Latest news with #Halal
NDTV
11 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
On Allahabad High Court Judge's Impeachment, Congress Sends 'Reminder'
New Delhi: The Congress on Friday 'reminded' Rajya Sabha Chair Jagdeep Dhankhar to act on a six-month-old notice to impeach an Allahabad High Court judge accused of making communal remarks. The opposition party's nudge follows strong remarks by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal about Mr Dhankhar's lack of action in this matter. He also accused the government of trying to 'shield' the judge. Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav is staring down the barrel of an impeachment process after 55 MPs - five over the threshold to begin his removal - sent that notice to the House Chairperson. At least 50 Rajya Sabha MPs must sign a motion - a record of the intention to impeach - for the matter to proceed further. In the Lok Sabha that number is 100. NDTV Explains | How To Remove Sitting Supreme Court Or High Court Judge Once that threshold is reached, the Chair of the former or the Speaker of the latter, depending on which House first admits the motion, will decide whether or not to carry the issue forward. In this case the motion to impeach was submitted on December 13, 2024. The file has been pending since, prompting Mr Sibal's sharp words and Congress' 'reminder'. Mr Sibal, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, pointed out swifter action had been taken in the case of Justice Yashwant Varma, the former Delhi High Court judge caught in the cash-at-home row. Sources told NDTV the delay might be because 19-21 signatures on the motion had yet to be verified. Also, the possibility that one MP signed twice had to be ruled out, sources explained. A detailed verification of these signatures is ongoing, sources said. Mr Sibal, though, demanded to know why this process needs to take six months. "I want to ask those sitting in Constitutional posts... their responsibility is to verify if signatures are there... should that take six months? Is this government is trying to protect Shekhar Yadav," he was quoted by news agency PTI. READ | Plea Against Justice Shekhar Yadav's Impeachment Motion Rejected In January the Rajya Sabha's pending action on this matter had been challenged in the Allahabad High Court. A PIL demanded the court issue direction to the Rajya Sabha to not act on the proposed impeachment. However, the PIL was rejected because it did not constitue a public interest issue. What Justice Shekhar Yadav Said The judge was speaking at an event organised by the legal cell of right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Prayagraj on December 8, when he said, "I have no hesitation in saying that this is Hindustan... this country would function as per the wishes of the (majority)... This is the law." READ | High Court Judge Says Law Works Per Majority, A Owaisi Reacts His remarks (there were more, including comments on Islamic practices such as Halal and polygamy) were condemned by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi and others who asked how members of any minority community might expect justice from such a judge. "In a democracy the minority's rights are protected... this speech raises questions... How can a minority expect justice before someone who participates in VHP programs?" he asked. Supreme Court Acts But... The Supreme Court took notice and directed the Allahabad High Court to provide details and, on December 17, the Collegium, headed by then Chief Justice Sanjiv Kumar heard from Justice Yadav, who argued the media had selectively quoted him to create 'unnecessary controversy'. However, the Collegium refused his explanation and reprimanded the judge, reminding him the conduct of a judge is always under scrutiny and that he is expected to maintain a standard. The Collegium, though, was blocked from taking further action because the MPs' impeachment motion had already been initiated; the letter to the Rajya Sabha was sent December 13. According to Mr Sibal this was because the Rajya Sabha Secretariat wrote to then Chief Justice directing him to not take action against Justice Yadav becase of the pending impeachment notice.
Mid East Info
2 days ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index reveals trends shaping the future of Halal travel - Middle East Business News and Information
10th annual report spotlights leading Muslim-friendly destinations worldwide Dubai, UAE; June, 2025 – As awareness of Muslim travelers' needs grows, Halal travel is increasingly shaping how destinations design and deliver experiences. According to the newly released 2025 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), international Muslim arrivals reached 176 million in 2024 – up 25% from 2023 – and are projected to grow to 245 million by 2030. By then, total travel spending is expected to reach USD$230 billion, highlighting the growing influence and economic potential of this vibrant market. To stay competitive, travel and tourism stakeholders must adapt to the evolving needs of Muslim travelers, prioritizing purpose, inclusivity, and digital innovation. The 10th edition of the GMTI identifies the key trends and destination leaders shaping the future of Halal-friendly travel. Key Consumer Trends Impacting Halal Travel: GMTI 2025 highlights five important trends shaping Muslim travel preferences today: Smart Apps for Halal Journeys: Muslim travelers are embracing digital tools that offer seamless access to faith-aligned services and personalized experiences. The Modern Female Muslim Traveler: Women are shaping the Halal travel sector in powerful ways, driving demand for safer, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Muslim-friendly facilities: Destinations that offer alcohol-free environments, Halal-certified dining, prayer facilities, and gender-segregated pools and spas are becoming essential. Solo Travel Surge: Younger Muslim travelers are embracing solo adventures, favoring autonomy and personalized itineraries. Digital Detox Retreats: Inspired by Islamic values of mindfulness and balance, many travelers are seeking tech-free escapes rooted in nature and spirituality. Destinations Leading the Way in Muslim-Friendly Travel The GMTI 2025 highlights leading destinations around the world that are setting benchmarks in Muslim-friendly travel. Among OIC destinations, Malaysia retains the top spot, recognized for its accessible Halal-friendly services and infrastructure. Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share the second spot, each offering a strong combination of cultural heritage, modern amenities, and dedicated efforts to enhance the Muslim travel experience. Indonesia also ranks highly, supported by its rich cultural appeal. Other notable destinations in the Gulf region include Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, all of which continue to strengthen their offerings for Muslim travelers. Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore remains the leader – recognized for its emphasis on inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. Thailand and the Philippines are steadily emerging as rising Muslim-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia. Thailand offers warm hospitality and a growing range of Halal-certified services, while the Philippines is enhancing its capacity to serve Muslim travelers through better Halal food access and Muslim-friendly features at key tourist sites. In addition, Hong Kong has emerged as standout non-OIC destination, ranking third in the GMTI 2025. The city has invested significantly in Muslim-friendly infrastructure, with 61 hotels accredited by CrescentRating and 153 restaurants Halal-certified by the Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Hong Kong also received the Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year award, part of the Global Muslim Travel Index Awards. Taiwan has also continuously positioned itself as a Muslim-friendly destination, offering a welcoming environment that respects cultural and religious diversity. Over 230 restaurants and hotels have been Halal-certified by the Chinese Muslim Association, many of which include separate kitchens to meet dietary requirements. With the global Muslim travel market entering a dynamic new growth phase, GMTI 2025 serves as a timely guide for stakeholders looking to tap into this fast-evolving landscape.
