Author Archive
23 Jan, 2017
Joseph K. S. Chew, Executive Director, Singapore Tourist Promotion Board
Date & Place of Birth: 26 Dec. 1943, Singapore. Marital Status: Married with two sons and five grandchildren. Languages: Written – English & Malay. Spoken – English, Malay, Hokkien (Chinese Dialect) Education: BA (Hons) Economics, University of Singapore, 1963-66. Senior Executive Program, Columbia University, 1978 Senior Executive Program, Stanford University, 1994 Career 1966-1968 Straits […]
more…23 Jan, 2017
Kevin Leong, Secretary General, Asian Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaux
Date & Place of Birth: 9 March 1950 Marital Status: Married Education: Bachelor of Business Administration (Singapore University) Career 1976 – Joined Singapore Tourism Board, and spent 36 years with the STB. Key positions held included Vice-President (Eastern Region) in the USA, Director of Exhibitions and Conventions, and Director of Events Marketing. 1979-1988 – […]
more…23 Jan, 2017
ASEAN@50: Singapore disappoints with lacklustre Tourism Forum
Singapore — ASEAN tourism is one of the world’s great, if not the greatest, success stories. As the 10-country bloc marks its 50th anniversary, tourism is clearly established as a bedrock industry that has created billions of dollars worth of prosperity, jobs and income. The former battlefields of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have emerged from […]
more…19 Jan, 2017
Pek Hock Thiam, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Promotion Board
Date of Birth: 6 October 1941 Nationality: Singaporean Education: 1964 : Honors in Economics, University of Singapore Career: 1964 – 1969 : Shipping Executive, P&O Lines (biggest shipping line in the world then) 1969 – 1972 : Administrative Assistant, Ministry of Finance, Singapore (taxation, custom duties, rates & fees) 1972 – 1988 : Deputy Secretary, Ministry […]
more…19 Jan, 2017
Mr. Suparerk Soorangura, President, Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association
Date and Place of birth: 10 January 1951, Chachoengsao Education: Assumption Commercial College, Thammasat University, Faculty of Economics Marital status: Married with two sons. Position: Managing Director, N.S. Travel & Tours Co Ltd. Work Experience Betagro Co.,Ltd. 1974-1990: Australian Embassy, Bangkok 1990-Present: -N.S. Travel & Tours Co.,Ltd; SERENATA Hotels & Resorts Group Business positions – Managing […]
more…18 Jan, 2017
ASEAN@50 campaign brand confusion: Historic look at how it transpired, and how to fix it
SINGAPORE – As the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2017 gets under way here this week, one of the big rah-rah announcements will be a range of activities to promote the VisitASEAN@50 campaign. While that has got everyone excited, one key underlying issue remains unaddressed — the confusion and lack of clarity over the ASEAN brand image […]
more…16 Jan, 2017
First Palestinian Embassy Opened in Vatican City
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 16 January 2017 (17 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA Win FREE trips in Malaysia by entering […]
more…13 Jan, 2017
Les Clark, Tourism Planning Consultant, Greater Mekong Subregion
Date and Place of Birth: November 1, 1950, Wellington, New Zealand Marital Status: Twice married with one son Education: University of Auckland, 1970-73; Colorado State University, 1977-78; University of Surrey 1985-86. Career: 1986 – 2004: Partner, Tourism Resource Consultants. 2004 – 2008: Director, Tourism Resource Consultants Ltd 2008 – 2013: Senior Associate, TRC Tourism […]
more…13 Jan, 2017
Dr. Mina Gabor, First Woman Secretary, Department of Tourism, The Philippines
Date of Birth: 13 September 1939 Family: Widowed Education: – St. Scholastica’s College High School – BS in Commerce, University of Sto. Tomas – Master in Business Administration, University of the Philippines – PhD in Entreprenology, International University of Entreprenology, Hawaii Career: 2011 – Present: Founder and President, International School of Sustainable Tourism 2011 – […]
more…13 Jan, 2017
The world at a crossroads – M.K. Narayan, The Hindu
The policy outlook for 2017 appears not too promising. Geopolitical risks will remain high. No improvement in the present unstable global order appears likely. New terror patterns will increase the lethality of terror attacks. Digital disruption and cyberthreats are poised to grow. The economic outlook, likewise, appears pessimistic, with the global economy caught in a […]
more…13 Jan, 2017
The Imminent Demise of U.S. “Leadership”
Bangkok – In a few days, the world’s most powerful country will undergo a change in leadership. As the transition nears, it is becoming more than apparent that trouble looms, trouble that will have a significant impact on the way the world works and, by extension, on global travel & tourism. The Trump presidency will […]
