Latest news with #Ahmad
The Star
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Tradition served with every plate
FOR 39 years, a popular restaurant in Johor Baru has welcomed a diverse range of customers, both local and international, including His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia. Warung Saga owner Ahmad Ismail, 44, said he still remembers the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's visit to his shop along Jalan Mahmoodiah about seven years ago. 'It was a Sunday in December 2018 when I received a call from one of Sultan Ibrahim's officers at around 11am saying that His Majesty wanted to have breakfast at my restaurant,' he recalled. 'I started to panic because we were in the midst of preparing for the lunch crowd.' Ahmad explained to the palace officer that only one plate of mee rebus remained, as the other breakfast dishes had already finished. He added that the palace officer assured him it was fine since His Majesty specifically wanted to try the mee rebus at Warung Saga and nothing else. Ahmad proudly showing a photograph of Sultan Ibrahim's visit to his restaurant in December 2018. 'Upon arriving, Sultan Ibrahim took a moment to look around my shop, which is filled with pictures of the Johor royal family, including past Sultans and former Yang di-Pertuan Agongs. 'There were no other customers at the time – just me, my staff and the officers accompanying Sultan Ibrahim as His Majesty sat at a table,' he said, noting that he personally took the order from his royal guest. Ahmad shared that His Majesty enjoyed a plate of mee rebus with a glass of teh tarik and spent nearly an hour at the restaurant, which is popular among locals for its authentic Johor delicacies. 'Sultan Ibrahim later called me over and asked how the restaurant was doing. His Majesty also offered valuable advice, encouraging me to continue running the business my late parents founded back in 1986,' he added. Ahmad recalled that just as Sultan Ibrahim finished his mee rebus, a lunchtime crowd began to gather outside the restaurant. His Majesty graciously motioned for them to come in. Warung Saga is well known for its display of pictures of historical figures, including royalty, leaders and celebrities, as well as scenes from old Johor Baru. 'Before leaving, Sultan Ibrahim told me not to accept payment from the customers and gave me money to cover the cost of everyone's food that day,' he added. Ahmad said that nearly 39 years ago, his parents humbly started the restaurant with just a push cart and three small tables. 'Eventually, my late father decided to upgrade the warung into a proper restaurant while my late mother, who was a truly excellent cook, took charge of the cooking. 'My father wanted a name that resonated with the people. At that time, Malaysia had just launched its first national car, the Proton Saga, which inspired him to name the restaurant Warung Saga,' he added. Ahmad said that besides the good food, people from all over Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia also came to his restaurant to see the pictures of historical figures, including royalty, leaders and celebrities, as well as scenes from old Johor Baru. He added that his father had thousands of photographs in his collection and hung them up in the restaurant so that customers could see them while enjoying their meals. 'My father even displayed photos of past presidents and prime ministers from Indonesia and Singapore, as we often have customers from both countries dining here. Ahmad added that when Sultan Ibrahim was sworn in as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he displayed pictures of that historic moment in his shop. 'When customers dine here, they often study the pictures and reflect on how much we have progressed as a nation. This progress is thanks to the leaders who have shaped our country,' he said. 'I'm truly grateful for that, and having the chance to serve leaders like Sultan Ibrahim in my humble restaurant is a great honour for both me and my family.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Eid on June 7, Maharashtra livestock panel calls for halt on animal markets
WITH EID al-Adha, known commonly as Bakri Eid, just a week away on June 7, the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, a commission set up for welfare of indigenous cows, has directed all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) not to hold any livestock market from June 3 to June 8. The move has drawn flak from various quarters, including Muslim community members, who have questioned the intent behind stopping the sale of all animals, including lambs and sheep, in the whole week preceding Eid. In a May 27 circular sent to all APMCs, the Goseva Ayog said in light of the upcoming Bakri Eid festival, when large-scale animal slaughter/ sacrifice is carried out, no livestock markets should be held in villages across districts from June 3-8 to ensure that no illegal slaughter of bovines takes place. 'Please stay vigilant in this matter,' it said, referencing the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, which enforces a complete ban on the slaughter of bovine animals (cow progeny) in the state. Under existing rules, the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks is completely banned in Maharashtra, regardless of age or condition. Possession of beef —the meat of cows, bulls, and bullocks—is also criminalised. 'The state needs to take steps to ensure that cow slaughter does not take place. But what is the intent behind shutting down the entire market? If the markets are not held, the trade of non-banned animals such as goats, buffaloes, and sheep will also come to a halt. As a result, daily wage income for farmers, porters, brokers, drivers, the Qureshi-Khatik community, and laborers will stop,' said Farooq Ahmad, State Vice President, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, leading a protest against the circular in Nanded. Ahmad also questioned the Goseva Ayog's authority in directing the APMCs to shut down these markets. 