14 Jan, 2016

Buddhist, Muslim leaders pinpoint root causes & solutions of inter-faith conflict

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – A central question that dominated the symposium on “Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence in Multicultural Societies” was how and why an increasingly globalised, inter-connected world is failing to live up to one of its primary projected objectives: More peaceful, harmonious, sustainable, inclusive societies and communities. All world religions, global institutions, governments, societies and […]

14 Jan, 2016

Prominent Thai Journalist says ASEAN media must “take control of the narrative” from Western wire-services

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok — Journalists in Thailand and ASEAN must take control of the narrative from Western media wire-services in order to build a better understanding of global events, especially those involving religious and ethnic conflicts, according to one of Thailand’s most prominent writers on foreign affairs. Speaking at a symposium on “Interfaith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence […]

13 Jan, 2016

Airbnb lists homes in illegal Israeli settlements – Al Jazeera English

Jerusalem – Dozens of listings on the online accommodation service Airbnb show immaculate cottages, elaborate breakfasts and rolling hillside views “in Israel” – but what is not stated is that the properties are located in Jewish settlements and outposts on occupied Palestinian territory. One shows a tidy, three-bedroom rental home with an idyllic courtyard framed […]

13 Jan, 2016

Jewish-Israeli band making waves with Arabic song – Al Jazeera English

A girl band in Israel has been making waves after its debut single became the first song entirely in Arabic to top the charts in Israel. “Habib Galbi” by the band A-WA – made up of three sisters – gives traditional rhythms and lyrics from Yemen a hip-hop treatment. It’s a song that has been […]

13 Jan, 2016

An Open Letter to President Obama from the “Israeli General’s Son” – Desertpeace

By Miko Peled When America voted for you the first time, many people were very optimistic. A man with an African Muslim father, an African Muslim name and what seemed like a caring heart and a brilliant mind. That was both refreshing and promising. You came into office with big promises, your first inaugural address […]

12 Jan, 2016

Hundreds of French mosques open their doors to the public

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 11 January 2016 (01 Rabee’ al-Akhir 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA’S SHOPPING LANDSCAPE WITH MAIN AND NEW […]

11 Jan, 2016

Saudi-Iran row to impact Mideast economy | GulfNews.com

Dubai: The Saudi-Iranian tensions could impact not just the economy of Iran, but also that of the wider Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, analysts have said. It could also affect investors’ appetite for risk, “spell increased volatility” in the financial markets and create pressure on oil prices. “[The] impact of the conflict on key […]

11 Jan, 2016

16 students deported from US, ‘hassled’ at Hyderabad airport – Hindustan Times

The ordeal of 16 students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who had gone to the US seeking admission in educational institutions there but were sent back from New York, continued despite landing back home as they alleged that they had been kept waiting for around six hours at the international airport in Hyderabad over some […]

7 Jan, 2016

Why aren’t we calling the Oregon occupiers ‘terrorists’?

As of Sunday afternoon, The Washington Post called them “occupiers.” The New York Times opted for “armed activists” and “militia men.” And the Associated Press put the situation this way: “A family previously involved in a showdown with the federal government has occupied a building at a national wildlife refuge in Oregon and is asking […]

4 Jan, 2016

Report released: International Tourism in Islamic Countries 2015

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 04 January 2016 (24 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1437). 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 […]

4 Jan, 2016

Banks exploit your personal data to stave off competitors – Sydney Morning Herald

Thanks to advances in computing power and customers’ embrace of digital finance, banks know more than ever about what their customers are up to: whether it’s browsing the web, shopping online, visiting the mall, or interacting on social media. Already, they are busily harnessing this vast amount of data to sell products to customers before […]

2 Jan, 2016

2015: The year India discovered intolerance – Amrith Lal, The Indian Express

Early January, Tamil writer Perumal Murugan put up on his Facebook wall the first notice of a growing trend in India society. Pummelled to submission by caste groups who took exception to his treatment of social relations in his novel, Mathorubagan (One-part Woman), Murugan announced the death of his authorial self. “Author Perumal Murugan is […]

1 Jan, 2016

Countering myths and misconceptions about the Halal industry in Australia

By Syed Atiq ul Hassan

[The text of the speech delivered by Syed Atiq ul Hassan as a Guest Speaker in the Thailand Halal Assembly 2015, held in Bangkok from 25 to 27 December 2015. The Title of the speech was the Role and Responsibility of Journalist/Media for Halal Industry] In this politicised world where within or outside the Muslim […]

