Hockley Hopeful Of Afghanistan Women's Match Becoming A Beacon Of Hope
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 Jan2025
· Hockley Hopeful Of Afghanistan Women's Match Becoming A Beacon Of Hope
· 80 Female Students Poisoned At Iranian University After Consuming Canned Tuna
· Sheikha Mozabint Nasser of Qatar attends opening of inaugural Al-Mujadilah Centre and Mosque for Women
· Fafen Issues Fresh Report On Women's Voting Choices During 2024 Pakistan Polls
· Saudi Marketing Pioneer RyoufAlrumaihCredits Vision 2030 For Success
· Uzbek GM Apologises To Vaishali: I Do Not Touch Other Women For Religious Reasons
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hockley-hopeful-afghanistan-women-match/d/134447
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Hockley hopeful of Afghanistan women's match becoming a beacon of hope
Jan 27 2025
New Delhi, Jan 27 (IANS): Nick Hockley, chief executive of Cricket Australia (CA), believes the exhibition match featuring an Afghanistan women's team in Melbourne is a 'real beacon of hope' for the females of the country.
The Afghanistan women's cricket team players, who are now settled in Melbourne and Canberra, respectively, following the takeover of the country by Taliban, will play a T20 match against a Cricket Without Borders XI at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on Thursday morning.
It followed by the day-night Women’s Ashes Test starting at the MCG later in the afternoon.
Hockley also revealed that the England and Wales Cricket Board are also keen to host Afghanistan women’s team players for matches in the future.
"I think this is a first step. We've got colleagues from the ECB coming out for the women's Ashes, and there are conversations happening to support from England as well as from Australia. So I think the first piece is awareness.
"But I think it's going to be such an exciting day on Thursday, and my hope is that promotes lots of conversations, that this becomes an annual thing and then ultimately, that this team were able to compete on the international stage as is their want.
"I don't think any of us can comprehend what they've been through moving to a new country in such difficult circumstances, not speaking the language. I'm just inspired by their resilience, their love for the game and hopefully this game just raises awareness, a real beacon of hope," said Hockley to reporters on Monday.
Hockley also recalled the time when he was a witness to the Afghanistan women’s team players getting their jerseys. "I was privy to a moment where they got to see their playing shirts for the first time with their names and numbers on the back, and you can just see how much it means to them.
“So I really hope this is kind of the first step of a really successful journey for this group, but also that this match shines a light on the fact that in places around the world not every woman and girl has a chance to play.
"So far, Australia hasn’t played bilateral matches against Afghanistan since making the decision last year, citing "deteriorating human rights for women and girls in the country under Taliban rule".
But with Australia playing against Afghanistan in ICC tournaments, they faced accusations of being hypocritical.
Speaking on this, Hockley said they are just duty-bound to play against Afghanistan in global events. "We're duty bound under the terms of the arrangements for ICC events to play all our scheduled fixtures, so it goes back to what can we do that's in our control.
"We've played Afghanistan in other ICC events, so we've been clear and consistent from the very outset. You have to draw a line somewhere, and I think we've made our stance pretty clear.
“It’s such a complex situation; it’s bigger than cricket. But hopefully what you see this week is that we’re doing those things that are within our direct control to be able make a positive difference.”
Source: daijiworld.com
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1266072
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80 Female Students Poisoned At Iranian University After Consuming Canned Tuna
ByFidel Rahmati
January 26, 2025
Iranian media have reported that 80 female students were poisoned after consuming canned tuna at PishvaVaramin University.
The spokesperson for Tehran’s emergency services stated that 22 of the affected students were treated on-site and discharged, while the rest were taken to the hospital for further care.
As of midday Saturday, some of the hospitalized students were discharged, and the general condition of the remaining students was reported to be stable.
Over the past year, multiple incidents of food poisoning involving students at various Iranian universities have been reported.
