27 Jan, 2015

The war on leaks has gone way too far when journalists’ emails are under surveillance – The Guardian

The outrageous legal attack on WikiLeaks and its staffers, who are exercising their First Amendment rights to publish classified information in the public interest—just like virtually every other major news organization in this country—is an attack on freedom of the press itself, and it’s shocking that more people aren’t raising their voices (and pens, and […]

27 Jan, 2015

Political crisis saw Thai hotels take 11% occupancy hit in 2014

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SINGAPORE, 26 January 2015, (STR Media release) —A recovery that began to emerge late in the third quarter of 2014 couldn’t help Thailand’s hotel industry overcome a dismal first half of the year as the industry reported a year-over-year occupancy decline of 11.3 percent. The country’s occupancy drop was primarily driven by Bangkok’s hotels, which […]

27 Jan, 2015

MasterCard Travel Survey Pinpoints Interesting ASEAN Consumer Trends, Preferences

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Singapore, 26 January 2015 (MasterCard media release) – 80% of Southeast Asian travelers who went overseas last year, plan to holiday abroad the same or more this year, according to the MasterCard Consumer Purchasing Priorities survey. In Southeast Asia, Singapore residents display the most desire to travel internationally in the next 12 months, with 87% […]

27 Jan, 2015

Myanmar e-visas soaring, expansion to four Thai border checkpoints in the pipeline

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — Proving that facilitating accessibility can be far more effective than big marketing budgets for spurring visitor arrivals, Myanmar’s e-visa system is averaging between 600-700 approvals a day, up from 100-200 a day when it was launched in Sepetmber 2014. The numbers are set to grow exponentially this year when the […]

26 Jan, 2015

Turkish writer pens book on Islamic Culinary Culture

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 26 January 2015 (06 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE […]

26 Jan, 2015

Israeli Occupation forces demolish Palestinian bedouin homes, sheds in Jerusalem Village

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JERUSALEM, January 22, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday demolished Palestinian residential structures and sheds in Beit Iksa village to the northwest of Jerusalem, said a municipal source. Head of Beit Iksa Village Council Sa‘ada Khatib said that Israeli troops with military bulldozers proceeded to demolish residential structures and sheds belonging to Ad-Dahawiq Bedouin tribe. […]

26 Jan, 2015

Anti-Muslim violence spikes in France

The number of anti-Muslim incidents has risen sharply in France since this month’s attack on satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, a leading Muslim group says. The French Council for the Muslim Religion said on Friday that 128 incidents or threats against Muslims were reported from January 7 to 20. The council went on to say this […]

26 Jan, 2015

‘Muslims, mosques targeted in Germany’

The chairman of Germany’s Central Council of Muslims says Muslims and mosques are being increasingly targeted in the country following the rise of Islamophobia in Europe. “Insults against Muslims, often women with a headscarf, vandalism against mosques and violence against imams have become a daily occurrence,” said Aiman Mazyek on Saturday. Mazyek held the right-wing […]

26 Jan, 2015

Indonesia drops Australia from visa-free policy

The plan to waive the visa requirement for visitors from Australia, previously aimed at attracting more foreign tourists, has been dropped amid concerns surrounding repeated turbulence over Jakarta-Canberra diplomatic ties. The government had only proceeded with the visa-free policies for Chinese, Russian, South Korean and Japanese tourists, Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Indroyono Soesilo said on […]

26 Jan, 2015

Four-day workweek, zero meetings help Japanese firms boost productivity, sales

Aki is unusual not only for its products — it operates under a four-day workweek system. The company’s 13 employees work 10 hours a day from Monday through Thursday. Company meetings, which were considered a waste of time, were abolished, resulting in a boost in employee motivation. Since the introduction of the four-day workweek in […]

26 Jan, 2015

Labor Dept lists America’s Worst H-1B Employers – Center for Immigration Studies

The Center for Immigration Studies, as a public service, has pulled together a comprehensive, all-time list of Department of Labor-debarred H-1B employers. To our knowledge, this is the only complete listing in existence; it is displayed in alphabetical order so that job seekers can be warned about seeking employment with outfits that have received black […]

26 Jan, 2015

ASEAN secretariat under strain, overwhelmed by workload, inadequate resources, tourism ministers told

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myammar – The 305-strong staff of the ASEAN secretariat are “stretched to capacity” handling the workload of over 1,200 meetings annually, and the entire ASEAN apparatus is badly in need of a thorough overhaul, the region’s tourism ministers were told on January 25. Right at the opening of their annual meeting, the […]

25 Jan, 2015

ASEANTA unveils plan to reinvent itself, rebuild ties with national tourism organisations