31 Dec, 2015

Big cities in China luring talent despite drawbacks

By Su Zhou

Beijing, (China Daily) 2015-12-16 -Despite heavy smog, skyrocketing house prices and living pressures, China’s first-tier cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, are still the top the choices for the best brains. At the same time, smaller cities trying to attract high-end talent are facing challenges both in recruiting and retention. Zhaopin.com, a Chinese human resources […]

31 Dec, 2015

Richest 10 per cent in UK ‘own half the country’s wealth’ – The Independent

The richest 10 per cent of households in the UK own nearly half of the country’s total wealth, while poorest the half of households represent just nine per cent, new official statistics reveal. Findings from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also reveal that wealth inequality is growing, with the richest tenth of society seeing […]

31 Dec, 2015

How the Israel boycott movement struck major blows in 2015 | The Electronic Intifada

In September 2014, on the eve of the Jewish new year, Israel’s leading financial daily named Omar Barghouti among the 100 people most likely to influence the country’s economy in the following year. Calcalist, the business supplement of the mass circulation newspaper Yediot Ahronot, said that the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which Barghouti helped […]

30 Dec, 2015

The true price of happiness: Three important lessons for a good life

Harvard professor Robert Waldinger is the director of a 75-year study following the lives of 724 men. It is the longest happiness study ever conducted. In a new TED talk, Waldinger revealed the three main findings of the study and they weren’t being able to buy the world’s most expensive wine, becoming famous or being […]

29 Dec, 2015

9 reasons why the Thailand Halal Assembly is NOT just another ordinary trade event

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Thailand lies at the heart of ASEAN. Like an umbilical lifeline, the isthmus of Thailand-Malaysia links the Buddhist-majority northern half of ASEAN to the Muslim-majority southern half. This makes Thailand, a Buddhist majority country with the largest Muslim minority in ASEAN, a geographical bridgehead between two regions as well as a symbolic bond […]

28 Dec, 2015

Jordanian Airlines Resumes Flights To Jakarta

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 28 December 2015 (16 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA GO SHOPPING AND ENJOY! 1MALAYSIA YEAR END […]

28 Dec, 2015

Ex-ASEAN chief Surin Pitsuwan calls for “New Beginning” in Islamic world

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – Thailand’s best-known Muslim personality Dr Surin Pitsuwan has called on the global Islamic community to use the growing number of halal events to think well beyond food, products and services and chart a “new beginning” with a focus on solving many of the world’s looming problems. Addressing the closing ceremony of the annual […]

26 Dec, 2015

What If Jesus Had Been Born In 2015 In The American Police State? – Countercurrents

The Christmas narrative of a baby born in a manger is a familiar one. The Roman Empire, a police state in its own right, had ordered that a census be conducted. Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveled to the little town of Bethlehem so that they could be counted.There being no room for the […]

26 Dec, 2015

Middle class a growing, positive force in China

By Ma Chi

Beijing, (chinadaily.com.cn) 2015-12-25 – China’s emerging middle class has grown into a major force driving the society in a positive direction, according to a report by one of China’s top think tanks. Slightly over half of the population in Beijing and Shanghai fall in the category of “middle class”, as does around 40 percent in […]

26 Dec, 2015

The checkpoint-ridden journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, today – Al Jazeera English

The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, today Mary and Joseph would have to pass through Israeli checkpoints, occupied land, illegal settlements and separation wall. See the interactive report and read the rest: The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, today – Al Jazeera English

23 Dec, 2015

What If Jesus Had Been Born In 2015 In The American Police State? – Countercurrents.org

The Christmas narrative of a baby born in a manger is a familiar one. The Roman Empire, a police state in its own right, had ordered that a census be conducted. Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary traveled to the little town of Bethlehem so that they could be counted.There being no room for the […]

22 Dec, 2015

Americans Name Terrorism as No. 1 U.S. Problem – Gallup Polls

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, Americans are now more likely to name terrorism as the top issue facing the U.S. than to name any other issue — including those that have typically topped the list recently, such as the economy and the government. About one in […]

22 Dec, 2015

2015: The Year the Merchants of Death Hijacked the Industry of Peace

Imtiaz Muqbil

BANGKOK – The defining development of 2015 was not a success story but a tragic failure — the total and absolute failure of the war on terror (WoT). That was accompanied by a complete absence of demands for accountability for the thousands of lives lost, the trillions of dollars squandered, the people displaced, the monumental […]

