28 Sep, 2015

New Muslim Travel Guide to Australia Launched

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 September 2015 (14 Dhul Ḥijjah 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 […]

28 Sep, 2015

New Global Agenda: Out – Seven P’s of Marketing; In – Five P’s of Sustainable Development

Imtiaz Muqbil

After years of hyping up the Seven P’s of marketing, the travel and & tourism now has an opportunity to jettison them in favour of the Five P’s of the Sustainable Development Goals, the newly adopted global agenda designed to balance the economic, social and environmental dimensions of human progress by the year 2030. The […]

28 Sep, 2015

Done with North India’s Golden Triangle? Try the eye-popping wonders of South India, by Luxury Train

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bengaluru — Although North India’s famous Delhi-Agra-Jaipur Golden Triangle tour is arguably the country’s most popular tourism circuit, the South Indian state of Karnataka is equally blessed in terms of history, heritage, nature and spiritual spots. It may be home to India’s best-known I.T. city of Bangalore, but it is also home to a city […]

26 Sep, 2015

Civil Society Statement: The Bitter Irony of “1 Billion Tourists, 1 Billion Opportunities”

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The following statement was issued by the Tourism Advocacy and Action Forum (TAAF), a group of individual tourism activists and representatives of civil society groups from six continents, which support human rights, social justice and sustainability concerns in tourism. The group is working to build an international network and forum to promote “courageous dialogue on […]

26 Sep, 2015

Rabin in 1976 Interview: Settlements Are a Cancer – Ha’aretz

Former (Israeli) Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin called the settlers “a cancer” and warned against Israel’s becoming an apartheid state in an interview recorded during his first term as prime minister in 1976. The recording was included in segments of a new film, titled “Rabin in His Own Words,” which were screened on Israeli TV on […]

26 Sep, 2015

Registrations open for Second ACTE-Lufthansa DCC Webinar on Oct 6

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25 September — The second in a series of webinars hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives and Lufthansa Group will convene on October 6, 2015, at 10:00am ET/ 4:00pm CET. Jens Bischof, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa German Airlines will discuss the current state of the Distribution Cost Charge and its future moving forward […]

25 Sep, 2015

Global drone market expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2020

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Wellesley, Mass., September 24, 2015 (PRWEB) – Increasing usage of unmanned vehicles and new technologies in the commercial and defense sectors is primarily driving market growth. BCC Research reveals in its new report that drone types are penetrating regions around the globe in a host of different applications. The global drone market is expected to […]

25 Sep, 2015

Virgin Australia rewards flight attendants with big pay increases

Virgin Australia’s short-haul cabin crew will receive generous annual pay rises ranging from 4 per cent to nearly 10 per cent over a four-year period, after voting in favour of an enterprise bargaining agreement the Transport Workers’ Union says will make the airline better and more sustainable. The airline, which reported a $49 million pre-tax underlying loss in the last […]

25 Sep, 2015

Australia unveils A$100 million package to curb domestic violence, help victims

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Canberra, 24 Sept 2015 — The Australian government has unveiled a A$100 million package to help curb domestic violence and help the hundreds of women and children who fall victim to it every year. The package will improve frontline support and services, leverage innovative technologies to keep women safe, and provide education resources to help […]

25 Sep, 2015

Monash University Research: Australian Sports Help Drown Kids In Alcohol Ads

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(Source: IOGT International) A new study has revealed that Australian Football League (AFL), National Rugby League (NRL) and Cricket are promoting alcohol to children. Research from Monash University shows that Australian children and adolescents receive millions of exposures to alcohol advertising when watching AFL, NRL, and Cricket on TV. Almost half of the total amount […]

25 Sep, 2015

Higher alcohol taxes can help meet UN Sustainable Development Goals – IOGT Report

Imtiaz Muqbil

Arusha, Tanzania, September 24, 2015 (IOGT International media release) – A new report by the Swedish-based global advocacy group IOGT International provides an overview of independent scientific evidence showing that alcohol taxation is a powerful tool for both improving public health as well as for boosting sustainable development. This week, global leaders will gather at […]

25 Sep, 2015

Modi embraces modernity everywhere but India – Victor Mallet, Financial Times

Narendra Modi is India’s first tech-savvy, social media-enabled Prime Minister. He has 15 million followers on Twitter. He won last year’s election with the help of 10-feet holograms that allowed him to make live addresses to more than 100 election rallies simultaneously in the world’s largest democracy. This week, he will be the first Indian […]

25 Sep, 2015

Modi’s new India emerges – Al Jazeera English

Behind the extraordinary transformation of India’s landscape promised, but not yet delivered, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a parallel development is taking place. It is an alteration in what might be called “the common-sense of the republic”, and if not exactly presided over by Modi, it has been greatly enabled by him. The relationship is […]