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — The ASEAN Tourism Association, which groups the private sector and some of the national airlines of the 10 member countries, has unveiled a series of measures to reinvent itself and re-establish a stronger partnership with the ASEAN national tourism organisations and tourism ministries. Addressing the 41st meeting of the ASEAN […]

25 Jan, 2015

Strengthening Yuan to increase Europe appeal for Chinese Spring Festival travellers

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(China Daily), 2015-01-24 – The yuan’s appreciation against the euro following the quantitative easing program launched in Europe on Thursday is poised to increase the continent’s popularity as a travel destination for Chinese. The European Central Bank launched a government bond-buying program on Thursday to address a prolonged period of low inflation. Together with existing […]

24 Jan, 2015

WEF Davos: ASEAN Leaders Confident that AEC Will Be Launched By End of Year

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Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January 2015 (WEF media release) – Political and business leaders from ASEAN member states told participants at the 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting that the ASEAN Economic Community, uniting 10 countries with over 600 million people in a common market, will be a reality by the end of 2015. “Some in […]

24 Jan, 2015

How China Will Steer its Economy: Full Text of Chinese Premier’s address at WEF in Davos

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DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — Visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered a special address at the World Economic Forum annual meeting here Wednesday. The following is the full text of Li’s address entitled: Uphold Peace and Stability, Advance Structural Reform and Generate New Momentum for Development Professor Klaus Schwab, President Simonetta Sommaruga, Distinguished Guests, […]

24 Jan, 2015

Chinese commentary: West should end its hypocrisy on anti-terror war

By Chen Weihua

Washington DC, China Daily, 2015-01-22 — Senior US leaders invited sharp criticism at home for not attending last week’s solidarity rally in Paris against the terrorist attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed. As a result, US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Paris this week to make […]

24 Jan, 2015

ATF 2003 Flashback: Iraq war and the journalists who saw tomorrow

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — When the ASEAN Tourism Forum was held in January 2003 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the dogs of war were preparing to be unleashed in Iraq to weed out “weapons of mass destruction”. The United States was putting together a “coalition of the willing” to attack the country and dismantle former […]

24 Jan, 2015

How Brunei can use its God-given wealth to make ASEAN an Abode of Peace

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — The theme of this year’s ATF is “ASEAN – Tourism Towards Peace, Prosperity and Partnership.” After a long time, the word “peace” is mentioned in an ASEAN tourism theme slogan. That should strike a chord in Brunei, the only ASEAN country whose full name also includes the word “peace” — […]

24 Jan, 2015

OECD Report: Will Myanmar reap the last mover advantage?

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — Business marketing slogans often cite the importance of the “first mover advantage” but Myanmar is now well-placed to reap a “last-mover advantage.” Having for years been left behind by Western economic sanctions, and the advances of its Mekong region brethren, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, it is now rapidly making up […]

24 Jan, 2015

Why the 2015 ASEAN Tourism Forum in Myanmar is an historic event

Imtiaz Muqbil

Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar — More than 1,500 travel & tourism executives and government officials from within the ASEAN region and around the world are convening here for what promises to be a ground-breaking ASEAN Tourism Forum in many ways. Here are some points of interest: (+) For the first time, Myanmar is hosting the […]

24 Jan, 2015

Hindu Mahasabha to Khans: Convert if you love your wives – The Hindu

The Hindu Mahasabha has fired its latest salvo at Bollywood’s top Khans. The Hindutva outfit, in an editorial in its weekly publication Hindu Sabha Varta, has challenged Shahrukh Khan, Amir Khan and Saif Ali Khan to convert to Hinduism if they “really love their wives”. Shahrukh Khan is married to Gauri Khan, Amir Khan to […]

23 Jan, 2015

Silencing Authors in India – NYTimes.com

The story of the latest victim of censorship by intimidation in India, the Tamil-language author Perumal Murugan, was taken up by the Madras High Court on Tuesday. Earlier this month, Mr. Murugan posted a poignant statement on his Facebook page: “Perumal Murugan, the writer is dead.” This was after he had been hounded by right-wing […]

23 Jan, 2015

Australian David Hicks “terrorism” charges: US admits he is innocent – Sydney Morning Herald

The US government has admitted that former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks is innocent and his conviction in 2007 for providing material support for terrorism is invalid. Mr Hicks’ appeal case against the “invented” crime had been told that the US government does not dispute that he is innocent of any offence and his conviction […]

22 Jan, 2015

Palestinian Children Call for Construction of Seaport, Lifting Gaza Blockade

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GAZA, January 21, 2015 (WAFA) – Dozens of Palestinian children organized Wednesday a protest calling for the construction of Gaza seaport and lifting the blockade in Gaza city, reported Anadolu News Agency. Protestors took to the streets of Gaza city, urging the United Nations to assume its human and legal responsibilities toward the war-ravaged coastal […]