more…10 Jan, 2017
Naphalai Areesorn, Founding President, Thai Spa Association
Date of Birth: 18 May, 1952 Family: Married with two sons Education: Early schooling in Singapore and Malaysia. BA in Languages, Colorado Women’s College, USA; EMBA, Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration, Chulalongkorn University Career: 2001 – present: Editor-in-Chief, Thailand Tatler. Heads the editorial team of Blue Mango Publishing, publisher of Thailand Tatler and […]
more…10 Jan, 2017
William E. Heinecke, Founder, CEO & Chairman, the Minor Group, Thailand
Date and Place of Birth: June 4, 1949, USA Marital and Family Status: Married with two children. Education; Bangkok International School 1963 – 1967, previously based in Japan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Career First employment venture was selling advertising next to his go-karting column in the Bangkok Post which proved so successful that at 17 […]
more…10 Jan, 2017
Lebanon to launch first Beirut Restaurants Festival
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 January 2017 (11 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA Win FREE trips in Malaysia by entering […]
more…9 Jan, 2017
Elizabeth P. de la Fuente, Executive Director, Hotel & Restaurant Association, the Philippines
Place and date of Birth: 09 June 1944 Marital Status: Married with two daughters and two sons Education 1964 Maryknoll College, Liberal Arts Major in English Literature, Minor in Psychology. Dean’s List of honour students 1978-80 Executive Sessions, Conference Management Programme, Yale University. 1979 Convention Management Programme, International Association of Professional Congress Organisations. 1985-85 Executive […]
more…9 Jan, 2017
Sheikh Jamaluddin bin Sheikh Mohamed, CEO, Brunei Tourist Board
Date and Place of Birth: 3 Oct 1957, Brunei Darussalam Marital status: Married with two sons. Education 1993-1994: Imperial College, University of London, Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management), Diploma Imperial College, Final year project: Banking Strategy in Europe 1978-1982 University of Teessdie, England, B.Sc (Hons) Computer and Mathematical Sciences Full time 4 years […]
more…4 Jan, 2017
Two UN Chiefs set Travel & Tourism a challenging agenda for 2017 and beyond
Bangkok – New Year statements released by two top United Nations executives have set the stage for some heavy-duty soul-searching within the travel & tourism industry in the months and years ahead. Although their core and extremely important messages deserve introspective analysis and, perhaps even more important, rigorous debate in industry forums, it is highly […]
more…4 Jan, 2017
Deir Ballout: A village struggling against Israeli settlement expansion
DEIR BALLOUT, SALFIT, January 2, 2017 (WAFA) – Israel has recently been intensifying its violations of Palestinian rights through expansion of settlements, land grab and restriction on construction of regular and farm roads in the villages of Kufr al-Deek, Deir Ballout and al-Zawiyah, located to the west of Salfit in the north of the West […]
more…2 Jan, 2017
New Cricket Stadiums Emerging in Afghanistan
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 January 2017 (04 Rabee’ al-Thaani 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 2017: MALAYSIA MARKS VISIT PAHANG, TERENGGANU AND […]
more…29 Dec, 2016
Jewish Rabbi to Muslims: “We Are With You”
The following release was circulated by Rabbi Alissa Wise, Deputy Director, Jewish Voice for Peace, on 28 December 2016. Yesterday I had the honor of speaking at the largest gathering of American Muslims in the US at the 15th Annual MAS-ICNA conference. As part of the interfaith symposium, I brought the message from JVP loud […]
more…29 Dec, 2016
Remarks by John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, on UN Security Council Resolution 2334
The Dean Acheson Auditorium, Washington, DC, December 28, 2016 SECRETARY KERRY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very, very much. Thank you. (Coughs.) Excuse me. Thank you for your patience, all of you. For those of you who celebrated Christmas, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Happy Chanukah. And to everybody here, […]
more…26 Dec, 2016
Iranian inventor develops Braille touchscreen
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 26 Dec 2016 (27 Rabi Al-Awwal 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA HAILS MALAYSIAN WINNER OF “FUNNIEST PERSON […]
more…22 Dec, 2016
India’s small businesses facing ‘apocalypse’ – The Guardian
