Author Archive
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 […]
more…25 Jul, 2016
UNWTO peace tourism conference helps Sri Lanka strengthen swords-to-ploughshares strategy
Passikudah, Sri Lanka – Seven years after the guns fell silent in Sri Lanka, the former battlefields of the country’s North and East Coasts hosted the first UN World Tourism Organisation conference on how tourism can play a role in building local, regional, social, cultural and communal peace. It was the perfect theme in the […]
more…25 Jul, 2016
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca a Jewel of Islamic art
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 25 July 2016 (20 Shawwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA & MALAYSIA AIRLINES RESUME COLLABORATION Tourism […]
more…24 Jul, 2016
India-born Muslim heads security at a US Hindu temple – Times of India
WASHINGTON, PTI | Jul 24, 2016: A Mumbai-born Muslim police officer is the security incharge of the largest Hindu temple in the Indianapolis city of US, setting an example of inter- faith cooperation and social harmony at a time when religious intolerance rhetoric is on the rise due to the election cycle. An eight-degree black-belt […]
more…24 Jul, 2016
Gaza’s rich history is potential tourism draw – The Electronic Intifada
On a sandy Rafah hilltop in mid-April, a few workers were digging carefully into the dry land. The excavators, their tools basic, were from Gaza’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The site they were digging — at 40 acres, Tel Rafah is among the largest of Gaza’s 30-odd archaeological sites — is believed to contain […]
more…20 Jul, 2016
How the Spineless Travel & Tourism Industry Rewards Failure
The annual Global Travel Price Outlook just released by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) is positioned as a comprehensive look at travel pricing and the macro-economic influencers that drive it. In addition to forecasting weaker-than-expected performance for all major global economies well into 2017, the report cites a range […]
more…20 Jul, 2016
Futurist professor flags dangers of Project for the New American Century
Professor Emeritus Jim Dator of the Hawaii Research Center for Futures Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, has joined me in flagging the global dangers posed by the Project for The New American Century. Last week, Prof Dator sent me the draft of a speech entitled “Mortgage Banking for the New American Empire, and other […]
more…20 Jul, 2016
Indian Culture ministry readies “grading system” for artists, writers – Hindustan Times
The government has decided to introduce a rating system for artists and writers on the basis of which they will get to represent India, the Indian Express has reported. The culture ministry, under a pilot project, has already graded 185 artists into three categories — O (outstanding), P (promising), W (waiting), a report said Monday. […]
more…20 Jul, 2016
American Nuremberg: The U.S. Officials Who Should Stand Trial for Post-9/11 War Crimes
No subject is more hotly debated than the extreme measures that the U.S. government has taken after 9/11 in the name of national security. Torture, extraordinary rendition, drone assassinations, secret detention centers (or “black sites”), massive surveillance of citizens. But while the press occasionally exposes the dark side of the war on terror and congressional […]
more…20 Jul, 2016
The PM and the politics of questioning – The Hindu
Recently, there were two interesting developments. First, as the second anniversary celebrations of the BJP-led NDA government began, a BJP spokesperson tweeted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the “most hardworking PM ever in Indian history”. The reason was that Mr. Modi delivered a speech every 45.6 hours in two years. And second, this summer, […]
more…18 Jul, 2016
World Tourism Conference 2016 to be held in Penang
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 18 July 2016 (13 Shawwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA & MALAYSIA AIRLINES RESUME COLLABORATION Tourism […]
more…16 Jul, 2016
What an official 9/ 11 photographer filmed and why he says it cost him his freedom
HOURS after planes flew into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, Kurt Sonnenfeld was given unrestricted access to ground zero. Sonnenfeld was working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an organisation tied to the US Department of Homeland Security and charged with co-ordinating first response to disasters. Armed with camera gear, […]
more…16 Jul, 2016
How Buddhist tax accountants and whistle blowers can change the world
By Max Lawson I can only guess at the panic in the boardrooms of the investment banks and particularly at the big four accounting firms – Deloittes, PwC, KPMG and Ernst & Young, who between them have almost complete oversight over the business of aggressive tax planning by the major corporations. But no amount of […]
more…16 Jul, 2016
Violence stalks journalists across India as perpetrators roam free – Hindustan Times
Journalists across the country are increasingly facing threats and intimidation. As per available data, shared in the Lok Sabha by Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, Minister of State (Home Affairs), in March, a total of 114 cases were registered under attack on media person (grievously hurt) during 2014. Some 32 persons were arrested. However, the cases hardly […]
more…11 Jul, 2016
Cuba’s small Muslim community marks end of Ramadan
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 11 July 2016 (06 Shawwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA 1MALAYSIA MEGA SALE CARNIVAL UNTIL 1 AUGUST 2016 […]
more…8 Jul, 2016
Bravo Britain: How the Chilcot Report will benefit global travel & tourism