22 Jan, 2015

Thai public sector urged to follow King’s “Sufficiency Economy” concept in budgets

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Bangkok, Prime Minister’s secretariat, January 21, 2015 — Today, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, presided over an opening ceremony of a meeting to hand down policy on annual budgeting FY2016 to heads of government offices and state enterprises, as well as concerned agencies in order for all government offices to be on the same page […]

22 Jan, 2015

Mali: UN conference to examine conservation of Mali’s precious ancient manuscripts

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21.01.2015 – UNESCOPRESS – Nearly two years after armed groups occupied northern Mali and destroyed cultural heritage there, an international conference will take place in the capital, Bamako, from 28 to 30 January to examine the long-term conservation of the country’s invaluable ancient manuscript collection UNESCO’s Office in Bamako, Mali’s Ministry of Higher Education and […]

22 Jan, 2015

A “Dangerous Mistake” to Ignore Uncertainty, Swiss President Warns at WEF in Davos

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Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 21 January 2015 – Today’s global context is one of uncertainty, said Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation and Minister of Justice and Police. Uncertainty is prevalent in current conflicts and crisis regions as well as in the comparatively prosperous countries of Europe. “Overall, globalization has led to greater prosperity and reduced […]

22 Jan, 2015

FREE download: UNWTO Report on Shopping Tourism

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From new mall designs to new ways to harness technology, new value-added experiences to new marketing campaigns, travel & tourism destinations worldwide are working overtime to make shopping a full-fledged reason for travel, not just a side-benefit of it, according to a report by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Released in time for the […]

21 Jan, 2015

Boycott of French products suggested in Saudi Arabia | Arab News

Some Saudis and expatriates have called for a campaign to boycott French products because of the offending cartoons published by the Charlie Hebdo magazine last week. “It is necessary to boycott French food products and perfumes and hit the French economy because they are ignoring the feelings of Muslims by publishing blasphemous cartoons. It is […]

20 Jan, 2015

Asia Times Online: Lebensraum in Palestine

Olives are delicious and produce wonderful oil. They were originally cultivated in Syria, Palestine and Crete and there is evidence that some existing trees are 2,000 years old, which is amazing. But there aren’t any 2,000 year-old olive trees in Palestine nowadays. Indeed there are very few left in the Palestinian lands that have been […]

20 Jan, 2015

Labour Leaders stress at Davos 2015: The World Needs a New Business Model

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Brussels, 20 January 2015 (ITUC OnLine): The global economic system isn’t working for six billion people, warned labour leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Working people and their families need a new business model to stop the disintegration of democracies and economies. The world needs investment and jobs, said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary […]

20 Jan, 2015

A Free Press & Blasphemous Cartoons – Investigative Journo Levels the Playing Field

Glenn Greenwald, The Intercept Defending free speech and free press rights, which typically means defending the right to disseminate the very ideas society finds most repellent, has been one of my principal passions for the last 20 years: previously as a lawyer and now as a journalist. So I consider it positive when large numbers […]

20 Jan, 2015

WEF Global Risks report challenges claimed benefits of tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

For decades, travel & tourism has positioned itself as an industry of peace, a major contributor to friendship, international understanding, sustainability, poverty-alleviation, economic growth and socio-cultural stability. But a provocative report issued by the World Economic Forum in advance of its annual meeting in Davos this week provides food for thought about whether those theories […]

20 Jan, 2015

China’s deputy tourism chief removed from post, under investigation

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) — Huo Ke, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, has been removed from post for suspected “serious discipline and law violations.” The decision was made by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee on Monday. The CPC’s discipline agency […]

20 Jan, 2015

Israel’s Freeze of Tax Revenues Devastating Palestinian Economy

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RAMALLAH, January 19, 2015 (WAFA) – ‏Palestinian Finance Minister, Shukri Bishara, Monday said that Israel’s illegal freeze of 70% of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) income, in tax revenues, is a devastating blow to the Palestinian economy. He stressed that this Israeli punitive measure, which came in response to acceding to the International Criminal Court (ICC), […]

20 Jan, 2015

Five Facts That Prove Paris Massacre is A False Flag Terror – Feroze Mithiborwala

We begin by saluting the people of France for not surrendering to xenophobia and fear and for standing united at a moment of a grave national crisis. The ‘March for Unity’ has shown the way as to how nations should respond to mass psychosis and fear that are generated after massive terror attacks that are […]

20 Jan, 2015

Zionist Terror Is The Major Cause Of Islamic Fundamentalism, Wars And Terrorism – Dr Salim Nazzal

Europe needs to be reminded of its own history and responsibility.. Who sent the Zionist terrorists to Palestine, who supplied them with arms, and facilities their movements, and who recognized the state of Israel, which all its existence is based on terror in the past and in the present. And who supported the Israeli occupation […]

