17 May, 2016

Move to impeach Tony Blair over Iraq War gains support – The Independent

A cross-party group of MPs, including former SNP leader Alex Salmond, may renew their attempts to impeach Tony Blair following the publication of the Chilcot report later this year. According to reports, Mr Salmond has begun rallying support for an attempted prosecution, pending the findings of the report, which will be released in July. In […]

17 May, 2016

How the next financial crisis will hit the world economy – The Independent

A new economic crisis, which we are on the brink of experiencing, will have similarities, and differences, to 2008. The problem of crowded trades – where market participants all have the same basic positions and strategies, and identical risk models – will be familiar. The effect of new regulations, ironically designed to minimise the risk […]

16 May, 2016

WTTC Report on Peace & Tourism Wipes Palestine Off the Map

Imtiaz Muqbil

A report issued by the World Travel & Tourism Council to stress the link between tourism and peace has effectively wiped the globally recognised state of Palestine off the map. The serious omission has proved why tourism will never be able to seriously contribute to global peace unless groupings like the WTTC and indeed, many […]

16 May, 2016

Islamic Satellite TV Channel feasibility study approved

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islamfor the week ending 16 May 2016 (09 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA SPECTACULAR SUCCESS FOR MALAYSIA AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2016 […]

16 May, 2016

Global alcohol consumption declines for the first time in a decade

LONDON, May 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — According to new research released by Euromonitor International, global alcoholic drinks volumes registered a decline of 0.7 percent in 2015, entering negative territory for the first time in more than a decade. This translated into a loss of 1.7 billion litres of alcoholic drinks volume sales since 2014. Historic […]

15 May, 2016

Ahmedabad to Karnavati? RSS wants name change for more Indian cities – Hindustan Times

Ahmedabad might soon be known as Karnavati, Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar and Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar, if the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has its way. The Sangh that was crucial in pushing through Gurgaon’s name change to Gurugram last month is now preparing for more such “reversals” to highlight Indian culture and cleanse foreign influence. Critics […]

13 May, 2016

The leading intellectual who will NEVER be invited to speak at a travel industry summit

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – He is often referred to as the “world’s leading intellectual.” His name is Prof Noam Chomsky, and Wikipedia describes him thus: “An American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, logician, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes described as “the father of modern linguistics”, Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy, and one […]

13 May, 2016

China launches three-year, $700b plan to upgrade infrastructure

Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2016-05-12 – A three-year action plan to improve the country’s infrastructure has been formally launched, with a total investment of 4.7 trillion yuan ($723.8 billion), the Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday. The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport, aims to improve the rapid […]

13 May, 2016

Muslim women kicked out of California restaurant sue for discrimination – The Guardian

Seven Muslim women who were kicked out of a southern California restaurant are suing the business for discrimination, alleging that they were singled out for wearing headscarves in an area that advocates say has seen an increase in hate crimes. The women, six of whom were wearing hijabs, say they were ordered to leave Urth […]

13 May, 2016

Open letter by female teenager in Israeli military prison for refusing to join the Army — The Independent

Here’s the thing: I am sitting in an Israeli military prison. And our uniforms, here in the military prison, were donated to my country by your country. Yes, it is really US Army uniforms that we are wearing, the tiger-skinned uniforms, the uniforms of the Marines, and some of them still have the family names […]

12 May, 2016

Narendra Modi and the myth of a self-made man | The Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a good example of someone who uses his tea seller origins story to his political advantage and the people lap it up, even though no official records exist to show that he was indeed one. In fact, it is believed he was the son of a canteen contractor, making his […]

12 May, 2016

His name is Sadiq Khan – The Hindu

Zac Goldsmith, his Conservative rival, was comparatively vague on specifics, and mounted what can be aptly described as a ‘racist’ attack on Mr. Khan by accusing him of engaging with Muslim “extremists”. This was an attempt to harness, if not create, Islamophobia. That London’s diverse electorate rejected Mr. Goldsmith’s polarising campaign lends a heartwarming sheen […]

12 May, 2016

Google tax is just the start of the disruption facing tech industry – Sydney Morning Herald

For the company that started out with the motto “Don’t be evil”, Google has come a long way. Its name is now synonymous with tax avoidance. Like all the Silicon Valley tech giants, Google got away with a great deal by affecting a modish, neo-nerdy sense of techno-cool. For years this helped divert attention from […]

