Latest news with #Haleem
NDTV
11-07-2025
- General
- NDTV
Where To Eat Haleem In Hyderabad: 7 Places That Serve It All Year
In Hyderabad, Haleem is not just a dish. It is a full-blown emotion, and we have understood the assignment. Thick, velvety, and slow-cooked to perfection, Haleem defines the city's culinary identity during Ramzan. But why should this hearty blend of meat, wheat, and spices stay stuck to one season? For many, Haleem is rainy-day comfort food, a celebration centrepiece during family gatherings, or simply that one indulgence that hits the spot. Thankfully, some restaurants and food joints in Hyderabad serve Haleem all year round. And the best part? Many of them are just a few taps away, delivering it straight to your doorstep through popular food apps. 7 Places That Serve Haleem In Hyderabad All Year: 1. Behrouz Biryani: Behrouz may be biryani royalty, but its Haleem has its own loyal following. Available year-round, the Gosht-e-Haleem and Murgh-e-Haleem deliver a creamy, smooth texture packed with flavour and well-cooked meat. Whether you pair it with biryani or have it on its own, a bowl of this Haleem rarely misses. Order online and get it delivered hot and fresh to your doorstep. 2. Biryani And More: This multi-location chain in Hyderabad serves Haleem that sticks to tradition. Rich in ghee and spices, it is full of flavour without being overwhelming. Whether you dine in, choose takeaway, or order it at home, the Haleem here is consistently satisfying. In a rush? Can't cook? Order from 3. Telugu Medium Kitchen And Bar: Telugu Medium in Jubilee Hills takes the classic and adds a twist. Their Murgh Haleem Tikka mixes traditional Haleem with spicy grilled chicken tikka, making it ideal for anyone who likes their comfort food with a punch. The space is upbeat, the menu playful, and while the dine-in experience stands out, you can find select delivery options on food apps too. 4. The Friends Shawarma: A local legend for midnight food fixes, The Friends Shawarma serves Haleem that is spicy, bold, and generously topped with fried onions and lemon wedges. Cravings after dark? This place delivers quickly and reliably, making it a go-to for impromptu Haleem runs. 5. House Of Bagaara: Tucked away in Madhapur, House Of Bagaara brings a touch of modern charm to traditional Haleem. Their Mutton Haleem, rich in classic Hyderabadi spices, is the star of the menu. The cosy interiors and warm service make it a solid pick for a laid-back lunch with family or friends. 6. Hyderabad House: A name that many Hyderabadis have grown up with, Hyderabad House in Jubilee Hills brings nostalgia with every bowl. Their slow-cooked Haleem is hearty and flavourful, making it an ideal choice for family meals or when guests come over. 7. Shadab Go!: Shadab Go! in Banjara Hills brings the taste of Old Hyderabad to a newer postcode. Their Irani-style Haleem is packed with slow-cooked meat, a velvety texture, and fragrant spices that will instantly transport you to the lanes of Charminar. It is rich, satisfying, and hard to stop at one bowl. Craving Haleem already? Whether you are stepping out or staying in, these spots have ensured that Hyderabadis do not have to wait until Ramzan for their favourite dish. Pick your place, order up, and let us know which bowl hit home.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
4 arrested for assaulting head constable; family allege police brutality
Pilibhit: Four men, including a father and his three sons, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly assaulting a police head constable in Dhaka locality of Puranpur tehsil headquarters in Pilibhit district. According to a complaint filed by head constable Mahaveer Singh, who is attached to the Pawan mobile police unit at Puranpur Kotwali police station, the incident took place past midnight on Saturday while he was on law and order duty with constable Virendra Kumar. Singh claimed he tried to disperse a crowd gathered on a street, following which several people abused and assaulted him. His uniform was torn, and his mobile phone was snatched. He also alleged that the attackers called for his murder on the spot. Puranpur Kotwali SHO Satyendra Kumar said, "Based on his complaint, a case was registered against Salamat Shah, 70, and his sons Sonu Shah, Sikandar Ali, and Tasawar Ali, all in their 30s, under BNS sections 121 (2) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from their duty), 132 (criminal force against a public servant to deter them from their duty), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), and 304 (snatching as a form of theft). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Show Off Your Talent: Enter the Ultimate Creator Contest! Tocsin Media & Marketing LLC Undo " However, the family levelled counter-allegations against the police. Mahmoodan Begum, wife of Salamat Shah, alleged that the confrontation erupted after the constables objected to the cooking of Haleem — a dish prepared overnight for Muharram — outside their home. The head constable allegedly kicked the utensil, scattered the contents on the road, and dumped the burning wood sticks in it. When family members resisted, police allegedly called in reinforcements, forcibly entered their home, vandalised property including three bikes, and assaulted women in the household. "The SHO snatched our written complaint when we tried to appear before the SP and DM during the Thana Samadhan Diwas held in Puranpur on Saturday," said Mahmoodan, adding that police did not let the male family members attend the Muharram procession. Pilibhit SP Abhishek Yadav, confirmed that four accused were arrested and police are also searching for others allegedly involved in the attack on the head constable. "Any further action would be subject to the findings of the investigation," he said.