Malaysian Reserve
5 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
EMGS AND ANA SIGNS STRATEGIC MOU TO BOOST JAPAN
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline group, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in promoting educational mobility and tourism between Malaysia and Japan, with a primary focus on international students studying in Malaysia. The MoU signing ceremony, held at DoubleTree by Hilton Putrajaya Lakeside, marks a significant step in enhancing student mobility opportunities and simplifying travel for international students. The partnership aims to support EMGS's mission to position Malaysia as a premier education hub globally, while offering international students seamless travel experiences with ANA. In his speech, EMGS CEO, Novie Tajuddin highlighted the growing interest among Japanese students to pursue higher education in Malaysia. 'We are seeing a steady increase in applications from Japan, with mobility programme participation rising by 24%, which is the highest to date,' he said. 'This collaboration opens new doors for Edutourism and international engagement, making it easier for students to explore academic and cultural experiences in both countries, benefiting not only Japanese students, but all international students in Malaysia. ANA General Manager, Mr. Akira Tamura echoed this sentiment, emphasising ANA's commitment to connecting the next generation. 'This MoU is not just about air travel, it's about bridging people, knowledge, and cultures. We are honoured to support the Ministry of Higher Education's vision through this meaningful partnership with EMGS,' he said. The collaboration follows several successful engagements, including the first Higher Education Mobility Carnival held during Malaysia Fair in Tokyo in 2024 and recent initiatives such as the Graduate Pass, a post-study visa allowing international students to stay in Malaysia for up to a year. Notably, the first Graduate Pass recipient was a Japanese alumna of Monash University Malaysia. ANA is the largest airline in Japan, providing extensive connectivity and a commitment to high-quality service. ANA is offering convenient routes to over 50 domestic destinations across Japan and premium onboard services, including Halal meal options, student-friendly benefits, and twice-daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo Haneda and Narita airports on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. In turn, this partnership is expected to deliver a more enriching travel and educational experience for students. Both EMGS and ANA expressed hope that this MoU will pave the way for further collaborative efforts, driving educational tourism and reinforcing the long-standing ties between Malaysia and Japan. EDUCATION MALAYSIA GLOBAL SERVICES (EMGS) 11TH JUNE 2025 About Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) is a Company Limited by Guarantee ('CLBG') under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. EMGS is the wing responsible for promoting Malaysia as the talent and knowledge hub and the preferred education destination among international students around the world. It is also the principal body that manages the movement of international students in Malaysia, including facilitating visa processing. About All Nippon Airways (ANA) Founded in 1952 with just two helicopters, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has grown to become the largest airline in Japan. Today, ANA HOLDINGS Inc. (ANA HD) is recognized as one of the World's Most Admired companies by Fortune. ANAHD was established in 2013 as the largest airline group holding company in Japan, comprising 71 companies. It offers three distinct airline brands: ANA, Peach, the leading LCC in Japan, and AirJapan, launched in 2024 for international routes covering Asia. ANA's legacy of superior service has earned SKYTRAX's 5-Star rating every year since 2013, making it the only Japanese airline to win this prestigious designation for 12 consecutive years. ANA is also a four-time recipient of the ATW Airline of the Year award, recognized for excellence in aviation.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam and Malaysia see opportunities to broaden cooperation across key sectors, says expert
HANOI/KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama-VNA) : The signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2024 has opened up significant opportunities for Vietnam and Malaysia to enhance cooperation across emerging sectors such as the green transition, security, and the digital economy, stated Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign policy and security expert at Universiti Malaya. In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Collins said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent visit to Malaysia had further consolidated the two countries' growing cooperation. According to Collins, bilateral trade has seen substantial growth, rising from US$8 billion in 2015 to US$14.2 billion in 2024, with key exports including electronics, petroleum, and rubber. However, he noted that both nations should better leverage their participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). He proposed that Vietnam and Malaysia consider establishing mutual recognition of industrial standards, cutting down trade barriers and customs procedures to reduce costs and boost collaboration among export businesses. In the semiconductor sector, Collins observed that the two countries can be highly complementary. Malaysia, a long-standing regional hub for semiconductor production, is the world's sixth-largest exporter of semiconductors and accounts for 13 per cent of the global market in chip testing and packaging. Meanwhile, Vietnam is emerging as an attractive destination for investors thanks to its abundant and high-quality workforce. He noted that Malaysia