Author Archive
10 Mar, 2015
Returned Australian soldiers face widespread depression and homelessness, investigative report reveals
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Australian soldiers are struggling to access the financial help they need to recover from post-traumatic stress disorder once home, veterans and support agencies say. ABC TV’s Four Corners on Monday night featured former soldiers undergoing gruelling therapy sessions to help them recover from PTSD, which has damaged their marriages, their […]
more…9 Mar, 2015
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales slams federal government data retention laws
Mr Wales said he understood the need for data retention schemes in fighting crime. But he added law enforcement bodies should be forced to get warrants when seeking people’s information. “With proper judicial oversight, probable cause, warrants, judges and not just police overseeing it, the ability to get access to information is perfectly valid,” he […]
more…8 Mar, 2015
In campaign against terrorism, U.S. enters period of pessimism and gloom – The Washington Post
U.S. counterterrorism officials and experts, never known for their sunny dispositions, have entered a period of particular gloom. In congressional testimony recently, Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. went beyond the usual litany of threats to say that terrorism trend lines were worse “than at any other point in history.” Maj. Gen. Michael […]
more…8 Mar, 2015
Pratap Chatterjee: Mentally-disturbed pilots quitting Drone Warfare – TomDispatch
The Air Force is currently under orders to staff 65 of these regular “combat air patrols” around the clock as well as to support a Global Response Force on call for emergency military and humanitarian missions. For all of this, there should ideally be 1,700 trained pilots. Instead, facing an accelerating dropout rate that recently […]
more…8 Mar, 2015
An inspirational message from India’s only woman Muslim pilot
“People initially think I’m Christian and then gawk when I tell them my full name,” laughs Saarah Hameed Ahmed (25) the Bengaluru girl who is the only known Muslim among the 600-odd women pilots employed in the Indian aviation sector. “I just love the look on people’s faces when they discover I am Muslim.” People’s […]
more…8 Mar, 2015
Gallup Polls: Nearly 2 Billion Women Worldwide Are Struggling, Suffering
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Gallup Polls Media release) — While International Women’s Day this Sunday will focus mostly on how the world thinks women are doing, it’s important to understand how the women of the world think they are doing. The best way to find this out is to ask them.This International Women’s Day, more than one […]
more…7 Mar, 2015
How a Jewish Casino Billionaire Stands in the Way of Mideast Peace | Alternet
Everything you need to know about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress Tuesday was the presence in the visitor’s gallery of one man – Sheldon Adelson. The gambling tycoon is the Godfather of the Republican Right. The party’s presidential hopefuls line up to kiss his assets, scraping and bowing for his blessing, which […]
more…7 Mar, 2015
Balinese welcome boycott by ”Ugly Australians” – Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney The Twitter campaign for Australians to #BoycottBali over the very sad case of convicted drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran brought with it an immediate and expected backlash by Indonesians. “Australia can #boycottbali all they want,” tweeted @pandji, “that only means no more stupid drunks on board of Indonesian airlines.” And this from […]
more…7 Mar, 2015
Foreign nurses, caregivers to get special visa status | The Japan Times
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday approved the creation of a new category of visa for foreign nurses and caregivers as part of efforts to fill a shortage in the workforce. Drafted by the Justice Ministry and requiring Diet approval, the proposal to amend the immigration law mainly targets exchange students studying […]
more…6 Mar, 2015
History Lesson for ITB Berlin : 20 Years Since the Finest Travel & Tourism Speech Ever
March 6, 2015 — Today, the ITB Berlin 2015 will host a session to discuss the future of travel & tourism in Israel-Palestine. Speakers representing the Palestinians, Israelis and German ecumenical groups will share their visions on how “tourism can play an essential role in promoting peace and justice.” The programme says that although “both […]
more…5 Mar, 2015
FREE Download: Malaysia, Turkey, Singapore top Muslim Travel Index 2015
Malaysia is the world’s most Muslim-friendly tourism destination and Singapore holds that position among the non-Islamic countries, according to ratings compiled by the “MasterCard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015”. Considered the most comprehensive research ever released on the Muslim travel market, it looks at in-depth data covering 100 destinations across the world creating an […]
more…5 Mar, 2015
Number of global ultra-rich swells to almost 173,000 – The Guardian