24 Sep, 2015

Jewish Extremist Settlers, Protected by Police, Again Storm Al-Aqsa Mosque Courtyard

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JERUSALEM, September 23, 2015 (WAFA) – As Israeli police continued to severely restrict Palestinians’ access into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, groups of extremist Jewish settlers wearing priestly garments Wednesday morning forced their way into the flashpoint holy site. Protected by heavily-guarded police officers, dozens of extremist settlers wearing priestly garments forced their way into the […]

24 Sep, 2015

Meeting the SDGs: OECD invites young people to Poster Competition to combat poverty, growing inequality

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Paris, 23 Sept 2015 – The Organisation of Economic Cooperation Development is calling on young people all over the world to let their creative juices flow to build a more economically just, fair and balanced world. A Poster Competition has been created inviting young people aged 15-25 “to express your unique views and ideas on […]

24 Sep, 2015

Travellers Predict the Future of Travel by 2030

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WILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new survey unveiled today by Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase asked Americans to imagine the near future and predict what the travel experience could look like. Their top predictions reveal some surprises. From unique travel experiences to putting the real in virtual reality, American travelers are mapping out a different journey […]

24 Sep, 2015

Indonesia revokes permits of companies involved in forest fires

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) 23 September 2015 – The Environment and Forestry Ministry has revoked the permits of three plantation companies proven guilty of setting fires to land and forest areas. The three errant companies are PT Tempirai Palm Resources and PT Waringin Agro Jaya in South Sumatra province and PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo in Riau, […]

24 Sep, 2015

India’s Freedom of Speech Under Siege – TOI Blogs

Seven months after CPI leader and social activist Govind Pansare was gunned down in Kolhapur Samir Gaekwad, a member of a fundamentalist organisation called Sanatan Sanstha, has been arrested in connection with the crime. According to the police, senior journalist Nikhil Wagle is also on the Sanstha’s hit list. This is a sobering reminder, if […]

23 Sep, 2015

FREE Download: UNWTO/PATA report “Global Trends Shaping Tourism in Asia-Pacific”

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Bangkok/Madrid — The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) have joined forces to publish a series of bi-monthly reports highlighting the linkage between the global travel industry and the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals are to be the focus of a special three-day special […]

23 Sep, 2015

Indian widow fights Modi in “final” court battle over deadly Gujarat riots

AHMEDABAD: Zakia Jafri, a frail 76-year-old, has begun what may be the last legal battle to pin blame on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deadly riots that shook the state of Gujarat when he was chief minister, and claimed her husband’s life. Modi denies any involvement in the 2002 unrest, one of the worst […]

23 Sep, 2015

Indigenous and local groups from 19 countries recognized with UN Equator Prize

Imtiaz Muqbil

New York, 21 Sep 2015 (UNDP media release) – Leaders from the United Nations joined Academy Award-nominated actor and activist Alec Baldwin to announce the 21 winning initiatives of this year’s Equator Prize, an international award that recognizes outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty, protect nature and strengthen resilience in the face of climate change. […]

23 Sep, 2015

Israeli Authorities to Completely Close Off West Bank, Gaza for Jewish Holiday

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TEL AVIV, September 22, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli authorities announced that it would completely close off the West Bank and Gaza for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which coincides with the Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha. Israeli ‘Defense’ Minister Moshe Yaalon was reported as saying that that Israeli military would close off the occupied […]

22 Sep, 2015

Meet the first international Muslim hijabi model | MENAFN.COM

(MENAFN – Daily News Egypt) A week ago, the world woke up to an exceptional image, a beautiful young lady elegantly posing with her veil. The image in itself was not shocking; yet, the fact that it was included in the highly anticipated international H&M look-book almost stopped the world spinning. The international high-end fashion […]

22 Sep, 2015

When Travel Impact Newswire Leads, ITB Berlin Follows

Imtiaz Muqbil

Messe Berlin, organiser of the ITB Berlin, on 21 Sept 2015 issued a press release announcing that its next annual event in March 2016 will include a session focussing on the importance of water for the global travel industry. Glad to see that the organisers of the world’s biggest travel trade show have finally awoken […]

22 Sep, 2015

Israel Approves Renaming Jerusalem Streets from Arabic to Hebrew

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JERUSALEM, September 21, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem approved last Sunday night a decision to replace the original names of several streets and districts in and outside Jerusalem’s Old City with ‘Hebrew’ names that carry Talmudic connotations, according to WAFA correspondent. Among the streets slated for change is the name of […]