20 Jan, 2015

Arab Scientist Ibn Al-Haytham a focus of UNESCO’s Int’l Year of Light Exhibition

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Paris, UNESCO media release – The International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies (IYL 2015) is delighted to welcome as Founding Partner the award-winning educational organization 1001 Inventions. British-based 1001 Inventions has the specific mission to raise awareness of the contributions to science, technology and culture from the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization, and will […]

20 Jan, 2015

Radical shift in agriculture critical to making future food systems more efficient – UN

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16 January 2015, Berlin (FAO media release) – Increasing competition for natural resource and emerging resource bottlenecks mean that global agriculture can no longer operate using a “business as usual” approach – the input-intensive agricultural development model used for the past 40 years is no longer sustainable, and a “paradigm shift” in food production is […]

20 Jan, 2015

Luxury Industry: Lessons Learned From 2014 | Wealth-X

Last year was a mixed bag for the luxury industry. While certain sectors boomed, like ultra prime property in the US and super-yacht chartering in Europe, other segments suffered, like certain watchmakers, jewellers and high-end fashion brands. Luxury sales growth slowed to 5 percent globally – around €223 billion in 2014, down from 7 percent […]

20 Jan, 2015

Terror of hypocrisy – Irena Akbar, The Indian Express

Another year. Another cartoon lampooning the Prophet. Another terrorist attack by the “violent” Muslim. And another round of condemnation of the attack by the “moderate” Muslim. Yes, the “moderate” Muslim has performed her “duty” of condemning the acts of her “violent” co-religionists. She has told her non-Muslim friends and colleagues that she doesn’t support the […]

19 Jan, 2015

Filipino Muslim leaders hail Pope’s message of peace | Manila Bulletin

More leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have hailed the message of peace of Pope Francis, one of them saying the papal message also reminds of Islam. Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, who chairs an MNLF group composed of “the founding fathers and vanguards of the Bangsamoro Revolution, issued this statement as he expressed […]

19 Jan, 2015

Muslim solons back resolution of gratitude for Pope Francis | Manila Bulletin

Muslim lawmakers will not think twice about supporting a resolution seeking to extend the country’s deepest and highest gratitude to Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, for bringing national peace and unity and personally showing his concern to the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda. Basilan Rep. Jim Hataman-Salliman and his sister-in-law, AMIN party-list […]

19 Jan, 2015

Free speech? CNN journo forced out after controversial Israel tweets – Haaretz

Veteran CNN anchor Jim Clancy stepped down on Friday, one week after a series of Twitter posts in which he mocked pro-Israel tweeters on a thread discussing the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Neither CNN nor Jim Clancy gave a reason for his departure, which was reported by AdWeek. Clancy had worked at CNN for 34 years. […]

19 Jan, 2015

Scientific Center of Kuwait to Host 1001 Inventions in February

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of stories of interesting events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 19 January 2015 (28 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE Malaysian handicraft […]

18 Jan, 2015

Asia Times Online: FreeSpeech, but we won’t cover your skin or honor your God – Maung Zarni

Yo the victims of American drone strikes, You and your lot ain’t White. So, we won’t fight Fight for your right to life You lives ain’t newsworthy. Don’t you dare be testy! Our man Murdoch said, “all yo Muslims, A-P-O-L-O-G-I-Z-E” for your share! How dare you demand our coverage to be fair?!! We ain’t F-A-I-R. […]

18 Jan, 2015

Facebook is watching and knows who you are – Sydney Morning Herald

A video of a puppy having a bath, a photograph of a sandwich, neighbours, a friend’s spare room for rent and a colleague’s travel updates. This motley list makes up the things I have “liked” on Facebook in the past few days. Clicking the blue thumbs up beside a post on the social network is […]

18 Jan, 2015

Muslims in America are hearing backlash from Paris attack – McClatchy DC

WASHINGTON — Islamic community leaders in North Texas want extra police and FBI protection for hundreds of Fort Worth-Dallas Muslims who’ll be attending a conference Saturday on combating Islamophobia after the group received multiple threats involving guns and possibly dynamite. Muslim leaders in Ohio said they’d reported last Sunday to federal officials that they’d received […]

17 Jan, 2015

AlterNet: All White People Are Racists — Now Let’s Do Something About It

As Americans, we like to think of ourselves as a forgiving people. We’ve enshrined the assumption of innocence in our legal code; we take pride in giving second chances to those who misstep. And when it comes to questions of bias, we follow a similar script. In American life, no one is presumed racist without […]

17 Jan, 2015

Chinese commentary: Western bigotry, double-standards a “detonator” of global terrorism