The world’s super-rich continued their seemingly unstoppable rise last year with the number of people worth $30m (£19.7m) or more expanding to 172,850. Between them they control nearly $22tn in assets – more than the national output of the US and Germany combined. Almost 5,300 people joined the ranks of so-called ultra high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), […]
more…5 Mar, 2015
The Pakistani town where a Hindu fasts and a Muslim does not slaughter cows – DAWN.COM
by Hassan Raza Pakistan has become synonymous with terrorism. On most local and international news channels, we hear about minorities getting slaughtered at the hands of extremists; attacks on temples, churches, imambargahs; or the forced conversions of Hindus and Christians in the country. I reckon you might be pleasantly surprised to know that there is […]
more…4 Mar, 2015
Fear Dominates Politics, Media and Human Existence in America—And It’s Getting Worse | Alternet
People cannot think clearly when they are afraid. As numerous studies have shown, fear is the enemy of reason. It distorts emotions and perceptions, and often leads to poor decisions. For people who have suffered trauma, fear messages can sometimes trigger uncontrollable flight-or-fight responses with dangerous ramifications. Yet over time, many interlocking aspects of our […]
more…4 Mar, 2015
Ten issues that will NOT be on the agenda at the brain-dead ITB Berlin
BANGKOK – In his March 3 speech at the opening of the 2015 ITB Berlin, UNWTO Secretary-General Dr Talib Rifai raised the game for the travel & tourism industry worldwide by citing a number of previously taboo issues that are reshaping the New World Order. Embedded within his speech were key phrases that should challenge […]
more…3 Mar, 2015
US: Sikh boy racially abused in school bus, video goes viral
A young Sikh boy in the US state of Georgia has been called a “terrorist” by a group of school children, with the video of the abuse now going viral on the Internet. In the video posted on Inquisitr, the bespectacled Sikh boy is seen sitting in what appears to be a school bus and […]
more…2 Mar, 2015
Smug, Snide, and Shallow – ‘The Three Superiors’ of the BBC – People’s Daily Online
On 25th February People’s Daily unveiled President Xi Jinping’s “Four Comprehensives”: A moderately prosperous society, Reform, Rule of law, and Party discipline. They are the blueprint for his government’s future strategy, and they represent a significant statement about what the future holds for China in the coming years. In an article on its website the […]
more…2 Mar, 2015
Hindus must boycott films of Muslim Khans: BJP leader
Hindus should boycott the Khan triumvirate of Bollywood as they promote love jihad, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should marry an Indian girl and settle down. These were some pieces of advice offered by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and preacher Sadhvi Prachi at a meeting of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, a right-wing organisation, in Dehradun […]
more…2 Mar, 2015
Chinese Commentary: 70 Years Since End of WWII, Time to Reflect on Past, Look to Future
UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (Xinhua) — The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War Thursday, calling upon all United Nations member states not to forget the tremendous sacrifices made and the horrendous atrocities committed during the war. The resolution, adopted by the 193-member General […]
more…2 Mar, 2015
Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei to benefit from AirAsia ASEAN Pass
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 March 2015 (11 Jumaada al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]
more…1 Mar, 2015
Graffiti artist leaves his mark in Israel-leveled Gaza Strip | Arab News
GAZA: World-renowned graffiti artist Banksy has caused a stir in the Gaza Strip, apparently secretly traveling to the Palestinian territory and painting murals on buildings ruined by the latest conflict. The artist, whose prefers anonymity, released an online video entitled “Make this the year YOU discover a new destination,” that purports to show him traveling […]
more…1 Mar, 2015
How the world’s most famous airline spied on its own staff – The Independent
British Airways paid £1m to hush up the details of a spying operation in which the phones and emails of its own cabin staff were allegedly improperly accessed during a bitter dispute with Britain’s largest union. The payment was made to stop the union, Unite, suing BA over the operation by specialist investigators based at […]
more…28 Feb, 2015
Australian Sikhs say abuse on the rise as they cop Anti-Muslim sentiment
SYDNEY – Not long after the terror alert level was raised to high, truck driver Amar Singh was working when a stranger approached and said: “You look like a terrorist. You should be on a terrorist watch list.” Mr Singh, who was sitting in his parked truck in Wollongong, was perplexed. He certainly was not […]
more…28 Feb, 2015
Norwegian doctor in Gaza speaks at Israel Apartheid Week in Oslo
He is one of the few foreign doctors who have seen from close the horrific consequences of several Israeli aggressions on Palestinians. Dr. Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian doctor, has been travelling to and from Gaza for several years to treat Palestinians at the al-Shifa hospital. He was also there during the Israeli aggression last summer. […]