22 Sep, 2015

Israel Crushes Palestinian Rallies across West Bank

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WEST BANK, September 21, 2015 (WAFA) – Dozens of Palestinians, including school students, were injured as Israeli forces suppressed a number of protests that set out across the West Bank in condemnation of Israel’s recent escalations at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, according to local and medical sources. Palestinians, including students, took the streets on […]

22 Sep, 2015

Google employees can donate vacation time to each other

Business Insider, Sep 16, 2015 – Although Google has some pretty cushy perks, it’s vacation policy is more-or-less standard among big tech companies. First through third-year employees get 15 days off, fourth year employees get 20 days off, and people who’ve worked there for six years or longer get 25 days. But there is one […]

22 Sep, 2015

Indian IT companies among world’s worst paymasters

NEW DELHI, Sept 21, 2015: Indian IT companies are among the 10 worst paymasters in the world, says a survey — a mid-level IT manager draws an average salary of $41,213 while his Swiss counterpart gets over four times more. According to recruitment platform MyHiringClub.com’s Worldwide IT Salary 2015 survey, India was ranked 7th on […]

22 Sep, 2015

Japan increasingly gray as people 80 or older top 10 million

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Tokyo, Kyodo, Sep 20, 2015 — Japanese society is becoming increasingly gray, with the latest estimate of people 80 or older topping 10 million for the first time, government data showed Sunday. The estimate for people 65 or older hit a record 33.84 million as of last Tuesday, accounting for 26.7 percent of the population, […]

22 Sep, 2015

On World Peace Day, a new song shows friendship transcends Pakistan-India ire

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(Source: Images publication) This International Peace Day, (marked worldwide on Sept 21) singer Ali Aftab Saeed and Indian filmmaker Aarti Shrivastava have worked together to bring to us a new anthem of Pak-India friendship, titled ‘Na Rokay Koi’. Through this musical medium, Ali and Aarti have told a simple story of two college friends who […]

21 Sep, 2015

Macau organizes Islamic Culture in Tourism Workshop

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 September 2015 (07 Dhul Ḥijjah 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ EID UL ADHA MUBARAK TO ALL MY READERS A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM […]

21 Sep, 2015

PSC Thailand protests to British Embassy about Israeli Prime Minister’s visit to UK

Bangkok – On Tuesday 15 September 2015, a delegation from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) Thailand, including Chairperson Nick Ferriman, Secretary Ian Hollingworth, and BDS Co-ordinator Ghislain Poissonnier, delivered a letter of protest to Second Secretary Daniel Fieller at the British Embassy in Bangkok. The letter, addressed to the UK Foreign Minister Phillip Hammond, denounced […]

21 Sep, 2015

Next on PATA’s reform agenda: Revamping the roster of unproductive meetings

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bengaluru — As the PATA turnaround gains steam, charting the future of its legacy committees, colloquiums and councils is emerging as a priority item on the reform agenda. The long overdue need for this became obvious during the many meetings accompanying the Bengaluru PATA Travel Mart. They were hugely disparate in terms of attendance, relevance […]

20 Sep, 2015

Night out for girls not in our culture, says Indian culture minister – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: After his remark on APJ Abdul Kalam that the late former President “was a nationalist despite being a Muslim’ created a row, Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma has stoked another controversy by saying that girls wanting a night out is not acceptable in India. “Girls wanting a night out may be all right […]

20 Sep, 2015

“Nasty breeze” of intolerance sweeping across India – Hindustan Times

There’s a nasty breeze blowing across the country these days. Wherever you look, exclusion is the mantra; intolerance is the watchword; and banning, bullying and browbeating, the operating principles. One day it’s a minister quoted as saying that a former president was a good nationalist despite being a Muslim; on the other, there is an […]

20 Sep, 2015

New Asian Infrastructure Bank President vows to engage private sector in Asia’s investment

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) — Jin Liqun, president-designate of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), said here on Saturday that the AIIB is a very good combination of strong features of public sector companies and private sector companies, and it would do more to engage private sector in infrastructure investment. Jin made the remarks at […]

20 Sep, 2015

Benefits system for China’s disabled to start in 2016

by He Na

Beijing,  (China Daily) 2015-09-19 — A new benefits system for disabled people living in poverty and those who are severely disabled and need long-term nursing will begin nationwide on Jan 1, 2016, according to a news briefing at the State Council Information Office on Friday. “The new system was approved by the State Council Executive […]

20 Sep, 2015

FTII Strike 100th Day: A Battleground To Preserve The Secular Polity Of India

Today is the 100th day of the heroic strike of the Film and Television institute of India (FTII), Pune students. For the last nine days three students are on hunger strike. Their hunger strike is now on for 200 hours. Lives are at stake, yet the Government of India doesn’t move. The strike started by […]