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BEIJING, Jan. 17, (Xinhua) — Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical magazine brutally attacked last week by Islamic extremists, once again published Wednesday its latest edition with a caricature of the Muslim prophet on its cover — a blasphemous move in the eyes of the Islamic world — which has triggered outcry and protests in many countries. […]

17 Jan, 2015

Asian source-markets lead as Thailand visitor arrivals end 2014 on a high note

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Bangkok – 16 January 2015 (TAT media release) – Strong recovery in visitor arrivals from China, India and the ASEAN countries played a major role in helping Thailand report an 11.76% upturn in total arrivals in December 2014. The figures indicated that a strong and sustained recovery in arrivals is well under way. TAT Governor Mr. Thawatchai […]

17 Jan, 2015

Millennials seek jobs in companies that want a better society, not just higher profits – Deloitte Survey

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NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Business should focus on people and purpose, not just products and profits in the 21st century according to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited’s (Deloitte Global) fourth annual Millennial Survey released today. This and other findings from the survey suggest businesses, particularly in developed markets, will need to make significant changes to […]

17 Jan, 2015

Wrongly-detained Muslim wins 9/11 case against U.S. govt, gets “regrets” + compensation

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NEW YORK, January 16, 2015, (ACLU media release) – The American Civil Liberties Union announced a settlement in a major test case challenging the U.S. government’s post-9/11 practice of imprisoning Muslim men as material witnesses without any basis for holding them. As part of the settlement, the federal government offered its regrets and agreed to […]

17 Jan, 2015

Facing common threats from within: Muslim Jihadis in Pakistan. Hindu Zealots in India.

Professor Ramesh Thakur​

The slaughter of 132 schoolchildren and nine adults in an army school in Peshawar on Dec. 16 by the Pakistani Taliban marked a new low in terrorist depravity. The massacre of the innocents brings to a head several pathologies that need addressing and to that end could prove a catharsis for Pakistan. An Indian, even […]

17 Jan, 2015

STR Global Hotel Pipeline: 500,000+ rooms coming up in Asia-Pacific alone

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LONDON, 15 January 2015 (STR media releases) — The Asia Pacific region reported 2,390 hotels comprising 537,726 rooms Under Contract, according to the December 2014 STR Global Construction Pipeline Report. The Under Contract data includes projects in the In Construction, Final Planning and Planning stages but does not include projects in the Unconfirmed stage. Among […]

17 Jan, 2015

Chinese tourists abroad told to behave or face public shaming

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Beijing, (Ecns.cn), 2015-01-16 – China will establish a public record of Chinese tourists who behave badly in foreign countries, the Beijing Times reported on Friday. Methods to manage and record bad behavior by tourists will be formulated and carried out in collaboration with airlines, travel agencies and hotels, said Li Jinzao, the head of China’s […]

17 Jan, 2015

Top 12 tips for travelling in China

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Beijing, (bbs.chinadaily.com.cn). 2015-01-15 – China is a vast and culturally diverse country, which makes traveling in it for the first time incredibly daunting. China Daily Forum readers share some tips — from their experiences — to make newcomers’ lives a little easier. 1. Travel light. Most hotels in China provide toothbrushes/paste, soap, shampoo, etc. They […]

16 Jan, 2015

Hypocrisy Abounds: Free Speech as Cover for Islamophobia – Sonali Kolhatkar – Truthdig

A magazine that most people outside France had never heard of before Jan. 7 now has legions of followers and fans around the world. The dominant narrative that has emerged from the horrific massacre of 10 staffers of Charlie Hebdo (plus police officers and hostages) is that the very foundation of freedom itself was attacked […]

16 Jan, 2015

Pew Research: Five facts about the Muslim population in Europe

By Conrad Hackett

Recent violence in France and protest marches in Germany have drawn renewed attention to Europe’s Muslim population. In many European countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, concerns about growing Muslim communities have led to calls for restrictions on immigration. But just how large is Europe’s Muslim population, and how fast is it […]

16 Jan, 2015

Waistbands Expand with Frequent Flyer Miles, and Other Insights into Consumption Habits of Travelers

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DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–January 13, 2015 — Today Omni Hotels & Resorts announced the results of a travel wellness survey of business and leisure travelers nationwide. The poll determined that, when it comes to dining and drinking habits, travelers’ waistbands often expand along with their frequent flyer miles. According to the results, an overwhelming number of respondents […]

16 Jan, 2015

Thailand Travel Mart 2015+ set for 3-5 June: Applications open for buyer-seller registration

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Bangkok, 12 January 2015 (TAT media release) – The Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2015, the country’s largest annual B2B tourism and travel trade event, has been set for 3 – 5 June, 2015, and opened for early-bird registration by buyers and sellers. To be held at the […]