11 May, 2016

N. Ram, Publisher of The Hindu Group of Publications on Investigative Journalism – The Hindu

Worldwide, journalism and the news industry are struggling, in this digital age, to reassert their relevance and value under profoundly changed and changing circumstances. In response to the challenge, a strong view is forming within the profession that one way to ensure that the activities that constitute journalism will continue to matter is to hone, […]

11 May, 2016

‘Sikh Captain America’ takes on hate, intolerance and Donald Trump – Hindustan Times

Donald Trump wants to make America great again but ‘Sikh Captain America’ feels the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is making America hate again. “Donald Trump has certainly been a candidate whose words have been alarming for someone like me, who happens to be at the front lines of bigotry in post-9/11 America,” said Vishavjit Singh, […]

11 May, 2016

Panama Papers source breaks silence over ‘scale of injustices’ – The Guardian

The whistleblower said the leak of 11.5m documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had triggered a “new, encouraging global debate”, thanks to the publication last month of stories by an international consortium of newspapers, including the Guardian. “Shell companies are often associated with the crime of tax evasion. But the Panama Papers show […]

11 May, 2016

Exposed: How Malegaon’s innocent Muslim ‘terrorists’ lost 10 years of their lives – Hindustan Times

Mohammad Zahid would have continued eking out a living earning a paltry Rs.1500 a month. He would have continued to remain a statistic, a faceless teacher at a madrasa in Yavatmal district’s Fulsawangi village, 450 km away from Malegaon, a mid-sized town in Maharashtra. No one would have known that Zahid had to subsist on […]

10 May, 2016

In India, neither outrage nor accountabiity over massive distress movement — The Indian Express

At least a third of the residents in India’s countryside are battling drought — many for the third consecutive year. Near-zero yields, sinking groundwater levels, drying streams and reservoirs have resulted in a massive slowdown in agricultural growth — it grew by minus 0.2 per cent in 2014-15, with no imminent signs of recovery. For […]

10 May, 2016

Big Alcohol At It Again: Illegal Price Fixing Exposed – IOGT International

Germans are among the top three beer consumers in the world. Beer is big business in the country of the beer purity law. And so it is no surprise that Big Alcohol – the producers and retailers of alcohol (among others) – is highly active in Germany. By now it is not surprising either that […]

10 May, 2016

India cannot take social cohesion for granted – Hindustan Times

The NDA government cannot afford to dismiss the issues raised by the report, which have in any case been raised by several Indian civil liberties groups and activists. The situation on intolerance and religious freedom is as dire as the report portrays. Muslims face harassment and are targets of violence and hate campaigns often by […]

10 May, 2016

Hundreds of travel, tourism, aviation companies, consultants listed in Panama Papers disclosure

Imtiaz Muqbil

The travel & tourism industry is set to face a major crackdown by global tax authorities worldwide in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks which show a listing of hundreds of hotels, travel, tourism and aviation companies and individuals. A search of the database by this editor showed 113 companies with “hotel” in their […]

9 May, 2016

Mali Emperor Mansa Mousa – Richest Man of All Time

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 May 2016 (02 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA SPECTACULAR SUCCESS FOR MALAYSIA AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET […]

9 May, 2016

How will travel & tourism respond to the “Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism”?

Imtiaz Muqbil

The most important takeaway from UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism is that it is an admission of failure. Fifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it tacitly admits that all the security apparatus that has been thrown at addressing violent extremism and terrorism, such as extra-judicial killings, drone strikes, visa […]

9 May, 2016

UN Chief’s Action Plan exposes travel industry’s flawed response to security concerns

Imtiaz Muqbil

A Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism authored by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has exposed how the travel & tourism has long pursued a flawed and imbalanced strategy towards safety & security issues. The Plan also offers some concrete suggestions to “refocus priorities”, presenting a very important challenge to the travel & tourism […]

7 May, 2016

How to Steal From Africa, All Perfectly Legally – allAfrica.com

When UK PM David Cameron opens the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May, we should be aware that the greatest fraud perpetrated on the majority of the world’s citizens is all perfectly legal. Africa loses at least $50 billion a year – and probably much, much more than that – perfectly lawfully. About 60% of this […]

5 May, 2016

Boycott or Not, Israel’s Era of ‘Managing the Conflict’ Is Over – Opinion – Haaretz

