29 Feb, 2016

Egypt hosts conference on historic importance of Suez Canal

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

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

24 Feb, 2016

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

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

24 Feb, 2016

Chinese outbound tourists expected to heat up world economy

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Beijing, 22 February 2016, (People’s Daily Online) – Despite headwinds over the global economy, China’s outbound tourism is again showing excellent numbers as Chinese outbound tourists are expected to reach 5.7 to 6 million during this year’s Spring Festival holidays. Chinese outbound tourism revenue might reach 90 billion yuan, as Chinese outbound visitors are spending […]

24 Feb, 2016

UNESCO Green Citizens, Pathfinders for Change Exhibition Opens at UN HQ

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United Nations, 19 February 2016, (UN Press Releases) – An exhibition titled “UNESCO Green Citizens — Pathfinders for Change” has opened in the Visitors’ Lobby of the UN headquarters in New York. The exhibit is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), SIPA Press and the Klorane Institute.  It is endorsed […]

24 Feb, 2016

Chinese leaders demand solid efforts to drive new-type urbanization

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BEIJING, China, 23 February 2016, (Xinhua) – Chinese leaders have called for more to be done to facilitate “new-type urbanization,” saying fresh achievements must be made in the area in 2016. In an instruction on the issue, President Xi Jinping asked authorities to uphold the concepts of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing in the […]

24 Feb, 2016

“Transformative Infrastructure” to dominate US$2 billion in ADB funding for Sri Lanka

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Colombo, Sri Lanka, 23 February 2016 (ADB News) — Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao today met with Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, and reaffirmed ADB’s strong commitment to support Sri Lanka’s continued development. Mr. Nakao shared with the government ADB’s plans to scale up […]

24 Feb, 2016

Chinese News Analysis: Israel faces mounting pressure over Palestinian issue

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JERUSALEM, 23 February 2016, (Xinhua) – As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict enters another tense year, Israel is facing mounting pressure over its decades-long policy towards the Palestinians. Most likely, as history repeats itself, the pressure will not lead Israel to make any significant changes in its policy, but will only further isolate the country in the […]

24 Feb, 2016

Southern Thai Province of Narathiwat Ready to Become a Special Economic Zone

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Narathiwat, Thailand, 24 February 2016, (Thailand PRD News)-The southern border province of Narathiwat has officially opened a One Stop Service Center in a move toward becoming a special economic zone, in line with the Government’s policy. Director of the Narathiwat Provincial Industry Office Pokpak Boonchoo said that Narathiwat is on the list of the second […]

24 Feb, 2016

Will translation software sound the death knell for interpreters?

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Beijing, 23 February 2016, (Xinhua) – If, as the Chinese proverb goes, to learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world”,Chinese search engine Baidu has provided the country with a portal to the entire planet at their fingertips. Earlier last month, the Baidu Translate app was given a […]

24 Feb, 2016

Chartered Accountants Survey: Self-Interest, Not Regulation, Needs to Drive Cybersecurity

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22 February 2016, (Bernama) — A new report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) claims self-interest rather than regulation is the future of cybersecurity because technology is evolving at such a rate that any legislation would be out of date before it is signed in to law. Constant Forward Motion: The […]

24 Feb, 2016

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

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

24 Feb, 2016

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

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

24 Feb, 2016

Bay of Bengal ‘three times more deadly’ than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees

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United Nations 23 February 2016, (UN News Centre) – Refugees and migrants crossing the seas of Southeast Asia died at a rate three times higher than those in the Mediterranean last year, a new United Nations report has found, highlighting the urgency of greater life-saving cooperation among the affected States. The report, Mixed Maritime Movements […]

24 Feb, 2016

Prevention better than cure: UN peacebuilding body cites need to address root causes of conflict for sustainable peace

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New York, USA, 23 February 2016, (UN News Centre) – The head of the United Nations advisory body tasked with making recommendations on post-conflict recovery, reconstruction and development stressed today that building lasting peace requires predictable, sustained and adequate efforts and financing to help stop violence and address the root causes of conflict. Speaking today […]

24 Feb, 2016

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

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

23 Feb, 2016

China Voice: China’s three economic strategies gain momentum

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BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) — Since taking office in late 2012, China’s leadership has proposed three major strategies to boost growth as the Chinese economy enters a “new normal” with slower growth and the world’s remains unstable. The “Belt and Road” regional trade and infrastructure network, coordinated development of Beijing with neighboring Tianjin and Hebei, […]