16 Jan, 2015

Silversea launches included shore excursions and wifi on Mediterranean cruises

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(Hong Kong — January 16, 2015) Ultra-luxury Silversea Cruises is kicking off 2015 with an enticing new program that includes shore excursions and WiFi. This program is available for new bookings made on or after January 15, 2015 on any of the line’s 52 Mediterranean cruises this year. “We’re delighted to enhance the value proposition […]

16 Jan, 2015

First Islamic Tourism seminar in Sabah promotes understanding, clears up misconceptions

Imtiaz Muqbil was the only travel trade journalist invited to both speak at and report on this seminar

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – The Kuala Lumpur-based Islamic Tourism Centre organised its first seminar here between 12 – 14 January to update the travel & tourism industry of Malaysia’s second largest state with ways to better understand and attract one of the world’s most promising niche-market customer segments, the Muslim traveller. In addition to a […]

15 Jan, 2015

Muslims shouldn’t have to keep apologising for terrorist attacks – Sydney Morning Herald

No one should be murdered for drawing cartoons or for working as a policeman or for visiting a supermarket. But our knowledge and consciousness of terrorism is almost always limited to our own cultural backyard. Our sense of reality is distorted. According to the 2013 Global Terrorism Index, 80 per cent of all terrorism-related deaths […]

15 Jan, 2015

For Palestinian cartoonists, religion is off limits | Manila Bulletin

In the spirit of Charlie Hebdo, Palestinian cartoonist Ramzy Taweel is making his feelings about the French satirical weekly crystal clear — his latest illustration equates the publication to toilet paper. Palestinian political cartoonists, including Taweel, rushed to eulogise the staff of Charlie Hebdo killed by Islamic extremists in an attack on their offices in […]

14 Jan, 2015

Freedom of expression too has a price – it’s called human dignity

By Ranjan Solomon

An assortment of world leaders assembled in Paris to pay tribute to the slain journalists who were killed in a savage attack that left twelve 12 people killed. The victims were all either staff of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo or security personnel. The newspaper which had become famed for its cartoons regularly ridiculed […]

14 Jan, 2015

Fighting terrorism: An overview of European Commission’s actions, measures and initiatives

European Commission - Fact Sheet

Brussels, 11 January 2015 What is Europe’s role in the fight against terrorism, which is principally a national competence? What does the EU do to support Member States’ efforts? In 2010 the European Commission adopted an Internal Security Strategy for the period from 2010 to 2014. In the coming months, a European Agenda on Security […]

14 Jan, 2015

European Anti-Muslim Hysteria in Full Swing After Paris attacks

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Paris (IINA), 14 Jan 2015 – Firebombs and pig heads thrown into mosques. Veiled women subjected to crude insults in the street. The Internet awash with threats against Muslims. Europe’s Muslims are feeling the heat of a fierce backlash following last week’s terror attack against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. A climate of fear is taking […]

14 Jan, 2015

“The New Global Context” to be Theme of World Economic Forum caucus Jan 14-21

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Geneva, Switzerland, 14 January 2015 (WEF media release) – Over 40 heads of state and government, as well as 2,500 other leaders from business and society will convene at the 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, from 21 to 24 January 2015 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, to discuss The New Global Context. This context consists of […]

14 Jan, 2015

Paris attacks: Massive Display of Hypocrisy by Western Leaders – LewRockwell.com

All those leaders who yell “terrorism” when it suits their grander schemes of domination. Now when there is blowback in Paris, they yell “extremism” and use the occasion to continue and enlarge the war on terror. They use it to strengthen police state surveillance and to frighten the populations under their control. The West’s leaders […]

13 Jan, 2015

The false debate between freedom of expression and religious extremism | rabble.ca

Without giving any reason or excuse for the use of violence against journalists — which is not acceptable under any circumstances — one should remember that France is at war in many Islamic countries: in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Mali… Even if the human costs of these wars are not always clear to the French […]

13 Jan, 2015

Identity Theft Resource Center Breach Report Hits Record High in 2014: 675 Million Records Exposed Since 2005

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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (PRWEB) January 12, 2015 – The number of U.S. data breaches tracked in 2014 hit a record high of 783 in 2014, according to a recent report released by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and sponsored by IDT911™. This represents a substantial hike of 27.5 percent over the number of breaches […]

13 Jan, 2015

More Curbs on Palestinian Travel: Israel Closes all Entrances to Nablus

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NABLUS, January 11, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces, early Sunday morning, closed all entrances to the town of Asira Ash-Shamaliya to the north of Nablus, according to a local official. Head of the town’s municipality, Nasir Jawabreh, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers in military vehicles arrived at dawn and closed all four entrances leading to […]

