Author Archive
23 Jun, 2016
The Beauty of an Alternative Perspective: Einstein on Israel and Zionism
Editor’s Note: The article below was one of the Soul-Searching columns I wrote for the Bangkok Post, published Aug 21, 2011. These columns were gagged by “the newspaper you can trust” in July 2012. I am reproducing it below to help promote an alternative perspective in the travel & tourism industry, which is one of […]
more…22 Jun, 2016
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them
On 13 May 2016, I published a post about Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), describing him as the man who will NEVER be invited to speak at a travel industry convention. Today, this post is about a book that will NEVER be mentioned at a travel industry convention. It […]
more…22 Jun, 2016
A dangerous game in Kairana – The Hindu
It is now beyond a shadow of doubt that BJP MP Hukum Singh’s infamous list, made up of members of Hindu families that had allegedly fled his Lok Sabha constituency Kairana in western Uttar Pradesh and in neighbouring Kandhla in Shamli district, was a piece of fiction. Many of those who figured in the list […]
more…21 Jun, 2016
Casino baron donated US$1.2 million to fund anti-Muslim hatred in U.S. – Report
WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/20/2016 – Jewish casino baron Sheldon Adelson’s Family Foundation has been identified as one of 33 groups, institutions and individuals which provided or “enjoyed access to” at least US$205 million to “spread fear and hatred of Muslims” in the United States between 2008-13. A report published by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) […]
more…20 Jun, 2016
Bethlehem University Hails its First Tourism Vocational Training Program Graduates
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 20 June 2016 (15 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…18 Jun, 2016
Why are we so reluctant to label white attackers as terrorists? – Yasmin Ahmed, The Independent
We find it difficult to accept that white terrorist organisations are alive and kicking in the west. Some fringe far right groups have already advocated “militant direct action” in achieving their aims. Had a group of Muslims claimed to be specialising in “militant action” in the UK, surely the threat would be taken far more […]
more…17 Jun, 2016
As It Shapes ISIS-Centric Narrative, Orlando Police Reject FoI Request for Audio of Shooter’s 911 Call | Alternet
Hours after Omar Mateen opened fire in the LGBTQ Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, the Orlando Police Department informed the media that Mateen had sworn allegiance to ISIS in a call to its 911 emergency line. This single detail became the focus of all the coverage that followed, prompting politicians from Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump […]
more…17 Jun, 2016
Corporate Media’s Spin on Orlando Shooting Is Boosting America’s Dirty Wars in Muslim-Majority Countries | Alternet
Within hours of Sunday morning’s horrific massacre at the LGBTQ Pulse club’s Latin night, numerous political elites were already banging the drums for retaliatory military escalation against ISIL and hardline crackdown against Muslim-American communities. Major media outlets enabled this war crescendo by uncritically amplifying hawkish voices while repeatedly failing to mention that there is no […]
more…17 Jun, 2016
Questions and Anomalies Surround ‘Worst Mass Shooting in U.S. History’: Memory Hole
The “worst mass shooting in U.S. history” is reported to have occurred between 2 am and 5 am on Sunday morning, June 12, at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The “act of terror” is said to have produced 49 dead and 53 injured. A 50th death was that of the “shooter,” identified as Omar […]
more…17 Jun, 2016
Israel ‘cuts off water supply to West Bank’ during Muslim holy month – The Independent
Israel has cut off the water supply to large areas of the West Bank, Palestinian authorities have claimed. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have reportedly been left without access to safe drinking water during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting, at a time when temperatures can exceed 35C. The northern city […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
No jokes please, we’re Indian – The Hindu
Sometimes the reaction is the real joke. The police force in India’s financial capital have sought legal opinion to check if they have grounds to file an FIR against a comedian for a video he recently posted on the messaging application, Snapchat. The Mumbai police were following up on a complaint from the Maharashtra Navnirman […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
A satiated Ramadan – Times of India
By Eternally Hungry I stopped the car near a footpath and thought of sharing the sheer delights with the street children. Well yes, because I wouldn’t have eaten them anyway. I asked one of them if they could eat mutton and the answer shook me forever, “Bhookh mein kuch bhi chalega”. I got up instantly, […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
Hindu Sena cuts cake for Trump, ‘messiah against Islamic terror’ – The Indian Express