23 Feb, 2016

Problems emerge as fisheries becomes the world’s fastest-growing food sector

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AGADIR, Morocco, 22 February, 2015, (FAO media release)– High-level delegations of fisheries ministries from more than 50 countries are gathering in Agadir for a summit with industry players to discuss emerging governance needs in a sector that provides the world with 17 percent of its animal protein and developing countries with more export revenue than […]

23 Feb, 2016

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

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

22 Feb, 2016

China-Iran Cargo Train Makes First Run

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

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

22 Feb, 2016

25% of Japan’s disabled have trouble making ends meet | The Japan Times

Tokyo – At least 1 in 4 disabled people in Japan has difficulty making ends meet, with the poverty rate running twice the average of nondisabled individuals, according to a study led by a Keio University professor. Atsuhiro Yamada’s team studied the results of a 2013 government survey on people’s lives to identify the relative […]

22 Feb, 2016

Israeli Winner at Berlin Film Festival Calls Israeli Government ‘Fascist’ at Movie Screening – Haaretz

Israeli director Udi Aloni made headlines in Berlin when he called the Israeli government “fascist” at a Q&A session about his award-winning film “Junction 48.” Aloni, whose Arabic-language hip-hop film featuring mostly Palestinian actors, said that Germany shouldn’t supply Israel with submarines because of its fascist government. He also mentioned at the session Palestinian hunger-striker […]

22 Feb, 2016

The emperor’s new nationalism – The Hindu

From Hyderabad to Jawaharlal Nehru University, from the death of Rohith Vemula to the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar, a clear political agenda by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party can be discerned. At first flush, this is a party whose top leaders — and they include members of the Union Cabinet — are all too willing […]

22 Feb, 2016

Roger Waters: Pink Floyd star on why musicians are terrified to speak out against Israel – The Independent

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American musicians who support boycotting Israel over the issue of Palestinian rights are terrified to speak out for fear their careers will be destroyed, according to Roger Waters. The Pink Floyd star – a prominent supporter of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel since its inception 10 years ago – said the […]

20 Feb, 2016

Cabbies march in Madrid against Uber-type services | The Japan Times

MADRID – Thousands of taxi drivers protested Thursday in Madrid over competitors such as Uber, echoing similar recent demonstrations in neighboring France. French drivers joined the thousands of protesters in the Spanish capital who sported banners that read “No to unfair competition,” denouncing among other grievances the planned deregulation of the sector. Spain’s cabbies fear […]

20 Feb, 2016

6 Habits Of A Happy, Solid Couple – Sydney Morning Herald

The beginning of any relationship is more often than not completely exhilarating. It’s a time when your partner can do no wrong and all of the things that once bothered you seem to float away because YOU ARE IN LOVE! And that’s all that matters. But as we know, eventually life gets back to normal. […]

20 Feb, 2016

Income Inequality: Crisis Pushes the Poor and the Young Even Further Behind

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LONDON, February 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ – A new report from ING, The Unequal Crisis, looks at income inequality in the US and EU over the 20 years running up to the financial crisis, and then tracks what happened during the period between 2007 and 2013. It finds that prior to the crisis, the disposable income […]

20 Feb, 2016

New Israeli-American Nexus set up to boycott companies which boycott Israel

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LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 17, 2016  – Today, the Israeli-American Council (IAC) announced the formation of the Israeli-American Nexus (IANexus), a 501(c)(4) partner organization devoted to advocating to policymakers on behalf of the Israeli-American community. “We have formed the IANexus to make the voices of Israeli-Americans heard on a range of issues at the federal, state, […]

20 Feb, 2016

South African water conference called off amid protest at Israel’s role | The Electronic Intifada

A South African conference on water has been canceled following protests against the planned participation of an Israeli diplomat. Arthur Lenk, Israel’s ambassador to South Africa, was scheduled to take part in a “water summit” on 26 February. Lenk’s involvement prompted one of the main speakers, Lorenzo Fioramonti from the University of Pretoria, to withdraw. […]

20 Feb, 2016

Spring Festival Holiday domestic consumption robust amid China’s consumer-led growth

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BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) — Booming tourism, cinema and retail sales during the week-long Spring Festival holiday show that China’s efforts to make its economy more reliant on the consumption power of its vast population is paying off. The increasingly affluent Chinese are not only willing to spend, they spend more wisely and healthily. Aside […]

20 Feb, 2016

A battle for India’s soul – Arab News

This is not a debate about nationalism, Kashmiri separatism or the independent thinking spaces that great universities like JNU represent. What is unfolding, from Hyderabad to Delhi, is a battle for India’s soul. It is not enough for the BJP to capture the reins of power in the name of universally appealing slogans like development […]

20 Feb, 2016

Full text of Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader’s speech which India considers “sedition” – Hindustan Times

