Latest news with #Iftikhar
The Courier
5 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Broughty Ferry restaurant opens with new name after hotel firm's legal letter
A new Mediterranean restaurant has opened in the former Gulistan House in Broughty Ferry – but has had to change its name after a legal letter from an Edinburgh hotel firm. Iftikhar Ahmed has transformed the historic building on Queen Street into a new restaurant, which opened its doors for the first time on Friday. He had planned to open the venue under the name Le Monde, meaning 'the world', with his daughter Aaisha Naseer. However, just days before opening, the pair received a letter from London-based law firm Venner Shipley acting on behalf of its client Glendola, to highlight the fact that Le Monde is trademarked. Hospitality company Glendola owns venues including Waxy O'Connor's in Glasgow and the Le Monde Hotel in Edinburgh. Iftikhar says he was 'surprised' by the news that the phrase had been trademarked. The 66-year-old said: 'We had everything organised under Le Monde and have had to change it all – it did take us by surprise. 'We received a letter from the company's law firm, and I had my solicitor look at it, and somehow they have managed to trademark 'the world' (translated as Le Monde). 'The restaurant will now be called 1876 Dundee, which is when the building was built. 'We were supposed to advertise heavily last week, but had to stop because I didn't want to be taken to court. 'We have to play by the rules. 'The extra expense of all the new signage has been around £10,000, but it is what it is. 'I certainly didn't want to step on anyone's toes or intend for this to happen, and want to apologise for the confusion it may have caused. 'We all want to move past this and are excited to welcome customers into the restaurant.' The restaurant had a soft launch on Friday night, and Iftikhar says the opening weekend was promising, despite a lack of social media announcements. The businessman previously told The Courier that 1876 Dundee will serve predominantly Mediterranean cuisine and Sunday roasts. He said: 'The menu will consist of a lot of meat, and lots of seafood ranging from lobsters and oysters all the way to salmon steaks, seabass and langoustine. 'We'll also be doing Sunday roasts. The hope is to have something for everyone.' When approached for comment by The Courier, Glendola did not respond. However, law firm Venner Shipley said: 'Our client would prefer no response.'
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
31 schools damaged in Pak shelling in Poonch, Rajouri
SRINAGAR: At least 31 schools have been damaged in Pakistani troops' mortar and artillery shelling in border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir after the launch of Operation Sindoor May 11. The twin border districts in Jammu were the worst hit by Pakistani shelling. At least 16 people — 13 in Poonch and 3 in Rajouri — were killed. Hundreds of structures, including residential houses and educational institutions, were damaged. Poonch chief education officer (CEO) Iftikhar Hussain Shah told this newspaper that 23 schools in the district were hit by shelling. Of the 23, a higher secondary school and a middle school were fully damaged. Due to fear of resumption of shelling, many parents are not sending their wards to the schools. 'About 30 per cent students are attending classes,' Iftikhar said, adding the attendance in border areas is even lower. 'We are reaching out to the students through WhatsApp groups and urging them to rejoin the classes. We are hopeful the attendance will increase as normalcy is returning,' the CEO said. Asked if they have shifted the students of the damaged schools, he said, 'No, they are studying in the same school.' Rajouri CEO Choudhary Iqbal Hussain said seven schools and a private educational institution were damaged in the district in shelling. Students are returning to schools and attendance is picking up with each passing day, Iqbal said, adding the students studying in schools damaged have not been shifted. 'Windows and glass panes of the schools have been broken and cracks have developed. In one Middle school, one room was damaged in the shelling,' he said, adding the damaged schools would be renovated. Of 23 schools damaged in Poonch, 2 destroyed At least 16 people — 13 in Poonch and 3 in Rajouri — were killed in the Pakistani shelling. Hundreds of structures, including residential houses and educational institutions, were damaged. Poonch chief education officer (CEO) Iftikhar Hussain Shah told this newspaper that 23 schools in the district were hit by shelling. Of the 23, a higher secondary school as well as a middle school were completely damaged.