Little-known right wing group Hindu Sena on Tuesday celebrated US Republican party candidate Donald Trump’s birthday at Jantar Mantar in the national capital. With a birthday cake, balloons and posters — including one showing Trump brandishing a gun, the group celebrated Trump’s birthday. The Hindu Sena called Trump the ‘saviour of humanity’ and the ‘messiah […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
Growing Islamophobia will only make America more unsafe – DAWN.COM
THE horror of the recent Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub that left almost 50 dead and dozens injured has shaken the United States. It is the biggest act of terrorism on American soil since the 9/11 tragedy. There has been across-the-board sympathy and a show of solidarity with the victims of the mindless and […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
America’s new terror reality – The Hindu
The toxic forces of global jihadist terror, lax gun control laws and pernicious homophobia converged on Sunday night at a gay club in Orlando, Florida. The outcome was the worst mass shooting incident in U.S. history. Omar Mateen, 29, a U.S.-born son of Afghan immigrants, killed 50 people and injured at least 53 using both […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
Breaking the Israel-Palestine logjam – The Hindu
The problem in the case of the Israel-Palestine conflict is that there’s a pro-Israel bias among the Western powers which stops them from putting real pressure on Tel Aviv to deliver. Israel knows that it can get away with anything. It’s the only nuclear armed nation in West Asia, though it hasn’t officially declared that. […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
The way Australian billionaires earn their wealth – Sydney Morning Herald
It turns out Australia has a disproportionate share of the world’s billionaires. We have about 0.33 per cent of the global population but account for 1.8 per cent of all billionaires, the research shows. And its finance and property – not mining – that has created more Australian billionaires than any other industry. The Peterson Institute paper says 31 per cent of […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
‘Ramadan Tov’: How to stop funding Israel’s occupation – Al Jazeera
Established in 2005, BDS is a Palestinian-led global movement that calls for an economic, academic and cultural boycott of Israel until it complies with international law and grants Palestinians their rights. Abu Helal says that one of the factors that sets this campaign apart from previous ones is the use of the word “tov” which […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
How did one of the worst paedophiles in history get away with his crimes? – The Guardian
The head of the American Nicaraguan School, Dr Gloria Doll, immediately confronted Vahey with the cache of images. He confessed that he had spent a lifetime drugging his pupils and abusing them. “I was molested as a boy, that is why I do this,” he told Doll, according to an FBI affidavit. “I have been […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was a child of America not ISIS — RT Op-Edge
Though much is being made of Mateen’s radicalization and pledge of allegiance to ISIS – and of the fact he was investigated by the FBI not once, not twice, but three times without further action taken and was still able to freely purchase the AR-15 assault rifle he used to carry out his massacre – […]
more…15 Jun, 2016
‘Endemic US mass shootings driven by gun culture & nihilistic rage’ — RT Op-Edge
Due to widespread Islamophobia many US citizens are rushing to blame Islamist radicalism for an “endemic” of mass shootings and do not realize that the government’s own gun policies only fuel the violence, RT America’s Chris Hedges believes. Although most people in the US assume the radical ideology and Islamic terrorism are behind the present-day […]
more…13 Jun, 2016
High-powered Bangladeshi Expo bids to cut travel, trade gap with Thailand
Bangkok – The first Bangladeshi female ambassador in 44 years of diplomatic relations with Thailand has pulled off a hugely successful trade and investment expo designed to help Thai businessmen “take a fresh look” at a rapidly emerging country with huge cost and competitive advantages. Several ministers, chambers of commerce leaders and dozens of businesspersons […]
more…13 Jun, 2016
Orlando Killer Worked For Company Transporting Illegal Immigrants Inside US; Was Interviewed By FBI 3 Times
In a surprising discovery, the Palm Beach Post first reported that according to state records, Orlando shooter Omar Mateen – who as we reported earlier was licensed as a security guard and also holds a firearms license – was employed by the US subsidiary of G4S plc, a British multinational security services company, whose US-headquarters […]
more…10 Jun, 2016
Only Solution to Palestinian Terrorism Is the End of the Occupation – Haaretz Editorial
It’s amazing how the Israeli government does not learn its lesson and recognize what should have been clear long ago: The terror will continue as long as the Palestinian people have no hope on the horizon. No military steps will eradicate it and no boastful declarations will end it. The only way to deal with […]
more…9 Jun, 2016
Hindutva terror is as grave a threat to the Indian people as Islamist terror — Harsh Mander, The Indian Express
Apologists suggest that Hindutva terror is only a recent development; a retaliation to Islamist terror. This obscures the fact that it was Hindutva terror and violence that took Mahatma Gandhi’s life, demolished the Babri Masjid leading to the bloodiest communal clashes in post-Independent India, and organised many communal massacres of minorities. Hindutva terror banks on […]
