding members. In keeping with such a […]
more…16 Apr, 2015
Seattle CEO cuts his salary by 90% to pay every worker at least $70,000 – The Independent
A chief executive has announced plans to raise the salary of every single employee at his company to at least $70,000 (£47,000) – and will fund it by cutting his own salary by 90 per cent. Dan Price, the CEO of Seattle-based tech company Gravity Payments, gathered together his 120-strong workforce on Monday to tell […]
more…16 Apr, 2015
India tops in remittances, receives $70 billion – Hindustan Times
The World Bank has said India continues to be the leading nation in remittances pulling in $70 billion from its global migrant workforce in 2014. World Bank’s study of remittance, the money workers and professionals working in foreign lands send back to their native countries, attributed this mainly to weak economic growth in Europe, deterioration […]
more…16 Apr, 2015
Re-energised PATA Travel Mart 2015 now a far better deal than ITB Asia
Bangkok — The 2015 PATA Travel Mart to be held in South Indian high-tech metropolis of Bengaluru between Sept 6-8 is set to offer far more value for money than the ITB Asia. A comparison of the rates of the two events shows that the Singapore-based ITB Asia 2015 has more than doubled its basic […]
more…15 Apr, 2015
Study: Financial-related suicides on the rise in Italy – PressTV
A study by the Link Campus University of Rome has found that financially-motivated suicides have more than doubled in Italy in the last three years. A Link Campus University sociologist says that the number of such suicides were 89 in 2012, 149 in 2013 and 201 in 2014. The study has revealed how suicidal individuals […]
more…15 Apr, 2015
New tourists’ court in Dubai to hold swift trials for minor crimes | GulfNews.com
Dubai: A new misdemeanours court to handle cases involving tourists will be set up soon to look into minor crimes committed by holidaymakers. It will hold swift trials keeping in mind their visit visa’s expiry date. The Dubai Courts Department [DCD] will set up the new misdemeanour court later this year, said Mohammad Abdul Rahman, […]
more…15 Apr, 2015
PressTV – US trying to colonize Europe: Russia
Russia’s top lawmaker has accused the United States of trying to colonize Europe through its policies, stating Washington has already put Europe’s military and political spheres under its control and now trade and finance sectors are being targeted. Sergey Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, made the remarks in an article posted […]
more…15 Apr, 2015
Pakistani novelist shortlisted for Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction – DAWN.COM
Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie of Kartography and Salt and Saffron fame has been shortlisted for the 2015 Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction for her novel A God in Every Stone. Published in 2014, The Guardian described A God in Every Stone as a story that “follows a young Londoner, Vivian Rose Spencer, from an archaeological […]
more…15 Apr, 2015
China gets 40-year rights at Pakistani port
(chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-04-14 – China has been granted operation rights for 40 years at a port in Gwadar, a strategic deep-water seaport in Pakistan, Hong Kong-based Pheonix TV reported on Tuesday. Infrastructure construction is nearly complete and the port could be put into full use by the end of the year, Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of […]
more…14 Apr, 2015
State trips cater for Xinjiang pilgrims heading to Mecca
(China Daily) Updated: 2015-04-14 – Arrangements for Muslims in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who wish to take part in State-organized visits to Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage are being enhanced by the local authorities. Aisha Imish, a senior religious leader in Baicheng in the south of the region, participated in one of the […]
more…14 Apr, 2015
In rich Qatar, an Indian restaurant lets poor eat for free – DAWN.COM
DOHA: In a dusty corner of Qatar’s booming capital, a sign outside a modest restaurant popular with migrant labourers reads: “If you are hungry and have no money, eat for free!!!” Sixteen kilometres (10 miles) from the gleaming glass towers of Doha, one of the richest places on the planet, sits the “Industrial Area” of […]
more…14 Apr, 2015
Shashi Tharoor: Indian decision-making now needs “ok” from PM’s Office – The Hindu
Washington DC — The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi exercises such an extent of control over policy matters that it could be impeding implementation, suggested to Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, who is on a brief visit to the U.S. Speaking at a private event at the World Bank focused on his […]
more…14 Apr, 2015
Int’l students promote peace via dance performances | The Jakarta Post
n the spirit of peace and global friendship, around 100 secondary school students from 20 countries around the world introduced their cultures during the International Festival of Language and Culture (ILFC) at Teater Jakarta in the Taman Ismail Marzuki cultural center on Saturday. The countries comprised Turkey, Tunisia, Jordan, Australia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Myanmar, […]
more…14 Apr, 2015
“Pretties” and children models banned from Shanghai auto show
Beijing (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-04-09 -Scantily clad models and children are banned from the 16th Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition opening on April 22, the Shanghai Morning Post reported on Thursday. Models at auto shows have often been criticized for causing distractions by wearing fewer and fewer clothes. Pretty women could certainly attract the crowds but prevented […]
