Turkish daily Sabah newspaper (09.09.09) reports that, in the framework of the Armenian initiative, the Turkish government is planning to raise the lobby activities abroad against the Armenian Diaspora.
Particularly, the State Minister responsible for the Turkish citizens living abroad, Faruk Celik, prepared a bill regarding the issue, which will be presented to the Turkish Parliament in the upcoming days. Celik proposes the establishment of a Presidency for the Turks abroad, which will offer help to the Turkish citizens living abroad to resolve their problems, as well as to carry out lobby activities and promote Turkey abroad. The Presidency will also be responsible for the negative propaganda experienced against Turkey.
According to the paper, the Presidency will consist of one president, seven department presidents and 50 experts while various desks will be opened for countries with a large number of Turkish citizens such as Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, France and Luxembourg. The presidency will be responsible for determining policies, creating projects, developing policies against the (Armenian) Diaspora and organizing promotion and PR activities for Turkey.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Halal Meals for Michigan Elders
By Dina Rabie, IOL Staff
WASHINGTON – Muslims elders in the state of Michigan can now get free halal meals delivered to their doorstep thanks to the first of its kind federally-funded program which sponsors say could prove popular in many areas across the country.
"It was a community initiative that we were trying to do for 5 years now," Amne Talab, social services director at the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, told IslamOnline.net.
"We felt the Muslim seniors are not benefiting from the social services they can receive."
The "Halal Meals on Wheels" program is a joint effort between ACCESS and Senior Alliance Area Agency on Aging 1-C, two non-profit organizations.
It started last month with the aim of helping elderly Muslims who are incapable of preparing their own food according to Islamic teachings get home-delivered halal meals.
Muslims should only eat meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp knife from their necks, and the name of Allah, the Arabic word for God, must be mentioned.
Talab, who is also the state's Commissioner on Services to the Aging, started to work on having the funding necessary for the program from the southern and western Wayne County.
Senior Alliance identified and secured federal funding for the project through a state agency.
It took three years to get the service off the ground.
The meals are delivered only to eligible people in southern and western Wayne County.
"There is a whole set of requirements that must qualify those who want to benefit from the program," explains Talab, adding that recipients must be at least 60, confined to their homes and unable to make their own meals.
"Recipients are encouraged to make a donation, but they do not have to pay for the meals."
Michigan is home to the largest Muslim and Arab concentrations in the US.
Although there are no official statistics, the US is believed to be home to between seven to eight million Muslims.
Needed
Talab says reactions to the program have been very positive so far, and many recipients say the service was long overdue.
"The community is very happy that we are doing this," she asserted.
"They feel that at least somebody is helping them."
She noted that especially after the financial crisis, there is not much support for the seniors in the community.
"Some seniors do not have children to help them. Even the parents do not want to be a burden on their children anymore."
The halal meals come from two companies, Midamar Corp, the first and largest US producer of Halal foods, and the Iowa-based Mom's Meals.
"We have heard that the meals are well received, a needed service for the elderly," Von Kennedy, Director of Business Development at Midamar, told IOL.
He believes the Halal Meals program can prove successful for other states with large Muslim populations.
"As a cost-saving measure, providing nourishment for the elderly in a home environment is much less expensive to the more costly care in hospitals and nursing homes.
"We are looking to expand to other cities including rural as we can ship anywhere."
Talab believes such programs can be very helpful for aging in many communities in the country, not necessarily Muslims.
"Even in the Asian and Jewish communities, seniors can benefit from programs like the Halal Meals on Wheels because they too have special requirements."
WASHINGTON – Muslims elders in the state of Michigan can now get free halal meals delivered to their doorstep thanks to the first of its kind federally-funded program which sponsors say could prove popular in many areas across the country.
"It was a community initiative that we were trying to do for 5 years now," Amne Talab, social services director at the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) in Dearborn, told IslamOnline.net.
"We felt the Muslim seniors are not benefiting from the social services they can receive."
The "Halal Meals on Wheels" program is a joint effort between ACCESS and Senior Alliance Area Agency on Aging 1-C, two non-profit organizations.
It started last month with the aim of helping elderly Muslims who are incapable of preparing their own food according to Islamic teachings get home-delivered halal meals.
Muslims should only eat meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp knife from their necks, and the name of Allah, the Arabic word for God, must be mentioned.