more…23 Feb, 2015
Alcohol-free Hotel Takes Off in Ibadan, Nigeria
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 23 February 2015 (04 Jumaada al-Awwal 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS […]
more…22 Feb, 2015
Indian govt ousts Modi critic, a Nobel Laureate, as head of Nalanda University – The Indian Express
Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Saturday ruled out reconsidering his decision not to seek second term as Chancellor of Nalanda University, saying that the government had decided “not to have me”. The 82-year-old economist’s decision to withdraw his candidature as the university Chair for the second term after complaining about political interference in academic matters […]
more…21 Feb, 2015
Hidden agenda: How EU-US trade deal could thwart “boycott Israel” campaign | The Electronic Intifada
Two members of the US Congress have introduced a bill that would turn a giant trade deal between the EU and US into a devastating weapon against the people of Palestine and all those seeking justice alongside them. Together with the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that is currently under negotiation, the proposed […]
more…20 Feb, 2015
Ten Reasons for the “War on Islam”
On February 19, U.S. President Barack Obama gave a speech at the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, in which he declared that the United States is not waging a war on Islam. He made a similar assertion in his famous speech at Al Azhar University in Cairo in June 2009. Former U.S. President George W. […]
more…19 Feb, 2015
Emirates rejects Delta’s apology over terrorism remarks | GulfNews.com
Dubai: Emirates has rejected an apology from Delta Air Lines, one of America’s major carriers, after its chief executive, Richard Anderson, this week associated the 9/11 terrorist attack with Gulf airlines. “We believe that the statements made this week by [Mr] Anderson were deliberately crafted and delivered for specific effect. This brings into question his […]
more…19 Feb, 2015
For India, Secularism is not a policy option – The Hindu
Contrary to what many in the BJP seem to think, secularism is not a policy option for a government, but one of the original principles that inform the Constitution. ‘Secular’, as a word to describe the Indian Republic, might have been added to the Preamble only in 1976, but the freedom of conscience and free […]
more…19 Feb, 2015
Are Airbnb and Uber creating a new black economy? – Sydney Morning Herald
It is called the “sharing economy”. It has been embraced by millions of consumers globally, and has made multi-millionaires out of the savvy entrepreneurs behind its most high-profile services, like Uber and Airbnb. But for governments in Australia, and around the world, it has proved to be a difficult beat to police. The likes of […]
more…19 Feb, 2015
Why Muslim lives don’t matter in the U.S. – Al Jazeera English
Irrespective of what rallying cries, signs or adapted hashtags proclaim, Muslim lives in America don’t matter. The aftermath of the murder of the three American students in Chapel Hill, and the broader context that spurred it, reconfirms this brutal truth. The three victims – Deah Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad, 21, and her sister […]
more…19 Feb, 2015
Chapel Hill shooting and western media bigotry – Al Jazeera English
Three Muslim Americans were murdered on Tuesday in a University of North Carolina dorm room. The crime came on the heels of recent anti-Muslim attacks in Europe, carried out in apparent response to the January murders (committed by Muslims) of Charlie Hebdo journalists in Paris. Western media outlets will likely frame the most recent perpetrator […]
more…18 Feb, 2015
Indonesia to stop sending maids to UAE, Arab countries | GulfNews.com
Dubai: The Indonesian Embassy confirmed that the country has stopped sending domestic workers to the UAE and all other Arab countries. The announcement came after the newly elected president of Indonesia, which has approximately 90,000 expatriates, many of whom work as housemaids, in the UAE, vowed to stop sending housemaids abroad. The practice is deemed […]
more…18 Feb, 2015
Report Exposes the Funders and Pundits Spreading Islamophobia | Alternet
By Amy Goodman, Nermeen Shaikh February 16, 2015 – In an interview with Democracy Now!, Yasmine Taeb, Islamophobia project manager at the Center for American Progress, spoke about a report she co-authored entitled “Fear, Inc. 2.0, The Islamophobia Network’s Efforts to Manufacture Hate in America.” This latest investigation comes in the wake of recent events […]
more…18 Feb, 2015
Eureka! Earthshaking New Study Reveals Root Cause of the Profoundly Stupid | Alternet
By Susan Grigsby / Daily Kos It is a question I have been pondering for the past week or two. Could a vaccine, specifically, the polio vaccine, have caused us to become profoundly stupid? Looking for evidence, like so many troubled young parents of today faced with a vaccination schedule, I turned to Google to […]
more…18 Feb, 2015
Chinese Commentary: Uncle Sam: anti-terror leader or terrorist breeder?
BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) — On the world stage, the United States has assumed anti-terror leadership since the deadly Sept. 11 attack in 2001, yet underneath its glossy surface, Uncle Sam seemed to have a secret identity as a terrorist breeder. In a display of leadership and power, the White House will convene an international […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
Russian researchers expose US spying program | GulfNews.com
San Francisco: The US National Security Agency has figured out how to hide spying software deep within hard drives made by Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba and other top manufacturers, giving the agency the means to eavesdrop on the majority of the world’s computers, according to cyber researchers and former operatives. That long-sought and closely guarded […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
Over 100 UK artists announce a cultural boycott of Israel – The Guardian
Along with more than 600 other fellow artists, we are announcing today that we will not engage in business-as-usual cultural relations with Israel. We will accept neither professional invitations to Israel, nor funding, from any institutions linked to its government. Since the summer war on Gaza, Palestinians have enjoyed no respite from Israel’s unrelenting attack […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
Indian-American businessman shot dead in US – The Times of India
NEW YORK: A 28-year-old Indian-American businessman, who was gunned down by an unidentified assailant in his family-owned liquor shop in the US, has succumbed to his injuries, police said today. Amit Patel from Edison was shot and killed in New Jersey inside Roseway Liquors in Irvington yesterday. Patel was alone in the liquor store, owned […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
US Hindu temple vandalised, hate message ‘get out’ sprayed on walls – Hindustan Times
A Hindu temple has been vandalised with hate speech in the US state of Washington, sending shock waves through the community in the area and prompting authorities to launch an investigation. The incident happened when unidentified miscreants sprayed swastika and painted “Get Out” on one of the walls of the temple in the Seattle Metropolitan […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
Robert Fisk: Arabs Kill Arabs. But Americans are safe. So are the Israelis.
President Obama and the Pentagon can, it seems, take satisfaction in seeing their “moderate” friends in the Middle East flying alongside them in their latest version of the “war on terror”. So far, so good. No “boots on the ground”, as the now-hackneyed expression goes. No Western lives in danger – save for the pitiful […]
more…17 Feb, 2015
Festival of India in Thailand: Multi-faith Sufi Gospel Musicians Hail Unity of Humanity
Bangkok – When Indian singer Sonam Kalra introduced the musicians of her Sufi Gospel Project troupe at this year’s inaugural Festival of India performance in Bangkok, she made it a point to highlight the team’s multi-faith composition. Two are Hindus, two Muslims and two Sikhs (including herself). One, a Christian, was absent at this performance. […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
Thousands of jobs to be created by road-rail projects in Oman
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 16 February 2015 (27 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
India headed towards a fascist regime under BJP, says activist – The Hindu
Questioning the secular nature of the present Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, noted civil rights activist and journalist Teesta Setalvad said here on Monday that we are heading towards a fascist regime. “Fascism occurs when corporate capitals capture the political economy. Unless we assert ourselves as secular citizens, we will keep on […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
Millions of Filipinos catching travel bug | Manila Bulletin
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said traveling has now officially become the latest national craze to grip the country next to taking “selfies.” Tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez made the statement during the awarding ceremony of the first Tourism Star Program (TSP) where he announced that 47 million Filipinos visited different local tourist spots last year. […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
Asia Times Online: Parking space terrorism in the US
By Ramzy Baroud The murder of three American Muslims at a University of North Carolina condominium on Tuesday, 10 February, was no ordinary murder, nor is the criminal who killed them an ordinary thug. The context of the killings, the murder itself and the media and official responses to the horrific event is a testimony […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
Angry, Armed and White: The Typical Profile of America’s Most Violent Extremists | Alternet
Police in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, say they’re investigating the role racial hatred played in the killing of three Muslim students by suspect Craig Stephen Hicks. They’re saying the 46-year-old white man had a history of fights over a parking space with the victims, suggesting the killings could be reduced to road rage. Meanwhile, Hicks’ […]
more…16 Feb, 2015
Superficial to spiritual: Buddhist monk to keynote at brand-building conference in Bangkok
Bangkok – Possibly for the first time in Asia, a Buddhist monk is to deliver the keynote speech at an upcoming conference on building brands. The Venerable Dr. Anilman Dhammasākiyō Phra Shakyavongsvisuddhi will officiate at the opening of the ‘Sustainable Brands ’15 Bangkok’ to be held March 18-19 on the innovative theme, “Reimagine, Redesign, Rebirth.” […]
more…14 Feb, 2015
It’s the geopolitics, stupid: Australia threatens Indonesia with travel boycott
Australians may reconsider travel to Indonesia if the two Australian convicted drug couriers currently on death row are executed by firing squad as expected, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has warned. Authorities in Indonesia are finalising plans to move Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran from Bali to their execution place on a prison island off […]