more…7 Jun, 2016
Remembering Muhammad Ali: “I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland”
On the occasion of the passing of legendary athlete and struggler for justice, Muhammad Ali, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network joins millions around the world in remembering Ali’s historic legacy of commitment to the liberation of oppressed peoples and his willingness to sacrifice in order to adhere to those principles. In 1985, Ali traveled to […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
Turkish News Agency Anadolu launches new service on Islamic world
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 06 June 2016 (01 Ramadan ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA TOURISM MALAYSIA INTRODUCES BEST OF LABUAN HOLIDAY PACKAGES 2016 Tourism Malaysia has launched 16 holiday packages to promote Labuan as a holiday […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
More Time to Unwind, Unless You’re a Woman – The New York Times
If people in all of these groups are working less, then someone must be working more. The answer, overwhelmingly, is women, who have taken on an Atlaslike role in supporting American economic growth. There are reasons to believe that at least some of the growth in female work hours has been an unfair burden. It […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
Norway becomes first country to commit to zero deforestation – The Independent
Norway has become the first country in the world to commit to zero deforestation. The Norwegian parliament pledged the government’s public procurement policy will become deforestation-free after a committee of MPs recommended imposing regulations to ensure the state did “not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest”. Norway funds forest conservation projects worldwide and also supports […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
Israel escalates forced transfer of Palestinians – AJE News
Occupied East Jerusalem – With a weary slump, Maisa Tamimi squeezed onto the living room sofa between her mother and husband. “It has been an extremely hard time,” she said anxiously. “I could never have imagined I would lose my son and then my home.” In recent months, Maisa’s life has changed dramatically. In early […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
Students visit Tokyo mosque to get unbiased glimpse of Islam | The Japan Times
Tokyo – A recent wave of terror has fueled anti-Muslim hostility worldwide, fostering a negative image of Islam — a faith still unfamiliar in Japan. But Japan’s youth have been seeking answers to questions including what Islam really teaches and why it is blamed for violence. Many schools have introduced visits to Tokyo’s largest mosque […]
more…6 Jun, 2016
McKinsey report reflects state of denial in travel & tourism
A Mckinsey survey of global corporate chief executives shows that they increasingly see geostrategic instability as a very important business trend impacting on their profitability but do not quite understand what to do about it. The survey by the reputed consultancy company says that the share of executives identifying geopolitical and domestic instability as a […]
more…5 Jun, 2016
OPINION: Islamophobia and the commodification of hate – Anadolu Agency
Islamophobia has become popularized in recent years thanks to far-right politicians, news organizations like Fox, and popular media like the Showtime series Homeland, all of which use political conflagrations in their presentations of Muslims as villains, or worse. In news programs, political platforms, and television dramas, Muslims are denigrated, demonized, and dehumanized in ways that […]
more…30 May, 2016
International Muslim Media Alliance to be set up
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 30 May 2016 (23 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. Wishing all my readers a peaceful and blessed upcoming Holy Month of Ramadan ============ A WORD […]
more…30 May, 2016
Popular UK baker Nadiya Hussain recounts Islamophobic abuse – The Independent
Nadiya Hussain says she has been shoved and had things thrown at her as part of Islamophobic abuse, which she claims gets worse after every terrorist attack committed by Muslim extremists. Hussain became a household name after 13 million viewers tuned in to watch her be crowned the country’s most popular baker on the 2015 […]
more…30 May, 2016
Anti-Islam protest descends into violence in Australia – AJE News
Police in Australia have used pepper spray to separate more than 300 angry protesters as anti-Islam and anti-racism groups clashed in the streets of Melbourne, the country’s second biggest city. Seven men were arrested in Coburg, a northern suburb of Melbourne on Saturday after anti-Islam protesters, some of whom were draped in the Australian flag, […]
more…29 May, 2016
UK History Professor Catherine Hall Rejects US$1m Prize From Israel – Truthdig
Every week the Truthdig editorial staff selects a Truthdigger of the Week, a group or person worthy of recognition for speaking truth to power, breaking the story or blowing the whistle. It is not a lifetime achievement award. Rather, we’re looking for newsmakers whose actions in a given week are worth celebrating. Catherine Hall, who […]