21 Dec, 2015

19 students barred from boarding US-bound Air India flight in Hyderabad | The Indian Express

Air India barred 19 students from boarding its flight to the USA on the grounds that the two universities in which they had secured admission are under “scrutiny” by American authorities. The national carrier asked its staff to not allow the 19 students to board its flight to San Francisco at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport […]

21 Dec, 2015

Asia’s first Islamic-compliant airline takes off

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 21 December 2015 (10 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA GO SHOPPING AND ENJOY! 1MALAYSIA YEAR END […]

21 Dec, 2015

Railway cooperation with China ushers in new era for Thai infrastructure development

By Zhang Chunxiao, Yang Yunyan and Chen Jiabao

BEIJING, (Xinhua), 2015-12-20 — The ground was broken on Saturday for Chinese and Thai companies to build the first standard-gauge railway in Thailand, applying China’s technology, standard and equipment, the China Railway Corporation (CRC) said. Earlier on Saturday, a launching ceremony was held at Chiang Rak Noi Station in central Thailand’s Ayutthaya province, according to […]

21 Dec, 2015

Indonesian film explores anti-Muslim discrimination in the US – The Jakarta Post

Acha Septriasa and Abimana Aryasatya mark their return to the screen after starring in 99 Cahaya di Langit Eropa (Ninety-nine Lights in the European Sky) and its two sequels — the predecessors of their latest film Bulan Terbelah di Langit Amerika (Split Moon in the American Sky). The latest film, Bulan Terbelah, gives a glimpse […]

19 Dec, 2015

Instilling fear in Americans – Arab News

By Sabria S. Jawahar Following the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call to ban entry of all Muslims to the United States my non-Muslim mother-in-law and stepdaughter expressed their fears over my safety when I come to the United States. It was particularly alarming to me since my husband’s family […]

19 Dec, 2015

Guess who demanded £330,000 for a 20-minute speech at a world hunger event? – The Independent

Over the weekend, it was reported that Tony Blair pulled out of addressing The World Hunger Forum in Stockholm because his £330k price tag for turning up and talking just couldn’t be met. According to one source, the food company organising the event, Eat, dropped Blair because “his star power is fast diminishing”. But regardless […]

19 Dec, 2015

Defying prejudice, more Americans learn Arabic – Al Jazeera English

New York, United States – Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric tells one story about the modern day US. But, students painstakingly learning Arabic’s right-to-left script in classrooms across the country tells another. While fewer Americans speak Arabic than English, Spanish, Chinese or even Tagalog, it is perhaps the nation’s fastest-growing language and is […]

19 Dec, 2015

Sikh man on US flight mocked, labelled bin Laden by co-passenger – The Times of India

NEW YORK: An elderly Sikh man in the US was filmed while sleeping on a flight by a co-passenger who posted the video online with a title ‘Would You Feel Safe’ and a description that says “flying with bin laden.” Darshan Singh, who was travelling on a Jetblue flight from New York to California in […]

19 Dec, 2015

The joy of Canada delivered from Stephen Harper’s darkness to Justin Trudeau’s light – The Independent

by Robert Fisk Let us now praise famous men… Justin Trudeau comes to mind. “Canada is back,” the country’s new Prime Minister told the climate conference in Paris – and closed the door on the bigoted, aggressive Canada which his Conservative predecessor had been trying to create. It’s nice to write a story that’s an […]

17 Dec, 2015

Vegetarian diets could be bad for environment – The Independent

Eating a healthier diet rich in fruit and vegetables could actually be more harmful to the environment than consuming some meat, a US study has claimed. Lettuce is “over three times worse in greenhouse gas emissions than eating bacon”, according to researchers from the Carnegie Mellon University who analysed the impact per calorie of different […]

17 Dec, 2015

More Than 200 South African Scholars Back Academic Boycott of Israel – Haaretz

More than 200 South African scholars pledged support for an academic boycott of Israel in a statement made on Tuesday. The scholars said they would not accept invitations to visit Israeli academic institutions and would not participate in conferences organized or funded by them. They will, however, continue to work with Israeli colleagues individually, if […]

17 Dec, 2015

US Sikhs feel vulnerable, join with Muslims to combat backlash – The Times of India

CHICAGO: Pardeep Kaleka spent several days after 9/11 at his father’s South Milwaukee gas station, fearing that his family would be targeted by people who assumed they were Muslim. No, Kaleka explained on behalf of his father, who wore a turban and beard and spoke only in broken English, the family was Sikh, a southeast […]