India’s vast informal economy has been reeling since 8 November, the morning after India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, announced the sudden voiding of the country’s two most-used bank notes. It is the largest-scale financial experiment in Indian history: gutting 14 trillion rupees – 86% of the currency in circulation – from the most cash-dependent major […]
more…21 Dec, 2016
Tips to deal with technology, and other “concentration killers”
Technology may be making the world a more connected place. But being constantly connected can have its downsides. Whether you’re living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or just have trouble focusing from time to time, today’s world is full of concentration killers. In this dispatch reproduced from the WebMD website, Psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino, […]
more…19 Dec, 2016
Islamic Information Ministers to chart anti-Islamophobia strategy
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islamfor the week ending 19 December 2016 (19 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA HAILS MALAYSIAN WINNER OF “FUNNIEST PERSON […]
more…16 Dec, 2016
Washington Post columnist openly warns of “Trump’s coming war against Islam”
The Deputy Editorial Page Editor of the Washington Post has sounded a stark warning that the incoming Trump administration is set to trigger a “War against Islam” that could lead to a potentially devastating “civilizational conflict”. In a column published on Dec 11, Jackson Diehl, a 38-year veteran reporter and foreign correspondent of the reputed […]
more…15 Dec, 2016
Understanding the Real Importance of the Thailand Halal Assembly 2016
Bangkok – The Thailand Halal Assembly 2016 held between 9-11 December had a special meaning well beyond its overt status as the country’s largest trade show for Muslim-friendly products and services. Against the backdrop of global and regional geopolitics, and the passing of the revered Thai monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, the event showed […]
more…12 Dec, 2016
Afghanistan Tourism Mulls Challenges & Opportunities
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 12 December 2016 (13 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 1MALAYSIA YEAR-END SALE IS BACK! Grab the […]
more…10 Dec, 2016
“Halal Route” app launched in Thailand to facilitate Muslim travellers
Bangkok – The positioning of Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination has taken another step forward with the launch of a Halal Route app designed to help Muslim business and leisure travellers find tourism products and services suited to their religious and cultural requirements. The app, which can be downloaded here http://halalroute.in.th/, was unveiled at the […]
more…5 Dec, 2016
CALL FOR ENTRIES: US$280,00 Saudi award for Environmental Management in Islamic World
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 05 December 2016 (06 Rabi al-Awwal 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 1MALAYSIA YEAR-END SALE IS BACK! Grab the […]
more…29 Nov, 2016
The links between an Australian billionaire and Netanyahu’s family – Haaretz.com
New details have emerged on the ties between Yair Netanyahu, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son, and Australian billionaire James Packer, a close confidant of the prime minister. It seems that the younger Netanyahu has received more than just a few free nights in Packer’s Tel Aviv apartment, as was reported two weeks ago. Channel 10’s […]
more…29 Nov, 2016
UN Security Council Seats Taken by Top Global Arms Exporters
Nine of the world’s top ten arms exporters will sit on the UN Security Council between mid-2016 and mid-2018. The nine include four rotating members — Spain, Ukraine, Italy and the Netherlands — from Europe, as well as the council’s five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to […]
more…29 Nov, 2016
California law students take pledge against Israel travel junket
Law students at the University of California, Berkeley say that almost 90 classmates have pledged not to participate in a privately funded free trip to Israel. The trip will be facilitated by a New York City-based Israel advocacy organization that has received funding from the Israeli government. “People said, ‘I wasn’t going anyway, I’m happy […]
more…28 Nov, 2016
Iran, Russia To Simplify Visa Issuance for Tour Groups
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 28 November 2016 (28 Safar 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 1MALAYSIA YEAR-END SALE IS BACK! Grab the best […]
more…21 Nov, 2016
Education & Science in OIC Countries 2016 Report Released
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 21 November 2016 (21 Safar 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 1MALAYSIA YEAR-END SALE IS BACK! Grab the best […]
more…18 Nov, 2016
Is Travel & Tourism Ready for the Return of The Ugly American?