Malaysian Reserve
20-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Singapore's banking hub has a corner where cash is still king
IN the heart of Singapore, a financial hub where billions of dollars zip around the world over computer screens in nanoseconds, there's a crowded building where cash still reigns. Six days a week, hundreds of people line up in a rundown mall abutting Raffles Place square to buy and sell hard currency at one of around 30 money changer stalls. All manner of notes can be had in minutes: Singapore dollars for British pounds? Coming right up. Indonesian rupiah for Vietnamese dong? Icelandic króna? Maldivian rufiyaa? No problem. Some 150 currencies are available. 'Cash will remain forever,' said Abdul Haleem, 65, a veteran of the industry whose kiosk sits at the entrance to the narrow, three-story plaza called The Arcade. The towering offices of global banking giants JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of China Ltd. are just steps away. The number of licensed money changers in Singapore dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were unable to travel and retail shops struggled to pay rent. But there are close to 250 physical stalls still operating, and new ones continue to spring up across the city-state's 284 square miles of land. That's even though multi-currency payment apps such as YouTrip, Wise and Revolut have grown in popularity. To understand how so many cash dealers can survive the digital age, you need to know a bit about Singapore's place in the world. Though it's now among the richest countries — where financial titans from UBS Group AG to BlackRock Inc. manage more than $4 trillion and billionaires including James Dyson, Ray Dalio and Sergey Brin have set up family offices — the island nation remains a shipping and transit hub at its core. Hundreds of vessels anchor in Singapore's harbor each day, many waiting to load and unload cargo at one of the world's busiest maritime ports. For decades, that's made Raffles Place a prime location for money changers, just a few blocks from where the Singapore River empties into the Singapore Strait. Many sailors need to swap cash from their previous locations, and change money for their next destination. 'They get off the boat and come right here,' said Haleem, whose uncle Abdul Gaffoor, now 99, started City Money Changers on the Arcade's ground floor in 1980. Old-World Relic Many office workers also come in search of the best exchange rates — which are often better than what banks offer. It's an old-world relic resisting the bits and bytes revolution. Mobile phones and tablets have replaced newspapers, while emails and social media have supplanted faxes and letters. Now digital payments are coming for the ancient culture of coins and paper notes. Mohamed Rafik, 55, a partner at Arcade Money Changers, a stall opposite Haleem's, remains optimistic. His evidence is that there are new licensees entering the industry who wouldn't do it if they couldn't make a living. 'Money changers won't go out of business,' said Rafik, while handling cash and paper receipts on a busy afternoon. Digital payment wallets may seem attractive now, but the companies also have overheads and may try to increase rates in the long run, he predicted. Right now, a thriving tourism industry is driving demand during the summer school holidays. Singapore is close to Southeast Asian holiday hotspots like Phuket in Thailand, Vietnam's Ha Long Bay and Bali, Indonesia, where cash is still needed to pay for food at street stalls or small restaurants, or to offer tips. Travelers with cash also avoid the higher exchange rates and foreign transaction fees imposed by many credit cards. Life Lesson For Christina Ng, a teacher in her 40s who came to Haleem's stall for Korean won, cash gives a sense of security while traveling. Paying with notes and coins is also a lesson for her three children. 'I want them to learn how to use the cash and do the transaction, so they need to see the physical money,' she said. 