14 Dec, 2015

Saudi Arabia Halal Cosmetics Market to Grow at 15% P.A. until 2020

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 14 December 2015 (03 Rabee’ al-Awwal 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA GO SHOPPING AND ENJOY! 1MALAYSIA YEAR END […]

13 Dec, 2015

Republican senator visits mosque to reject Donald Trump’s Muslim ban — Sydney Morning Herald

Washington: Donald Trump’s call on Monday to bar all Muslims from entering the US provoked a variety of reactions from Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, ranging from silence to gentle disapproval to full-throated condemnation. But only one visited a mosque to speak up for religious tolerance and American unity. Senator Jeff Flake, of Arizona, attended a Friday afternoon […]

12 Dec, 2015

Jewish billionaire’s Foundation banned as ‘threat to Russian national security’ – RT

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office has recognized George Soros’s Open Society Institute and another affiliated organization as undesirable groups, banning Russian citizens and organizations from participation in any of their projects. In a statement released on Monday, prosecutors said the activities of the Open Society Institute and the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation were a […]

12 Dec, 2015

Australian and Islamic extremists are the same – Afghan refugee girl tells BBC News

When Mr Shortis went on in the video to claim he and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic state, would agree on their interpretation of Islam, Ms Haidary said she realised that in some ways Islamic extremists and Australia’s most militant anti-Islamic group were exactly the same. “They go straight on the Koran,” she […]

12 Dec, 2015

Edward Snowden meets Arundhati Roy and John Cusack: War, Greed & Terrorism – The Guardian

We talked about war and greed, about terrorism, and what an accurate definition of it would be. We spoke about countries, flags and the meaning of patriotism. We talked about public opinion and the concept of public morality and how fickle it could be, and how easily manipulated. It wasn’t a Q&A type of conversation. […]

12 Dec, 2015

Reclaiming India for democracy – Jairus Banaji, The Hindu

There is a growing sense that the centralisation of power in the hands of ‘one man’ and a sheer lack of competence at the level of the PMO have triggered a breakdown in the normal routines of government and caused disaffection in the ranks of the bureaucracy. Political interference in the Reserve Bank’s jealously guarded […]

7 Dec, 2015

US$250m ADB Loan to Improve Management of Pakistan’s Land Border Points

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 07 December 2015 (25 Safar 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]

2 Dec, 2015

Chinese ‘maternity tourism’ to US sees change

By Lia Zhu

San Francisco (China Daily USA), 2015-12-01 – A Los Angeles-based “birthing center” has seen less demand from couples since China changed its one-child policy but more demand from wealthy clients for high-end service. To evade the fine for violating China’s since-changed one-child policy (about 100,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan or $15,632 to $31,264), having their […]

1 Dec, 2015

S. African journalist exposes more lies by Blair and Bush over attack on Iraq

Tony Blair went to war in Iraq despite a report by South African experts with unique knowledge of the country that showed it did not possess weapons of mass destruction, according to a book published on Sunday. God, Spies and Lies, by South African journalist John Matisonn, describes how then president Thabo Mbeki tried in […]

30 Nov, 2015

Malaysia helps Japan tap the Global Halal Market

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 30 November 2015 (18 Safar 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]

30 Nov, 2015

Egyptian writer blasts West’s duplicitous policies on fighting terror

The recent backlash against Egypt in connection with the plane crash has nothing to do with the plane crash and everything to do with international bias and misjudgement. When it comes to fighting terror, international policy is simply duplicitous. It all depends on who is being targeted, and what the outcome is for them. When […]

30 Nov, 2015

Is promoting gay travel contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS?

Imtiaz Muqbil

Bangkok – The announcement of an “organizational partnership” between the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association has raised some serious fundamental questions about the appropriateness of promoting gay travel in a cultural context as well as its linkage with the spread of HIV/AIDS. On the one hand, the IGLTA […]

29 Nov, 2015

Schengen: Border-control agency Frontex seeks access to security databases

by Maria Vasileiou

THE HAGUE, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) — Without access to security database tools necessary for detecting terrorist threats, Frontex is forced to limit its controls of irregular immigrants at Schengen zone external borders to a minimum check with identity registering, said Fabrice Leggeri, executive director of the European external border agency, in an interview with Xinhua. […]