19 Sep, 2015

Taxis hit back: Philadelphians Get Ready to Hail Cabs with Way2ride

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PHILADELPHIA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 17, 2015 — Taxi passengers in Philadelphia will be able to electronically hail cabs beginning in October, using the Way2ride app from Verifone (NYSE: PAY) on their mobile devices. Through this expansion, Philadelphia joins New York City, where passengers are already using Way2ride’s payment and new e-hailing feature to hail cabs and securely […]

19 Sep, 2015

Asian-American Business Summit to Gather Unprecedented Group of Industry Leaders

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 17, 2015 — Asian American Business Roundtable (AABR) announced today that it was launched to promote the growing prominence of Asian American executives throughout the U.S. and capitalize on Asia’s continuing emergence as an engine of global economic growth. As part of the launch, AABR will bring together the most accomplished, forward-thinking […]

19 Sep, 2015

Stetson student wins first place for her essay on domestic violence in America

GULFPORT, Fla. (PRWEB) September 17, 2015 – Stetson University College of Law student Samantha R. Sobel won first place in the Yanez & Associates Law Scholarship Essay Contest and Scholarship Program for her paper, “Should parents convicted of domestic violence have their parental rights terminated?” Samantha R. Sobel The essay focused on domestic violence in […]

19 Sep, 2015

Arab-American Group Denounces Donald Trump for Promoting Islamophobia

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Washington, DC | www.adc.org | September 18, 2015 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) denounces GOP candidate Donald Trump for promoting Islamophobia by validating anti-Muslim comments at a town hall event on Thursday evening in Rochester, New Hampshire. These bigoted comments incite violence and hate crimes against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, including […]

19 Sep, 2015

Israel Demolishes Homes of 228 Palestinans in August 2015, Says Rights Center

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JERUSALEM, September 9, 2015 (WAFA) – The Israeli information center for human rights, B’Tselem, said during August alone, the Israeli Civil Administration and military went on a demolition rampage in 29 villages and communities throughout Area C, under full Israeli military control. In its September report, B’Tselem said the Israeli authorities demolished 101 structures in […]

19 Sep, 2015

About 600,000 Illegal Jewish Settlers Live in West Bank, Half of Them in Jerusalem

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RAMALLAH, September 17, 2015 (WAFA) – About 600,000 settlers live in the West Bank and half of them are in Jerusalem district, said the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) in a press release on Thursday. PCBS presented data detailing the distribution of settlements across West Bank districts, and the total number of settlers in […]

19 Sep, 2015

ITU seeks to help 2 billion of world’s poorest people get better access to financial services

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Geneva, 16 September 2015 (ITU media release) – Almost a year after its launch, the ITU Focus Group on Digital Financial Services (DFS) for Financial Inclusion is preparing to host its global meeting to discuss how the international telecommunications and financial services communities can work together to tackle one of the world’s most challenging social […]

19 Sep, 2015

Best-performing cities in China 2015

By Jin Chen

Beijing, (People’s Daily Online), September 16, 2015 – Chengdu has the most successful economy in cities on the Chinese mainland, a US-based think tank has concluded after its assessment of such factors as job growth, foreign investment and high-value-added industries. Shanghai and Tianjin rank the second and third respectively, while Beijing only ranks 13th in […]

19 Sep, 2015

China’s overwater highway marvel becomes a huge tourist attraction

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(People’s Daily Online)  September 15, 2015 — A large number of tourists and photographers drove to see “the most beautiful overwater highway” located in Xingshan county in central China’s Hubei province on Monday. The highway has become a new tourist attraction. The overwater highway – Guzhao Highway Link linking Gufu Town and Zhaojun Bridge in […]

19 Sep, 2015

Thailand’s ‘Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy’ highlighted at AIT

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Bangkok – The Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, formulated by Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was highlighted at a mobile exhibition held at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Pathumthani province, from 26 August to 2 September 2015. Organized by Thailand’s Public Relations Department (PRD), in cooperation with AIT and the Royal Development Projects Board, the exhibition […]

19 Sep, 2015

WCC Message for World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel 2015

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BY Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, World Council of Churches general secretary “He . . . has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” – Ephesians 2.14 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I write to you on the occasion of the upcoming World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel […]

18 Sep, 2015

PressTV – ‘US banks rigged $12.8 trillion market’

Dealers including top American banks which control the $12.8 trillion US Treasury market rigged bond auctions for years, Bloomberg reports. Citing a federal antitrust lawsuit, the financial data and news provider says the likes of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley coordinated to manipulate Treasury auctions. The 115-page lawsuit has been filed in Manhattan federal […]