Talab, who is also the state's Commissioner on Services to the Aging, started to work on having the funding necessary for the program from the southern and western Wayne County.
Senior Alliance identified and secured federal funding for the project through a state agency.
It took three years to get the service off the ground.
The meals are delivered only to eligible people in southern and western Wayne County.
"There is a whole set of requirements that must qualify those who want to benefit from the program," explains Talab, adding that recipients must be at least 60, confined to their homes and unable to make their own meals.
"Recipients are encouraged to make a donation, but they do not have to pay for the meals."
Michigan is home to the largest Muslim and Arab concentrations in the US.
Although there are no official statistics, the US is believed to be home to between seven to eight million Muslims.
Needed
Talab says reactions to the program have been very positive so far, and many recipients say the service was long overdue.
"The community is very happy that we are doing this," she asserted.
"They feel that at least somebody is helping them."
She noted that especially after the financial crisis, there is not much support for the seniors in the community.
"Some seniors do not have children to help them. Even the parents do not want to be a burden on their children anymore."
The halal meals come from two companies, Midamar Corp, the first and largest US producer of Halal foods, and the Iowa-based Mom's Meals.
"We have heard that the meals are well received, a needed service for the elderly," Von Kennedy, Director of Business Development at Midamar, told IOL.
He believes the Halal Meals program can prove successful for other states with large Muslim populations.
"As a cost-saving measure, providing nourishment for the elderly in a home environment is much less expensive to the more costly care in hospitals and nursing homes.
"We are looking to expand to other cities including rural as we can ship anywhere."
Talab believes such programs can be very helpful for aging in many communities in the country, not necessarily Muslims.
"Even in the Asian and Jewish communities, seniors can benefit from programs like the Halal Meals on Wheels because they too have special requirements."
Is Dubai's retail glory fading?
By Rajendra K. Aneja, IANS,
Shopping is the soul of Dubai, a place whose very name can be pronounced "Do-Buy"! Retail is a key driver of Dubai's economy. It is the major tourist attraction. Dubai lures visitors from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East since it offers very enticing shopping experiences. The city offers scintillating malls, almost every brand in the world, shopping bargains, huge discounts.
If Dubai is a very stylish car, then the two front wheels are real estate and retail tourism. Real estate is currently under pressure. Retail tourism is also likely to be under duress. In 2009, sales in many malls and retail outlets have declined 20-30 percent. Footfalls have also dropped 15-25 percent.
Retailers are wondering why and what they must do to ensure a better future.
The main reason for the decline is a drop in the number of free spending tourists from Europe and other parts of the Middle East. Sales have also eroded because countries like China, India and Pakistan are building massive shopping malls which are luring the best global brands.
So customers from neighbouring countries do not need to visit Dubai to buy a Canon zoom lens or an Apple I-phone. Prices of most electronic items, including mobile phones, are now lower in India than in Dubai. A Hermes tie is cheaper in Paris; fashionable women's clothes are cheaper in New York. This is despite the fact that Dubai is duty and tax free.
Some retailers are also suffering due to bad management. For example, when they found it was becoming expensive to hire Indians, they hired Filipinos instead. Then when the Filipinos became expensive, they hired Nepalis, Chinese, Bangladeshis.
All the time, the service conditions of the employees were getting worse -- six to eight of them were being housed in one room, each employee was being asked to work 10 to 12 hours a day.
In many instances, the staff did not receive increments for 3-4 years. Few retailers provide refreshments or lunch to their staff. Some top retailers pay as little as 10 dirhams per hour of overtime.
Added to this problem of untrained and demotivated staff members, many Dubai retailers have antiquated IT systems. So they do not know their inventory, what is selling, what is not.
But the most neglected arena in retail is basic customer service. Walk into a bookshop. The sales girls can hardly speak English and cannot spell "Monologues". They have no passion for books, yet spend their day in selling them.
The critical question is where do Dubai retailers go from here? They will have to get used to about 15-30 percent lower sales from 2006-08 levels. As of now, the management and marketing vibrancy and energy required to reverse this downward trend is missing. Unfortunately many Dubai retailers have a trading mindset, not marketing.
This could lead to closure of marginal malls and shops, which are unable to lure customers.
Retailers need to become pragmatic. Hopefully, they will focus more on service rather than be preoccupied with the marble floors of their retail outlets. They also need to worry about volume growth, rather than sheer profits, through short-term pricing policies.
