01/11/19

Garment workers continue 6th day of strike action in Bangladesh

• Bangladeshi garment workers have continued their action for a sixth day, in defiance of tear gas and water cannon attacks with police firing rubber bullets at thousands of protesters in the capital Dhaka.
• However workers continued their strike action, with more than 50 factories believed to have been shut down as workers took to the streets again demanding higher wages and improved conditions in the garment industry.

01/10/19

Inspired by her daughter, this first-time author is shining a light on LGBT Muslim teen experiences

• In “The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali,” scheduled to be released Jan. 29 by Sabina Khan, the title character Rukhsana is an ambitious teen who often chafes at her parents strict rules when it comes to clothing and behavior. But Rukhsana also has a secret, which is that she has been covertly been dating her classmate Ariana for months.
• Like the fictional Rukhsana, coming out to their families is a major concern for many Muslim American teens. In November, the Muslim Youth Leadership Council released a resource guide for young LGBTQ+ Muslims in hopes of encouraging more people to share their stories.

01/10/19

Elderly Woman in Cri‌ti‌cal Co‌ndi‌tion After Br‌‌‌u‌t‌a‌l A‌s‌s‌a‌‌‌u‌l‌t From Burglar in SF

• The victim, who turns 89 next month, was identified as Yik Oi Huang. She was described by her granddaughter Sasanna Yee as “a rosy-cheeked jolly grandmother.”
• In a Facebook post, Yee wrote that an a‌ss‌ail‌an‌t dragged her grandmother and “be‌a‌t her up to a blo‌o‌dy p‌ul‌p” in the park where she usually does her exercises.
• A witness who claimed to catch a glimpse of the a‌s‌s‌ail‌‌ant before he escaped described him as a “skinny black man” who was wearing a hooded jacket.

01/10/19

Pakistani film ‘Rani’ to premiere at the KLF in March

• An American-Pakistani co-production, the film tells the story of a Pakistani transgender woman who sets out to take care of an abandoned baby.
• The lead actress, Kami Sid, said the film is about the real life struggles of a transgender person and what they have to go through.
• “Transgender people should also be given opportunities to work in the film and drama industry,” the actor said. “They should be given work on their merit.”

01/10/19

Women in Kyrgyzstan Fight Against Bride Kidnapping

• Fashion designer Zamira Moldosheva is part of a rising public movement against bride kidnapping that has included such events as charity bike rides and flag installations with campaigners saying more events would be planned this year.
• “Bride kidnapping is not our tradition, it should be stopped,” she said, adding that bride kidnapping was a form of forced marriage and not a traditional practice.

01/10/19

Rahemur Rahman: A New Designer Exploring South Asian Identity

• Newcomer Rahemur Rahman, who is British-Bangladeshi, similarly explored his roots, staging a personal and powerful presentation which aimed to “reinterpret and re-tell stories of South Asian identity”.
• Additionally, he cast solely South Asian models in the show, ensuring it was as representative as possible. “We tried to make sure it was a real mix,” he says of his selection. “We wanted to make sure there was someone who was Sikh, Muslim, and Hindu; someone who was Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi.

01/10/19

How You Can Buy Sandra Oh’s Iconic T-Shirt

• The shirts were created as a fundraiser that celebrates Sandra Oh, the Asian identity, and supports Los Angeles-based The East West Players, which is the oldest Asian American theater troupe in the U.S. 
• And yes, there are still a few available. For a worthwhile cause and for $20, you can purchase the t-shirts on Custom Link.

01/10/19

Saudi women can now work as flight attendants with these local airlines

• As more work sectors open up to women in Saudi Arabia, local budget airline Flynas announced it will be hiring Saudi women to work as flight attendants.
• According to Arabian Business, Saudi “women are not legally barred from working in the aviation sector, but jobs as flight attendants with Saudi carriers have largely been held by female foreign workers from countries such as the Philippines.”