'We don't want them to just tap, tap, tap without actually knowing what they're spending on.' The money changers are good leading indicators of travel trends. Whereas demand used to be strongest for US dollars and Malaysian ringgit, the Japanese yen is now most sought-after, along with Korean won and Taiwanese dollars, Haleem said. A record number of tourists have flocked to Japan to visit historic sites, dine on sushi and take advantage of the weakened currency. At the Arcade, the money changers carve out an existence on the fringes of the multi-trillion dollar global foreign-exchange market. Customers throng the narrow passages to scrutinize buy and sell rates at tightly packed stalls, which are required to post rates on electronic screens. Frugality gives them an edge against the financial institutions that occupy the opulent towers surrounding Raffles Place, according to Rafik at Arcade Money Changers. The changers will survive even if digital platforms cut their margins to zero to gain market share, he said. Congregating in one location attracts more customers, but it also pares margins to the bone. Foreign currency bought at a commercial bank can cost 1% to 4% or more once you factor in a poorer exchange rate and transaction fees. At City Money Changers, it's a high-volume, low-margin business where Haleem typically makes fractions of a penny on the dollar in a swap. 'Everybody wants to see the best price so they will shop around,' he said, while taking a break from his tiny kiosk. On Thursday afternoon, Haleem's stall was selling the greenback at S$1.2900, versus the S$1.2972 offered by DBS Group Holdings Ltd., Singapore's largest bank, on its retail app. The cash exchange rate wasn't as favorable as YouTrip's rate of S$1.2877 per US dollar. With all this cash on hand — some changers can turn over S$500,000 ($389,000) a day, he says — you'd expect to see armed guards all over the plaza. Not in Singapore, where violent crime is almost non-existent. Instead, the stall-holders rely on security cameras — there are some 90,000 across the city — to monitor activity. The dealers are the eyes and ears for each other, on the alert for any suspicious customers. Regulators have scrutinized the industry in the past, concerned about the potential for money laundering. In 2016, the Monetary Authority of Singapore cited a Raffles Place currency changer, along with other banks, for their roles in the scandal at 1MDB, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The probe revealed inadequate risk management practices at the changer, and failure to identify the beneficial owners of funds. Money changers are now required to conduct customer due diligence measures for cash transactions exceeding S$5,000, or for those topping S$20,000 where the money is funded from an identifiable source like a bank account. That includes verifying customers' identities and keeping proper transaction records. The industry poses a 'moderate level' of money-laundering threats due to its cash-intensive nature, said a spokesperson for the MAS, the country's financial regulator. Haleem, who's been at this trade for 40 years, concedes that the future isn't all bright for his industry. Business is about half that of pre-Covid levels, and the increased competition is eroding margins, while wild currency swings can leave him sitting on devalued cash overnight. He predicts the trend toward digital payments is only going to accelerate. 'It will become worse and worse,' he said, though he thinks there will always be a little room in people's wallets for cold hard cash. One floor up at Crown Exchange, Thamim A.K., a money changer in his 60s, is more sanguine. Sitting in a backroom surrounded by wads of Korean won and Indonesian rupiah, he says his 40 years of trading, with all its ups and downs, gives him hope for the future. 'I've seen everything, all the currencies, fluctuations,' Thamim said. 'The bank notes business is still there. It's growing, in fact. It's fighting with digital.' –BLOOMBERG
Business Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore's banking hub has a busy corner where cash is still king
[SINGAPORE] In the heart of Singapore, a financial hub where billions of dollars zip around the world over computer screens in nanoseconds, there's a crowded building where cash still reigns. Six days a week, hundreds of people line up in a rundown mall abutting Raffles Place square to buy and sell hard currency at one of around 30 money changer stalls. All manner of notes can be had in minutes: Singapore dollars for British pounds? Coming right up. Indonesian rupiah for Vietnamese dong? Icelandic krona? Maldivian rufiyaa? No problem. Some 150 currencies are available. 'Cash will remain forever,' said Abdul Haleem, 65, a veteran of the industry whose kiosk sits at the entrance to the narrow, three-storey plaza called The Arcade. The towering offices of global banking giants JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of China are just steps away. The number of licensed money changers in Singapore dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were unable to travel and retail shops struggled to pay rent. But there are close to 250 physical stalls still operating, and new ones continue to spring up across the city-state. That's even though multi-currency payment apps such as YouTrip, Wise and Revolut have grown in popularity. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up To understand how so many cash dealers can survive the digital age, you need to know a bit about Singapore's place in the world. While it's now among the richest countries – where financial titans from UBS Group to BlackRock manage more than US$4 trillion, and billionaires including James Dyson, Ray Dalio and Sergey Brin have set up family offices – Singapore remains a shipping and transit hub at its core. Hundreds of vessels anchor in Singapore's harbour each day, many waiting to load and unload cargo at one of the world's busiest maritime ports. For decades, that's made Raffles Place a prime location for money changers, just a few blocks from where the Singapore River empties into the Singapore Strait. Many sailors need to swap cash from their previous locations, and change money for their next destination. 'They get off the boat and come right here,' said Haleem, whose uncle Abdul Gaffoor, now 99, started City Money Changers on the Arcade's ground floor in 1980. Old-world relic Many office workers also come in search of the best exchange rates, which are often better than what banks offer. It's an old-world relic resisting the bits and bytes revolution. Mobile phones and tablets have replaced newspapers, while emails and social media have supplanted faxes and letters. Now digital payments are coming for the ancient culture of coins and paper notes. Mohamed Rafik, 55, a partner at Arcade Money Changers, a stall opposite Haleem's, remains optimistic. His evidence is that there are new licensees entering the industry who wouldn't do it if they couldn't make a living. 'Money changers won't go out of business,' said Rafik, while handling cash and paper receipts on a busy afternoon. Digital payment wallets may seem attractive now, but the companies also have overheads and may try to increase rates in the long run, he predicted. Right now, a thriving tourism industry is driving demand during the summer school holidays. Singapore is close to regional holiday hotspots like Phuket, Bali and Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, where cash is still needed to pay for food at street stalls or small restaurants, or to offer tips. Travellers with cash also avoid the higher exchange rates and foreign transaction fees imposed by many credit cards. Life lesson For Christina Ng, a teacher in her 40s who came to Haleem's stall for South Korean won, cash gives a sense of security while traveling. Paying with notes and coins is also a lesson for her three children. 'I want them to learn how to use the cash and do the transaction, so they need to see the physical money,' she said. 'We don't want them to just tap, tap, tap without actually knowing what they're spending on.' The money changers are good leading indicators of travel trends. Whereas demand used to be strongest for US dollars and Malaysian ringgit, the Japanese yen is now most sought-after, along with Korean won and Taiwanese dollars, Haleem said. A record number of tourists have flocked to Japan to visit historic sites, dine on sushi and take advantage of the weakened currency. At the Arcade, the money changers carve out an existence on the fringes of the multi-trillion dollar global foreign-exchange market. Customers throng the narrow passages to scrutinise buy and sell rates at tightly packed stalls, which are required to post rates on electronic screens. Frugality gives them an edge against the financial institutions that occupy the opulent towers surrounding Raffles Place, according to Rafik at Arcade Money Changers. The changers will survive even if digital platforms cut their margins to zero to gain market share, he said. Congregating in one location attracts more customers, but it also pares margins to the bone. Foreign currency bought at a commercial bank can cost 1 per cent to 4 per cent or more once you factor in a poorer exchange rate and transaction fees. At City Money Changers, it's a high-volume, low-margin business where Haleem typically makes fractions of a penny on the dollar in a swap. 