Retailers should acknowledge new emerging paradigms. They should recognise the new competition from neighbouring countries. They should build strong and vibrant management teams and give up their "shopkeeper" habits. They should focus on improving customer services rapidly. These steps will enable retailers in Dubai to reverse the downward trend in sales and begin the path to recovery.
(28-02-2010- The author is the CEO of a foods company in the Middle East. He can be reached at rajendraaneja@hotmail.com)
Shopping is the soul of Dubai, a place whose very name can be pronounced "Do-Buy"! Retail is a key driver of Dubai's economy. It is the major tourist attraction. Dubai lures visitors from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East since it offers very enticing shopping experiences. The city offers scintillating malls, almost every brand in the world, shopping bargains, huge discounts.
If Dubai is a very stylish car, then the two front wheels are real estate and retail tourism. Real estate is currently under pressure. Retail tourism is also likely to be under duress. In 2009, sales in many malls and retail outlets have declined 20-30 percent. Footfalls have also dropped 15-25 percent.
Retailers are wondering why and what they must do to ensure a better future.
The main reason for the decline is a drop in the number of free spending tourists from Europe and other parts of the Middle East. Sales have also eroded because countries like China, India and Pakistan are building massive shopping malls which are luring the best global brands.
So customers from neighbouring countries do not need to visit Dubai to buy a Canon zoom lens or an Apple I-phone. Prices of most electronic items, including mobile phones, are now lower in India than in Dubai. A Hermes tie is cheaper in Paris; fashionable women's clothes are cheaper in New York. This is despite the fact that Dubai is duty and tax free.
Some retailers are also suffering due to bad management. For example, when they found it was becoming expensive to hire Indians, they hired Filipinos instead. Then when the Filipinos became expensive, they hired Nepalis, Chinese, Bangladeshis.
All the time, the service conditions of the employees were getting worse -- six to eight of them were being housed in one room, each employee was being asked to work 10 to 12 hours a day.
In many instances, the staff did not receive increments for 3-4 years. Few retailers provide refreshments or lunch to their staff. Some top retailers pay as little as 10 dirhams per hour of overtime.
Added to this problem of untrained and demotivated staff members, many Dubai retailers have antiquated IT systems. So they do not know their inventory, what is selling, what is not.
But the most neglected arena in retail is basic customer service. Walk into a bookshop. The sales girls can hardly speak English and cannot spell "Monologues". They have no passion for books, yet spend their day in selling them.
The critical question is where do Dubai retailers go from here? They will have to get used to about 15-30 percent lower sales from 2006-08 levels. As of now, the management and marketing vibrancy and energy required to reverse this downward trend is missing. Unfortunately many Dubai retailers have a trading mindset, not marketing.
This could lead to closure of marginal malls and shops, which are unable to lure customers.
Retailers need to become pragmatic. Hopefully, they will focus more on service rather than be preoccupied with the marble floors of their retail outlets. They also need to worry about volume growth, rather than sheer profits, through short-term pricing policies.
Retailers should acknowledge new emerging paradigms. They should recognise the new competition from neighbouring countries. They should build strong and vibrant management teams and give up their "shopkeeper" habits. They should focus on improving customer services rapidly. These steps will enable retailers in Dubai to reverse the downward trend in sales and begin the path to recovery.
(28-02-2010- The author is the CEO of a foods company in the Middle East. He can be reached at rajendraaneja@hotmail.com)
Pakistan: Eid Milad-Un-Nabi celebrated with reverence
By NNN-APP,
Islamabad : The Nation on Saturday celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi with religious reverence, fervor and commitment to tread lives in light of the principles laid down by Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The day began with special prayers for development, safety and peace in the country and for unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
It was public holiday and special security arrangements had been made to maintain law and order across the country.
All important buildings,residential plazas, markets, mosques and roundabouts were beautifully illuminated.
Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings were held and people enthusiastically participated in the programs organised by different local, religious and social organizations.
On this occasion Naat and the Holy Quran reciting competitions were held as festivities continued till the evening, in almost every nook and corner of the country to revive the real spirit of Islam and offer respects to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Keeping in view the current situation, in the Federal Capital, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar and other cities and towns across the country, the security was been put on high alert to avoid any untoward incident and the attendant of Mahafil were properly verified and checked by security personnel.