The Chilcot report investigating the British government’s decision-making under former Prime Minister Tony Blair over the 2003 attack on Iraq will, over time, have a hugely positive impact on global travel & tourism. It has made a quantum-leap contribution to the global principles of good governance, transparency, accountability and the pursuit of truth. If the […]
more…6 Jul, 2016
Sole Bangladeshi Nobel laureate links terrorism to ongoing Middle East conflicts
Bangkok – Bangladesh’s only Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has issued a statement linking the 1 July terrorist attack in Dhaka to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, asserting that the world “must wake up to the fact that violence in one place breeds violence even in remotest places of the world.” The statement should be […]
more…5 Jul, 2016
London mayor appoints Indore-born Rajesh Agrawal as deputy – Hindustan Times
London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday appointed Indore-born Rajesh Agrawal as his deputy mayor for business to boost the city’s interests following the European Union referendum. Khan tasked Agrawal, who arrived in Britain in 2001 and grew a two-person enterprise into a multi-million pound business, with championing London’s interests and protecting jobs and growth while […]
more…4 Jul, 2016
The Real “Disruption” is Still to Come: Book Forecasts Fall of the American Empire
In January 2006, one of Asia’s most prominent social activists published a stark warning that a system which allows less than 60 million Americans to vote for a person who gains power to determine, with zero accountability, the fate of the rest of the world, is deeply flawed, deserves to collapse and eventually will. The […]
more…4 Jul, 2016
South African journalist Aaisha Patel’s Ramadan Diaries
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 July 2016 (29 Ramadan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA LAUNCH OF 1MALAYSIA MEGA SALE CARNIVAL 2016 & […]
more…29 Jun, 2016
The biggest global mistake exposed by the Brexit vote is….
Bangkok – The biggest global mistake exposed by the Brexit vote is the fallacious assumption that the rich, famous and powerful know it all. They don’t. Since time immemorial, the content of travel industry conferences and events has remained chock-full of the inevitable top-down approach which assumes that if you are rich, powerful, famous or […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
Brexit: BBC journalist called a ‘p**i’ as Muslim Council warns of rising Islamophobia – The Independent
A BBC journalist has been called a racially abusive term she had “not heard since the 80s” as reseachers warned the EU campaigns have “stoked” Islamophobia in Britain. Sima Kotecha, who is a reporter for Radio Four, expressed her shock after being called a “p**i” in her home town of Basingstoke in the immediate aftermath […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
This country is no longer safe for immigrants – The Independent
Much of liberal Britain woke up this morning (or went to bed) believing they’d encountered a different side to the country. That 17 million odd people voted to leave the EU was an indication of racism and xenophobia, it was immediately decided that this was anti-migrant vote. The shock and surprise was palpable. There’s a […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
Israel accused of ‘cruel and inhuman’ border crossing conditions for Palestinians by NGO – The Independent
A human rights NGO has accused Israel of forcing Palestinians to withstand “cruel and inhuman” conditions at its borders. The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, also known as B’Tselem, said even those with legitimate work permits were being made to wait for hours in extremely hot weather. B’Tselem posted an […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
Across the world minds are narrowing. We must fight back – The Guardian
This may seem like an unrelated pair. One was a British MP, one a Pakistani singer. But within one week, the two were killed by their countrymen. They were humanists. They faced outwards, at a moment when fascists are trying to shove us into cages of religion or race. They stood up for universal values, […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
Brexit – A Victim of the Law of Unintended Consequences
The sense of loss is great. The loss of a country I thought I knew, the loss of a continental union, the potential loss of the United Kingdom as it currently exists. Almost six years living and working abroad in South-East Asia has done nothing to lessen the heartbreak of watching my country unravel. Last […]
more…28 Jun, 2016
‘My family doesn’t feel safe here any more’: Eastern Europeans on Brexit – The Guardian
I feel scared after the referendum. In my workplace I have heard people saying things, such as: “Pack your bags and get the fuck out.” Followed by, “If you want I can give you a suitcase.” This referendum has not led to communities coming together in any way – the opposite has happened. Now I […]
more…27 Jun, 2016
Bahrain holds Ramadan speakers forum to advance Muhammad Ali’s legacy
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 27 June 2016 (22 Ramadan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA LAUNCH OF 1MALAYSIA MEGA SALE CARNIVAL 2016 & […]
more…27 Jun, 2016
How to make post-Brexit U.K. more attractive to visitors from “developing countries”
The British tourism industry has been quick to identify the silver linings amidst the dark clouds of the Brexit-vote crisis. The UK is being marketed as great value for money due to the plummeting pound. The message is clear: The time is right to visit Britain. I stopped going to the UK five years ago. […]
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