One thing is certain: the era of “managing the conflict” is over. This privilege, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sucked dry during his long years in power, no longer exists. The volume of displeasure over his foot-dragging increases as the eroding relations between Israel and its allies becomes ever more visible. In retrospect, many […]

2 May, 2016

Governor Vows to Put Lagos Jazz Fest On World Tourism Map

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 May 2016 (25 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN […]

2 May, 2016

Travel Impact Newswire Launches New Weekly Column: The Irritant

Imtiaz Muqbil

A travel industry column branded The Irritant? Whatever for? Read on…. Soon after my 1978 move to Thailand, I began to seek a better understanding of Buddhism, the way of life in this country. One book on Buddhist management techniques offered this five-step guide to decision-making: Listen, Think, Question, Decide and Act. Right at the […]

1 May, 2016

Can The Travel & Tourism Industry Think?

Imtiaz Muqbil

In 1998, Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, Professor in the Practice of Public Policy and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, published a book called “Can Asians Think?” One review of the book says: “Asia’s economies are poised to surpass those of Europe and North America […]

1 May, 2016

How Israel lobby manufactured UK Labour Party’s anti-Semitism crisis | The Electronic Intifada

An investigation by The Electronic Intifada has found that some of the most prominent stories about anti-Semitism in the party are falsified. The Electronic Intifada can reveal that a key player in Labour’s “anti-Semitism crisis” covered up his involvement in the Israel lobby. Most Labour members so accused are in reality being attacked for expressing […]

30 Apr, 2016

Workers in Dubai claim their rights through legal channels | GulfNews.com

“There has been a growing trust between workers and our department because of the direct communication. This trust increased from 87 per cent in 2011 to 93 per cent in 2015. Complaints are being addressed within 45 minutes of receiving them,” Lt Colonel Al Helli said.“Special attention is given to group complaints, as any delays […]

27 Apr, 2016

We were in love for 12 years… How can they call it love jihad: Ashitha Babu | The Indian Express

Her mother warned her “there would be no happy ending” as she was a Hindu, and he a Muslim. But with their families and police beside them, the story of Ashitha Babu and Shakeel Ahmed has turned out different. On April 17, Ashitha and Shakeel of Mandya city, both 29, got married, after 12 years […]

27 Apr, 2016

Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque renamed “Solomon’s Stables” in Israel tourist map

Among the map’s many omitted Christian sites is the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, whose bell tower is one of the most recognizable features of the Old City’s skyline. The fourteen stations along the infamous Via Dolorosa – the path Jesus walked before his crucifixion – are also unlisted, even though they are a major […]

27 Apr, 2016

Airbnb is ‘ravaging’ black neighbourhoods in New York City and trying to hide it, officials say – The Independent

New York City policymakers and affordable housing advocates have criticised Airbnb following a report the company released claiming it benefits “predominantly black” neighbourhoods. Critics call the company’s release of this information a “duplicitous” and “disingenuous” PR push, a smokescreen to obscure how Airbnb is actually “ravaging” black neighbourhoods in New York City by taking rental […]

27 Apr, 2016

Statue of Nelson Mandela unveiled in Israeli-occupied West Bank – The Jakarta Post

A 6-meter-high (20-foot) bronze statue of Nelson Mandela has been unveiled in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ramallah’s Mayor Mussa Hadid said Tuesday the statue was a gift from the Johannesburg municipality. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Johannesburg’s Mayor Parks Tau took part in the unveiling. Hadid says the statue reflects the “special relationship […]

26 Apr, 2016

US town promises terrorized Saudi students security | Arab News

WASHINGTON: Idaho State University in Pocatello has taken new security measures to ensure the safety of Saudi and Gulf students who have been subjected to harassment, thefts and in one instance physical attack in recent weeks. Saudi Cultural Attaché Mohammed Al-Eissa said in a press statement that the university and the authorities in Pocatello have […]

25 Apr, 2016

Indonesian Christians, Muslims look forward to visiting a free Jerusalem

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 25 April 2016 (18 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN […]

23 Apr, 2016

Oil & Conflicts signal beginning of the end for Gulf travel boom

Imtiaz Muqbil

In a report that signals the beginning of the end of the Gulf inbound and outbound travel boom, the International Monetary Fund has forecast a bleak future for the Gulf countries whose fragile economies are set to be rocked by low oil prices, raging regional conflicts and the emergence of Iran. In a media briefing […]