Bangkok – In 1963, Hollywood released what has turned out to be a very futuristic, fortuitous film called “The Ugly American.” Based on a 1958 book of the same name, it starred the legendary Marlon Brando as the U.S. ambassador to a fictitious Southeast Asian country named “Sarkan” where a civil war is looming. According […]
more…14 Nov, 2016
New Islamic Cultural Centre to be built in Croatia
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islamfor the week ending 14 November 2016 (14 Safar 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA ALITRIP MALAYSIA TOURISM PAVILION SETS TO BOOST TOURIST ARRIVALS […]
more…14 Nov, 2016
Creative Korea spreads welcome mat for Muslim businesswomen
Gangneung City, Korea — Korea’s status as a Muslim-friendly destination took giant leap forward with the convening of a high-level Forum of businesswomen from Korea and the Islamic world. Held in this East Coast city of Gangwon province, the 8-9 November event saw a strong turnout of women from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Senegal, Sudan, Spain, […]
more…11 Nov, 2016
Jordanian airline takes jab at Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ in Election Day ad
Jordan’s national airline carrier has posted an advertisement that takes a jab at presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims by offering an Election Day sale of fares to locations in the United States while Muslims are still let into the country. “Just in case he wins…Travel to the US while you’re still allowed […]
more…11 Nov, 2016
Arab, Muslim, Jewish rights groups unite to confront Trump’s anti-Muslim agenda
Bangkok – Of all the areas of uncertainty plaguing the incoming Trump Administration, perhaps the most worrisome is the future of its relations with the Islamic world. Given the slew of anti-Muslim statements made by Mr. Trump during his election campaign, and the warm words he has exchanged within days of his victory with two […]
more…7 Nov, 2016
Indonesian Univ developing world’s first anti-corruption website
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 07 November 2016 (07 Safar 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA ALITRIP MALAYSIA TOURISM PAVILION SETS TO BOOST TOURIST […]
more…3 Nov, 2016
Israeli officer says he made up one of the IDF’s most iconic tales of heroism – Haaretz.com
A senior Israeli army officer who fought in the Yom Kippur War says he made up one of the most famous tales of Israeli heroism in that war, in an effort to boost morale. In a report broadcast Friday night on Channel 2, Israel Defense Forces Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Nafshi said he concocted the […]
more…3 Nov, 2016
To Understand the Value of a Middle East Peace, Visit Jordan
Amman – A multi-million dollar real estate project coming up in the southern Jordanian resort city of Aqaba will create thousands of new jobs in one of the most strategically located countries of the Middle East. It is also well placed to become a symbol of how such projects, and indeed all forms of economic […]
more…3 Nov, 2016
How Britain Destroyed the Palestinian Homeland – Ramzy Baroud, Al Jazeera
By Ramzy Baroud When I was a child growing up in a Gaza refugee camp, I looked forward to November 2. On that day, every year, thousands of students and camp residents would descend upon the main square of the camp, carrying Palestinian flags and placards, to denounce the Balfour Declaration. Truthfully, my giddiness then […]
more…2 Nov, 2016
Unmatched Visionary Coverage of “Sufficiency Economy” in Travel & Tourism
Bangkok – I am proud to have been crusading since 2000 for the Thai, ASEAN and Asia-Pacific travel & tourism industry to pay more serious attention to the concept of the “Sufficiency Economy”. Regrettably, the industry has shown little interest. The subject is not as “sexy” as the latest social media gadgetry or disruption phenomena, […]
more…1 Nov, 2016
The U.S. elections will Expedite the Fall of the American Empire
Bangkok – Of all the forces of dystopia and disruption facing the world and the travel & tourism industry today, the greatest impact will be felt by the outcome of the current U.S. elections. A few hundred million Americans (or less than 5% of the global population) will elect a man or woman who will […]
more…31 Oct, 2016
British woman launches first online Islamic toy store
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 31 October 2016 (30 Muharram 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA WINS ‘BEST ECO-VACATION’ AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER […]
more…29 Oct, 2016
Advocates say complaints of ‘flying while Muslim’ often go nowhere – The Washington Post
Ever so often, a Muslim is removed from a flight because the person posed an imaginary threat that had more to do with Islamophobia than terrorism, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) says. CAIR says recent terror attacks and the debate over immigration during this year’s presidential campaign have contributed to a sharp increase in […]
more…24 Oct, 2016
IDB launches multiple initiatives to invest in young people
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 24 October 2016 (23 Muharram 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA WINS ‘BEST ECO-VACATION’ AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER […]