In December, Iranian media reported that 40 students from Shushtar Medical Sciences University experienced symptoms of poisoning after having dinner at their dormitory, requiring hospitalization.
Food poisoning incidents in Iran are not limited to universities. Students and workers have also been affected, with some cases resulting in fatalities.
For example, in November, 42 students from a boys’ school in Kashmar, Khorasan Razavi Province, were hospitalized after consuming breakfast prepared at their school.
The recurring food poisoning incidents in Iran highlight systemic issues in food safety and hygiene standards in educational institutions and workplaces, raising concerns among the public.
Addressing these concerns requires immediate action from authorities, including stricter regulations and monitoring of food preparation and distribution to ensure the health and safety of students and workers across the country.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/80-female-students-poisoned-at-iranian-university-after-consuming-canned-tuna/
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Sheikha Mozabint Nasser of Qatar attends opening of inaugural Al-Mujadilah Centre and Mosque for Women
26 Jan 2025
Doha, Qatar: Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, attended the first day of Jadal, the annual research summit by Qatar Foundation’s Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women.
The inaugural three-day research summit – the opening of which was also attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation – is being held at Al-Mujadilah, which opened its doors to Qatar’s and the world’s Muslim women in February 2024. It is welcoming over 100 delegates from North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, representing women from both the Global North and South.
Jadal – which means “dialogue” or “discourse” in Arabic – is gathering esteemed Muslim women scholars, researchers and practitioners from around the world to engage in discussions centred on ‘Muslim Women in Public Life’. This central topic will be explored through three main themes: Muslim Women and the Law, Women’s Lives and History, and Muslim Women’s Well-Being and Health.
“Through Jadal, we honor the Quranic concept of jadal as praised by Allah in Surat al-Mujadilah and embodied in the story of Khawla bint Tha’laba,” said Her Highness Sheikha Moza.
“Khawla bint Tha’laba serves as a powerful example of a Muslim woman who engaged deeply with her religious tradition, advocating for her rights with faith and conviction.”
The story of Khawla bint Tha’laba (r.a.), who engaged in a dialogue with Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), is the inspiration behind the name of Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women.
The Jadal summit draws also from this legacy and aims to foster similarly meaningful engagement.
The inaugural summit is inspired by Her Highness’ vision of fostering a Muslim society where all women are engaged, their participation and contributions acknowledged and recognized, and their concerns and perspectives shape contemporary Muslim thought and open public discourse.
Opening remarks at the summit were delivered by Dr. Sohaira Z. Siddiqui, Executive Director of Al-Mujadilah, who said that the event is an “embodiment” of Al-Mujadilah’s spirit.
“For many Muslim women, current institutions, be they academia, professional spaces, or mosques, simply do not provide the type of space that Al-Mujadilah is seeking to create,” she said.
“Speaking more specifically to the women in this room, many of whom are academics, we have first-hand knowledge of the advantages of Muslim women within academia, but also the limitations that it presents.
“Academia is a male-dominated field. The study of Islam, as a discipline within universities, has only in the past few decades become more open to the participation of Muslims, but despite this, it remains uncomfortable with normative work – that is, academia is still uncomfortable with Muslims researching and writing about Islam and Muslims with the intent of impacting those very communities. Yet, the participation of Muslim women in religious scholarship and scholarship on Islam is more important now than ever before.”
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/26/01/2025/sheikha-moza-attends-opening-of-inaugural-jadal-summit-at-qfs-al-mujadilah-center-and-mosque-for-women
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Fafen Issues Fresh Report On Women's Voting Choices During 2024 Pakistan Polls
By Nausheen Yusuf
January 26, 2025
Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) issued a fresh report on the impacts of women's voting choices on Sunday, stating that female voters voted differently from their male counterparts in the National Assembly constituencies in 18% of communities during the February 8 general elections last year.
The non-government poll observer issued the report titled "Women's Voting Choices: Significance & Impact on Electoral Outcomes", pertaining to the 2024 nationwide polls.