21 Apr, 2016

Grounding Vijay Mallya – The Hindu

Mr. Mallya’s elbow room is shrinking, and he must know that he is not merely battling the legal consequences of corporate loans gone bad. He is also battling a widespread perception that the loans went bad because of his profligate ways, poor management and possible malfeasance. His flamboyant lifestyle has been central to contributing to […]

21 Apr, 2016

Israel rabbi to paramedics: ‘Leave Palestinians to die’ – AJE News

Jerusalem – There is mounting evidence that Israeli ambulance crews are withholding treatment from Palestinians injured during a wave of attacks over the past six months, according to rights groups. Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, a medical watchdog group, found that wounded Palestinians had been left untreated for as long as two hours. In […]

21 Apr, 2016

Meet The Heroic Mothers Who Raise Children With Special Needs – DAWN.COM

There was silence in the maternity ward. Then, nervous whispers. “The nurses looked scared,” says Rabia Aziz, recalling the moment of birth. “I sensed uneasiness behind the screen of the C-section. And then they asked, ‘Would you like to see your baby?’” Little Aaliya was born with an oddly shaped skull, no fingers and fused […]

21 Apr, 2016

Is India a secular nation? | The Indian Express

by Madhav Godbole It is my conviction that India’s survival as a multireligious, multilingual, multiracial, multicultural society will depend on how successful it is in working its secularism. No society can prosper or be at peace with itself if one-fourths of its population feels neglected, deprived and unwanted. It is disconcerting to see that, in […]

19 Apr, 2016

Dubai aims to be world’s most disabled-friendly city

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 18 April 2016 (11 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN […]

17 Apr, 2016

Bernie Sanders smashes the Israel status quo – CNNPolitics.com

Regardless of the debate’s impact on the primary, Sanders managed to put down a new marker in the ongoing debate over support for Israel in Democratic Party politics. “It’s a pretty extraordinary moment for Democrats,” Sheinkopf said. “It signals without question what other people already know: that the great love affair between the United States […]

17 Apr, 2016

Australians are hiding $11 billion in spending from their loved ones – Finder

What do we have to hide? It’s often the case in a relationship that an innocently placed white lie can be a wise move in terms of keeping the ship sailing smoothly. Whether you accidentally killed the family goldfish and managed to swap it out before anyone noticed, or just didn’t want your other half […]

12 Apr, 2016

The angry Indian needs to be angriest about himself – Hindustan Times

In 1973, an honest police officer called Inspector Vijay swore vengeance against those who had killed his family. Vijay was played by the then relatively unknown Amitabh Bachchan and Zanjeer saw the birth of both a star and the ‘angry young man’. Over 40 years later, the angry young Indian has spilled over from fiction […]

11 Apr, 2016

First Ski Park Inaugurated In Bamyan, Afghanistan

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 11 April 2016 (04 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN PENANG WTM […]

11 Apr, 2016

England’s Muslim cricketer stopped at Birmingham Airport on return from World T20 – The Independent

The England cricketer Moeen Ali says he was stopped by border officers on his return to the country from the T20 world cup in India. Ali arrived at Birmingham Airport on Saturday afternoon ahead of the start of Worcestershire’s county cricket season, but was detained by members of the UK Border Force for 40 minutes. […]

11 Apr, 2016

Airports, Designed for Everyone but the Passenger – New York Times

Airports have been drastically transformed since the 1970s, when you could smoke anywhere, stroll leisurely through security and hug your loved one at the gate before boarding the plane. Passing through security these days takes forever and sometimes borders on harassment. The lighting is brighter than a World Series night game. Almost all the chairs […]

10 Apr, 2016

Chinese commentary: US presidential candidates find it easy to fool gullible US public with lies

By Chen Weihua Washington DC, 2016-04-08, (China Daily) – As a close observer of several US presidential elections, I have found the 2016 race bemusing in both predictable and unpredictable ways. The most baffling is that so many Americans say they support Hillary Clinton when various polls show that the majority think she is less […]

9 Apr, 2016

India’s slogan-shouting debate: You can’t force patriotism like you can’t force a smile – The Hindu

Patriotic slogans are like smiles — outward manifestations of an inner state. You cannot force people to be patriotic, just as you cannot force them to keep smiling for 10 years for reasons they know not. The mindset of coercion is driven by raw, adversarial power. It bristles with hostility towards a person, group or […]