more…13 Apr, 2015
Jakarta To Host 60th Anniversary Asia-Africa Conference April 19
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 13 April 2015 (23 Jumaada al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]
more…12 Apr, 2015
Mobile phone among 5 main causes of Saudi road accidents | Arab News
Use of mobile phones while driving is among the top five causes of accidents in the Kingdom, a Saudi organization that deals with traffic accidents has said. Motorists jumping the signal is another leading cause of mishaps, the figures available with the organization show. This revelation by the organization’s specialist was made following an ordinance […]
more…12 Apr, 2015
French visa for Indians in 48 hours – Hindustan Times
French President Francois Hollande has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his government’s decision to implement a scheme to issue visa for Indians within 48 hours, besides allowing Indian students to stay on for two more years after completing courses here. The post-study facility for Indian students to gain professional experience was closed in Britain […]
more…12 Apr, 2015
Mumbai stung by Marathi chauvinism, Hindutva | Gulf News.com
Mumbai/New Delhi: With the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) far right social agenda based on Hindu fundamentalism, also called Hindutva, and its hardline ally Shiv Sena sounding the war cry “Maharashtra for Maharashtrians” Mumbai — the glamour and commercial capital of India — is fast losing its sheen. Just two days ago, Shiv Sena workers […]
more…12 Apr, 2015
Pakistan all set to welcome Sikh pilgrims – DAWN.COM
LAHORE: Around 2,000 Sikh pilgrims from India intending to participate in the annual Baisakhi festival in Pakistan have so far been issued visas by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. More pilgrims (yatrees) are likely to be issued visas very soon, according to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chairman. “In addition to this, […]
more…11 Apr, 2015
American grovelling before Israel reaches new low – Gideon Levy
The top headline of Haaretz in Hebrew on Tuesday should have reverberated in Washington and shocked America. It also should have worried many Israelis. One day it might even be taught in history class in our schools, marking the time that Israel crossed all of the red lines. A headline is only a headline, but […]
more…11 Apr, 2015
PressTV – Bahrainis stage rallies against F1 race
Anti-regime demonstrators across Bahrain have held massive protest rallies, demanding the cancellation of the upcoming Formula One Grand Prix. On Friday, a large number of protesters took to the streets in several areas across the Persian Gulf kingdom to voice their outrage against the upcoming event. The fresh demonstrations came one week ahead of the […]
more…11 Apr, 2015
Islamic fashion’s expanding market attracts Sharia financiers | GulfNews.com
London: For Anas Sillwood, a British convert to Islam who moved to Jordan in the 1990s, Sharia-compliant fashion was initially just a way to support himself while he studied Arabic and the religion. Sillwood, who set up Shukr LLC in 2000, says he saw a gap in the market for elegant and modest clothing that […]
more…11 Apr, 2015
VHP, RSS force Muslim to sell home in Hindu locality | The Indian Express
Barely a year after he bought a bungalow in a predominantly Hindu neighbourhood of Bhavnagar, prompting Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia to ask neighbours not to allow him to move in, a Muslim businessman was forced to sell it off with functionaries of Hindu Right-wing groups brokering the deal. Scrap dealer Aliasgar Zaveri […]
more…10 Apr, 2015
Pakistani short-film ‘Baat Cheet’ goes to Cannes – DAWN.COM
2015 seems like a good year for Pakistani films because not only are we seeing multiple releases but our short-films are also hitting the right chords. Director Rayika Choudri’s short-film Baat Cheet is on its way to be screened at the 68th Cannes Film Festival held annually in the French city of Cannes. The ten-minute […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
California man charged in global child sex case – The Independent
A federal grand jury last week charged a California man with child sexual-exploitation crimes after investigators allegedly found hundreds of explicit images of underage children on the man’s laptop. Blake Robert Johnston, from Martinez, California, now faces charges of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, online coercion, sexual exploitation involving […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
Robert Reich: How Big Money Is Buying Off Criticism of Big Money – Truthdig
Not long ago I was asked to speak to a religious congregation about widening inequality. Shortly before I began, the head of thecongregation asked that I not advocate raising taxes on the wealthy. He said he didn’t want to antagonize certain wealthycongregants on whose generosity the congregation depended. I had a similar exchange last year […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
Ex-greats call for promoting sports culture in Pakistan – DAWN.COM
LAHORE: A number of renowned international players attended a grand function arranged by the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace at a local hotel on Monday night where they urged the need to promote sporting culture in the country. Hockey Olympians Tariq Aziz, Akhtar Rasool Chaudhary, […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