It compared the results of male and female polling stations in the same communities, finding that in 82% of the communities, male and female voters' choice of winner was aligned as they returned the same winner from their respective polling stations.
Since election results of combined polling stations do not provide a gender-wise breakdown of how male and female voters vote, Fafen's assessment could only compare the results of male and female polling stations.
Furthermore, it has limited its scope to male and female polling stations where men and women from the same electoral areas voted. The assessment includes 21,188 communities comprising 42,804 comparable male and female polling stations.
The aforementioned portion of the communities, male and female voters diverged in their choice of winner as they returned different winners from their respective polling stations.
Compared to rural areas, communities in urban areas showed more divergent choices among male and female voters.
Among regions, Islamabad had the highest proportion (37%) of electoral communities with different winners in male and female polling stations.
Balochistan had the second-highest proportion (32%) followed by Sindh (19%) and Punjab (18%), while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had the lowest proportion (13%) of such electoral communities.
Of the 3,884 communities where women's choice of winner for the lower house seats was different, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won more support from women in 1,260 communities, followed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in 1,027 and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) in 694 communities.
Regional trends showed that while the PTI performed well across the country in terms of women voters' choice, the PML-N remained strong in Punjab, and the PPPP dominated in Sindh.
In 37 NA constituencies, the largest proportion of voters in female polling stations did not vote for the winning candidates.
In 226 NA constituencies, the largest proportion of voters in female polling stations voted for the constituency winner. In 166 of those NA constituencies, compared to voters in male polling stations, a larger proportion of voters in female polling stations polled for the winner.
In seven constituencies – NA-43 Tank-cum-Dera Ismail Khan, NA-49 Attock-I, NA-55 Rawalpindi-IV, NA-87 Khushab-I, NA-94 Chiniot-II, NA-128 Lahore-XII and NA-163 Bahawalnagar-IV –, the lead at female polling stations determined the winner.
In NA-43 Tank-cum-Dera Ismail Khan, the Imran Khan-founded party narrowly won edging out Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) by 555 votes. A PTI-backed candidate garnered a lead of 1,430 votes at female polling stations alone, a margin that decisively affected the overall outcome, the report concluded.
Source: thenews.com.pk
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1276407-fafen-issues-fresh-report-on-womens-voting-choices-during-2024-polls
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Saudi marketing pioneer RyoufAlrumaih credits Vision 2030 for success
January 27, 2025
At a time when it wasn’t easy for Saudi women to break into male-dominated industries, RyoufAlrumaih emerged as a pioneer in marketing and creative leadership. As one of the first Saudi women to launch an integrated creative agency in the Kingdom, Alrumaih has redefined leadership in an industry often dominated by international players.
Her journey began with a bold vision and a belief in the potential of Saudi talent. “Leadership in marketing is about nurturing creativity and building trust within a team,” says Alrumaih, CEO of Nithar, a fully integrated creative solutions agency serving both public and private sectors.
From dream to reality
When Alrumaih founded Nithar in 2012, the challenges were immense. “Marketing services were largely dominated by foreign agencies at the time,” she says. “Starting a Saudi-led company meant breaking stereotypes — not just as a woman but as a visionary in a new field.”
Alrumaih credits Vision 2030 for transforming the playing field. “This vision didn’t just open doors; it removed walls, creating unprecedented support for Saudi women and paving the way for leadership opportunities in areas once considered out of reach.”
Marketing through a leadership lens
Alrumaih views marketing as more than campaigns; she sees it as a platform for cultural dialogue and economic growth. Her philosophy centers on teamwork and empowerment, fostering young Saudi talents.
“Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about inspiring others to think innovatively and act collaboratively,” she says. Under her guidance, Nithar has grown into a powerhouse, delivering strategies, brand identities, and creative solutions tailored to local markets while meeting global standards.