5 Apr, 2016

Pakistani ghazal maestro’s event in Delhi cancelled after Hindu extremist threats – Hindustan Times

The music launch of a movie starring Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali, scheduled to be held in Delhi on Monday, was cancelled, with the director claiming security threats. However, the management of Royal Plaza, where the event was to be held on Monday afternoon, said it was cancelled as there was “no information about it” […]

5 Apr, 2016

Post Brussels attacks, Indian domestic flyers now have to remove footwear, belts – The Hindu

Amid a heightened alert in the wake of Brussels terror attacks, security agencies have stepped up vigil at sensitive airports in the country with passengers being made to take off their footwear and belts and go through detailed frisking. At major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad, CISF and local police […]

4 Apr, 2016

Bangladesh hosts first World Grandmother Day

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 April 2016 (26 Jumada Al-Akhir 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD […]

4 Apr, 2016

Muslim boy teased with ‘bomb’ jokes as US teacher calls him terrorist – Hindustan Times

A 12-year-old Muslim boy accused his teacher of targeting him for his religion by calling him a “terrorist” in front of his peers in the US state of Texas, prompting school authorities to probe the incident. Waleed Abushaaban, a 7th grade student in First Colony Middle School has been the butt of “bomb” jokes and […]

3 Apr, 2016

Post Brussels attacks, Indian domestic flyers now have to remove footwear, belts – The Hindu

Amid a heightened alert in the wake of Brussels terror attacks, security agencies have stepped up vigil at sensitive airports in the country with passengers being made to take off their footwear and belts and go through detailed frisking. At major airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad, CISF and local police […]

3 Apr, 2016

Wars, the War on Terror, With Us or Against Us – Juan Cole – Truthdig

Thirteen years after the illegal US invasion of Iraq, it is worth considering its full impact on this country and on the region. Bush-Cheneyism had a number of key pillars, among which these were prominent: 1. Aggressive unilateral warfare, with the domestic advantage of making the public rally around the flag. 2. Conspiracy-theory amalgamation of […]

3 Apr, 2016

Conflict of Interest: Americans in the Israeli military – The Jerusalem Fund

In the latest unrest gripping the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 21-year old Tuvya Weisman was stabbed and killed. Weisman was an Israeli settler and off-duty sergeant in the IDF, but he also happened to be a US citizen. The US State Department issued the following press statement regarding the attack: “We condemn in the strongest possible […]

3 Apr, 2016

300-year-old gurdwara in Peshawar reopens after 64 years – Times of India

Situated in Peshawar’s Jogiwara locality, the 300-year-old gurdwara is considered to be an architectural masterpiece and is said to have been established at the time of the 10th Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh, who died in 1708. However, with most Sikh families moving away from Jogiwara after Partition, the gurdwara was neglected for 66 years. In […]

3 Apr, 2016

World first? Bihar MLAs pledge not to drink, pass bill on prohibition – Hindustan Times

Bihar legislators vowed on Wednesday to stay away from liquor and inspire others, before they unanimously passed a law to initiate alcohol prohibition in the state. Those found making or selling home-made liquor that kills consumers may get the death penalty, or a life sentence if someone is left seriously sick, according to the legislation. […]

3 Apr, 2016

19 reasons you might feel unloved at work – Sydney Morning Herald

One of the biggest reasons people leave their jobs is because they feel unappreciated. “People come to work for more than a pay cheque,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert,leadership coach, and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behaviour and Thrive in Your Job. “They want to feel […]

3 Apr, 2016

Back to the Hindutva basics – The Hindu

The BJP may have aggressively trained its guns on the Congress over the weekend at its first national executive meeting after its defeat in Bihar last year, but it is clear that its electoral setbacks and its failure to fix the economy are forcing it back to its basics of divisive communalism. There was a […]

3 Apr, 2016

On paper, electrified villages — in reality, darkness – The Hindu

The Centre claims to be fulfilling the Prime Minister’s plan for full rural electrification. But a close check of its own real-time data shows that the gap between official claims and ground reality is stark. Haldu Khata, a village in Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the 7,008 villages that the government claims […]

3 Apr, 2016

India to conduct world’s largest study on the economy of ageing – The Hindu

An ageing population that can topple existing insurance and pension systems, strain the public health-care system and fundamentally alter disease burdens, economies and trade, and human migration. To prepare for this, India wants to better understand those on the cusp of being senior citizens. Later this year a host of research organisations, and supported by […]