more…28 May, 2016
‘Violence more common’ in Bible than Quran, text analysis reveals – The Independent
An analysis into whether the Quran is more violent than the Bible found killing and destruction occur more frequently in the Christian texts than the Islamic. Investigating whether the Quran really is more violent than its Judeo-Christian counterparts, software engineer Tom Anderson processed the text of the Holy books to find which contained the most […]
more…28 May, 2016
Pakistan’s ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ gains momentum – Dawn.com
The torrential rains and landslides during April in northern Pakistan’s resulted in the deaths of more than 140 people and left widespread destruction. It is the second spell of heavy rain this spring in the area and experts say that heavy deforestation and rapid erosion of mountainsides exacerbated the damage. According to Leading Environmentalist Malik […]
more…28 May, 2016
Ontario parliament rejects anti-BDS law | The Electronic Intifada
A bill to blacklist supporters of the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions movement was handily defeated in the parliament of Ontario on Thursday. Lawmakers in Canada’s most populous province rejected it by 39 votes to 18 after a debate in which the bill’s supporters falsely accused the BDS movement of encouraging 1930s-style boycotts of Jewish-owned […]
more…28 May, 2016
Delhi homeowners shut doors on Muslim tenants: UN varsity study | The Indian Express
FROM BOLLYWOOD actors not finding apartments in Mumbai over the years to the latest civil services entrant, who took on a Hindu surname to find accommodation in Pune, there have been a number of stories about Muslims finding it difficult to rent houses. Now, a full-fledged study stands testimony to this discrimination — in the […]
more…28 May, 2016
Majority of Germans think Islam does not ‘belong’ in their country – The Independent
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s public calls for tolerance and inclusivity are increasingly falling on deaf ears, a new survey into Germany’s attitudes towards Islam shows. A new poll shows almost two-thirds of Germans think Islam does not “belong” in their country. In a marked increase from a similar survey conducted six years ago in which a […]
more…28 May, 2016
Discharge of the Malegaon accused is a reminder of a recurring injustice | The Indian Express
The recent discharge of eight accused in the Malegaon case by the trial court, has again brought to light a recurrent theme in the prosecution of terror accused in India. The fact that the court chose to discharge the accused 10 years after the crime, speaks volumes about the prosecution evidence in the present case. […]
more…28 May, 2016
Palestine Museum review – a beacon of optimism on a West Bank hilltop – The Guardian
A sharp white crown rises from a hilltop in the West Bank, looking out across sun-scorched terraces of olive trees and sage bushes to the waters of the Mediterranean – a distant prospect that most Palestinians will never be able to reach. Seen from the valley below, this monolithic hangar could be the latest Israeli […]
more…28 May, 2016
Hindutva forces are succeeding in widening Hindu-Muslim divide – The Indian Express
By Julio Ribeiro, former Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, India Hemant Karkare laid down his life for his friends. Every man and woman in the land was his friend. He did not discriminate between man and woman, Hindu and Muslim, this caste or that. He was a professional policeman. And he was a patriot. And that […]
more…28 May, 2016
America’s top CEOs pocket 340 times more than average workers – The Guardian
The US’s top 500 chief executive officers earned 340 times the average worker’s wage last year, taking home $12.4m on average, according to a new report. The analysis by the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of US unions, found that the pay of executives leading the S&P 500 index of top companies actually dipped last year. […]
more…28 May, 2016
Working on Facebook’s Trending team “the most toxic work experience” – The Guardian
By Anonymous Working at Facebook, even as a contractor, was supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime. It was, instead, the most toxic work experience of my life. As a curator, my job was to choose what links would appear on the Facebook “trending” box on the right side of a user’s newsfeed. Every […]
more…27 May, 2016
Pro-Israel group will pay young Jews $100 to watch its movies – Mondoweiss
You’ve surely heard that young American Jews are turning away from Israel. They don’t really care that much about the Jewish state. Well a pro-Israel propaganda shop has the answer. Jerusalem U is dedicated to building a connection between American Jews and Israel by producing pro-Israel documentaries. And the Israel brand has fallen on such […]
more…27 May, 2016
China launches app to guide visually disabled
Beijing, (China Daily) 2016-05-18 – A new app connecting millions of visually handicapped people with volunteers was launched in Beijing on Tuesday. The free app, see4me.org, has two channels－one for visually disabled users and one for volunteers. It allows the visually disabled to post requests, such as medical instructions or having mail read to them. […]
more…27 May, 2016
Forget travel & tourism, here’s where the real money is….
When UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon addressed media at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul on 24 May 2016, he made some shocking revelations about the state of human suffering. About 130 million people have been displaced by wars, conflicts and natural disasters worldwide. The UN needs 245 billion dollars a year to care for them. […]
more…26 May, 2016
Mind the liberal gaps | The Indian Express
Hindu nationalists believe that India is a Hindu nation. That is a fundamentally unconstitutional idea. India’s Constitution says India belongs to all religious communities, not only or primarily to the Hindus. A Hindu-centric view of the nation automatically begins to target religious minorities. Thus, a ghar wapsi (homecoming) campaign, with the explicit or implicit protection […]
more…23 May, 2016
Muslim actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui gets roaring applause at Cannes
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 23 May 2016 (16 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA Malaysia: One Million Visitors Projected at Royal Floria […]
more…20 May, 2016
This is how fascism comes to America – Washington Post
What Trump offers his followers are not economic remedies — his proposals change daily. What he offers is an attitude, an aura of crude strength and machismo, a boasting disrespect for the niceties of the democratic culture that he claims, and his followers believe, has produced national weakness and incompetence. His incoherent and contradictory utterances […]
more…18 May, 2016
A blow against free speech – The Hindu
In the 400 years after the origin of criminal defamation in England, and in the 150 years after the drafting of the IPC, the world has moved on. There are no more duels. In 2009, the United Kingdom abolished criminal defamation altogether. More recently, the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe struck it down as an unconstitutional […]
more…18 May, 2016
Dumbing down of Indian politics – The Hindu
The first obligation of the ruler is to ensure prabhavaya, or prosperity of his subjects. The second is dharna, the holding together of all human beings. A righteous ruler must not draw arbitrary boundaries between those who ‘belong’ and those who do not. The third obligation is that of non-violence. The rules of Raj Dharma […]
more…18 May, 2016
Has Israeli war criminal played lead role in Cannes security? | The Electronic Intifada
The French city of Cannes has denied reports that an Israeli general is overseeing security forces tasked with protecting this year’s film festival, which began on Wednesday. But authorities in the glamorous Mediterranean resort have confirmed that Brigadier-General Nitzan Nuriel was consulted as part of a security review. The city now appears to be trying […]
more…17 May, 2016
George Koo: Notes from a Chinese American tourist in Iran – Asia Times
A 17-day tour of Iran does not a country expert make, but it’s certainly enough to form some meaningful impressions of a country that has been virtually blacked out from Americans’ consciousness since the Iranian Islamic revolution of 1979. As our first visit to Iran, we took a custom tour from Kerman in the south […]
more…17 May, 2016
Tax havens accuse US of ‘hypocrisy’ over tax avoidance – The Independent
A group of tax havens have accused larger countries like the United States of “hypocrisy” when it comes to cracking down on tax avoidance. With the issue of offshore finance high on the agenda in light of the fall out from the so-called Panama Papers scandal, world leaders convened in London on Thursday to agree […]
more…17 May, 2016
As Palestinians mourn their Nakba, the UK must acknowledge its responsibility – Ahmed Khalidi, The Guardian
Today (15 May) marks the 68th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe): the Palestinians’ dispossession and the loss of their homeland. Yet while the Palestinians’ plight remains without redress, in the UK over the last few weeks we have witnessed a different, if related, debate, which has deflected attention to another issue; that of antisemitism […]
more…17 May, 2016
Two absconders in Malegaon blast mentioned as RSS workers: NIA – The Hindu
Ram Chandra Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange, the two absconding accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, have been mentioned as ‘RSS workers’ in the charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last week. Naming Mr. Kalsangra as accused number 13 and Mr. Dange as accused number 14, the NIA has referred to […]
more…17 May, 2016
Move to impeach Tony Blair over Iraq War gains support – The Independent
A cross-party group of MPs, including former SNP leader Alex Salmond, may renew their attempts to impeach Tony Blair following the publication of the Chilcot report later this year. According to reports, Mr Salmond has begun rallying support for an attempted prosecution, pending the findings of the report, which will be released in July. In […]
more…17 May, 2016
How the next financial crisis will hit the world economy – The Independent
A new economic crisis, which we are on the brink of experiencing, will have similarities, and differences, to 2008. The problem of crowded trades – where market participants all have the same basic positions and strategies, and identical risk models – will be familiar. The effect of new regulations, ironically designed to minimise the risk […]
more…16 May, 2016
WTTC Report on Peace & Tourism Wipes Palestine Off the Map