Pak ghazal singer Ghulam Ali to perform at Varanasi temple — Hindustan Times
Renowned Pakistani ghazal singer Ustad Ghulam Ali will be performing at a music festival in Varanasi beginning April 8. The event will take place at the ancient Sankat Mochan temple. This is the first time a Pakistani artiste will be performing in the temple premises. Wishing that he could be present at the festival, Prime […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
US may have lost its role as the world’s economic leader: Lawrence Summers
Tehran, April 8, IRNA – An American economic expert stressed that the end may have come for the US as the world’s economic leader. Larry Summers who used to serve as an Obama economic adviser from 2009 through 2010 wrote in Business Insider that “this past month may be remembered as the moment the United […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
U.S. H1-B visa application cap reached within 5 days – The Times of India
NEW YORK: The US said it has reached the cap for the much-coveted H-1B work visas for 2016 within the first five days for the third consecutive year and will now conduct a lottery system to allocate the visas highly popular among IT professionals from countries like India. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
People leaving UK face tighter passport checks – The Independent
Passport checks on people leaving Britain are coming into force. People arriving in the port of Dover will have their passports scanned and exit checks will be made on cross-Channel and Channel Tunnel travellers. Exit checks were dropped in 1998 but were re-introduced as part of a new system in the Immigration Act 2014. The […]
more…9 Apr, 2015
PATA CEO steps up to the plate, denounces racial profiling in travel
Bangkok – Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Mario Hardy has become the first head of a major international travel organisation to speak out against the scourge of racial profiling in the travel & tourism industry. Writing in his April 8 blog headlined “Ambassadors for Tourism, for good and for peace…”, Mr Hardy said, “Today, I […]
more…7 Apr, 2015
11 Ways The Cricket World Cup Can Make the World a Better Place
The recent Cricket World Cup competition in Australia and New Zealand was watched by more than two billion people worldwide. Amidst the sporting frenzy and the heavy-duty competitive pressure, there was much to learn. Constructive, well-meaning competition is good for the system. Although all tournaments must end with only one winner, they are accompanied by […]
more…6 Apr, 2015
Islamic Yoga boosts Energy, Happiness and Health
A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 06 April 2015 (17 Jumaada al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]
more…3 Apr, 2015
12-year-old Muslim girl from Mumbai wins Bhagwad Gita contest – Hindustan Times
A 12-year-old Muslim girl, studying in class six of a Mira Road school in Mumbai, secured the first place in a Bhagwad Gita competition organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) last month. Mariyam Asif Siddiqui, a student of Cosmopolitan High School in Mira Road, won the contest from among 4,500 students who […]
more…2 Apr, 2015
Air disaster by German suicide-pilot elevates importance of treating mental ill-health in workplace
The Germanwings air-disaster triggered by an alleged suicide-pilot came just weeks after the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a report highlighting the impact of mental ill-health on communities, companies and countries. Whereas the report’s primary focus was on economic impact and productivity, the human-life cost of the aviation disaster has elevated […]
more…1 Apr, 2015
China-funded Mekong bridge, road build hope for better local lives in northeast Cambodia
STUNG TRENG, Cambodia, April 1, (Xinhua) — Spanning the Mekong River in far northeastern Cambodia, the newly-built 1.73-km Mekong bridge, along with a 143-km road, have raised hope for better living conditions of residents in this far northeastern region.The bridge and road, linked Stung Treng province’s rural parts and its provincial town, are crucial for […]
more…1 Apr, 2015
Why economic sanctions on Russia don’t work | The Japan Times
The Western approach to Russia is predicated on the supposition that continued pressure on the country will cause President Vladimir Putin’s regime to make concessions or even crumble. Nothing could be further from the truth. The assumption underlying the efficacy of Western sanctions is that the sharp economic deterioration that results from them will turn […]
more…30 Mar, 2015
Istanbul, Marrakech Voted World’s Top Tourism Cities
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 30 March 2015 (09 Jumaada al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
more…29 Mar, 2015
How the American War Machine Is Sucking Up Vast Amounts of Cash to Screw Up the World | Alternet
President Obama and Senator John McCain, who have clashed on almost every conceivable issue, do agree on one thing: the Pentagon needs more money. Obama wants to raise the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal year 2016 by $35 billion more than the caps that exist under current law allow. McCain wants to see Obama his $35 […]
more…29 Mar, 2015
Homelessness in London soars by 79% since 2010 – RT UK
The number of people sleeping rough on the streets of London has risen by over one-third in the past year, new government figures reveal. The crisis has prompted homelessness charities to call for sweeping reforms. Data from the Department for Communities and Local Government found that levels of homelessness in the capital rose by 37 […]
more…29 Mar, 2015