The Courier
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
EXCLUSIVE: Former Gulistan House in Broughty Ferry set to reopen as Mediterranean restaurant
The former Gulistan House in Broughty Ferry is set to reopen as a Mediterranean restaurant. Work is underway to transform the historic building on Queen Street into a new restaurant set to open later this month. The building was home to an Indian restaurant for four decades before it closed suddenly in 2021. It then reopened as Pan-Asian Orchid Restaurant but shut just nine months later, before being put on the market in August. New owner Iftikhar Ahmed plans to bring the premises back to life under the new name Le Monde. The 66-year-old told The Courier: 'The cuisine is predominantly Mediterranean but there will be a lot of British in there as well. 'The menu will consist of a lot of meat, and lots of seafood ranging from lobsters and oysters all the way to salmon steaks, seabass and langoustine. 'We'll also be doing Sunday roasts. The hope is to have something for everyone.' Businessman Iftikhar, who lived in the area before moving to Spain, returned to the UK a few years ago to open restaurants in Wales. Visiting Dundee at the time, he says he was 'tempted' to take on the historic premises when Orchid opened but 'missed the boat by a few months'. However, Iftikhar received a phone call at the end of 2024 asking if he was still interested and 'struck up a deal' to take it on. He added: 'We want to make sure that no one can say it's still the Gulistan, because it was iconic for over 40 years. 'When you walk in, it's going to look completely different. 'The other thing we're going to do is have a display fridge, which customers can also choose from in addition to the menu, which is typically Mediterranean.' Iftikhar says the new restaurant will have a wine menu 'second to none around here' with bottles ranging from £20 to £1,500. The restaurant is to be managed by his daughter Aaisha Naseer, and is expected to open within the next two weeks.
See - Sada Elbalad
06-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Pakistan's objectives ‘largely served and achieved' by UNSC moot on South Asia tensions: Asim Iftikhar
Nada Mustafa Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN Asim Iftikhar on Tuesday said that the country's objectives were largely achieved by a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting it had requested to discuss the prevailing tensions in South Asia amid a standoff with India in the wake of a militant attack in occupied Kashmir. The April 22 attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in one of the deadliest assaults since 2000. India, without investigation or evidence, implied 'cross-border linkages' of the attackers. Pakistan has firmly rejected the claim and called for a neutral probe. Tensions have since spiked, with Pakistan reinforcing its forces as it expected an incursion and India's premier granting 'operational freedom' to his military. As temperatures remain high, with the military warning of a 'swift' response to any misadventure by New Delhi, diplomatic channels have remained engaged to prevent conflict. Iftikhar delivered a press briefing following the UNSC meeting, stating that the nation's objectives were 'largely served and achieved' by the discussion and reiterating Pakistan's commitment to remaining peaceful and open to dialogue. 'Several [council] members recognised the imperative of peacefully resolving all issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in accordance with UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people,' Iftikhar said. 'There was also a clear sense that regional stability cannot be sustained through unilateralism, it requires principled diplomacy, engagement and adherence to international law.' Iftikhar noted that peace 'does not happen in a vacuum' and highlighted some of the key points discussed during the moot. 'We expressed grave concern over India's recent unilateral measures, particularly the illegal actions of April 23, military buildup and inflammatory statements,' he said. 'These actions, alongside credible evidence of potential escalation, have dangerously raised tensions. 'Pakistan does not seek confrontation [but] we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. When peace is threatened in a region home to one-fourth of humanity, it becomes a global issue,' he noted. Iftikhar highlighted that Pakistan 'categorically rejected' India's allegations that it was responsible for the Pahalgam attack, which was condemned by Pakistan and 'all council members'. 'What India is claiming is nothing but recycled allegations, unsubstantiated, unverified [and] designed to serve its political interest and strategic objectives, which include trying to divert attention from repression and human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and to undermine the legitimate Kashmiri struggle for self-determination,' he said. Iftikhar also raised India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which he noted was brokered by the World Bank and 'upheld during wars'. 'Water is life, not a weapon,' he said. 'These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis. Any attempt to disrupt their flow constitutes aggression, and allowing such a precedent would endanger every lower riparian state.' According to Iftikhar, the council was reminded that the Kashmir issue was the core contributor to instability in South Asia. 'The Kashmiri people continue to face gross human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, demolition of homes — that we are seeing now — restrictions on expression and media and a systematic denial of their right to self-determination,' he lamented. 'Lasting peace in South Asia requires that the UNSC implements its own resolutions, which include the holding of a UN-supervised plebiscite for Kashmiris to determine their own future,' he stated. The ambassador added that Pakistan called out India's 'weaponisation of disinformation [and] efforts to malign Pakistan'. 'We reminded the UNSC that Pakistan has been a frontline state in the war on terror, sacrificing over 19,000 lives along with immense economic setback,' he said. 'India's attempts to distort this reality, while ignoring its own destabilising actions and involvement in terrorism abroad, including the case of Kulbushan Jadhav and extraterritorial assassinations, must be met with truth, transparency and accountability.' Iftikhar continued: 'We reiterated our commitment to peaceful, cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including India. We remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality.' The ambassador added that Pakistan reiterated its call for a 'transparent, neutral and credible investigation' of the Pahalagam attack. 