'Everybody wants to see the best price so they will shop around,' he said, while taking a break from his tiny kiosk. On Thursday (Jun 19) afternoon, Haleem's stall was selling the greenback at S$1.2900, versus the S$1.2972 offered by Singapore's largest bank DBS on its retail app. The cash exchange rate wasn't as favourable as YouTrip's rate of S$1.2877 per US dollar. With all this cash on hand -– some changers can turn over as much as S$500,000 a day, he says – you would expect to see armed guards all over the plaza. Instead, the stallholders rely on security cameras – there are some 90,000 across the city – to monitor activity. The dealers are the eyes and ears for each other, on the alert for any suspicious customers. Regulators have scrutinised the industry in the past, concerned about the potential for money laundering. In 2016, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) cited a Raffles Place currency changer, along with other banks, for their roles in the scandal at 1MDB, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The probe revealed inadequate risk management practices at the changer, and failure to identify the beneficial owners of funds. Money changers are now required to conduct customer due diligence measures for cash transactions exceeding S$5,000, or for those topping S$20,000 where the money is funded from an identifiable source like a bank account. That includes verifying customers' identities and keeping proper transaction records. The industry poses a 'moderate level' of money laundering threats due to its cash-intensive nature, said a spokesperson for the MAS, the country's financial regulator. Haleem, who's been at this trade for 40 years, concedes that the future isn't all bright for his industry. Business is about half that of pre-Covid levels, and the increased competition is eroding margins, while wild currency swings can leave him sitting on devalued cash overnight. He predicts the trend toward digital payments is only going to accelerate. 'It will become worse and worse,' he said, though he thinks there will always be a little room in people's wallets for cold hard cash. One floor up at Crown Exchange, Thamim A K, a money changer in his 60s, is more sanguine. Sitting in a backroom surrounded by wads of South Korean won and Indonesian rupiah, he says his 40 years of trading, with all its ups and downs, gives him hope for the future. 'I've seen everything, all the currencies, fluctuations,' he said. 'The bank notes business is still there. It's growing, in fact. It's fighting with digital.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
20-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore's banking hub has a corner where cash is still king
Travelers with cash also avoid the higher exchange rates and foreign transaction fees imposed by many credit cards. PHOTO: ST FILE SINGAPORE - In the heart of Singapore, a financial hub where billions of dollars zip around the world over computer screens in nanoseconds, there's a crowded building where cash still reigns. Six days a week, hundreds of people line up at The Arcade, a narrow, three-story plaza abutting Raffles Place square, to buy and sell hard currency at one of around 30 money changer stalls. All manner of notes can be had in minutes: Singapore dollars for British pounds? Coming right up. Indonesian rupiah for Vietnamese dong? Icelandic króna? Maldivian rufiyaa? No problem. Some 150 currencies are available. 'Cash will remain forever,' said Abdul Haleem, 65, a veteran of the industry whose kiosk sits at the entrance to the The Arcade. The towering offices of global banking giants JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of China are just steps away. The number of licensed money changers in Singapore dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were unable to travel and retail shops struggled to pay rent. But there are close to 250 physical stalls still operating, and new ones continue to spring up across Singapore. That's even though multi-currency payment apps such as YouTrip, Wise and Revolut have grown in popularity. To understand how so many money changers can survive the digital age, you need to know a bit about Singapore's place in the world. Though it's now among the richest countries – where financial titans from UBS Group to BlackRock manage more than US$4 trillion and billionaires including James Dyson, Ray Dalio and Sergey Brin have set up family offices – the nation remains a shipping and transit hub at its core. Hundreds of vessels anchor in Singapore's harbour each day, many waiting to load and unload cargo at one of the world's busiest ports. For decades, that's made Raffles Place a prime location for money changers, just a few blocks from where the Singapore River empties into the Singapore Strait. Many sailors need to swap cash from their previous locations, and change money for their next destination. 'They get off the boat and come right here,' said Mr Haleem, whose uncle Abdul Gaffoor, now 99, started City Money Changers on the Arcade's ground floor in 1980. Old-world relic Many office workers also come in search of the best exchange rates – which are often better than what banks offer. Mohamed Rafik, 55, a partner at Arcade Money Changers, a stall opposite Haleem's, remains optimistic. His evidence is that there are new licensees entering the industry who wouldn't do it if they couldn't make a living. 