3 Apr, 2016

Pro-Israel group targets Jewish professor over Palestine activism | The Electronic Intifada

Legislators around the United States are pushing forward bills, resolutions and blacklists to combat the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. This month, lawmakers in New York and Illinois advanced the countrywide anti-BDS effort. New York senators voted to cut $485 million in state funding to City University of New York (CUNY), shifting the cost […]

3 Apr, 2016

American, Muslim, and under constant watch: The emotional toll of surveillance – The Guardian

Over the course of more than four years between September 2011 and 2015, he received at least five visits to his home by NYPD and then FBI officers. He says the visiting officers came with no warrant and used threatening and provocative language. During a visit in September 2011, they even forced themselves inside his […]

2 Apr, 2016

The Role Of Media In Tourism Security

Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor, Travel Impact Newswire

Six years ago, on 15 June 2010, I delivered a keynote speech on The Role Of Media In Tourism Security at an International Summit on Tourism Safety & Security, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Here are two excerpts: (+) Indeed, this is the age of the early warning system. Just as you (safety and security experts) depend […]

31 Mar, 2016

Cultural Leaders Well-Placed for Forging Greater Appreciation of Diversity: UN Secretary-General’s message to Forum d’Avignon in France

United Nations, 30 March 2016, (UN News) – Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Forum d’Avignon, held in Bordeaux, France, on 31 March: Thank you for the opportunity to send greetings to all participants at the Forum d’Avignon.  Culture is a powerful force for advancing the founding the United Nations goals of peace, development […]

29 Mar, 2016

Lee Kuan Yew’s formula for tackling the “cancer” of global terrorism

Imtiaz Muqbil

The first death anniversary of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on March 23 was a good opportunity to visit the island nation. This micro-country has compensated for its lack of natural resources by growing its people resources, creating one of the world’s best-run, least-corrupt societies with an uncompromising focus on multi-culturalism and rule […]

28 Mar, 2016

9th Forum for Islamic Businesswomen to be held in Riyadh

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 28 March 2016 (25 Jumaada al-Akhir 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA PROMOTES “JOHOR HOLIDAY PACKAGES” Tourism […]

27 Mar, 2016

Review Of “The Occupation Of The American Mind: Israel’s Public Relations War In The United States”

By Robert Jensen In the conflict over the land of Palestine, Israel’s overpowering military superiority has produced decisive battlefield victories. But just as crucial to Israeli dominance in that region is its supremacy in the U.S. news media, which is captured in the title of an important new film from the Media Education Foundation, “The […]

25 Mar, 2016

“Thainess” at the Crossroads — Ex-Prime Minister Flags the Real Issues Facing Thailand

By Anand Panyarachun

Following is the full text of a speech entitled “In Search of Thailand’s New Normal”, delivered by two-time former Thai Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on 23 March 2016. It should be must reading for all those seeking to better understand the dynamics of change facing one of the […]

25 Mar, 2016

Meet the 56 Australian millionaires who pay next to no income tax – Sydney Morning Herald

Paying tax has become optional for 56 of Australia’s highest earners. Newly-released tax statistics show each of the 56 paid next to no income tax in 2013–14, not even the Medicare Levy, even though each earned more than $1 million. But escaping tax cost the millionaires dearly. The same document shows 27 of the 56 […]

25 Mar, 2016

Statement of the International Sociological Association concerning academic freedom and violence in India – The Hindu

In an environment of anti-intellectualism, and majoritarian attacks on individual and collective attempts at informed debate and social critique both within and outside institutions of higher education, our responsibility as members of a professional association is especially grave. As sociologists we believe that allowing the untrammelled use of the charge of sedition to quell dissent […]

21 Mar, 2016

Experts volunteer to save non-Muslim heritage in Turkey

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 21 March 2016 (12 Jumaada al-Akhir 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA LAUNCHES E-VISA FOR CHINESE TOURISTS Effective […]

20 Mar, 2016

Taking aim at alcohol abuse | The Japan Times

The government will try to reduce excessive drinking in Japan, according to a draft plan to be endorsed by the Cabinet in May. The government says it will establish at least one medical institution specializing in alcoholism in each prefecture, while setting numerical targets to reduce the lifestyle-related diseases that result from heavy drinking. The […]