18 Sep, 2015

Israel Approves Use of Snipers To Shoot Protesting Palestinians in Jerusalem

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JERUSALEM, September 17, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has approved the use of sniper fire against Palestinian “stone-throwers” who protest against Israel’s growing dominance over al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Thursday. This came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu declared what he described as a “war” […]

18 Sep, 2015

Lombardy to block subsidy to hotels that take in refugees

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18 Sep 2015 – Lombardy, (IINA) – Italian hotels which take in migrants will not be able to draw up to $28 million out of public subsidies over the next three years, the local administration has decided to apply this clause on Wednesday to all hotels in the northern region of Lombardy, DPA reported. The […]

18 Sep, 2015

US tourist accuses 2 men of raping her in Dharamsala – Hindustan Times

An American tourist has accused two men of raping her in the popular Himalayan hill station of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, the latest in a string of sex attacks involving foreigners. The 46-year-old woman filed a complaint at the women’s police station in Dharamsala on Thursday in which she said she was assaulted by two […]

18 Sep, 2015

Ahead of Int’l Day of Peace, UN appeals for all guns to fall silent on 21 Sept

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 18 September 2015 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for the laying down of arms and a 24-hour cease-fire on 21 September, which is observed around the world each year as the International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly established the International Day of Peace in 1981 as […]

18 Sep, 2015

Why Our Deadly Love Affair with Bottled Water Has to Stop | Alternet

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This spring, as California withered in its fourth year of drought and mandatory water restrictions were enacted for the first time in the state’s history, a news story broke revealing that Nestlé Waters North America was tapping springs in the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California using a permit that expired 27 years ago. […]

18 Sep, 2015

World Dream Day Ignites “Chain Reaction” For Global Good

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New York, NY (PRWEB) September 17, 2015 — On Friday, September 25, 2015, as leaders from around the world, including Pope Francis, are at the United Nations for the General Assembly and Post 2015 Sustainable Development Summit, people across the globe will unite in celebration of the 4th annual World Dream Day. World Dream Day […]

17 Sep, 2015

Bereaved brother’s appeal to leaders: “Australia is an alcoholic, needs to rethink the way it drinks”

It was the speech that moved a room of Sydney’s most powerful people to tears. Stuart Kelly, the brother of 18-year-old “one punch” victim Thomas Kelly, has revealed the moment he and his family learned their beloved Tom was on life support at St Vincent’s Hospital following an attack by an intoxicated stranger in Kings […]

17 Sep, 2015

The White House: We Stand With Ahmed

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Full text of statement issued by the U.S. White House on Sept 15, 2015 Yesterday, a 14-year-old student named Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for bringing his engineering project (an electronic clock) to his high school. Officials mistook it for a bomb. When I was growing up, my friends and I were fortunate to know how […]

16 Sep, 2015

Taxi unions call for innovation and a level playing field

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Brussels, 15 September 2015 (IRU media release) – The European Social Partners in road transport, IRU and ETF (European Transport Workers’ Federation), have renewed their call for a level playing field in the taxi and hire-car with driver sector. Fair competition is essential for supporting innovation and ensuring high service quality to customers, good working […]

16 Sep, 2015

Bulgarian musician Theodosii Spassov named UNESCO Artist for Peace

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 15 September 2015 – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today that Bulgarian musician Theodosii Spassov is being designated as an Artist for Peace in recognition of his talent and innovation, as well as his commitment to highlight music as a force to enhance dialogue among […]

16 Sep, 2015

Building the Business: PATA Travel Mart 2015 finds its SME niche

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bengaluru, Karnataka — The 38th PATA Travel Mart, held here between Sept 6-8, was a small but largely successful show that has strengthened the possibility of positioning it as the Asia-Pacific’s leading event for niche-market, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. With a record 78 first-timers amongst the 200 hosted buyers, and not a single multinational brand-name […]

15 Sep, 2015

All-You-Can-Fly Service Launched between New York and Boston

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 15, 2015 – Beacon, the all-you-can-fly membership for frequent fliers in the Northeast U.S., today launches its service between New York and Boston. Beacon is the first subscription service bringing the convenience, comfort and innovation of all-you-can-fly private air travel to the East Coast. “We are thrilled to be launching our service […]

15 Sep, 2015

THAI Royal Orchid Holidays Organizes Buddhist Meditation Tour to Sri Lanka

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Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI)’s Royal Orchid Holidays will organize a Buddhist tour during 21-25 October 2015 from Bangkok to Colombo, Sri Lanka for customers interested in prayer, meditation, and sermons by Phra Maha Vudhijaya Vajiramedhi (V. Vajiramedhi). Mrs. Busaba Sangawibha, THAI Vice President, Marketing Development and Customer Services Department, said THAI’s Royal […]