'Money changers won't go out of business,' said Mr Rafik, while handling cash and paper receipts on a busy afternoon. Digital payment wallets may seem attractive now, but the companies also have overheads and may try to increase rates in the long run, he predicted. Right now, a thriving tourism industry is driving demand during the June school holidays. Singapore is close to South-east Asian holiday hotspots like Phuket in Thailand, Vietnam's Ha Long Bay and Bali, Indonesia, where cash is still needed to pay for food at street stalls or small restaurants, or to offer tips. Travelers with cash also avoid the higher exchange rates and foreign transaction fees imposed by many credit cards. For Christina Ng, a teacher in her 40s who came to Haleem's stall for Korean won, cash gives a sense of security while traveling. Paying with notes and coins is also a lesson for her three children. 'I want them to learn how to use the cash and do the transaction, so they need to see the physical money,' she said. 'We don't want them to just tap, tap, tap without actually knowing what they're spending on.' The money changers are good leading indicators of travel trends. Whereas demand used to be strongest for US dollars and Malaysian ringgit, the Japanese yen is now most sought-after, along with Korean won and Taiwanese dollars, Mr Haleem said. At the Arcade, the money changers carve out an existence on the fringes of the multi-trillion dollar global foreign-exchange market. Frugality gives them an edge against the financial institutions that occupy the opulent towers surrounding Raffles Place, according to Mr Rafik at Arcade Money Changers. The changers will survive even if digital platforms cut their margins to zero to gain market share, he said. Congregating in one location attracts more customers, but it also pares margins to the bone. Foreign currency bought at a commercial bank can cost 1 per cent to 4 per cent or more once you factor in a poorer exchange rate and transaction fees. At City Money Changers, it's a high-volume, low-margin business where Mr Haleem typically makes fractions of a penny on the dollar in a swap. 'Everybody wants to see the best price so they will shop around,' he said, while taking a break from his tiny kiosk. On the afternoon of June 19, Haleem's stall was selling the US dollar at S$1.2900, versus the S$1.2972 offered by DBS Group Holdings, Singapore's largest bank, on its retail app. The cash exchange rate wasn't as favourable as YouTrip's rate of S$1.2877 per US dollar. With all this cash on hand – some changers can turn over $500,000 a day, he says. Regulators have scrutinized the industry in the past, concerned about the potential for money laundering. In 2016, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) cited a Raffles Place currency changer, along with other banks, for their roles in the scandal at 1MDB, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The probe revealed inadequate risk management practices at the changer, and failure to identify the beneficial owners of funds. Money changers are now required to conduct customer due diligence measures for cash transactions exceeding $5,000, or for those topping $20,000 where the money is funded from an identifiable source like a bank account. That includes verifying customers' identities and keeping proper transaction records. The industry poses a 'moderate level' of money-laundering threats due to its cash-intensive nature, said an MAS spokesperson. Mr Haleem, who's been at this trade for 40 years, concedes that the future isn't all bright for his industry. Business is about half that of pre-Covid levels, and the increased competition is eroding margins, while wild currency swings can leave him sitting on devalued cash overnight. He predicts the trend toward digital payments is only going to accelerate. 'It will become worse and worse,' he said, though he thinks there will always be a little room in people's wallets for cold hard cash. One floor up at Crown Exchange, Thamim A.K., a money changer in his 60s, is more sanguine. Sitting in a backroom surrounded by wads of Korean won and Indonesian rupiah, he says his 40 years of trading, with all its ups and downs, gives him hope for the future. 'I've seen everything, all the currencies, fluctuations,' Mr Thamim said. 'The bank notes business is still there. It's growing, in fact. It's fighting with digital.' BLOOMBERG Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