13 Jan, 2015

Jewish fanatic settlers chop down 150 olive saplings in West Bank

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SALFIT, January 12, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers Sunday chopped down around 150 Palestinian-owned olive trees in the West Bank town of Yasuf, according to local sources. Gassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the West Bank, said illegal Israeli settlers stormed the village of Yasuf and chopped down 150 newly planted olive saplings. Rabbis […]

13 Jan, 2015

New Australian online visa trial to increase numbers of Indian tourists

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Canberra, Minister of Trade and Investment Media release, 12 January 2015 — A new pilot program for online lodgement of subclass 600 visas for Indian business and tourism visitors will be rolled out through selected travel agents in India. Launching the pilot, Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb said “India is one of the […]

13 Jan, 2015

Spanish Foreign Minister Arrives in Ramallah, To Visit Gaza

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RAMALLAH, January 12, 2015 (WAFA) – Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo arrived in Ramallah on Monday in a Middle East tour to look into the situation in the Palestinian territories, with the Gaza Strip tour as the highlight of the regional visit. The Spanish delegation headed by Garcia-Margallo met with Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki and […]

13 Jan, 2015

UN study finds increase in corporate women managers, board members

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 12 January 2015 – The last 20 years has seen a surge in the number of women employed in senior and middle management positions, according to a new United Nations report, which notes that although all-male company boards are decreasing in number, more must be done to achieve gender parity. […]

12 Jan, 2015

Islam’s Golden Age to be major highlight of UNESCO fair in Paris

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 12 January 2015 (19 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NOW YOU CAN BUY EXQUISITE MALAYSIAN HANDICRAFTS ONLINE Malaysian […]

11 Jan, 2015

Racism in Europe: Who is to blame? | Arab News

By Harun Yahya People well-versed with history know well that racism is a blot on the history of Europe. Like many other negatives of now democratized and liberalized regions, racism had so far been confined to history books until recently. The resurgence of racist tendencies accompanied with acts of violence — which the United States […]

11 Jan, 2015

Shanghai auto show may shut door on scantily-clad model girls

By DU XIAOYING,SHI JING

Shanghai, (China Daily) 2015-01-10 — Models in over-revealing costumes are disappearing quickly in China – first in TV dramas and now probably from trade shows. Female models may no longer be seen at one of the country’s most important auto shows, the biannual Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, scheduled for April. Market industry sources say […]

11 Jan, 2015

China issues guidelines to manage crowd control at scenic spots

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Beijing, (CRIENGLISH.com)  2015-01-10 – Chinese tourism authorities have issued a set of guidelines on how to determine the maximum number of people that should be allowed in at popular scenic spots. The fresh guidelines were issued days after 36 people died in a stampede during a New Year event in Shanghai. The national Tourism Administration […]

11 Jan, 2015

Paris attacks: Blowblack from Middle East wars – The Independent

Somehow the degree of failure of the “war on terror” launched by Bush and supported by Britain has never led to those who launched it being held culpable. Fail it demonstrably did, since in 2001 al-Qaeda had a few hundred activists confined to a few camps and towns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fourteen years later, […]

11 Jan, 2015

Now, saffron outfits plan grand ‘ghar vapsi’ in Modi’s Varanasi – Hindustan Times

After holding a controversial ‘ghar vapsi’ (homecoming) programme in Agra last month, saffron outfits have targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency – Varanasi — for a grand ‘ghar vapsi’ of over 10,000 people at a ‘dharam jagran sammelan’ next month. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a frontal organisation of the RSS, would conduct the ceremony at […]

10 Jan, 2015

Hindu Chauvinism at its worst — Shashi Tharoor

As the New Year dawns, it has become increasingly clear that India’s new government faces a dilemma entirely of its own making — one that its predecessor never had to confront. Narendra Modi’s election as the prime minister in May 2014 was initially hailed worldwide as marking the advent of a more business-friendly government in […]

10 Jan, 2015

China bans private cars from taxi-hailing market

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Beijing, (Xinhua), 2015-01-09 – BEIJING — China’s Ministry of Transport forbade private cars from taking passengers for profit using taxi-hailing apps after local authorities cracked down on unlicensed drivers using apps as camouflage. The ministry has ordered app developers to rule out private cars from their platforms to ensure that all vehicles are owned by […]

10 Jan, 2015

‘We need to find a way to live together,’ says UN chief in special plea for tolerance

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 8 January 2015 – Making an impassioned appeal for tolerance, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for understanding among all communities to heal the tensions within societies – a particularly poignant plea following yesterday’s horrific attack on the staff at French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and in the face […]

10 Jan, 2015

“2015 can and must be time for global action,” Ban declares in briefing on U.N.’s priorities

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 8 January 2015 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon looked forward to a “year of opportunity,” as he briefed the 193-Member United Nations General Assembly on his priorities for 2015, and called for transformative global action that would ensure sustainable development and human dignity for all. “2015 is a chance for major […]

10 Jan, 2015

UN calls on Global Compact to help end poverty, transform lives, protect planet

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United Nations, (UN News Centre), 9 January 2015 – Addressing the United Nations Global Compact board meeting this afternoon, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said everyone held a stake in ending poverty, transforming people’s lives and protecting the planet. “We live in paradoxical times,” said Mr. Ban. “We see enormous wealth, technological progress and unprecedented opportunity on […]

10 Jan, 2015

Asia Times Online: Who profits from killing Charlie?