16 Mar, 2016

Out of money: Saudi Arabia shot itself in the foot by dropping oil prices

Tehran, March 13, IRNA / (sputniknews.com) – Riyadh has shot itself in the foot by adopting a predatory pricing policy in the oil market aimed at wiping its competitors out; now the House of Saud is reaping a whirlwind it sowed. Back in 2014 Saudi Arabia decided to drop oil prices in order to expel […]

16 Mar, 2016

Terrorism and communal violence must carry same stigma and punishment – Harsh Mander, Hindustan Times

In both popular, social common sense and the ways in which the laws are designed and implemented in India, there is an implied hierarchy of crimes, in which gravest crimes are seen to be those connected with terror and violence, meriting harsh laws, criminal procedures that severely curtail human rights of the accused, and stricter […]

14 Mar, 2016

“Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan” opens at The Smithsonian

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 14 March 2016 (05 Jumaada al-Akhir 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA LAUNCHES E-VISA FOR CHINESE TOURISTS Effective […]

14 Mar, 2016

Jewish activists “making sure there’s a price to pay for supporting Israel’s propaganda machine”

Message from Jewish Voice for Peace Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson Dear Friend, I want to try something a little bit different. No request to sign a petition or call your Congressional representative — just an update about what our team has been working on over the last month, and what we’ve got on deck for […]

14 Mar, 2016

Come and See: A Kairos Perspective of Tourism and Pilgrimage in Palestine

There are several different forms that tourism takes in Palestine: tourism organized directly by Israel; tourism organized by other countries with Israel’s coordination and approval, including religious pilgrimages; “political thrill” tourism; and Birthright Israel programs, which are free trips Israel that Israel offers to any Jew in the world as a birthright and which many […]

14 Mar, 2016

Palestinians sue billionaire Sheldon Adelson for Israeli war crimes – The Electronic Intifada

A group of Palestinians and Palestinian Americans are seeking $34.5 billion dollars in damages from wealthy individuals and companies they accuse of financing and profiting from Israel’s settlements in the occupied West Bank and other abuses of their rights. The plaintiffs include Palestinians who have lost family members in Israeli attacks in the West Bank […]

14 Mar, 2016

BDS India Convention Calls For Total Boycott Of Israel

March 8, 2016 — An appeal for the total boycott of Israel was made at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions(BDS) India Convention held on 6 March 2016 at New Delhi’s Gandhi Peace Foundation as a mark of protest against the apartheid policies and the genocidal campaign of Israel against Palestine. The intellectuals and activists coming from […]

14 Mar, 2016

Israel again blocks Indonesian Foreign Minister from opening consulate in Palestine

Imtiaz Muqbil

Israel escalated its global war on Islam last week by blocking Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi from travelling to Ramallah, Palestine, to dedicate an honorary consulate because of her refusal to first meet with Israeli officials in Jerusalem. This is the second time an Indonesian Foreign Minister has been denied access to Ramallah. In 2012, […]

14 Mar, 2016

Americans Are Buried Under a Mountain of Debt – Gallup

Two-thirds of Americans say they have enough money to live comfortably, with more traditionalists (76%) and baby boomers (67%) saying they do than millennials (62%) and Gen Xers (61%). Those who say they don’t have enough money to live comfortably appear to be using their credit cards to supplement their available resources with high-interest credit. […]

14 Mar, 2016

How credit card companies know what we will do in the future – Sydney Morning Herald

Australia is a world leader in the march towards a cashless economy. But our enthusiasm for electronic payments has gifted credit card companies with a crystal ball. Only a handful of nations make more cashless transactions per person than Australia. The proportion of purchases involving cash slumped from 70 per cent in 2007 to 47 […]

14 Mar, 2016

Canadian PM: I have more Sikhs in Cabinet than Modi – The Hindu

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, known for his witty repartees, told an American audience here that he has more Sikhs in his Cabinet than his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. The quip came when Mr. Trudeau was taking 10 questions from students at the American University in northwest Washington during his state visit to the U.S. […]

12 Mar, 2016

Kyoto taxis specializing in foreign tourists begin one-year trial | The Japan Times

KYOTO, Mar 1, 2016  Kyodo– A one-year trial run for taxis aimed at non-Japanese tourists started Tuesday in the city of Kyoto, the first such service in Japan aimed at enhancing the experience for overseas visitors. The “foreigner-friendly taxis” accept credit cards, have space for two large suitcases and drivers who are able to communicate […]