14 Sep, 2015

Australian designers launch Islamic fashion collections in Indonesia

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 September 2015 (30 Dhul Qa’dah 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 […]

12 Sep, 2015

FBI says ‘Australian IS jihadist’ is actually a Jewish American troll named Joshua Ryne Goldberg

A young Jewish American man has been charged with pretending to be an Australian-based Islamic State jihadist after a FBI joint investigation with the Australian Federal Police based on information provided by Fairfax Media. Joshua Ryne Goldberg, a 20-year old living at his parents’ house in US state of Florida, is accused of posing online […]

12 Sep, 2015

Modi blows his cover – and the loss is India’s | Asia Times

India recently witnessed a strange spectacle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues subjecting themselves to an intense scrutiny by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, the Hindu nationalist organization, regarding their ‘performance’ in office. Modi himself used to be an activist of the RSS. But an elaborate charade was kept so far […]

11 Sep, 2015

The Israeli lobby in the U.S. has become the “noonday clown” – Mondoweiss

The rightwing Israel lobby has just doused itself in gas and set itself afire, with the assistance of Benjamin Netanyahu. The lobby will never be the same. They are no longer the nightflower, they’re the noonday clown. New York Magazine has a huge article about Sheldon Adelson trying to buy the election — New York […]

11 Sep, 2015

The Unbearable Ease of Destroying Palestinian Homes – Ha’aretz

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On the last day of August Israel Defense Forces carried out 15 raids on various communities in the West Bank. This was reported by the PLO’s negotiation affairs department on the basis of reports by the Palestinian security forces. Such raids are routine and on that day too they ended with arrests, clashes with residents […]

11 Sep, 2015

Amex Global Business Travel Releases First Corporate Social Responsibility Report

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NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 10, 2015  — American Express Global Business Travel (“GBT”) today announced the release of its inaugural corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, GBT’s Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility 2014. The report outlines the company’s commitment to responsible, sustainable and ethical processes and practices in five key areas of focus: governance and ethics, employees, […]

11 Sep, 2015

Travel + Leisure Unveils New E-Commerce Initiative

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NEW YORK & LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 09, 2015  – Time Inc.’s Travel + Leisure today announced an e-commerce partnership with Black Tomato, a leading purveyor of luxury, tailor-made experiential travel. The collaboration centers on a new franchise, Travel + Leisure Journeys, which is a set of 20 editorially crafted vacations introduced in September across print and […]

11 Sep, 2015

Corporate Survey Identifies U.S. States with the Best and Worst “Lawsuit Climates”

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 10, 2015 — 75 percent of attorneys at U.S. companies say a state’s lawsuit environment is likely to impact important business decisions at their company, including where to locate or expand according to a new survey released today by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR). That is an 18 percent increase […]

11 Sep, 2015

GMS Ministers Agree to More Seamless Cross-border Transport, Trade and Tourism

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NAY PI TAW, MYANMAR, 10 Sept 2015, ADB media release – Ministers attending the 20th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Ministerial Conference called for the mobilization of additional funding to fully implement a $30 billion pipeline of investment and technical assistance projects that will drive growth and infrastructure development in the subregion. “The GMS Economic Cooperation […]

11 Sep, 2015

Construction starts of second Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge

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Mae Sot, Thai News Agency, 2 September 2015, – Thailand and Myanmar are starting the construction of the second Thai – Myanmar Friendship Bridge, linking Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak province with the town of Myawaddy in Myanmar. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and Deputy President of the Republic of the Union of the Myanmar […]

11 Sep, 2015

Thailand Promotes Herbal Medicine and Health Behavior Change Program

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Bangkok, 11 September 2015, The Department of Thai Traditional and Complementary Medicine has been told to accelerate the development of Thai herbal medicine to international standards. Public Health Minister Clinical Professor Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatyadorn said that the Ministry of Public Health is ready to promote the growing of herbal plants as cash crops to generate […]

8 Sep, 2015

U.S. Author Calls for More “Thinkers, Makers and Risk Takers” to Confront Looming Talent Shortage

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INDIANAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– September 08, 2015 — An overwhelming majority of Americans say the federal government should make it a high priority to increase the talent of our nation’s workforce, according to a new Gallup-Lumina Foundation Pulse Poll. The results come as a new book, America Needs Talent, spotlights the gaps in our nation’s talent pool […]

