Lifestyle
TAIWAN: Yilan resort certified Halal, hosts Islamic youth camp
The Shangrila Leisure Farm in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, received Halal certification from the Chinese Muslim Association earlier this month, paving the way for the Taiwan Islamic Youth Camp now under way at the resort. Shangrila was the only place of lodging certified as Halal among a first group of 14 businesses designated as such in Taiwan, with all the others being restaurants. The farm has been working for three years with the assistance of the Tourism Bureau to qualify for the certification. Besides offering food and beverage services that conform to Muslim dietary rules, the resort farm also provides bathing facilities and prayer spaces needed by Muslims. Obtaining the certification will help the resort farm attract Muslim tourists to Taiwan.
U.S.A: Providence to showcase Islamic arts program
Providence is one of five cities across the country that will participate in a pilot program designed to showcase the diversity of Islamic societies through their art. The Providence-based organization FirstWorks will host an artistic and cultural exchange program known as Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet. It is funded by a $1 million grant from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art's Building Bridges grants program.
Filed Under: Art
MALAYSIA: Muslim women barred from working as GROs in Kuantan
Muslim women will be barred from working as guest relation officers (GROs) or waitresses in entertainment outlets in the state capital from next year. Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) president Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob said the decision was unanimously approved at the MPK full council meeting Wednesday and the enforcement date would be determined later. He said the decision was prompted by a call from the Pahang Islamic Religious Department (Jaip) to forbid Muslims from working at entertainment premises that served alcoholic drinks.
SAUDI ARABIA: Vacationers worry over availability of Halal food abroad
Many Muslims who travel to non-Muslim countries say that getting Halal food is a major concern, and many say that they are reluctant to eat in restaurants that serve pork. Some say that this has been such an obstacle for them in some non-Muslim countries that it ruined their trips. Others say that they prefer not to travel to non-Muslim countries for this reason. They also say that people who frequently travel to a country know where to get Halal food more easily than people who are on their first trip.
Filed Under: Travel
MALAYSIA: Now Malaysian Muslims are allowed to consume Barbican's ābeerā.
Malaysia's main religious council has in a fatwa ruled that Muslims can drink non-alcoholic Barbican's “beer” as it is not intoxicating. Barbican's “beer”, popular in Middle East, has a very less amount of alcohol and is also not intoxicating, National Fatwa Council said.
U.S.A: Saffron Road to Serve Muslim Consumers During Ramadan
It is not often that brands and retailers in the U.S. acknowledge American Muslim consumers and their major holidays, but occasionally when they do, they see firsthand an outpouring of support from that community. With its high-quality products and dedicated team, American Halal Company, Inc and its brand Saffron Road™ have established an emotional connection with discerning American Muslims consumers. Given Saffron Road’s mission to better serve the ongoing Halal needs of its American Muslim consumer base, it has big plans to more deeply connect with and better serve its core constituency during the month-long Ramadan festivities in August.
U.S.A: Dr. Temple Grandin Honoured by AMSA with Special Recognition Award
Dr. Temple Grandin was awarded the 2011 American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Special Recognition Award on Tuesday, June 21 at the 64th Annual Reciprocal Meat Conference. The AMSA Special Recognition Award was is sponsored by the American Meat Science Association. Dr. Grandin is a designer of livestock handling facilities and a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. On her web site, Dr. Temple Grandin describes herself simply as “a designer of livestock handling facilities.” The world knows her as so much more. Hers is the most respected name in the area of animal care and handling. Her research has extended the scientific knowledge base in the areas of animal behaviour, metabolism and meat quality.
MALAYSIA: KFC treats orphans to Transformers 3 movie
KFC treated nearly 200 orphans to a charity screening of Transformers 3, Dark Of The Moon, the long-awaited and spectacular blockbuster movie at e-Curve Cineleisure Damansara in Petaling Jaya on 29th June 2011. The children were from Rumah Sayangan Cheras, Pusat Jagaan Titian Kaseh, Rumah Anak Yatim Shifa, Kiwanis, Rumah Faith, Rumah Kebajikan Siti Khadijah, Tasputra PERKIM and Asrama Sentosa in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. KFC surprised the orphans by giving away a Chicky Meal together with a Transformers toy and activity book to each of them. The charity screening was held in conjunction with KFC Malaysia’s current Chicky Meal-Transformers 3 movie tie-up promotion being held from 16 June till 27 July.
MALAYSIA: IFF to Show off Islamic Fashion at Milan Fashion Week Next Year
Six years after introducing and promoting Muslim couture fashion as a modern lifestyle trend in several eastern and western countries, the Islamic Fashion Festival (IFF) is now preparing its fashion designers to show off its creations at one of world's most prestigious fashion modelling catwalk. IFF, under the patronage of Malaysia's First Lady, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, has been invited to participate in the Milan Fashion Week in Italy and is giving its fashion designers ample lead time to be ready to meet the demand of the market when their works receive orders from the event.
Filed Under: Fashion
Spain beckons Ayamas for new season of cook show with Malaysian celebrity Chef Wan
The historic Andalusian region provides the backdrop for the eighth season of the 'Mmm…Sedapnya Bersama Ayamas' TV cook show series. Celebrity Chef Wan returns once again as host for the show which premiered on Tuesday, 7th June at 5.35 pm and will be aired weekly until 26th July and from 13th September to 11th October 2011 over TV3. With the tagline “Ayamas Espana”, all 13 episodes of the half-hour weekly travel cook show were shot entirely on location in Spain and filmed at various scenic locations such as Seville and Cordoba. In each episode of the new series, Chef Wan shows viewers two simple and easy to cook new recipes he had created using Ayamas fresh chicken, further processed chicken products such as Ayamas Chicken Donut (Cheese), Ayamas Minced Chicken Meat, Divella pastas, Divella Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Baker’s Street products. Ayamas products are Halal-certified by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).