29 Nov, 2015

Chinese play growing part in online shopping

By Hezi Jiang

New York (China Daily USA) 2015-11-26 — Foreign brands and retailers are ready for another Chinese “Duo Shou Day”, which translates into one’s hands being chopped because of an inability to refrain from online shopping. Rewarded with good revenue on Singles Day on Nov 11, many international merchants are hoping to attract more Chinese online […]

29 Nov, 2015

Xinhua Insight: China changes tactics in financial fight against poverty

Imtiaz Muqbil

BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) — Zhang Xiangyin still remembers the day his daughter-in-law left home three years ago, leaving her 33-day-old son. She could no longer bear living entrenched in poverty in their mountain village. Zhang, a 58-year-old farmer in Bijie City of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, knows exactly what poverty means. With two daughters, […]

29 Nov, 2015

Aamir Khan is the true son of India: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra | The Indian Express

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says superstar Aamir Khan, who has been embroiled in a controversy for his comments on intolerance, is a true son of the soil and does not have to prove anything. The 50-year-old “PK” star during an award function in the national capital had said he has been “alarmed” by a number […]

29 Nov, 2015

The war on terror and the terror of war – DAWN.COM

We live in a world where wars are not fought anymore, but felt. A world where war has seeped into human hearts, silently and sinisterly, manifesting itself through the most trivial of human emotions. We live in a world where the battlefield is not a place anymore, but a condition. A world where the most […]

28 Nov, 2015

Lies, Terror and the Drive to War – PravdaReport

It is all about “narratives”, the buzz word coined by US propaganda. The point 0f a narrative is, however, that it needs to be consistent, whether it is a fairy tale or a spinned story. Many official narratives have become unraveled to the point where few people out there still believe them. This is the […]

27 Nov, 2015

RSS India’s number 1 terror group: Former Mumbai police officer – The Times of India

KOLKATA: Claiming that the activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been indicted in at least 13 terror cases across India, former Maharashtra inspector general of police S M Mushrif on Thursday described the BJP’s ideological mentor as India’s number one terrorist organisation. “RSS activists have been chargesheeted in at least 13 cases of […]

27 Nov, 2015

Paris attacks: Women targeted as hate crime against British Muslims soars – The Independent

Muslims living in Britain have suffered more than 100 racial attacks since the terrorist atrocities in Paris, figures prepared for ministers reveal. A report to the Government’s working group on anti-Muslim hatred, seen by The Independent, shows a spike in Islamophobic hate crime of more than 300 per cent, to 115, in the week following […]

27 Nov, 2015

Myopia epidemic: Kids urged to go outside and drop devices – or risk blindness – Sydney Morning Herald

Maxime Jalbert Locke has been told to spend more time outdoors. The 11-year-old has also been told to limit time on devices. The reason? He has been diagnosed with myopia. When asked what caused his myopia, he said it was caused ‘a bit’ by looking at screens. About 30 per cent of myopia is genetic. […]

27 Nov, 2015

The downside of too much technology: Young people with ‘old eyes’ | The Japan Times

Growing numbers of people in their 20s and 30s are reporting vision trouble. The cause is spending too much time staring at small screens. Staring too much at tiny details in the confined space of a small screen results in a condition known as presbyopia, a term derived from Greek words meaning “old eye.” The […]

27 Nov, 2015

Aamir Khan’s right to speak – The Hindu

In the Bharatiya Janata Party Parivar’s revised reckoner, actor Aamir Khan is now a villain giving India a bad name. It happened the day he joined forces with writers, actors and scientists and re-opened the debate on intolerance in the country by voicing his own concern and his wife’s anxiety and thoughts, perhaps fleeting, of […]

27 Nov, 2015

Hindu party leader offers hotel staff Rs 100k to slap Muslim actor, party says not official view — Hindustan Times

A leader of the Punjab unit of the Shiv Sena has offered Rs 1 lakh (Rs 100,000) to anyone who slaps Bollywood actor Aamir Khan for his comment on ‘growing intolerance’ in the country. The Shiv Sena, however, said on Thursday the remark was not the official view of the party. “Any person who slaps […]

27 Nov, 2015

What has a 15-year ‘War on Terror” achieved? – Interview with the Prime Minister of Australia

LEIGH SALES:Billions of dollars have been spent since 9-11, numerous civil liberties have been curtailed, Australians have been told the whole way along that it was to make them safer and to defeat terrorism around the world and yet here we are in 2015, told today that we’re less safe than we’ve ever been. Don’t […]