In Rawalpindi and Islamabad most of the mosques, buildings, markets and streets were decorated tastefully. Since, morning various processions were taken out from different areas of twin cities, reciting Naats and Darood o Salam for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Major event of the day was the annual National Seerat Conference where Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are a foundation to achieve peace and security and lead Muslims to a new phase of progress and prosperity.
Gilani said, “We should know that life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is like an open book whose no page is hidden from anybody and its every aspect is unblemished.”
Addressing the conference, Acting President Farooq H. Naek said teaching of Arabic language from class one to ten should be made compulsory so that students could be made familiar with the true teachings of Islam.
He said, “I suggest to the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to include subject of Arabic language in syllabus of students of class one to 10.”
Naek said the students would be in a better position to understand Islamic teachings with proper learning of Arabic as the Holy Quran was in this language.
He said when our youth would be equipped with knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, nobody could misguide them and wrongly interpret the orders of Allah Almighty.
He assured his full cooperation in the endeavours of Ministry of Religious Affairs for promoting all aspects of Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) to spread peace, love and brotherhood in society.
In Lahore, important buildings like Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Assembly Hall, WAPDA House and other buildings were beautifully illuminated. Besides, dongregations were organized where the preachers and scholars highlighted the teachings of the Holy Prophet and delivered lectures on His way of life.
Same arrangements were also made at important cities like Peshwar, Karachi, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad as well as other small cities and towns to celebrate the day.
Besides buildings, the bazaars, mosques, roundabouts and even houses were also decorated and illuminated.
In Peshawar, the central procession of the Eid-e-Milad was taken out from Milad Chowk that travelled through its traditional routes of Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Ghanta Ghar, People Mandi and ended at Qissakhwani Bazar.
In Karachi, sufficient number of security personnel were deployed to ensure security on the occasion while the main Eid Milad procession was taken out from Boulton Market to Nishtar Park under heavy deployment of security personnel.
Thousand of followers participated in the rallies, with large number boarding the vehicles and others moving on foot to reach the places of congregations to listen to their religious leaders.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, Eid Milad-un-Nabi was also celebrated with religious reverence. Processions were taken out and “Mahaafil-e-Milad” were held in all small and major towns and cities including Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher, Palandri, Rawalakot and Neelam valley.
Islamabad : The Nation on Saturday celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi with religious reverence, fervor and commitment to tread lives in light of the principles laid down by Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The day began with special prayers for development, safety and peace in the country and for unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
It was public holiday and special security arrangements had been made to maintain law and order across the country.
All important buildings,residential plazas, markets, mosques and roundabouts were beautifully illuminated.
Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings were held and people enthusiastically participated in the programs organised by different local, religious and social organizations.
On this occasion Naat and the Holy Quran reciting competitions were held as festivities continued till the evening, in almost every nook and corner of the country to revive the real spirit of Islam and offer respects to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Keeping in view the current situation, in the Federal Capital, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar and other cities and towns across the country, the security was been put on high alert to avoid any untoward incident and the attendant of Mahafil were properly verified and checked by security personnel.
In Rawalpindi and Islamabad most of the mosques, buildings, markets and streets were decorated tastefully. Since, morning various processions were taken out from different areas of twin cities, reciting Naats and Darood o Salam for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Major event of the day was the annual National Seerat Conference where Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are a foundation to achieve peace and security and lead Muslims to a new phase of progress and prosperity.
Gilani said, “We should know that life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is like an open book whose no page is hidden from anybody and its every aspect is unblemished.”
Addressing the conference, Acting President Farooq H. Naek said teaching of Arabic language from class one to ten should be made compulsory so that students could be made familiar with the true teachings of Islam.
He said, “I suggest to the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to include subject of Arabic language in syllabus of students of class one to 10.”
Naek said the students would be in a better position to understand Islamic teachings with proper learning of Arabic as the Holy Quran was in this language.
He said when our youth would be equipped with knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, nobody could misguide them and wrongly interpret the orders of Allah Almighty.
He assured his full cooperation in the endeavours of Ministry of Religious Affairs for promoting all aspects of Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) to spread peace, love and brotherhood in society.
In Lahore, important buildings like Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Assembly Hall, WAPDA House and other buildings were beautifully illuminated. Besides, dongregations were organized where the preachers and scholars highlighted the teachings of the Holy Prophet and delivered lectures on His way of life.
Same arrangements were also made at important cities like Peshwar, Karachi, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad as well as other small cities and towns to celebrate the day.