By Pepe Escobar Putin did it. Sorry, he didn’t. In the end, it was not Russia “aggression” that attacked the heart of Europe. It was a pro-style jihadi commando. Cui bono? Careful planning and preparation; Kalashnikovs; rocket-propelled grenade launcher; balaclavas; sand-colored ammunition vest stuffed with spare magazines; army boots; piece of cake escape in a […]

8 Jan, 2015

Website Allows Women To Book The Ultimate Las Vegas Girls’ Getaway Experience

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — VegasGirlsNightOut.com, Las Vegas’ first-of-its-kind boutique concierge service designed exclusively for women by women, today announced its official launch. The new online service will provide exclusive inside access to the Las Vegas party scene for the ultimate girls’ getaway. Through the support of live Las Vegas experts, VegasGirlsNightOut.com is […]

8 Jan, 2015

European Commission publishes TTIP legal texts as part of transparency commitment

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Brussels, 07 January 2015 (EU media release) – The European Commission today published a raft of texts setting outEU proposals for legal text in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) it is negotiating with the US. This is the first time the Commission has made public such proposals in bilateral trade talks and reflects […]

8 Jan, 2015

UK public must wake up to risks of CCTV, says surveillance commissioner – The Guardian

The increasing use of surveillance technology – including body-worn video, drones and number plate recognition systems – risks changing the “psyche of the community” by reducing individuals to trackable numbers in a database, the government’s CCTV watchdog has warned. In his full first interview as surveillance commissioner, Tony Porter – a former senior counter-terrorism officer […]

8 Jan, 2015

Commentary: Not a “Chinese Century,” but a less Westernized world

by Xinhua Writer Deng Yushan

BEIJING, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) — As the world marches into 2015, the international landscape augurs just another year of what history wonks refer to as Pax Americana. A “Chinese Century” foreseen by Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz and many others has not begun. Even if — a very big if given the notorious inaccuracy of […]

8 Jan, 2015

Israel bars FIFA delegation from entering Gaza

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GAZA, Jan 6 (NNN-WAFA) – Israeli occupation authorities barred Monday a FIFA delegation entry into the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun – Erez – border crossing. WAFA correspondent reported that a throng of footballers from the Palestinian Soccer Union were waiting the FIFA delegation at the Palestinian side of the crossing. The delegation was supposed […]

8 Jan, 2015

More Chinese to travel overseas for Spring Festival

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Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn), 2015-01-05 – About 60 percent of Chinese people who plan to spend the Spring Festival holiday on a trip chose to travel overseas, according to interviews and research by Beijing Daily. According to the newspaper’s data from major Chinese travel portals, including ctrip.com and ly.com, the number of bookings from Chinese tourists for […]

8 Jan, 2015

How Thai tourism has failed a great King

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – As the Thai travel and tourism industry nears the end of an era, some heavy-duty soul-searching is overdue about its future in the new era. There is clear evidence that it has failed to comprehensively heed the 44-year-old guidance of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, and will have no choice except to place […]

7 Jan, 2015

Hindu Mahasabha plans bike rally for Gandhi’s killer – The Times of India

LUCKNOW: Despite being booked last month for announcing a Nathuram Godse temple in Sitapur, Hindu Mahasabha members now plan to take out a bike rally in Lucknow on Thursday to make people “aware” about why he assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. During the course of the rally, the outfit’s members will perform a ‘bhumi pujan’ at Bhaptamau […]

7 Jan, 2015

The West is wrong again in its fight against terror – The Times of India

Islamic State (ISIS) will remain at the centre of the escalating crisis in the Middle East this year as it was in 2014. The territories it conquered in a series of lightning campaigns last summer remain almost entirely under its control, even though it has lost some towns to the Kurds and Shia militias in […]

6 Jan, 2015

Rise of Hindutva lobby poses a tough question to Modi – Hindustan Times

by Vir Sanghvi There are, broadly speaking, two views on why Narendra Modi led the BJP to such an overwhelming victory in last year’s general election. The first is the view of some members of his party and the extended Sangh parivar. According to this view, Modi won because India’s Hindu majority decided it wanted […]