more…21 Oct, 2016
How the King’s death impacted Thailand’s inbound/outbound travel
Bangkok – October is an important month for the Thai travel industry. On the inbound sector, it marks the start of the “high season”. On the outbound sector, it is the school holiday period during which many Thai families take a trip abroad. News of the death of His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej on Oct […]
more…20 Oct, 2016
SMEs, Africans big winners at World Tourism Conference 2016 in Penang
Penang, Malaysia — The travel & tourism industry broke new ground at the World Tourism Conference organised in the Malaysian coastal city of Penang between 17-18 October. Free registrations for all 733 delegates from 32 countries and powerful speakers who delivered practical, insightful, well-researched content combined to produce an event that more than lived up […]
more…17 Oct, 2016
Korea’s Gangwon province to host Islamic Businesswomen’s Forum
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 17 October 2016 (16 Muharram 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA BRINGS IN ASEAN CELEBS & MEDIA FOR […]
more…16 Oct, 2016
To Honour King Bhumibhol, Time is Ripe for a “Sufficiency Economy Tourism Year”
Bangkok – The Thai government’s official communications unit, the Public Relations Department, has uploaded an e-book containing a comprehensive history of the Sufficiency Economy, the insightful development philosophy espoused by the late monarch, His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. Anyone reading through “Harmony with Nature: The Royal Wisdom of King Bhumihol,” will be overwhelmed by its […]
more…10 Oct, 2016
Letter from South Africa: The prison where white supremacists jailed Nelson Mandela for 18 years
Robben Island, South Africa — No visit to South Africa is complete without a tour of Robben Island, described by the UNESCO World Heritage documentation as a symbol of “the triumph of the human spirit, of freedom, and of democracy over oppression.” This is where anti-apartheid leader and first President of a democratic South Africa, […]
more…10 Oct, 2016
Turkish President leads first drive through Europe-Asia tunnel
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 10 October 2016 (09 Muharram 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL ABORIGINES ARTS FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN […]
more…5 Oct, 2016
Letter from South Africa: Apartheid Museum Shows How Fearless People Power Ended White Supremacy
Johannesburg – The world celebrated World Tourism Day 2016 in Bangkok, my home city. As global tourism leaders congregated in the Thai capital, I left to spend World Tourism Day and indeed most of September 2016 in South Africa – Nelson Mandela country. This, because I felt it important to respond to a higher calling. […]
more…3 Oct, 2016
First British ambassador performs Hajj with Syrian wife
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 03 October 2016 (02 Muharram 1438). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL ABORIGINES ARTS FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN […]
more…3 Oct, 2016
Letter from South Africa: Travel & Tourism awaits its Gandhi and/or Mandela
Johannesburg — Sunday Oct 2 commemorated the 147th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Republic of India. The event, marked globally as the International Day of Non-Violence, witnessed the usual round of solemn speeches and tributes. This year, I was fortunate to mark the event in South Africa, the country where the seeds […]
more…29 Sep, 2016
World Tourism Day: The Best Reporting on Universal Accessibility in Travel & Tourism
Bangkok – The theme of the 2016 World Tourism Day is “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility”. Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil has been at the forefront of reporting on Inclusive Travel and Universal Accessibility. Below is a compendium of dispatches published since 2005 on this subject. No other travel publication can […]
more…26 Sep, 2016
Switzerland votes in favour of greater surveillance – The Guardian
Swiss voters have approved a new surveillance law, after the government argued that security services needed enhanced powers in an increasingly volatile world. The proposed law won 65.5% support, final results on Sunday showed. Switzerland’s police and intelligence agencies have had limited investigative tools compared with other developed countries. Phone tapping and email surveillance were […]
more…26 Sep, 2016
Facebook says sorry for disabling accounts of Palestinian journalists, activists – Hindustan Times
Facebook has apologised for disabling accounts of several Palestinian journalists and activists, saying “the pages were removed in error and restored as soon as we were able to investigate”. An anti-Facebook campaign was launched after the social networking giant deleted the accounts of Palestinian journalists and several publications last weekend, TRTWorld reported on Monday. “Our […]
more…26 Sep, 2016
Aceh wins three Indonesian Halal Tourism awards
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 26 September 2016 (24 Dhul Ḥijjah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE […]