Besides buildings, the bazaars, mosques, roundabouts and even houses were also decorated and illuminated.
In Peshawar, the central procession of the Eid-e-Milad was taken out from Milad Chowk that travelled through its traditional routes of Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Ghanta Ghar, People Mandi and ended at Qissakhwani Bazar.
In Karachi, sufficient number of security personnel were deployed to ensure security on the occasion while the main Eid Milad procession was taken out from Boulton Market to Nishtar Park under heavy deployment of security personnel.
Thousand of followers participated in the rallies, with large number boarding the vehicles and others moving on foot to reach the places of congregations to listen to their religious leaders.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, Eid Milad-un-Nabi was also celebrated with religious reverence. Processions were taken out and “Mahaafil-e-Milad” were held in all small and major towns and cities including Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher, Palandri, Rawalakot and Neelam valley.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Naga rebel leader Muivah arriving in India Sunday
By IANS,
Dimapur (Nagaland): Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), arrives in New Delhi Sunday to carry forward the stalled Naga peace talks, union home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said here Saturday.
"The NSCN-IM leaders have accepted the government invitation to resume the peace dialogue between New Delhi and the Naga organisation," Pillai told reporters in the Nagaland city Dimapur after attending a passing out parade of paramilitary Assam Rifles.
"The NSCN-IM leader would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram next week."
It is not officially known where exactly Muivah is based outside India. He had last visited India in December 2006 with NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and held talks with the government.
"Efforts are also on to include other Naga groups, including the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, as demanded by the Naga people. Naga communities have felt that for a permanent solution to the vexed ethnic conflict, holding of talks with all Naga factions are essential," Pillai stated.
The centre earlier this month had appointed former petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey as its new interlocutor to facilitate dialogue with the major insurgent outfit, NSCN-IM, which had entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in August 1997.
Replacing former chief negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah, Pandey has been chosen for the assignment as he has served as chief secretary in Nagaland and is said to have a good grasp of the issues that have led to the long spell of insurgency in the northeastern state.
The last round of inconclusive peace talks between the central government and the leading Naga separatist outfit was held in March 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The NSCN faction led by guerrilla leader S.S. Khaplang entered into a ceasefire in 2001 but formal peace talks are yet to begin.
The NSCN-IM, one of the oldest and most powerful of about 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, was earlier fighting for an independent homeland for the Nagas, but has scaled it down to a Greater Nagaland, proposed to be formed by slicing off parts of adjoining states that have Naga tribal populations.
The governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have rejected the demand for unification of Naga-dominated areas. The union government too had earlier rejected demands for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas.
Dimapur (Nagaland): Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), arrives in New Delhi Sunday to carry forward the stalled Naga peace talks, union home secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai said here Saturday.
"The NSCN-IM leaders have accepted the government invitation to resume the peace dialogue between New Delhi and the Naga organisation," Pillai told reporters in the Nagaland city Dimapur after attending a passing out parade of paramilitary Assam Rifles.
"The NSCN-IM leader would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram next week."
It is not officially known where exactly Muivah is based outside India. He had last visited India in December 2006 with NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and held talks with the government.
"Efforts are also on to include other Naga groups, including the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, as demanded by the Naga people. Naga communities have felt that for a permanent solution to the vexed ethnic conflict, holding of talks with all Naga factions are essential," Pillai stated.
The centre earlier this month had appointed former petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey as its new interlocutor to facilitate dialogue with the major insurgent outfit, NSCN-IM, which had entered into a ceasefire with the Indian government in August 1997.
Replacing former chief negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah, Pandey has been chosen for the assignment as he has served as chief secretary in Nagaland and is said to have a good grasp of the issues that have led to the long spell of insurgency in the northeastern state.
The last round of inconclusive peace talks between the central government and the leading Naga separatist outfit was held in March 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland.
The NSCN faction led by guerrilla leader S.S. Khaplang entered into a ceasefire in 2001 but formal peace talks are yet to begin.
The NSCN-IM, one of the oldest and most powerful of about 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, was earlier fighting for an independent homeland for the Nagas, but has scaled it down to a Greater Nagaland, proposed to be formed by slicing off parts of adjoining states that have Naga tribal populations.
The governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have rejected the demand for unification of Naga-dominated areas. The union government too had earlier rejected demands for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas.
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