“Few media works were saying that JNU runs on the money from our taxes and subsidies and this is right! It is absolutely right that JNU runs from taxes and subsidies but we want to put up a question- what is a university for? A university is for the critical analysis of the society’s consensus. […]

20 Feb, 2016

FreeBee: How bees can help raise food security of 2 billion smallholders at no cost

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Rome, 19 February 2015, (Food and Agriculture Organization) — What do cucumbers, mustard, almonds and alfalfa have in common? On the surface very little. But there is one thing they share: they all owe their existence to the service of bees. For centuries, this tiny striped helper has labored the world’s fields without winning much recognition […]

20 Feb, 2016

India’s attempt to quash University student dissent brings country’s intolerance into focus

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NEW DELHI, India Feb. 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The students at India’s prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi are at war with the government. The confrontation started all of a sudden after Indian police arrested the student unions’ president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition and declaring him “anti-national.” Sedition as per Indian law […]

20 Feb, 2016

Polish magazine’s ‘Islamic rape of Europe’ cover sparks outrage – The Guardian

A Polish magazine has published a highly inflammatory front cover showing a white woman being assaulted by three pairs of dark-skinned male hands under the headline “The Islamic rape of Europe”. The cover of this week’s edition of wSieci (the Network), a mass-market politically conservative magazine, triggered outraged responses on social media. Some Twitter users […]

20 Feb, 2016

Idyllic Italian town to ban tourists after being swamped by millions of visitors – The Independent

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The tourism sector has arguably been one of the biggest casualties of the global financial crash; as hotels and resorts struggle to stay afloat and visiting figures have plummeted. But, whilst many businesses are desperately trying to increase visitors, resort towns in Italy are doing the very opposite and are reportedly banning tourists. Cinque Terre […]

19 Feb, 2016

Myanmar urged to drop charges against Muslim, Hindu interfaith peace activists

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Yangon, February 17, 2016, Fortify Rights media release —Myanmar authorities should immediately and unconditionally release human rights defenders Zaw Zaw Latt, Pwint Phyu Latt, and Zaw Win Bo and drop all charges against them, Fortify Rights said today. The defendants are Mandalay-based Muslim and Hindu interfaith-peace activists. The authorities arrested Zaw Zaw Latt, a 28-year-old […]

19 Feb, 2016

Australia seeks public comment on plan to launch “Entrepreneur visa”

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Canberra, 18 February 2016, (Joint media release by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection and the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science) – A consultation process for a new Entrepreneur visa will start today, seeking feedback on the proposed settings for the visa. The Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne, said we […]

19 Feb, 2016

The Philippines accelerates plans to develop Halal tourism

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Manila, February 17, 2016, CrescentRating media release – The Philippines is accelerating its plans to position itself as one of the world’s preferred destinations for Muslim tourists. The Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) has unveiled a series of initiatives as part of a major drive to create a long-term infrastructure across the country to diversify […]

19 Feb, 2016

An Open Letter To Fellow Indian Citizens – By Rutuja Deshmukh Wakankar, Countercurrents.org

15 February, 2016 Dear Fellow Citizens, Today I write to all of you and especially the Indian upper and middle class (emphasize mine), as one amongst you. We are at the brink of destruction; by we I mean us as a nation. I fully understand the implication of my statement, which is very serious in […]

19 Feb, 2016

Conference to offer insights on reaching Chinese and Russian consumers via online marketing and social media

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Bangkok – February 18, 2016: In partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and in collaboration with Travel Media Applications, PATA Thailand Chapter and Digital Innovation Asia (DIA), the Digi.travel Thailand International Conference as well as the Digital Innovation Asia Awards Party will be hosted at the Four Points Hotel Bangkok on February 24th, […]

19 Feb, 2016

El Niño passed peak, but UN weather agency warns ‘not to lower guard’ as impacts continue

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United Nations, (UN News Centre) 18 February 2016 – The 2015-2016 El Niño, one of the strongest on record, has passed its peak, but its humanitarian and economic impacts will continue for many months to come, the United Nations weather agency has announced, adding that lessons learned from this climate phenomenon would help build global […]

17 Feb, 2016

Muslim center in Australia vandalized beyond recognition, Quran copies desecrated

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Tehran, Feb 14, IRNA – Vandals went on a vicious rampage overnight at a Muslim center in Preston, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The damage to the center was extensive and devastating, similar to the result of an explosion, IQNA reported. The walls have been plastered with obscene graffiti. Windows and doors in the center […]