more…21 Sep, 2016
Germany charges official with spying on Sikhs for India – The Indian Express
BERLIN: A German immigration official has been arrested and charged with espionage for an Indian secret service for allegedly spying on members of the Sikh religion, prosecutors said Tuesday. The 58-year-old German national, identified only by the initials T S P, was accused of “espionage activity and violation of professional secrecy rules in 45 cases,” […]
more…21 Sep, 2016
Why Palestine, Zimbabwe made history at PTM 2016
Jakarta – The inaugural presence of Zimbabwe and Palestine at the Sept 7-9 PATA Travel Mart in Jakarta was more than just an ordinary trade event. It was a statement of geopolitical defiance – defiance against what both destinations refer to as negative perceptions conveyed by the Western-controlled mainstream media – and an appeal to […]
more…19 Sep, 2016
Brunei Packages Promote Grandeur of Temburong National Park
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 19 September 2016 (17 Dhul Ḥijjah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE […]
more…17 Sep, 2016
How Everything Became War – Book Review – Truthdig
The laser-guided Hellfire missile is highly accurate. When one is fired from a Predator drone at an alleged enemy of the United States, whether in the deserts of Yemen, the mountains of Pakistan or elsewhere, it rarely misses. The remarkable innovation of pairing an unmanned aerial vehicle with a deadly precise missile emerged soon after […]
more…15 Sep, 2016
Pro-Israel donor suspended by Labour | The Electronic Intifada
A millionaire donor to the UK’s Labour Party has been suspended by party officials after lashing out at supporters of left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn as Nazis. The BBC reported on Sunday that Michael Foster had been suspended for breaching party rules prohibiting abuse. Foster is a supporter of Israel, and last year heckled a speech […]
more…15 Sep, 2016
What Did We Buy With the $5 Trillion That the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Have Cost Us? – Juan Cole – Truthdig
A Brown University political scientist estimates that as of 2016, The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars have cost the American taxpayers $5 trillion. That number isn’t important when we consider the human cost: Some 7,000 US troops dead, 52,000 wounded in action; hundreds of thousands of Iraqis dead who wouldn’t otherwise be, 4 million displaced and […]
more…13 Sep, 2016
India’s anti-Muslim campaign continues, Urdu cultural centre shut down
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) might have quite missed the irony of this action on their part – barely two years after they named a crossroads in Bhendi Bazaar, the city’s Muslim enclave, as the “Urdu Markaz Chowk” the authorities shut down the Urdu cultural centre after which the square was named within two days […]
more…12 Sep, 2016
Bangladesh to host PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 12 September 2016 (10 Dhul Ḥijjah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE […]
more…12 Sep, 2016
PATA Mart 2016 proves that Big is Not Necessarily Beautiful
Jakarta – PATA’s steady turnound remained on track at the 39th PATA Travel Mart between Sept 7-9, the fifth to be held in Indonesia. While the turnout of roughly 1,000 delegates for the PTM and its associate events still paled in comparison to the heydays of the 1990s, the Mart is now well set as […]
more…9 Sep, 2016
I didn’t realize how often Muslims get kicked off planes, until it happened to me – Niala Mohammad, The Guardian
A recent news report documented the removal of two Muslim women working for the federal government from an American Airline flight. On its surface the airline staff appeared to be upholding safety regulations, but in reality they were engaging in discriminatory practices. I know this to be true because I was one of the two […]
more…9 Sep, 2016
Kerala govt to check Hindutva extremist outfits, ban arms training in temples | The Indian Express
Moving ahead with its resolve to check the activities of the Sangh Parivar outfits at the temples of the state, the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala is all set to come out with a circular banning any type of arms-training drills at the shrine complexes. The state Devaswom department has taken the initiative to issue […]
more…8 Sep, 2016
10 new wars that could be unleashed as a result of the one against ISIS – The Washington Post
The borders of the Islamic State’s “caliphate” are shrinking fast. The group’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria are collapsing one by one. The U.S.-led war has reached a point where questions are being raised about what comes next. So far, the answer seems likely to be: more war. That’s partly because the U.S. strategy for […]
more…7 Sep, 2016
The Burkini debate: An Asian Perspective
Jakarta – When the PATA Travel Mart opened on Sept 7, one of the speakers at a session on Innovation and Technology was Shinta Witoyo Dhanuwardoyo, Founder of Bubu.com, one of Indonesia’s leading full-service Digital Agency. She is also a leading woman entrepreneur in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. Mrs Shinta (or Ibu Shinta as […]
more…6 Sep, 2016