'Goseva Ayog has powers to recommend. Directly issuing orders to market committees constitutes an overreach of its authority,' Ahmad said. The Commission, meanwhile, has said its only purpose was to minimise any possibility of cow slaughter. 'During the days preceding Eid, a lot of animal transactions—including for slaughter—are carried out with the intent of sacrificing the animals. We only want to stop this from occurring. As far as the stoppage of sale of other animals is concerned, that will happen only for one week,' said Shekhar Mundada, Chairman, Maharashtra Goseva Ayog. He also said the circular should be deemed only as an 'advisory'. Maharashtra has 305 principal and 603 secondary APMCs, and these are regulated by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board under the APMC Act. There are 292 livestock markets functioning in Maharashtra, and almost all are regulated by the APMCs. Cattle are mainstay of these markets, where farmers transact at the onset of the monsoon, utilise them for agricultural purposes, and then sell them after harvesting due to issues related to livestock fodder or maintenance. However, smaller animals like goats, sheep, and lambs are also traded. The trade spikes in the days leading up to Eid al-Adha, or Bakri Eid, when Muslims flock these markets to purchase animals for animal sacrifice known as Qurbani.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Anti-drone system at Taj Mahal to counter aerial threats
AGRA: An anti-drone technology system was installed at the Taj Mahal in Agra on Friday to counter potential aerial threats in and around the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Police said the system has a range of eight kilometres and will 'soft kill' any threat once it comes within 500 metres of the main dome of the historic monument. The move comes after India carried out military strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in which 26 people were killed. ACP (Taj Security) Sayed Areeb Ahmad said that the anti-drone system, provided by the security headquarters, successfully detected and neutralised drones during the trial run. According to Ahmad, the system has a range of about eight kilometres and can identify drones flying from any direction within this range. "It not only tracks the drone's current location but also pinpoints where it is being operated from. Drones coming within 500 metres of the monument are automatically neutralised," Ahmad said. "If any drone enters the no-fly zone around the Taj Mahal, the system will detect it immediately. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo A response team will then trace the operator's location, conduct a raid, and take legal action as per the rules," he added. Before the installation of the technology, security teams deployed to protect the Taj Mahal also underwent a week-long training to handle and operate the system, said the ACP Ahmad, adding, "Agra Police and CISF are involved in protecting the Taj Mahal and its periphery, and flying of drones is prohibited within the 500-metre radius of the monument." When asked how the system works, police sources refrained from revealing many details, citing security concerns. However, they said that the anti-drone system automatically jams the signal of any drone approaching the area, rendering it inoperable through a method known as a 'soft kill'. A police team will then trace the origin point of the drone and secure the location from where it was launched. Agra Police will be responsible for operating and maintaining the system. However, the exact location of the radar and other components has not been disclosed.
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Business News
Inside Stathamism: The New Film Exploring a Reddit Cult That Idolized Jason Statham
In the vast digital sprawl of Reddit, strange subcultures are not unusual—but few are as bizarre and dangerous as the cult that emerged around the 2006 action film Crank. Known as Stathamism, this now-defunct online community centered around the belief that mimicking Jason Statham's character, Chev Chelios, was a path to true spiritual awakening. The subreddit r/stathamism was launched in 2019 by a user under the handle u/sohobreadsticks, also known as 'Opal.' What began as an apparent parody quickly spiraled into something more serious. Adherents of the group believed that the modern world was a simulation—one that could only be disrupted or escaped by maintaining constant adrenaline, just as Chelios does in Crank. Members claimed that if your heart rate dropped, so did your consciousness. Initially filled with memes and movie quotes, the subreddit rapidly evolved into a repository of increasingly risky behavior. Users posted videos of themselves engaging in high-stakes stunts, from street fights to reckless driving and rooftop jumps. One user uploaded footage of a self-inflicted electrocution. Another discussed using medical defibrillators for 'ritual clarity.' While Reddit eventually banned the community in 2023, traces of it persist. Reports linked the group to multiple hospitalizations and at least one fatality that remains under investigation. The term 'performance suicide' began appearing in user-generated posts and eventually in law enforcement briefings. Despite Reddit's efforts to scrub the content, remnants of the group's activity linger through screenshots, reuploads, and whispers of a surviving Discord server. Now, Boston-based filmmakers Caden Ahmad and Aryan Chaudhari are bringing this story to the screen. Their upcoming film, Stathamism, is currently in production and has already begun attracting attention from internet communities that remember the subreddit's eerie rise and fall. 'I thought it was just another weird Reddit joke,' says Ahmad. 