more…14 Feb, 2015
Russia To Reveal 9/11 Satellite Imagery Indicating US Complicity In False Flag Attack
Moscow (Pravda): American experts believe that despite the fact that relations between the US and Russia reached the worst point since the Cold War, Putin caused Obama only small troubles so far. Analysts believe that this “calm before the storm”. Putin is going to hit once, but he’s going to hit hard. Russia is preparing […]
more…14 Feb, 2015
Why does Buddhist-majority Myanmar hate its Muslims so much? – Washington Post
The situation in Burma has changed for the better. The country has opened up. The secretive, dictatorial military junta that once held sway has allowed the advent of a fledgling, albeit heavily curtailed democracy. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was freed from decades of house arrest and is now a main leader of the […]
more…13 Feb, 2015
Teetotaller numbers rise in UK with one in five adults not drinking – The Guardian
Britain is becoming a nation of teetotallers, with young adults and Londoners leading the way, according to new figures. More than one in five adults (21%) do not drink alcohol at all, according to the Office for National Statistics’ Adult Drinking Habits in Great Britain report released on Friday. The figure was 19% in 2005. […]
more…11 Feb, 2015
US military spending will never be enough
Washington DC, 2015-02-06 – The US national debt clock near Times Square was ticking in the $16-trillion range when I left New York two years ago. On Tuesday, it had crossed $18.102 trillion. This means that each of the 319 million Americans owes a debt of more than $56,000. The US national debt was only […]
more…11 Feb, 2015
Delhi Assembly election: AAP demolishes India’s caste, class divide | The Asian Age
The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday breached all caste and class divides to record a historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. With its army of young and dynamic activists, the AAP’s aggressive door-to-door campaign got it 48.78 lakh votes to win 67 of the 70 seats. Be it the Muslim-dominated areas of the walled […]
more…11 Feb, 2015
To really understand why Israel fears a future Palestine, visit the Mekong countries
Siem Reap, Cambodia — In order to truly and fully understand why Israel fears the birth of a state of Palestine, try visiting the Mekong countries. What’s the connection? Read on. Forty years after the defeat of U.S. forces in Vietnam, peace and opportunity prevails throughout the Mekong river countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and […]
more…9 Feb, 2015
‘My time in the US has come to an end’: Dr. Sami al-Arian on the fight for justice in post 9/11 America
After 40 years, my time in the U.S. has come to an end. Like many immigrants of my generation, I came to the U.S. in 1975 to seek a higher education and greater opportunities. I also wanted to live in a free society where freedom of speech, association and religion are not only tolerated but […]
more…9 Feb, 2015
100-yr-pact for Hindu-Muslim amity signed in Konkan village | The Indian Express
Hindus and Muslims in Burondi, a village in Ratnagiri district — located 228 km from Mumbai — have signed a 100-year pact between themselves to maintain communal harmony. The pact, which has been notarised, lays down a code of conduct for members of both the communities to avoid communal strife in the village that has […]
more…9 Feb, 2015
Google launches Street View for Bangladesh
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 February 2015 (20 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA TO CELEBRATE A YEAR OF GREAT […]
more…9 Feb, 2015
Cambodia’s two World Heritage temples symbolise future of peace, culture and tourism
SIEM REAP, Cambodia — The World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat was the backdrop of the first world UNWTO-UNESCO ministerial conference on building a tourism-and-culture partnership between February 4-6, 2015. More than 900 delegates from 100 countries, including record numbers from the Arab world and Africa, mulled ways to save the tourism goose from dying […]
more…5 Feb, 2015
How a culture remembers its crimes is important: A review of ‘American Sniper’
The greatest crime of the twenty-first century so far has come to the big screen, and it’s a hit. American Sniper scored “the top opening of all time for a non-tentpole”, a record that previously belonged to The Passion of the Christ. A white man beset by hostile Semites: box office gold. Mel Gibson’s Jesus […]
more…4 Feb, 2015
Negative views of Israel soar in the UK, new survey shows | The Electronic Intifada
Israel ranks as one of the world’s most unfavorably viewed countries among the UK public, second only to North Korea. A new survey by the UK think-tank Chatham House finds that 35 percent of the UK public have an “especially unfavorable” view of Israel. This is double the 17 percent who held such a view […]
more…4 Feb, 2015
Growing up under Western coverage of Islam | The Jakarta Post
by Asyifa Putri About five years ago, my life was altered utterly when my father decided to move to the US, along with my family. Although different, everything was structured and simpler than back home in Jakarta. However, I was still a minority with attached stereotypes. The fact that I’m a Muslim is what might […]
more…3 Feb, 2015
New spot on Asia’s spiritual tourism circuit: A replica of Bodhgaya pagoda in Myanmar
Nay Pyi Taw — After spending six days covering the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015, I was given a whirlwind tour of Nay Pyi Taw, courtesy of Maung Maung Swe, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Federation. My first stop was the Thatta Thattaha Maha Bodhi Pagoda (the first picture below), located a little on the […]
more…3 Feb, 2015
The colours, culture and costumes of the people of Myanmar
Nay Pyi Taw — The colourful culture, customs and costumes of the people of Myanmar were also on display at the ATF 2015.