27 Nov, 2015

India’s religious intolerance flap: Aamir Khan’s comment is just the tip of the iceberg | Asia Times

By Amrita Mukherjee Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan recently stirred a storm on Indian social media by publicly remarking that his wife, Kiran Rao (who is a Hindu by birth), had asked him whether they should move out of India due to rising religious intolerance. Aamir (a Muslim) drew the ire of right wing Hindu politicians […]

24 Nov, 2015

States of Terror – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

It is nearly certain that we will endure, sooner rather than later, another catastrophic terrorist attack on American soil. The blundering of our military into the Middle East; the failed states that have risen out of the mismanagement and chaos of Iraq and Afghanistan; the millions of innocents we have driven from their homes, terrorized […]

24 Nov, 2015

PressTV – ‘Israel was prime force behind 9/11’: American Scholar

An American scholar and journalist in Wisconsin says not only was the Zionist regime the primary force behind the 9/11 attacks, it was Israeli spies working for Mossad – not Arab Muslims – who celebrated the burning Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. Dr. Kevin Barrett, a founding member of the Scientific Panel for the […]

24 Nov, 2015

Attacks on American Muslims are growing uglier by the day. It must stop – Washington Post

In the week since the Paris attacks, the American conversation has escalated with frightening and jaw-dropping speed to include registration of U.S. Muslims, internment camps, closed borders. The tone is actually worse than it was after the Sept. 11 attacks on our own soil. Registration by religion? Sounds like Nazi Germany, not a country with […]

24 Nov, 2015

Why Gen Y Should Avoid Seeking Jobs in Travel & Tourism

Imtiaz Muqbil

The surge in travel & tourism over the last few years has attracted many young people who see it as a promising job opportunity. They are enticed by the glamour of working in a nice environment, meeting people of different cultures, enjoying good food and, if they stay the course, being able to travel at […]

23 Nov, 2015

Turn off the TV, Islamic Terrorism is a Fat Lie – Moroccan World News

Rabat – Terrorism is a lie. It simply does not exist and is an example of yet another manufactured word that takes on a meaning far more insidious than the people who supposedly perpetrate the crime. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to see it or hear it fall, does […]

23 Nov, 2015

Majestic Mughal Jewellery on display at V&A Museum, London

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 23 November 2015 (11 Safar 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]

16 Nov, 2015

Malaysian training to boost Muslim-friendly Hospitality Services

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 16 November 2015 (04 Safar 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]

15 Nov, 2015

Tourism Faces Terrorism: Attacks on the Russian Airliner and Paris and What They Will Mean to You!

By Dr Peter Tarlow

This month has not been easy for specialists in tourism security.  We first witnessed the terrorist bombing of the Russian aircraft causing not only death and destruction to innocent civilians but also a major blow to Egypt’s tourism industry.  Friday afternoon, Texas time, the first reports of November 13th terrible attacks in Paris began to come through the newswires. It is still too early to provide […]

15 Nov, 2015

Paris attacks: 15 Years of a “War on Terror,” And What Have We Got?

Imtiaz Muqbil

Fifteen years after the terrorist 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre, and the trillions, repeat trillions, of dollars spent on security, surveillance and weaponry, sanctions to curb terrorist financing, the regime-change attacks on countries, the biometric fingerprinting and iris-scanning, tighter visa restrictions, airport naked body-scanners, eavesdropping and monitoring of terrorist “chatter”, drone strikes, the […]

10 Nov, 2015

Many German Managers Not Strengths-Focused – Gallup

by Marco Nink Helping employees to set and achieve goals is a crucial responsibility for managers. But to encourage excellence, it’s important for managers to do more than hand their workers a job description or a list of tasks to be accomplished. To empower employees to take initiative and inspire high performance, the best managers […]

10 Nov, 2015

The World’s Most Successful Islamic Economic Forum, And Why It Works

Imtiaz Muqbil

Kuala Lumpur — The World Islamic Economic Forum, held here between Nov 3-5, has evolved into possibly the most unique and successful festival of business, economics, music, arts, ideas and inspiration in the Muslim world. Having just completed its 11th year, the WIEF has grown ten-fold from a paltry 400 delegates at the inaugural forum […]

9 Nov, 2015

Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to open in January 2016

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 09 November 2015 (27 Muharram 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines below to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 […]

7 Nov, 2015

The Most Brazen Corporate Power Grab in American History – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