The Gaza fisherman who built his own reef – and shot dead there by an Israeli gunboat – The Independent
The underwater rock formations provide the best fishing grounds off Gaza, but they are just beyond the limit set by the Israelis for local boats. Tawfiq Abu Riyala dreamt up an ingenious plan to solve this problem; but it may have ended up costing him his life. The 32-year-old fisherman had built up his own […]
more…29 Mar, 2015
Malawi to burn its £5m ivory stockpile to show commitment to wildlife conservation – The Independent
The world’s poorest country is to make the world’s most expensive bonfire. On Thursday, Malawi will set fire to ivory worth more than £5m, in an extravagant gesture designed to demonstrate its commitment to wildlife conservation and the fight against the colossal worldwide business of wildlife crime. Almost four tons of ivory is held in […]
more…28 Mar, 2015
Israel killed more Palestinians in 2014 than in any other year since 1967 – The Guardian
Israel killed more Palestinian civilians in 2014 than in any other year since the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip began in 1967, a UN report has said. Israel’s activities in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem resulted in the deaths of 2,314 Palestinians and 17,125 injuries, compared with 39 deaths […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Finnish Musicians Union: Universal Loses Market Court Case Over Internet Music Rights
March 26, 2015 HELSINKI–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two sons of late Albert Järvinen, best known as guitarist for the Finnish rock’n’roll band Hurriganes, took a clear victory over Universal Music Finland in Helsinki Market Court over internet rights of two albums originally released in the early 1970’s. The case was processed on behalf of the artist rightholders with […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Hindu fanatics attack Church, two schools in Jabalpur – Hindustan Times
A group of Hindu hardliners attacked a church and two schools in Jabalpur late on Friday night. They were unhappy over a Christians’ Convention taking place at St Peter & Paul Church and accused the church of promoting conversion. The miscreants, about 50 in number, mainly belonged to Dharma Sena and Bajrang Dal. They first […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
German Embassy rudeness leaves Thai orchid expert wilted – The Nation
Bangkok – The difficulty of Thais acquiring foreign visas has long been an issue, and some embassies make it so hard to apply for travel permission that even leading stand-up comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich joked about it in his one-man shows. But no one is laughing at the latest case of consular coarseness, which involves […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Narendra Modi govt making Muslims ‘insecure’ – The Indian Express
Following a two-day convention of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the body on Sunday decided to constitute a committee called ‘Defend Constitutional Rights Committee’ to step up propaganda countering the anti-minority decisions of various state governments and the Center. The spokesperson of the body said that ever since the formation of the new […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Communication breakdown? Emails are the culprit – Sydney Morning Herald
Several Australian companies have started banning internal and external emails in the workplace after they were found to cause stress and conflicts and slow work down. Nathan Schokker, director of facilities management services provider, Talio said he banned emails between employees to promote more face-to-face communication. “My staff are very energetic and tech savvy, being […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Goa village bans kissing in public as it irritates residents – Hindustan Times
A Goan village has banned kissing in public, saying it causes irritation to residents. Reena Fernandes, deputy sarpanch of Salvador do Mundo, a picturesque village located a short distance from Panaji, told IANS on Thursday that the decision was taken by the village panchayat based on requests from locals. “There were a lot of unwanted […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Facebook data privacy case to be heard before European Union court – The Guardian
A Facebook user is taking his privacy campaign to the European Union’s highest court to prevent US intelligence agencies gaining access to his personal data. The case brought by Maximilian Schrems against Ireland’s Data Protection Commission may eventually shape international regulations over access to, and ownership of, online information. The Austrian law student began the […]
more…27 Mar, 2015
Leave Facebook if you don’t want to be spied on, warns EU – The Guardian
The European Commission has warned EU citizens that they should close their Facebook accounts if they want to keep information private from US security services, finding that current Safe Harbour legislation does not protect citizen’s data. The comments were made by EC attorney Bernhard Schima in a case brought by privacy campaigner Maximilian Schrems, looking […]
more…24 Mar, 2015
Thai Tourism Minister listens carefully as PATA finds its “Voice”
Bangkok — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has long claimed to be the “voice” of the tourism industry in the world’s most populous and dynamic region. Over the last few years, failing to walk that talk has been a major contributor to its decline. Now, that is changing. On 19 March, the PATA Thailand […]
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