more…3 Feb, 2015
Interesting Myanmar SME products on show at the ATF 2015
Nay Pyi Taw – The opening up of Myanmar to tourism is certainly having an extensive trickle-down effect on the country’s small and medium sized enterprises and independent owners / operators of many products and services. Many of them took the opportunity to participate in the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 and gain some international exposure. […]
more…3 Feb, 2015
ATF 2015 caps long tourism career of Minister U Htay Aung
Nay Pyi Taw — The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015 was a personal triumph for Union Minister of Hotels & Tourism U Htay Aung. It capped a long career that has seen him rise from a mid-ranked official in the country’s tourism apparatus to Minister over the span of nearly three decades. I have personally known […]
more…3 Feb, 2015
Talent Hunt: A Rising Star Young Myanmar Hotelier
Nay Pyi Taw — When I arrived at the Excel Capital hotel on Jan 22, a young man helped me ensure a smooth check-in. Over the course of the week that I spent at the hotel, this same young man helped me discover what good service delivery really means. He was on duty literally all […]
more…3 Feb, 2015
Spot the ASEAN logo contest: How tourism has failed to build a single ASEAN identity
Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar – If the ASEAN tourism industry, and the ASEAN fraternity at large, has failed to generate a strong and united brand-image, these pictures below of the ASEAN Tourism Forum hosted for the first time in the Myanmar capital between January 22-29, 2015, will prove why. The ASEAN logo, the primary symbol […]
more…2 Feb, 2015
Islamic museum founder honoured with Australian Award
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 February 2015 (12 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1436). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ ISLAMIC TOURISM CENTRE – GATEWAY TO MALAYSIA, THE MUSLIM-FRIENDLY DESTINATION The Islamic Tourism Centre […]
more…1 Feb, 2015
Christians in Israel and in the Middle East, Our Present and Future
Note by Ranjan Solomon, Palestine Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF) This is a special edition of PIEF POST. In it, we share with you the text of a lecture presented by Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem, Mgr. Michel Sabbah in the framework of a conference whose theme was “Identity of Christian Palestinian Arabs in Israel”. The […]
more…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 […]
more…27 Jan, 2015
Myanmar e-visas soaring, expansion to four Thai border checkpoints in the pipeline
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 […]
more…26 Jan, 2015
Turkish writer pens book on Islamic Culinary Culture
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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…26 Jan, 2015
ASEAN secretariat under strain, overwhelmed by workload, inadequate resources, tourism ministers told
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 […]
more…25 Jan, 2015
ASEANTA unveils plan to reinvent itself, rebuild ties with national tourism organisations
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 […]
more…24 Jan, 2015
Chinese commentary: West should end its hypocrisy on anti-terror war
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 […]
more…24 Jan, 2015
ATF 2003 Flashback: Iraq war and the journalists who saw tomorrow
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 […]
more…24 Jan, 2015
How Brunei can use its God-given wealth to make ASEAN an Abode of Peace
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” — […]
more…24 Jan, 2015
OECD Report: Will Myanmar reap the last mover advantage?
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 […]
more…24 Jan, 2015
Why the 2015 ASEAN Tourism Forum in Myanmar is an historic event
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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…20 Jan, 2015
WEF Global Risks report challenges claimed benefits of tourism
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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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 […]
more…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. […]
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