One man’s nightmare experience of applying for a German visa in Karachi – DAWN.COM
By Umair Ali Khan — I was recently awarded a fellowship by the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics (ERCIM) in Germany. After receiving the necessary documentation from my host institution Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS), I proceeded to apply for a German visa on Aug 26. From the German consulate website, I […]
more…6 Sep, 2016
Prison tourism: Spend a day in this 220-year-old Telangana jail – Hindustan Times
You forfeit your freedom the moment you step in and the huge door closes behind. You then get stripped of your belongings one by one: the pen, the wrist watch, mobile phone and everything else. Stripped to the bone, a coarse khaki white dress with blue stripes is handed over to wear. You are then […]
more…5 Sep, 2016
Pakistan hosts International Heritage, Museum Conference
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 05 September 2016 (04 Dhul Ḥijjah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. Wishing all my readers a blessed and peaceful Eid Ul Adha. ============ A WORD FROM […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Stop feeding the news machine – World News Publishing Focus
Newsrooms should stop burdening their resources to provide continuous breaking news updates that the audiences don’t need, Laufer said. “If your house is on fire, you will need to know about it immediately so that you can leave. But if someone else’s house is on fire, and he or she is on another continent an […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
To curb plastic bottles, “water ATMs” to be installed in Chandigarh – The Indian Express
With an aim to conserve the environment and to minimise the usage of plastic bottles, the civic body has decided to set up water ATM’s at 20 different locations in the city by this month. The water ATM’s would help curbing usage of 26,000 kilograms of plastic bottles used in Chandigarh per year. A committee […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Five reasons to wear a burkini, and not just to annoy the French – The Guardian
By Remona Aly Wahey – it’s that time again, people! The burkini is all the rage for the ump-flippin-teenth time, and our latest dip into controversial swimwear politics comes from – you’ll never guess – the French. The mayor of Cannes is going trigger-ban happy by curtailing the right to swim while covered on the […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Israeli prison ‘like being inside a grave’ – Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera: Can you tell us about your time in solitary confinement? Amal al-Sada: I was completely isolated. I did not see day or night. It was like being inside a grave. I spent two weeks without a shower because the bathroom I had was open and directly facing the door of the cell, so […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Indian Railways helps passengers quench their thirst, get a good sleep – The Hindu
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the Bangalore division of the South Western Railways (SWR) launched an e-bedroll facility and water-vending machines at the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Station (earlier known as City Railway Station) on Monday morning. The e-bedrolls kits are of two types – one containing two cotton bed sheets and […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Record payouts to UK veterans with mental health disorders – The Independent
The number of serving and ex-forces personnel being awarded compensation for mental disorders has hit record levels, leading to fears that we are now starting to see the true cost of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars in the form of the mental scars left on those who had to fight them. Analysis of Armed Forces […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
BJP Chief: Nationalism questioned in the name of freedom of expression – Hindustan Times
BJP President Amit Shah said on Sunday nationalism was being questioned in the name of freedom of expression and “propaganda” against nationalism could not be considered as freedom of speech. “It has become a fashion for some people nowadays to question nationalism. This is being done in different places and new theories are being planted. […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
IsDB seeks nominations for US$450,000 awards in Science, Tech & Women in Development
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 29 August 2016 (26 Dhul Qadah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA NO REGISTRATION FEE FOR WORLD TOURISM CONFERENCE […]
more…29 Aug, 2016
Israeli firm accused of creating iPhone spyware – The Guardian
An Israeli technology company has been accused of creating and supplying an aggressive interception program capable of taking over Apple’s iPhones and turning them into remote spying devices, after it was allegedly used to target a Middle Eastern human rights activist and others.The discovery, announced on Thursday, prompted Apple to issue an urgent software update […]
more…19 Aug, 2016
Attacks in Thailand: Visitor arrivals on upturn already