17 Feb, 2016

Cologne sex assaults: Muslim rape myths fit a neo-Nazi agenda – The Independent

Dark myths about sexual assaults in Cologne came into sharp focus last week when a female television journalist was attacked live on air. Esmeralda Labye, a reporter from Belgium, was covering the German city’s annual carnival when three men variously touched her breasts, kissed her and simulated intercourse behind her back. It followed claims of […]

17 Feb, 2016

UN relief official calls on Israel to immediately halt demolitions in occupied West Bank

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Jerusalem, 17 February 2016 (UN News Centre) – A senior United Nations humanitarian official today called for an immediate halt to the destruction of Palestinian-owned property in the occupied West Bank and for respect for international law. “The number of demolitions for just the first six weeks of 2016 is greatly alarming,” said Robert Piper, […]

15 Feb, 2016

Malaysia to host first Imam Roundtable to open mosques to visitors

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 15 February 2016 (06 Jumada al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIVE MALAYSIAN HOMESTAYS WIN ASEAN AWARDS Five […]

15 Feb, 2016

Macau gambling downturn his Wynn Resorts revenues

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LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE )–February 11, 2016  – Wynn Resorts, Limited (Nasdaq: WYNN today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2015. Net revenues for the fourth quarter of 2015 were $946.9 million, compared to $1,138.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The decline was the result of a 27.0% net […]

15 Feb, 2016

Chinese Commentary: Blame game won’t help stabilize global markets

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NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) — The global financial markets have suffered sharp declines lately, with stocks plunging across Europe, Japan and the United States last week. Some players once again tried to link the global rout with China. However, such claims are unwarranted and playing the blame game in the face of challenges is […]

15 Feb, 2016

Chinese Spring Festival Holiday rush registers 1.38b trips

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By Ding Xuezhen Beijing (Global Times) February 14, 2016 – China’s Spring holiday rush has so far accomplished 1.38 billion trips, a 3.3 percent growth from last year, according to the country’s Ministry of Transportation on Saturday.The 40-day Spring holiday rush reached its midpoint on Saturday with railroad traffic increasing 9.1 percent compared to the […]

15 Feb, 2016

Violence in South Thailand down 38%, Internal Security Agency claims

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Bangkok, 14 February 2016, Thai Public Relations Department – The situation in the southern border provinces has shown positive trends. A decrease in the number of violent incidents during the past three months has been reported. The report was issued by the Deputy Spokesman of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), Region 4 Forward, Colonel […]

14 Feb, 2016

One in Four Office Romances Involves a Superior: Valentine’s Day Survey

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CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — What do Barack Obama, Bill Gates and Brad Pitt have in common? All met their significant others at work. They’re also far from alone. According to CareerBuilder’s annual Valentine’s Day survey, 37 percent of workers have dated a coworker, and 33 percent of those office romances have led to […]

14 Feb, 2016

US Budget Proposes To Hit Air Travelers With More Security, Customs, Immigration Taxes

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WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–February 10, 2016 – Airlines for America (A4A), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, today issued the following statement opposing the FY 2017 White House budget proposal, which would drive up the federal tax burden on airlines and their customers by an additional $7.9 billion per year, up from the more […]

10 Feb, 2016

Iranian airlines ready to take on Gulf giants

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Iran News Roundup. Click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. Iranian airlines ready to take on Gulf giants Ottawa lifts Iran sanctions, to restore ties Iranian, British embassies to issue visas soon Sanctions lifted, American tourists head to Iran Foreign investors receive 3-year work permit in Iran 41 types of […]

10 Feb, 2016

The grandeur of Iran in pictures – by the first Asia-Pacific travel trade journalist invited to visit

Imtiaz Muqbil

I was the first Asia-Pacific travel industry journalist invited to both speak at and cover two inaugural industry conferences held in Iran: 1) the first International Tour Operators Convention organised by the Iran Tour Operators Association in Tehran between 24-27 November 2008, and 2) the UNWTO Conference on Increasing Tourist Flows between Asia and the […]

8 Feb, 2016

Iran exports first shipment of hand-woven carpets to U.S.