8 Sep, 2015

250 companies to attend ASEAN logistics and transport show Oct 1-3 in KL

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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug 26 (NNN-Bernama) — The integration of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) has spurred some 250 companies from over 10 countries to participate in the Asean Logistics & Transport Show 2015 (ALTS 2015), said Jonathan Kan, Chief Executive Officer of Fairs & Events Management Sdn Bhd (FEMSB). In a statement Wednesday, Kan […]

8 Sep, 2015

China sets US$9.4 bln fund to boost SMEs

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Beijing, (China Daily), September 02, 2015 – China plans to set up a national fund of up to 60 billion yuan ($9.4 billion) to encourage the growth of small and micro-businesses. The fund is in addition to measures lowering the initial capital requirement for fixed-asset investment projects, a State Council executive meeting decided on Tuesday. […]

8 Sep, 2015

Sukhoi ready to deliver 100 passenger planes to Iran

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Moscow, Aug 28, IRNA – The Russian aircraft company Sukhoi says it is ready to deliver 100 modern Superjet-100 passenger planes to Iran.  The Russian company had put the Superjet-100 on display in MAKS 2015 air show. Media reports say Iran is discussing the purchase of the passenger planes with Russi, noting that the two […]

8 Sep, 2015

Hilton Unveils Parental Leave Policies Claimed to be “Best in Industry”

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MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 04, 2015– Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced parental leave policies that it claims will be the best offered by any major global hospitality company in the United States and Puerto Rico. The benefits will be available to Team Members at owned and managed hotels and corporate offices with one year of […]

8 Sep, 2015

Hate crimes against Muslims in London ‘up by 70%’, police figures show – The Independent

London’s Muslims have faced a 70% increase in Islamophobic attacks over the past year, according to figures from the Metropolitan Police. The Met’s statistics record a total of 816 Islamophobic hate crimes in the 12 months to July 2015, up from 478 over the same period in 2013-14. Racist and religious hate crimes in London […]

8 Sep, 2015

First Annual Chinese Qipao Festival to be launched in New York

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NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — ICN TV Network is to launch the first Chinese Qipao Festival, a series of events, each of which celebrates, in unique fashion, the beauty of the qipao and importance of Chinese culture heritage. The three events take place on September 10, 19 and 26. The qipao (or cheongsam), […]

8 Sep, 2015

IACC Survey Shows Strong Generational Differences Amongst Meeting Planners in Asia-Pacific

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8 September 2015 – A recent survey conducted by the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), in partnership with Development Counsellors International (DCI), has revealed the generational preferences of meeting planners in the Australia Asia Pacific region. Mark Cooper, CEO, IACC commented: “This is the first survey of its kind produced by IACC in the […]

8 Sep, 2015

Indonesian President wants forest-burning to end by 2016

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JAKARTA, Indonesia Sept 7 (NNN-Bernama) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo has warned individuals and plantation owners in Sumatra not to carry out land clearing activities by burning the forests from next year, or they could face legal action. Joko, or better known as Jokowi, who visited the land clearing and forest fire sites Banyuasin, West […]

8 Sep, 2015

Ricoh Europe Survey Forecasts More Workplace Collisions as Gen Z Joins Workforce

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LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–September 07, 2015 – More than half of workers (52 per cent) say their employers are failing to meet the needs of different generations in the workplace, according to new research commissioned by Ricoh Europe. The stark finding points to a corporate collision course, as for the first time in history a fourth generation […]

7 Sep, 2015

Global Ad Campaign to Highlight Malaysia’s Stunning Mosques

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 September 2015 (23 Dhul Qa’dah 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 […]

5 Sep, 2015

Swiss resort launches special train for Chinese tourists due to ‘cultural differences’ – The Independent

A special train for Chinese tourists has been launched at a mountain resort in Switzerland, following tensions over cultural differences. Swiss newspaper Blick reports that some tourists visiting Mount Rigi in the Swiss Alps have become incensed with Chinese tourists crowding the corridors while taking pictures from the train. There are also reports of rudeness […]

5 Sep, 2015

Secondary destinations worldwide invited to apply for US$1 million PATA-TripAdvisor marketing competition

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bengaluru — Secondary and emerging cities and destinations worldwide are being invited to apply for a unique competition designed to demonstrate a link between their marketing campaigns and the economic and ecological advancement of their communities. The competition carries awards valued at US$1 million in additional marketing exposure. Initiated by the Pacific Asia Travel Association […]

5 Sep, 2015

Calls grow for easing Russia-Brunei visa procedure

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Brunei, August 31, 2015, RBTH — A head of a business body looking to promote Russia’s trade with ASEAN countries called for Russia and Brunei to create a simplified bilateral visa regime. Linar Yakupov, President of Regions-Russia Association told the Brunei Times that stringent visa regulations for Russians to enter Brunei were hampering tourism and […]

