Category: Trends
Opinion: Is Muslim fashion finally ‘on trend’?
It’s 2012. We’re bored to death with debates about the hijab. Why women wear it. All this talk neglects the role of fashion in the hijab’s popularity. It’s just easier to be a fashionable Muslim in Britain these days – walk down Oxford street and stereotypes of the hijab as bland and restrictive are laughable.
UK: The legacy of Victorian England’s first Islamic convert
In 1894 the title of Sheikh-ul-Islam, leader of Muslims in the British Isles, was conferred on William Abdullah Quilliam by the last Ottoman caliph, Sultan Abdul Hamid II. He was also appointed Vice Consul of Persia by the Shah.
Opinion: Muslims on Wall Street, Bridging Two Traditions
Young Muslims, one of the newest groups to make inroads in American finance, can face steep barriers to entry. Some obstacles are remnants of a less tolerant era. But prominent, too, are the limitations of Islam itself.
Travel: Airborne prayers problem solved for tech-savvy Muslims
Launched earlier this month, the online tool takes data such as prayer times in the country of origin, the destination city and in countries on the flight path and uses an algorithm to plot exact prayer hours during a flight.
Malaysia: World Halal Forum 2012 – Cultivating a Universal Halal Lifestyle
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj Mohd Yassin, in his keynote address, praised the World Halal Forum for its efforts in emphasizing on a universal appeal on Halal principles and for leveraging on creative channels like the arts, media and entertainment in spreading good values.
Trends: Oliver Stone’s Filmmaker Son Converts to Islam
Sean Stone, the son of prominent U.S. filmmaker Oliver Stone, has converted to Islam while filming a documentary in Iran. The trend towards conversion to Islam has apparently been accelerating in recent years in the West.
Turkey: A Fashion Magazine Unshy About Baring a Bit of Piety
The success of Ala, which has attracted 30,000 subscribers since its founding in June, reflects the rise of an Islamic bourgeoisie in Turkey that has prospered under the Islam-inspired Justice and Development Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Saudi Arabia’s Foodie Scene Growing
Despite the rise of fast-food joints, gourmet chefs aim to create a gourmet food culture. What will transform the country into a major international food scene are more culinary schools for developing chefs.
Opinion: Why I am leaving Goldman Sachs
Today is my last day at Goldman Sachs. After almost 12 years at the firm – first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London – I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity. And I can honestly say that the environment now is as toxic and destructive as I have ever seen it.
France: Halal meat drama enters election campaign
The confrontation between traditional Muslim ways and Europe’s Christian heritage has erupted in several European countries as the number of Muslims increases across the continent because of continuing immigration and the customary large families of Muslim immigrants. But it is particularly raw in France. This is true in part because it has emerged as an issue in the election campaign.
USA: Edible food packaging is the future, Harvard developer claims
US scientists have developed a food packaging technology that could eliminate the need for plastic containers, and the lead developer told FoodProductionDaily.com that it could hit the market inside 12 months.
USA: McDonald’s to open 100 new outlets in Middle East
At the largest food trade fair in the Middle East, Gulfood, it was revealed that McDonald’s is expected to open 100 new outlets this year with a particular focus on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Currently, the Golden Arches has 833 restaurants in 17 markets in the Middle East and Africa – a growth rate of between 10 to 15 per cent every year.
Saudi Arabia: Young Saudis find home entertainment cheaper and safer
Young Saudi men and women are increasingly turning their own private rooms into entertainment hubs as a way of saving themselves from boredom. They equip their rooms with DJ turntables and other entertainment spots such as billiard tables, sound systems, electronic equipment and others.
Organic food off the menu for UAE hotels
Organic food, which is produced naturally and under eco-friendly conditions, is too expensive for the majority of restaurant-goers, most of whom prefer lower-cost, conventional products, hotel staff said.
Arab world needs $144bn to meet food needs
Arab countries need to invest $144 billion in agriculture between now and 2030 to meet the demand for food for their growing populations, said an Arab official.
Businessmen unveil plans for ‘Muslim Facebook’
A group of Muslim businessmen unveiled plans in Turkey on Thursday for a Facebook-style social networking site with “healthy values” for a young, Islamic audience.
UK: Women & Islam – The rise and rise of the convert
Three-quarters of Britons who become Muslim are female. Now a major new study has shed light on the difficulties they face in adjusting to their new life.
The Mainstreaming Of Fair Trade
Consumer awareness of Fair Trade in the U.S. is around 34%–not as high as awareness of organic products, but it’s a large number considering that Fair Trade has been around in this country for less than two decades. Organic certification in the U.S. has existed since the early 1970s.
UAE: How Urbanisation is Changing Emirati Identity
Today, the total population of the UAE has exceeded eight million with the nationals accounting for 923,000 of the total. Many UAE nationals privately dispute the figures of UAE nationals in the belief that the UAE population is less than the official estimate. A significant number of UAE nationals commute daily to the urban environments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi from the poorer emirates such Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
UK: Google predicts the Internet could help create 365,000 new UK jobs by 2015
Google drives home the point, backed by other technology companies, that businesses across Europe need to understand a series of digital “mega-trends” if they want to be able to reap the full benefits of what the Internet can offer. Recent trends include a shift to mobile, the adoption of Cloud-based technologies and online media could all help encourage innovation.