The release Thursday of the 5,544-page text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership—a trade and investment agreement involving 12 countries comprising nearly 40 percent of global output—confirms what even its most apocalyptic critics feared. “The TPP, along with the WTO [World Trade Organization] and NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement], is the most brazen corporate power grab […]

5 Nov, 2015

U.K. filmmaker backs protest against Modi – The Hindu

Leslie Udwin, who made the critically acclaimed documentary India’s Daughter, has voiced her support for protests organised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to London on November 12. Ms. Udwin however insisted that has not been personally involved in organising any of the Modi-related protests. Recent news reports have said that she issued […]

5 Nov, 2015

In India, portents of a religious autocracy – The Hindu

With the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) being the fountainhead of Hindutva, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government being strongly influenced by the RSS, we may ask: “Are we moving towards a Hindu religious autocracy which would move the country away from rationality and reason and, thus, democracy?” Unfortunately, it seems so. In any rational […]

5 Nov, 2015

Hotels in Delhi step up security after sting claims beef sale – The Hindu

Several five Star Hotels in New Delhi and South Delhi have been provided additional security cover after a sting operation purportedly showed them as serving cow meat. Talking to The Hindu a senior police officer said that the security was enhanced in the light of warning from right wing groups who have demanded action and […]

5 Nov, 2015

Dear Modi Sarkar, respect intellectuals and please respond – Hindustan Times

Right after documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan returned his National Award, he appeared for a television interview and said the current regime has ushered us into “early stages of nascent fascism”. Patwardhan – the director of hard-hitting documentaries like Ram ke Naam, Father, Son, and Holy War and Jai Bhim Comrade – was asked in return […]

5 Nov, 2015

Hindutva hardliners seek review of population policy to counter Muslim growth – Hindustan Times

The RSS on Saturday sought a review of the population policy to counter “severe demographic changes” in India, flagging what it considers a high rate of growth among Muslims in the country. The Hindutva outfit – considered the ideological mentor of the ruling BJP at the Centre – passed a resolution on the contentious issue […]

5 Nov, 2015

Divided India observes Unity and Integration day – Hindustan Times

India’s yawning political divide was on full display on Saturday as the country failed to put up a united front in paying tributes to two of its foremost leaders, Indira Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, on Saturday. Various states ruled by different political parties marked the death and birth anniversaries of the former prime minister […]

5 Nov, 2015

As the October Protests rage on – The Hindu

By Zoya Hasan Even as this is being written, the campaign started by 40 writers returning the Sahitya Akademi awards to the government to protest against the growing climate of intolerance, is still unfolding. More and more artists, painters, filmmakers, scientists, historians and academics have joined their ranks in the past month to register their […]

4 Nov, 2015

The Costs of Hindu Extremism – The New York Times

The dismay that many ordinary Indian citizens feel about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s willingness to tolerate, even encourage, the Hindu hard-liners in his own party has now spread to the financial community. Last week, Moody’s Analytics, a division of the bond rating and risk management company, warned that Mr. Modi “must keep his members in […]

3 Nov, 2015

Rabin’s Death Anniversary: Jews and Travel & Tourism Need Some Soul-Searching

Imtiaz Muqbil

November 4, 2015 – Today marks the 20th anniversary of the tragic day in 1995 when a Jewish fanatic extremist terrorist named Yigal Amir shot dead his fellow Jew, the Nobel Peace laureate Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Also today, at the World Travel Market in London, the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) […]

3 Nov, 2015

Indian tribal gurus say no difference between missionaries and RSS – Hindustan Times

There is no difference between the Christian missionaries and the Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) except for the fact that the former tried to lure tribesmen to their religion and the latter wanted to force Hinduism on them, tribal gurus from Jharkhand said on Monday. They were reacting to the RSS’s claim that all of Sarna […]

3 Nov, 2015

Shah Rukh Khan: Not being secular is the worst crime as patriot – Hindustan Times

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan said on Monday there was “extreme intolerance” in India, touching upon a heated debate at a time a section of writers and intellectuals have launched a protest against the central government over ‘growing religious tension’. “People put words in the air even before thinking,” Khan said at a Twitter town […]

2 Nov, 2015

11th World Islamic Economic Forum To Open in KL Nov 3

Compiled by Imtiaz Muqbil & Sana Shamsi

A compilation of progressive, positive, inspiring and motivating events and developments in the world of Islam for the week ending 02 November 2015 (20 Muharram 1437). Pls click on any of the headlines to go to the story. ============ A WORD FROM MY SPONSORS: TOURISM MALAYSIA MALAYSIA CELEBRATES A YEAR OF GREAT FESTIVALS 2015 The […]