12 Mar, 2016

No freedom without dissent – The Hindu

There is an opinion that India has come into its natural inheritance only after the election of a majority government in May 2014. It is argued that the past 60-odd years of the Indian Republic were a mere epilogue to an empire and a Western era that had not fully died in 1947. The Nehruvian […]

12 Mar, 2016

The issue of nationalism: A sinister pattern underway – The Hindu

Everything is projected through the lens of a narrow Hindutva definition of nationalism, leaving no room for tolerance and pluralism. Questioning the death penalty is attacked as anti-national; studying in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is anti-national; being a human rights worker in Chhattisgarh is anti-national; the ‘right to report’ is anti-national; and asking for transparency […]

7 Mar, 2016

Oman Names Its First Budget Airline “Salam Air”

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 07 March 2016 (27 Jumaada al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA LAUNCHES E-VISA FOR CHINESE TOURISTS Effective 01 […]

4 Mar, 2016

Iranian musician forced to stop Cologne concert after audience members jeer and shout ‘speak German’ – The Independent

An Iranian harpsichordist has described his shock after being forced to stop a concert in Cologne following calls to “speak German” and jeering. Mahan Esfahani, who has won numerous awards and teaches at London’s prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, was performing at the Kölner Philharmonie when the furore broke out on Sunday. As […]

1 Mar, 2016

From Birthright to HP, Israel Gave Billions to Private Contractors Without Tenders – Ha’aretz

Israel’s government has spent 31.6 billion shekels ($8.1 billion) over the last five years awarding contracts to companies and other organizations without any kind of competitive bidding process, an analysis conducted by the Public Knowledge Workshop for The Marker shows. More than 3,900 bodies, the biggest by far a company called Sarel that purchases medical […]

29 Feb, 2016

Egypt hosts conference on historic importance of Suez Canal

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 29 February 2016 (20 Jumaada al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST NATIONAL IMAM ROUNDTABLE HELD TO PROMOTE […]

24 Feb, 2016

Indian Greenpeace campaigner blasts growing assault on freedom, dissent and democracy

Over the last few days, different parts of our fine nation have churned, with activists championing a variety of causes and students reclaiming their democratic right to debate issues like the death penalty, tribal rights, Dalit access to education, forests under threat from mining interests and state repression. As democratic voices rise to levels that […]

24 Feb, 2016

Google slashed taxes by $3.4b using European subsidiaries – Sydney Morning Herald

Google saved $US2.4 billion ($3.4 billion) in worldwide taxes in 2014 by shifting €10.7 billion ($16.7 billion) in international revenues to a Bermuda shell company, Alphabet Inc., the parent of the Web-search provider, regulatory filings show. The amount Google moved through its Dutch subsidiary, Google Netherlands Holdings, and then on to Bermuda represents the bulk […]

24 Feb, 2016

Ban RSS, India’s No 1 terror organisation: Former Maharashtra cop – Hindustan Times

Maharashtra’s former inspector general of police SM Mushrif on Tuesday accused the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of being hand-in-glove with right-wing extremists, and called for a ban on the RSS describing it as India’s No.1 terror organisation. At the launch of the Bengali version of his book “RSS – Country’s Greatest Terror Organisation”, Mushrif also termed […]

24 Feb, 2016

Biometric data carts to cut waiting times at Japanese airports | The Japan Times

The amount of time visitors to Japan spend waiting at airport passport control gates, believed to help form their first impressions of the country, may soon become noticeably shorter thanks to the introduction of special equipment carts. The Justice Ministry said Tuesday it will debut a new passport control system this fall at the earliest […]

23 Feb, 2016

Academy disavows Oscars gift bag featuring Israel travel junket | The Electronic Intifada

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has filed a lawsuit against Distinctive Assets, the company distributing a luxury gift bag to Oscar nominees which includes an all-expenses paid trip to Israel sponsored by the Israeli government. “Distinctive Assets has been falsely representing that its extravagant ‘gift bags’ [are] redistributed by the Academy, at […]

22 Feb, 2016

China-Iran Cargo Train Makes First Run

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 22 February 2016 (13 Jumaada al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST NATIONAL IMAM ROUNDTABLE HELD TO PROMOTE […]