A report issued by the World Travel & Tourism Council to stress the link between tourism and peace has effectively wiped the globally recognised state of Palestine off the map. The serious omission has proved why tourism will never be able to seriously contribute to global peace unless groupings like the WTTC and indeed, many […]
more…16 May, 2016
Islamic Satellite TV Channel feasibility study approved
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islamfor the week ending 16 May 2016 (09 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA SPECTACULAR SUCCESS FOR MALAYSIA AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2016 […]
more…16 May, 2016
Global alcohol consumption declines for the first time in a decade
LONDON, May 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — According to new research released by Euromonitor International, global alcoholic drinks volumes registered a decline of 0.7 percent in 2015, entering negative territory for the first time in more than a decade. This translated into a loss of 1.7 billion litres of alcoholic drinks volume sales since 2014. Historic […]
more…15 May, 2016
Ahmedabad to Karnavati? RSS wants name change for more Indian cities – Hindustan Times
Ahmedabad might soon be known as Karnavati, Hyderabad as Bhagyanagar and Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar, if the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has its way. The Sangh that was crucial in pushing through Gurgaon’s name change to Gurugram last month is now preparing for more such “reversals” to highlight Indian culture and cleanse foreign influence. Critics […]
more…13 May, 2016
The leading intellectual who will NEVER be invited to speak at a travel industry summit
Bangkok – He is often referred to as the “world’s leading intellectual.” His name is Prof Noam Chomsky, and Wikipedia describes him thus: “An American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, logician, social critic, and political activist. Sometimes described as “the father of modern linguistics”, Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy, and one […]
more…13 May, 2016
China launches three-year, $700b plan to upgrade infrastructure
Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2016-05-12 – A three-year action plan to improve the country’s infrastructure has been formally launched, with a total investment of 4.7 trillion yuan ($723.8 billion), the Shanghai Securities News reported on Thursday. The plan, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Transport, aims to improve the rapid […]
more…13 May, 2016
Muslim women kicked out of California restaurant sue for discrimination – The Guardian
Seven Muslim women who were kicked out of a southern California restaurant are suing the business for discrimination, alleging that they were singled out for wearing headscarves in an area that advocates say has seen an increase in hate crimes. The women, six of whom were wearing hijabs, say they were ordered to leave Urth […]
more…13 May, 2016
Open letter by female teenager in Israeli military prison for refusing to join the Army — The Independent
Here’s the thing: I am sitting in an Israeli military prison. And our uniforms, here in the military prison, were donated to my country by your country. Yes, it is really US Army uniforms that we are wearing, the tiger-skinned uniforms, the uniforms of the Marines, and some of them still have the family names […]
more…12 May, 2016
Narendra Modi and the myth of a self-made man | The Indian Express
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a good example of someone who uses his tea seller origins story to his political advantage and the people lap it up, even though no official records exist to show that he was indeed one. In fact, it is believed he was the son of a canteen contractor, making his […]
more…12 May, 2016
His name is Sadiq Khan – The Hindu
Zac Goldsmith, his Conservative rival, was comparatively vague on specifics, and mounted what can be aptly described as a ‘racist’ attack on Mr. Khan by accusing him of engaging with Muslim “extremists”. This was an attempt to harness, if not create, Islamophobia. That London’s diverse electorate rejected Mr. Goldsmith’s polarising campaign lends a heartwarming sheen […]
more…12 May, 2016
Google tax is just the start of the disruption facing tech industry – Sydney Morning Herald
For the company that started out with the motto “Don’t be evil”, Google has come a long way. Its name is now synonymous with tax avoidance. Like all the Silicon Valley tech giants, Google got away with a great deal by affecting a modish, neo-nerdy sense of techno-cool. For years this helped divert attention from […]
more…11 May, 2016
N. Ram, Publisher of The Hindu Group of Publications on Investigative Journalism – The Hindu
Worldwide, journalism and the news industry are struggling, in this digital age, to reassert their relevance and value under profoundly changed and changing circumstances. In response to the challenge, a strong view is forming within the profession that one way to ensure that the activities that constitute journalism will continue to matter is to hone, […]
more…11 May, 2016
‘Sikh Captain America’ takes on hate, intolerance and Donald Trump – Hindustan Times
Donald Trump wants to make America great again but ‘Sikh Captain America’ feels the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is making America hate again. “Donald Trump has certainly been a candidate whose words have been alarming for someone like me, who happens to be at the front lines of bigotry in post-9/11 America,” said Vishavjit Singh, […]