1 Nov, 2015

‘I did it! Now bring me schnapps!’ How Rabin’s assassin greeted news that Israel’s champion of peace was dead – The Guardian

In one of the waiting rooms, he told a policeman his act would cause people to rise up. “I don’t want people to think I’m crazy. Otherwise, I won’t achieve my goal.” To Ronen, he explained that the Talmudic doctrine din rodef amounted to a death sentence for Rabin – an explication that only people […]

1 Nov, 2015

Clinton at Rabin Rally: Israelis Must Decide if They Stand for Peace – Haaretz

A rally marking the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin drew 100,000 people on Saturday, organizers said. Initial estimations suggested 50,000 were in attendance. President Reuven Rivlin vowed in a speech that Israel will never give in to violent extremists, while former U.S. President Bill Clinton told the crowds of Israelis […]

1 Nov, 2015

Australia to trial cloud passports in world-first move – Sydney Morning Herald

Australia is looking at trialling passport-less travel in a move Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop predicts will go global. The idea of cloud passports is the result of a hipster-style-hackathon held at the Department of Foreign Affairs, which culminated in an X-Factor style audition before the secretary Peter Varghese, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, Assistant […]

1 Nov, 2015

How Palestinian women defy Israel’s occupation – Al Jazeera English

Lidia Rimawi wanted a son. But her husband is a political prisoner, serving a 25-year sentence in an Israeli prison, and will be 50 before he’s released. So she did the only thing she could think of under the circumstances: She smuggled his sperm out of the prison. Thirty-seven-year-old Lidia lives in Beit Rima outside […]

1 Nov, 2015

‘Intellectuals will be silenced’: historians express fears of Indian government – The Guardian

More than 50 Indian historians have detailed their collective “anguish” at the “highly vitiated atmosphere prevailing in the country”, just weeks after dozens of Indian writers returned their literary awards in protest over what they called India’s “climate of intolerance”. The historians, who include eminent scholars Romila Thapar and Irfan Habib, write in a joint […]

1 Nov, 2015

Intolerance on the rise, government should start dialogue, says Indian Nobel laureate – The Times of India

MUMBAI: Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Friday said intolerance is on the rise and there is a “dialogue deficit” between the government and its people. “There is significant intolerance in our society. Not only intolerance but fear and apathy has also risen in the society at large which is dividing it. “This situation is prevailing […]

31 Oct, 2015

Pakistan foundation that looked after Hindu girl, turns down Indian PM’s Rs 10 million donation – The Indian Express

Pakistan’s charity foundation Edhi today turned down Rs one crore donation announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking care of deaf and mute Indian girl Geeta during her over a decade-long stay in the country. Prominent philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, who is the founder and head of the Edhi Foundation, thanked Prime Minister Modi […]

30 Oct, 2015

Americans Worldwide Must Break Silence on Islamophobia to Preserve Constitutional Freedoms

by Zainab Chaudry

October 28, 2015  – One afternoon last week, while checking email during an Uber ride in Washington, D.C., a message caught my attention. Exclamation points dominated the subject line. I mentally braced myself before opening the message. The email began: “In case you missed it, I want to bring this article to your attention…” The article in question was […]

30 Oct, 2015

Hebrew University to Establish Yitzhak Rabin Fellowship to “Create a New Generation of Statesmen”

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–October 29, 2015 – American Friends of Yitzhak Rabin (AFYR) today officially announced a partnership with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the leading university in Israel, to establish the Yitzhak Rabin Fellowship in Graduate Democracy Studies in the Department of Political Science. Supported by proceeds raised from an Oct. 13 gala in Boston, […]

30 Oct, 2015

Jobs with heaviest alcohol consumption revealed – The Independent

Many people turn to a pint on a Friday to mark the end of the working week. But heavy drinking, in which five or more drinks are consumed in one sitting, appears to be more of a problem in some lines of work than others. According to government data studied by Statista, the graphic below […]

29 Oct, 2015

Muslims celebrate Durga Puja in Tripura – The Hindu

Setting an example of communal harmony, several Durga pujas are being organised by the Muslim community in Tripura. The big budget puja of the ‘Blood Drop’ club in the Sonamura sub-division of Sipahijala district was held under the guidance of a Muslim president of the puja committee. “In this Hindu majority area, they have elected […]