A bright future
Looking ahead, Alrumaih is optimistic about Saudi women’s role in shaping marketing’s future. “We’re seeing more women in leadership roles and redefining success. This shift isn’t just empowering; it’s reshaping the industry as a whole,” she says.
For aspiring marketers and entrepreneurs, Alrumaih has words of advice: “Seize the opportunities created by Vision 2030. Collaborate, innovate, and persevere.”
As Saudi Arabia continues making strides on the global stage, leaders like Alrumaih are ensuring the Kingdom’s story is told with creativity and authenticity — a testament to the transformative power of women’s leadership.
Source: arabnews.com
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2587963/corporate-news
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Uzbek GM Apologises To Vaishali: I Do Not Touch Other Women For Religious Reasons
Jan 27, 2025
With the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament in full flow, the main focus has been on D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa. Gukesh, who is the reigning world champion, is in joint-lead with NodirbekAbdusattorov and R Praggnanandhaa.
Fans have also been disappointed by the absence of Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Hans Niemann. Meanwhile, the tournament has also been on the receiving end of a controversy, involving mainly NodirbekYakubboev and Praggnanandhaa's sister Vaishali Rameshbabu.
Both players faced each other in Round 4 of the Challengers’ Section, and it began with a scandalous incident. The Uzbek grandmaster was late for his game against Vaishali, and on turning up, ignored her and snubbed the customary handshake. The Indian’s reaction was of utter confusion, but she had the last laugh.
She was at her best and tactically overpowered Yakubboev, who forgot to look after his weakened king. After his defeat, he once again ignored Vaishali and left. Meanwhile after the game, Yakubboev received criticism from fans and current players, who criticised him and accused him of sexist, racist behaviour.
NodirbekYakubboev apology to Vaishali Rameshbabu
Taking to X, Nodirbek explained his actions and pointed out that it was due to his religion (Islam). “Dear chess friends, I want to explain the situation that happened in the game with Vaishali. With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons. #chess #fide #islam @ChessbaseIndia @Uzchess."
He went on to add that he respected Vaishali and her younger brother. Then he stated that ‘chess is not haram’, and pointed out that he had shaken Divya Deshmukh’s hand in 2023, which was wrong of him. He also revealed that for his game against Irina Bulmaga, he informed her and she agreed to it. Then he also accused the arbiters of urging him to ‘Namaste as a gesture’. He clarified that he ever got the chance to inform Vaishali, which led to ‘an awkward situation’.
“2) I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behavior, I apologize. I have some additional explanations: 1. Chess is not haram.
“3) 2. What I did before (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and cases like that) I consider it wrong for me. 3. I do what I need to do. I do not insist others not to shake hands with the opposite gender or for women to wear hijab or burqa. It is their business what to do.
“Today I told Irina Bulmaga about it. She agreed to it. But when I came to the playing hall, the arbiters told me that I should at least do Namaste as a gesture. In the games with Divya and Vaishali I couldn't tell them about it before the game and there was an awkward situation”, he added.
It is worth mentioning that Nodirbek has missed out on the fact that he also met Divya in an earlier round at the ongoing tournament, and was seen in a live broadcast, fist-bumping her before their match began.
Reacting to the incident, German grandmaster Elisabeth Pahtz wrote, “Well let us put the question this way: Why does such behaviour have 0 consequences for him? As Organizer as well as for the ethics commission it should get on the agenda, unless he has religious or serious personal reasons for refusal which I honestly doubt.”
Nodirbek is currently the World No. 67, with a FIDE rating of 2659. Vaishali has been in good form lately, and in the live ratings has climbed three spots higher to 16th position in the women classical world standings.
Source: hindustantimes.com
https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/uzbek-gm-apologises-to-vaishali-for-alleged-sexist-behaviour-blames-it-on-islam-and-reveals-guilt-for-divya-handshake-101737951887037.html
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/hockley-hopeful-afghanistan-women-match/d/134447