more…11 May, 2016
Panama Papers source breaks silence over ‘scale of injustices’ – The Guardian
The whistleblower said the leak of 11.5m documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had triggered a “new, encouraging global debate”, thanks to the publication last month of stories by an international consortium of newspapers, including the Guardian. “Shell companies are often associated with the crime of tax evasion. But the Panama Papers show […]
more…11 May, 2016
Exposed: How Malegaon’s innocent Muslim ‘terrorists’ lost 10 years of their lives – Hindustan Times
Mohammad Zahid would have continued eking out a living earning a paltry Rs.1500 a month. He would have continued to remain a statistic, a faceless teacher at a madrasa in Yavatmal district’s Fulsawangi village, 450 km away from Malegaon, a mid-sized town in Maharashtra. No one would have known that Zahid had to subsist on […]
more…10 May, 2016
In India, neither outrage nor accountabiity over massive distress movement — The Indian Express
At least a third of the residents in India’s countryside are battling drought — many for the third consecutive year. Near-zero yields, sinking groundwater levels, drying streams and reservoirs have resulted in a massive slowdown in agricultural growth — it grew by minus 0.2 per cent in 2014-15, with no imminent signs of recovery. For […]
more…10 May, 2016
Big Alcohol At It Again: Illegal Price Fixing Exposed – IOGT International
Germans are among the top three beer consumers in the world. Beer is big business in the country of the beer purity law. And so it is no surprise that Big Alcohol – the producers and retailers of alcohol (among others) – is highly active in Germany. By now it is not surprising either that […]
more…10 May, 2016
India cannot take social cohesion for granted – Hindustan Times
The NDA government cannot afford to dismiss the issues raised by the report, which have in any case been raised by several Indian civil liberties groups and activists. The situation on intolerance and religious freedom is as dire as the report portrays. Muslims face harassment and are targets of violence and hate campaigns often by […]
more…10 May, 2016
Hundreds of travel, tourism, aviation companies, consultants listed in Panama Papers disclosure
The travel & tourism industry is set to face a major crackdown by global tax authorities worldwide in the wake of the Panama Papers leaks which show a listing of hundreds of hotels, travel, tourism and aviation companies and individuals. A search of the database by this editor showed 113 companies with “hotel” in their […]
more…9 May, 2016
Mali Emperor Mansa Mousa – Richest Man of All Time
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 May 2016 (02 Sha’baan 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA SPECTACULAR SUCCESS FOR MALAYSIA AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET […]
more…9 May, 2016
How will travel & tourism respond to the “Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism”?
The most important takeaway from UN Secretary General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism is that it is an admission of failure. Fifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it tacitly admits that all the security apparatus that has been thrown at addressing violent extremism and terrorism, such as extra-judicial killings, drone strikes, visa […]
more…9 May, 2016
UN Chief’s Action Plan exposes travel industry’s flawed response to security concerns
A Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism authored by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has exposed how the travel & tourism has long pursued a flawed and imbalanced strategy towards safety & security issues. The Plan also offers some concrete suggestions to “refocus priorities”, presenting a very important challenge to the travel & tourism […]
more…7 May, 2016
How to Steal From Africa, All Perfectly Legally – allAfrica.com
When UK PM David Cameron opens the Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May, we should be aware that the greatest fraud perpetrated on the majority of the world’s citizens is all perfectly legal. Africa loses at least $50 billion a year – and probably much, much more than that – perfectly lawfully. About 60% of this […]
more…5 May, 2016
Boycott or Not, Israel’s Era of ‘Managing the Conflict’ Is Over – Opinion – Haaretz
One thing is certain: the era of “managing the conflict” is over. This privilege, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sucked dry during his long years in power, no longer exists. The volume of displeasure over his foot-dragging increases as the eroding relations between Israel and its allies becomes ever more visible. In retrospect, many […]
more…2 May, 2016
Governor Vows to Put Lagos Jazz Fest On World Tourism Map
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 May 2016 (25 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN […]
more…2 May, 2016
Travel Impact Newswire Launches New Weekly Column: The Irritant
A travel industry column branded The Irritant? Whatever for? Read on…. Soon after my 1978 move to Thailand, I began to seek a better understanding of Buddhism, the way of life in this country. One book on Buddhist management techniques offered this five-step guide to decision-making: Listen, Think, Question, Decide and Act. Right at the […]
more…1 May, 2016
Can The Travel & Tourism Industry Think?