is eager to cooperate with Vietnam in this area, given the unique strengths of each country. Beyond bilateral ties, he also suggested that Malaysia and Vietnam deepen collaboration with other Asean members in a spirit of solidarity and joint development to fully harness the region's potential. With both countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Collins identified energy cooperation and the green transition as a strategic priority, particularly in the areas of energy security and renewable energy development. As Asean Chair, Malaysia has launched an agenda promoting a Just Energy Transition (JET), aimed at shifting from fossil fuels to clean, low-carbon energy sources while ensuring an inclusive transition that leaves no one behind. Vietnam, with its growing role in Asean, is poised to become a key partner for Malaysia in this field, he held. On defence, Vietnam and Malaysia renewed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023 aimed at enhancing communication and joint activities. Despite maintaining neutrality and non-alignment, both countries are encouraged to increase cooperation in addressing traditional and non-traditional security threats. Agriculture and Halal products also offer promising avenues. Vietnam is seeking Halal certification for its exports from Malaysia's JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) to access the US$3 trillion global Halal market. Malaysia, in turn, relies heavily on imported rice and views Vietnam - a top rice exporter - as a key partner for food security. Commitments in long-term rice supply and Halal support could further boost bilateral trade. In labour and education, Collins called for mutual recognition of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) qualifications to facilitate workforce development and technology adoption. He also urged closer collaboration between universities and research institutes to strengthen education, science, and innovation ties. Tourism, a major contributor to both economies, also holds untapped potential. Collins recommended expanding sister city partnerships, promoting tourism campaigns, and leveraging digital marketing to increase visitor flows. Vietnam and Malaysia are among the region's fastest-growing e-commerce markets, but gaps remain in data governance standards. The expert advocated greater dialogue between regulators and businesses to share best practices, enhance technology transfer, and align digital strategies. Multilateral cooperation and stable supply chains are key to deeper integration into Indo-Pacific production networks. Collins suggested tapping funding from Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional and Vietnam's State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) to support start-ups in sectors like the green transition and digital innovation, he said. He concluded that by translating their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established last year, into concrete initiatives - from semiconductors and clean energy to Halal trade and digital connectivity - Vietnam and Malaysia could drive regional growth, reinforce Asean centrality, and advance shared peace and prosperity. - Bernama-VNA
Daily Record
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Global fast food brand looks set to move into Stirling's newest drive thru
ChicKing is heralded as the first fully Halal international quick service restaurant - and is now hoping to open a drive thru branch in Springkerse. A new takeaway drive thru could be heading to Stirling. Foodfixx (Stirling) Ltd holds the franchise to operate the new food restaurant brand - ChicKing. ChicKing is the first fully Halal international quick service restaurant (QSR) brand. Planning permission for the drive thru buildings, on land next to and east of 15 Borrowmeadow Road at Springkerse, was granted in December 2024. Now, however, an advertisement application submitted to Stirling Council planners shows that the unit, which has been built on the corner of Munro Road, hopes to accommodate the ChicKing brand. In documents submitted with the application, agents said: 'There are over 230 ChicKing outlets in over 30 countries globally. 'Since securing the master franchise for ChicKing in July 2024, Foodfixx Ltd has demonstrated remarkable commercial growth. It has expanded from 9 to 17 locations across England and Ireland and is moving into Scotland with this store in Stirling. 'Each new store opening creates eight-plus new jobs. The ChicKing website boasts: 'Passionately conceptualised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the first Chicking® outlet was established in the year 2000, and since then, our brand has grown to become extremely popular in 35+ countries with more than 300+ outlets. 'This impressive growth was achieved by understanding what families prefer. We are also a big favorite amongst individuals who are looking for a tasty alternative to formulaic fast food. 'Chicking® is proud to be one of the first fully Halal international quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands. We serve fresh, great-tasting food, using only the finest quality herbs and spices, carefully selected from around the world, to deliver exciting flavors in a modern setting. 'We currently serve more than 20,00,000 totally devoted, utterly convinced customers per month. It seems our loyal and rapidly multiplying patrons appreciate the fact that we offer an exciting and varied menu inspired by taste cultures from around the world: authentic American, mouthwatering Mexican, inspiring Indian, and irresistible Italian. 'Our innovative creations cater to a much wider audience than those traditionally targeted by most QSRs, but it is the warmth and service that brings families back for more and more. 'All food at ChicKing is made fresh to order, only fresh and not frozen chicken is used.'