Bangkok – Arrivals to Thailand are again heading upwards, barely a week after the Aug 11-12 bomb and arson attacks in various tourist destinations of Peninsula Thailand. The turnaround is a strong indicator of visitor confidence in the Thai tourism industry, and the diminishing global impact of low-grade, one-off attacks on travel & tourism. Daily […]
more…19 Aug, 2016
UN ESCAP issues first report on State of ICT in Asia-Pacific 2016
Bangkok, 19 August 2016, UN ESCAP media release – Despite the widely reported phenomenal growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Asia-Pacific region, a new study by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), has found that broadband capabilities and access are highly concentrated in East and […]
more…18 Aug, 2016
Why tourism will remain a victim of terrorism
Bangkok – Albert Einstein is credited with the quote which defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Clearly, that definition applies to the travel & tourism industry which, after every act of terrorism, issues a routine condemnation and then foolishly expects that to make any difference […]
more…17 Aug, 2016
Attacks in Thailand: Hot-off-the-Press statistics show minimal arrivals impact
Bangkok – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports this morning posted the stats of daily arrivals at five international gateway airports (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Haad Yai) for the month of August to show the full impact of the Aug 11-12 bomb and arson attacks. The detailed stats include arrivals and departures […]
more…16 Aug, 2016
Attacks In Thailand: Much More To It Than Meets The Eye
Bangkok – The explosions and suspected arson attacks in many popular Thai tourism destinations reflect five systemic and universal failures. Partially the result of living in denial and refusing to heed the lessons of history, they may hopefully lead to renewed policy approach and a more hard-nosed discourse about the inter-linkages between politically-motivated violence, safety […]
more…15 Aug, 2016
Islamic medical tradition “hijama” used by Olympic swimming champ
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 15 August 2016 (12 Dhul Qa’dah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA AUGUST MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR MALAYSIA Proclamations […]
more…10 Aug, 2016
Islamic designs flag rising popularity, elegance of “modest fashion”
Jakarta – Islamic fashion is spearheading the rise of a new global trend known as “modest fashion”. After years of designing clothes that “reduced women to objects of sexual desire or just used to sell merchandise”, global fashion houses are awakening to this new trend. At a broader level, this pursuit of the middle-path is […]
more…8 Aug, 2016
China launches first organised tours to Kazakhstan
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 08 August 2016 (05 Dhul Qa’dah 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA AUGUST MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR MALAYSIA Proclamations […]
more…3 Aug, 2016
The Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s speech that the Myanmar tourism industry must read
Jakarta – Sri Lanka and Myanmar have much in common. Both are Buddhist-majority countries which have recently come in from the cold, Myanmar after decades of military dictatorship, and Sri Lanka after decades of a bitter internecine ethnic conflict. Both have one more thing in common: a sizable Muslim minority. That’s where the similarities end, […]
more…2 Aug, 2016
Malaysian PM blasts “foreign interventions” as cause of violence and conflict in Islamic world
Jakarta — Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has warned the Islamic countries against “foreign interventions” which he said have unleashed a “Pandora’s Box of sectarian conflict.” He also blasted “those who, out of political motivation, call for foreign powers to intervene in their own country.” The speech by the Malaysian PM at the opening […]
more…1 Aug, 2016
Jakarta all set for 12th World Islamic Economic Forum
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 01 August 2016 (27 Shawwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA AUGUST MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR MALAYSIA Proclamations of […]
more…30 Jul, 2016
Thailand’s biggest mall hosts its first World Halal Fest
Bangkok – Both the causes of promoting Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination and socio-cultural-economic integration within ASEAN took another giant leap forward with the organisation of the kingdom’s first World Halal Fest (WHF), an extravaganza of Thai-Muslim business, arts, music and culture, at the CentralWorld Shopping Complex, Thailand’s biggest mall. Former ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Surin […]
more…26 Jul, 2016
“Terror”: This hypocritical catch-all term has finally caught us out – Robert Fisk, The Independent
The frightful and bloody hours of Friday night and Saturday morning in Munich and Kabul – despite the 3,000 miles that separate the two cities – provided a highly instructive lesson in the semantics of horror and hypocrisy. I despair of that generic old hate-word, “terror”. It long ago became the punctuation mark and signature […]
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