In 1998, Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani, Professor in the Practice of Public Policy and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, published a book called “Can Asians Think?” One review of the book says: “Asia’s economies are poised to surpass those of Europe and North America […]
more…1 May, 2016
How Israel lobby manufactured UK Labour Party’s anti-Semitism crisis | The Electronic Intifada
An investigation by The Electronic Intifada has found that some of the most prominent stories about anti-Semitism in the party are falsified. The Electronic Intifada can reveal that a key player in Labour’s “anti-Semitism crisis” covered up his involvement in the Israel lobby. Most Labour members so accused are in reality being attacked for expressing […]
more…30 Apr, 2016
Workers in Dubai claim their rights through legal channels | GulfNews.com
“There has been a growing trust between workers and our department because of the direct communication. This trust increased from 87 per cent in 2011 to 93 per cent in 2015. Complaints are being addressed within 45 minutes of receiving them,” Lt Colonel Al Helli said.“Special attention is given to group complaints, as any delays […]
more…27 Apr, 2016
We were in love for 12 years… How can they call it love jihad: Ashitha Babu | The Indian Express
Her mother warned her “there would be no happy ending” as she was a Hindu, and he a Muslim. But with their families and police beside them, the story of Ashitha Babu and Shakeel Ahmed has turned out different. On April 17, Ashitha and Shakeel of Mandya city, both 29, got married, after 12 years […]
more…27 Apr, 2016
Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque renamed “Solomon’s Stables” in Israel tourist map
Among the map’s many omitted Christian sites is the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, whose bell tower is one of the most recognizable features of the Old City’s skyline. The fourteen stations along the infamous Via Dolorosa – the path Jesus walked before his crucifixion – are also unlisted, even though they are a major […]
more…27 Apr, 2016
Airbnb is ‘ravaging’ black neighbourhoods in New York City and trying to hide it, officials say – The Independent
New York City policymakers and affordable housing advocates have criticised Airbnb following a report the company released claiming it benefits “predominantly black” neighbourhoods. Critics call the company’s release of this information a “duplicitous” and “disingenuous” PR push, a smokescreen to obscure how Airbnb is actually “ravaging” black neighbourhoods in New York City by taking rental […]
more…27 Apr, 2016
Statue of Nelson Mandela unveiled in Israeli-occupied West Bank – The Jakarta Post
A 6-meter-high (20-foot) bronze statue of Nelson Mandela has been unveiled in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Ramallah’s Mayor Mussa Hadid said Tuesday the statue was a gift from the Johannesburg municipality. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Johannesburg’s Mayor Parks Tau took part in the unveiling. Hadid says the statue reflects the “special relationship […]
more…26 Apr, 2016
US town promises terrorized Saudi students security | Arab News
WASHINGTON: Idaho State University in Pocatello has taken new security measures to ensure the safety of Saudi and Gulf students who have been subjected to harassment, thefts and in one instance physical attack in recent weeks. Saudi Cultural Attaché Mohammed Al-Eissa said in a press statement that the university and the authorities in Pocatello have […]
more…25 Apr, 2016
Indonesian Christians, Muslims look forward to visiting a free Jerusalem
A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 25 April 2016 (18 Rajab 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA FIRST WTM CONNECT ASIA TO BE HELD IN […]
more…23 Apr, 2016
Oil & Conflicts signal beginning of the end for Gulf travel boom
In a report that signals the beginning of the end of the Gulf inbound and outbound travel boom, the International Monetary Fund has forecast a bleak future for the Gulf countries whose fragile economies are set to be rocked by low oil prices, raging regional conflicts and the emergence of Iran. In a media briefing […]
more…21 Apr, 2016
Grounding Vijay Mallya – The Hindu
Mr. Mallya’s elbow room is shrinking, and he must know that he is not merely battling the legal consequences of corporate loans gone bad. He is also battling a widespread perception that the loans went bad because of his profligate ways, poor management and possible malfeasance. His flamboyant lifestyle has been central to contributing to […]
more…21 Apr, 2016
Israel rabbi to paramedics: ‘Leave Palestinians to die’ – AJE News
Jerusalem – There is mounting evidence that Israeli ambulance crews are withholding treatment from Palestinians injured during a wave of attacks over the past six months, according to rights groups. Physicians for Human Rights in Israel, a medical watchdog group, found that wounded Palestinians had been left untreated for as long as two hours. In […]
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