'But then I found this PDF floating around called The Crank Testament. That was when I realized people had taken this way too far.' The film combines real archival Reddit content with dramatizations, capturing the surreal energy and unfiltered chaos that defined early 2010s internet horror. But it is not just a shock piece. It is a darkly comedic examination of how irony and fandom can spiral into dangerous ideology. 'We're interested in what happens when satire stops being interpreted as satire,' says Chaudhari. 'This film explores how easily performance becomes belief, and belief becomes extremism.' Stathamism aims to critique the broader cultural obsession with true crime and cult narratives, particularly in the United States. With streaming platforms increasingly leaning into sensationalist documentaries, the filmmakers argue that society has blurred the line between entertainment and danger. 'There's a market for chaos,' Ahmad notes. 'And when it becomes a spectacle, it stops being questioned.' Though the subreddit is long gone, online echoes remain. Slowed-down versions of the Crank soundtrack have surfaced on TikTok. A YouTube video tagged with #ChevAscension re-emerged recently. And on obscure forums, users claim to be part of a continuing movement—one they say Reddit could not kill. Whether or not Stathamism was a genuine belief system, a viral parody, or a tragic blend of both, the film seeks to hold a mirror up to the internet age's most absurd and dangerous tendencies. At its core, Stathamism is not just a film about a cult. It is a reflection on the digital landscapes we inhabit, and how belief can grow unchecked in the strangest of places. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Planned Rakiura 1080 drop criticised
The planned 1080 poison drop over Stewart Island is an "ecological disaster that's waiting to happen", a tour operator says. Last year, the Department of Conservation (Doc) announced plans to drop 1080 cereal bait to reduce the feral cat population endangering the southern New Zealand dotterel. The bird population has declined in the past four years, despite trapping and other efforts to reduce cat numbers. Now there are about 105 birds left. The bait will kill rats and possums which the cats will feed on. The first phase is a trial to gain understanding for Predator Free Rakiura, and will take place in 7000ha area inside the 43,000ha area where the second phase of the bait drop will happen. About 108 tonnes of cereal bait containing 162kg of 1080 will be dropped. The bait pellets contain cereal, cinnamon or orange lure, sugar, green dye and small amounts of 1080 (0.15% per pellet). It will be spread at a rate equivalent to about four to eight pellets in a tennis-court-sized area. Ruggedy Range Wilderness Experience owner Furnah Ahmad has been a tour operator on Stewart Island for the past 25 years. Ms Ahmad said 1080 was "harmful to everything that breathes air", and would adversely affect the island. "It is harmful to our wildlife and environment, it's harmful to human beings and it will have an impact on the livelihood and wellbeing of people in our community." New Zealand was known for its clean green image and attracted many visitors who did not want to walk "through a national park full of dead carcasses", unable to drink the groundwater and seeing animals sick or dying because of "horrendous poison", she said. Paterson Inlet was part marine reserve, a food gathering source and contained salmon and mussel farms that could be poisoned with 1080 that flowed down the waterways to it, Ms Ahmad said. The manufacturers of the poison recommended that all animals poisoned with 1080 should be buried, but this would not happen on the island. Doc director national programmes Ben Reddiex said Stewart Island was the last breeding site for pukunui, and the bird could be lost without urgent intervention. Aerial 1080 was the most effective tool to control predators including rats, possums, and feral cats over large areas and in rugged terrain, Mr Reddiex said. Research showed biodegradable 1080 was safe and the Environmental Protection Agency approved the use of 1080. In 2011, the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment conducted a review of the use of 1080 and recommended it should be used more. Studies showed that 1080 has no detectable impact on invertebrate populations and did not affect native fish, including eels/tuna, or introduced trout, and freshwater crayfish/kōura. The poison broke down more slowly in dry and cold environments, but conditions on Stewart Island were like Fiordland where aerial 1080 was successfully used, he said. Doc staff would monitor the results of the bait drop to determine when no residue remained in carcasses and it was safe to resume activities in the area. Rakiura National Park, including bookable hunting blocks, will remain open during the operation. Doc would ensure people were well-informed about how to keep safe. In March a trial was held to test bait laced with deer repellent, and bait with deer repellent will be used within bookable hunting blocks only. New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Callum Sheridan said the group opposed the aerial dropping of 1080 as it indiscriminately killed not just game animals and impacted the environment. Even though 1080 was said to break down fast, recently he had seen undissolved pellets in snow grass near Murchison that had been dropped more than three months ago. The dosage in the pellets was not enough to kill a deer immediately. "It takes days for them to die and they are basically exploding from the inside out — it's quite a horrible way to go." He would not be keen to eat meat shot in an area where 1080 had been dropped, he said. He estimated the Stewart Island bait drop would cost about $80 million. The money might be better spent employing people to monitor bait stations and trap pests, he said.