5 Sep, 2015

Indian, Laotian temples lead 2015 UNESCO Asia‐Pacific Heritage Awards

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BANGKOK, 1 September 2015 — The Conservation of the Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Kerala, India has received the Award of Excellence in this year’s UNESCO Asia‐Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Xieng Thong Temple in Luang Prabang won the Award of Merit and became the first project in Lao PDR to receive the UNESCO Asia‐Pacific Heritage Award. A […]

5 Sep, 2015

Why the Israeli lobby is trying to derail the Iran nuclear deal

By Maryam Azish

Tehran, Aug 29, IRNA – Iran and the Sextet of world powers clinched an agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on July 14 to solve a controversy over Iran’s nuclear program after 12 years of negotiations. The implementation of JCPOA needs a strong political determination on the part of both sides. […]

4 Sep, 2015

Pope Francis calls on wealthy, powerful to protect Earth

Imtiaz Muqbil

Vatican City, AFP, September 3, 2015 – Pope Francis has called on the rich and powerful to take care of Earth as he launched a day of global prayer ahead of key meetings on climate change. The pontiff, speaking at St. Peter’s Basilica, asked God to enlighten “those who hold power and money so that […]

4 Sep, 2015

Iran, Russia sign MoU to advance cultural cooperation

Moscow, Sept 2, IRNA – Iran and Russia on Wednesday signed Memorandum of Understanding on organizing cultural exhibits with an aim to facilitate cultural cooperation. Managing Director of Iran’s Cultural Exhibitions Institute Amir Masoud Shahramnia and Head of Moscow International Book Fair Sergey Kaikin signed the MoU. According to the MoU the two countries undertook […]

4 Sep, 2015

Bangladesh holds first international cricket tournament for disabled people

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DHAKA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday inaugurated the first-ever international cricket tournament for disabled people in capital Dhaka. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), in collaboration with Bangladesh’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), organized the five-nation international cricket […]

4 Sep, 2015

Xinhua Insight: Challenges, opportunities seen in China’s aging population

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BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) — When looking for a balance between independence and health care in later life, China’s older generation must navigate an under-developed, overwhelmed sector. Many Chinese believe it is the responsibility of children to care for their aging parents, and often grandparents, too. In some cases, those that put their elderly relatives […]

2 Sep, 2015

BTC: Lufthansa Group’s Surcharge Could Cost The Airline Industry Billions of Euros

By Kevin Mitchell

September 1, 2015 – Years ago there was a breed of airline executives who always spoke passionately about the need for industry-mindedness in decisions that affect other participants in the travel value chain, including the end customer. They were equally passionate about the value of travel agents, especially with respect to supporting complex corporate travel […]

2 Sep, 2015

High Ratings For Travel Media Communications Course In Macau

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Macau — A unique media communications course presented to the Macau tourism industry by Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has won exceptionally high ratings. Hosted by the Macau Government Tourist Office, the August 24 course was attended by 24 media and marketing communications professionals from the MGTO and Macau hotels. MGTO Director Maria […]

2 Sep, 2015

Over 5 mln foreign tourists visited Iran in 6 months

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Tehran, Sept 1, IRNA – Vice president and head of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) said on Tuesday that some 5,100,000 foreign tourists visited Iran during last (Iranian) year (ended on March 20, 2014). Speaking on the occasion of the Government Week, Masoud Soltanifar said that the increase in foreign tourists’ entry is […]

2 Sep, 2015

82 Groups Ask U.S. Justice Dept to Address Illegality of ‘Muslim-Free Zone’ Businesses

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(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/1/2015) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced today that a coalition of 82 civil liberties, human rights, immigrant rights, faith, and cultural organizations (see list of signatories below) sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking her to investigate the growing […]

1 Sep, 2015

Air Astana launches tool to help passengers “bid” for upgrades

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Almaty, 1st September 2015 – Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, has launched MyUpgrade; an innovative online tool that enables existing economy class customers to bid for an upgrade to Business Class before their flight. The tool gives passengers the chance to name their own price, within a minimum and maximum range, to be […]

1 Sep, 2015

Lufthansa blowing hot and cold over Distribution Cost Charge?

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Two separate announcements on Aug 31 have led to some head-scratching over the status of Lufthansa’s Distribution Cost Charge. An announcement by the Travel Agents Association of India, published in the BreakingNews website quotes Mr Marzban Antia, Hon. Treasurer & Co-Chairman (Airline Council) as saying that a letter has been received from Lufthansa boss Will […]