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 08 February 2016 (29 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIVE MALAYSIAN HOMESTAYS WIN ASEAN AWARDS Five […]

4 Feb, 2016

Bethlehem to host 4th “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference March 7-10

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By Ranjan Solomon, Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum “Christ at the Checkpoint”, is an international conference which aims to challenge Evangelicals to take responsibility to help resolve the conflicts in Israel/Palestine by engaging with the teaching of Jesus on the Kingdom of God. The conference moves into its fourth edition from March 7-10, 2016 in Bethlehem. […]

4 Feb, 2016

UN Secretary General pens New York Times Op-ed: Don’t shoot the messenger, Israel

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by Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations United Nations, 1 February 2016 (UN News Centre) – In Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, 2016 has begun much as 2015 ended — with unacceptable levels of violence and a polarized public discourse. That polarization showed itself in the halls of the United Nations last week when […]

4 Feb, 2016

UN Secretary General’s speech at Cambridge University: “Worldwide, there is a strong sense that we are in a deep mess”

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s address upon receiving Honorary Degree from the University of Cambridge [as prepared for delivery] Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3 February 2016 – Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Distinguished Faculty Members, Dear Students, Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for the recognition you have just bestowed on me. I […]

4 Feb, 2016

UN Secretary General’s speech at National Defense College of Oman: “Conflict Prevention in a Changing World”

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Full text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s address to the National Defense College of Oman, “The United Nations and Conflict Prevention in a Changing World”, Muscat (Oman), 01 February 2016 (as prepared for delivery) I am honoured to be in Oman for the second time as Secretary-General, and to address the National Defense College. I […]

4 Feb, 2016

Flashback 1988: Former UNWTO chief Willibald Pahr’s India speech on Tourism, Passport to Peace & Development

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The first time that I heard the connection being made between Tourism, Peace & Development was in this speech by the late UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Dr Willibald Pahr at a conference organised by the Indian Institute of Tourism and Management in New Delhi on February 22, 1988. Along with thousands of […]

4 Feb, 2016

ASEAN tourism has reaped the fruits of peace, but South Asia lags: PATA report

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BANGKOK, February 3, 2016 (PATA Media release) – The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has published a research report that examines the link between peace and tourism. Through international visitor arrival (IVA) data and short historical perspectives the study examines how peace, democracy and ending geopolitical and ethno-cultural conflicts between and within countries can facilitate […]

3 Feb, 2016

An 11-point critique of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-25

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – This year has marked the dawn of a new era for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The integration process, now set in stone, is intended to create a stronger, safer, secure and sustainable ASEAN by uniting the formidable natural, capital and human resources of one of the world’s most strategically-located regions. […]

3 Feb, 2016

Israel Approves Jewish Prayer Site at Al-Aqsa Mosque’s Western Wall

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RAMALLAH, February 1, 2016 (WAFA) – Minister of Waqf and Religious Affairs, Yousef Ide’es Monday afternoon slammed the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a mixed Jewish male-female prayer area at East Jerusalem’s Western Wall as an attempt to change the status quo. The Israeli cabinet has approved a plan to allocate an area for mixed-gender Jewish […]

3 Feb, 2016

India on the slippery slope towards McCarthyism – The Hindu

By Peter Ronald Desouza No substantive discussion in a university can be anti-national as long as protocols of discussion are maintained. Dissent must be heard. No one would want to be called anti-national for it brings in its wake the primordial passions of hate and anger onto oneself. It produces self and social censorship. This […]

3 Feb, 2016

A Sufi, a Sikh and their message of love: A journey from Lahore to Amritsar – DAWN.COM

It is noteworthy that Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh faith, includes the kalaam (poetry/works) of renowned Sufis like Baba Fareed of the Chishtiyyah Sufi order. And hence, aptly, the kalaam of popular Sikh poet Ravidas jee resounds at the Shrine of Mian Mir in Lahore today as a reminder of humanity […]

3 Feb, 2016

Documentary exposes how Hollywood makes the world hate Muslims and Arabs

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Washington DC — The documentary “Valentino’s Ghost: Why We Hate Arabs” (2015) is to be shown at the headquarters of the Jerusalem Fund in Washington DC on February 5. Directed by Michael Singh, produced by Catherine Jordan and narrated by Mike Farrell, Valentino’s Ghost exposes the way America’s foreign policy agenda in the Middle East […]

3 Feb, 2016

Thai Government Outlines Efforts to Fight Drought

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Bangkok, 31 January 2016, (PR Department, Office of the Prime Minister) – The Government has indicated that drought conditions in 2016 would not reach a critical stage. Various measures have been prepared on a continual basis to deal with the situation. At a press conference, “Government and the People Joining Hands to Cope with Drought,” […]

1 Feb, 2016

Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur & Singapore Seen as Top Destinations for Outbound Iranians

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Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, 01 Feb 2016, GTA media release – GTA hosted a trade dinner for about 90 Iranian Travel Agencies on the 19th of January at the Espinas Hotel in Tehran. GTA has been trading in Iran market since the late 90’s, and as a result of active engagement with getting new […]

1 Feb, 2016

Turkey’s first female mosque guide introduces Islam to tourists

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 01 February 2016 (22 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA WOOS SPANISH TRAVELLERS WITH ‘COME DISCOVER […]