'While we pursue peace, we will defend our interests and safeguard our sovereignty resolutely, and at all costs. We urge the UNSC and the secretary general to remain actively engaged in peacemaking and preventative diplomacy,' he said. 'The role of the council is not just to observe conflict from afar, but to prevent it through timely and principled action. Peace must be built through dialogue, engagement and respect for international law. India's current posture reflects none of these,' Iftikhar said. 'The burden of peace must be shared — the people of Kashmir have waited far too long for justice, and the people of Pakistan will not stand by while their rights — to water, to peace, to sovereignty — are threatened,' he added. 'In view of the gravity of the situation, the calls for dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful resolution of disputes, such as by the secretary general and what we heard from the council members today, are the most pertinent and the way forward for lasting peace and stability in the region,' he concluded. Earlier today, the Foreign Office (FO) said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had instructed Iftikhar to take immediate steps for the UNSC session. 'Pakistan will particularly brief the UNSC on how India's aggressive actions, repeated provocations and inflammatory rhetoric pose a serious threat to regional and global peace and stability,' an FO press release issued today said. It said that Pakistan would call upon the UNSC to 'exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security by taking appropriate measures to address these concerning developments'. 'It will also highlight India's unlawful and unilateral attempt to put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance — a clear violation of its international obligations,' the FO said. The instructions came two days after Ambassador Iftikhar said Pakistan was closely following the situation stemming from India's aggressive moves in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and would seek a UNSC meeting at an appropriate time. Pakistan and India have fought multiple wars and remain bitter foes. International pressure has been piled on both New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Kashmir. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given his military 'full operational freedom' to respond, and Islamabad has warned it will hit back against any aggression. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. 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Mint
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
India-Pak Tensions: What Pakistan, other envoys said after the 'closed-door' UNSC meeting?
The United Nations Security Council on 5 May, Monday held closed-door consultations to discuss the escalating hostilities between India and Pakistan afte the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. At the meeting, which was called at the insistence of Pakistan, the envoys called for restraint and dialogue. The consultations lasted for around 90 minutes on Monday afternoon. The council didn't release a statement after the meeting. The meeting took place amid escalating tensions and Pakistan's downgraded diplomatic relations with India after the worst-ever terrorist attack on civilians in twenty-five years in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, on April 22. Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the objectives of the closed consultations included enabling the Council members to have a discussion on the deteriorating security environment and rising tensions between India and Pakistan and to have an exchange of views on how to address the situation, including avoiding confrontation that could have serious consequences and the need for de-escalation. Pakistan is currently a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation Security Council, which Greece is presiding over in May. Islamabad 'requested closed consultations' on the tensions between the two countries, and the Greek Presidency has scheduled the meeting for May 5 in the afternoon, news agency PTI said. Iftikhar said, according to news agency PTI, that while Pakistan does not seek confrontation, 'we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity'. Pakistan also raised the issue of India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. 'Water is life, not a weapon. These rivers sustain over 240 million Pakistanis,' he said. Ahmad said at the meeting Pakistan reiterated its 'commitment to peaceful, cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including India'. 'We remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereign equality,' he added. Greece, a non-permanent member of the council, is the president of the body for the month of May. Before the UNSC meeting, India's former Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had told PTI that no 'consequential outcome" can be expected from 'a discussion where a party to the conflict seeks to shape perceptions by using its membership of the Council. India will parry such Pakistani efforts." Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for May, Evangelos Sekeris, described the meeting as 'productive meeting, helpful'. Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Mohamed Khiari of Tunisia, said after the meeting that there was a call for "dialogue and peaceful resolution of the conflict", reported PTI. He described the situation between India and Pakistan as volatile. A Russian diplomat, coming out of the meeting, said, 'We hope for de-escalation," reported PTI. Hours before the meeting, António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down by terrorists. Guterres said he understands the 'raw feelings' following the 'awful terror attack' in Pahalgam and reiterated his strong condemnation of the attack. 'Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means,' he said. 'Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,' the UN Chief added. Apart from the five veto-wielding permanent members — China, France, Russia, UK and the US — the 10 non-permanent members in the Council are Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and Somalia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed that India will hunt down those behind the dastardly attack and bring them to justice. India has taken several punitive measures against Pakistan, including putting in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, suspending visa services and shutting down airspace for Pakistani airplanes. Amid the escalting tensions, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is ramping up preparedness with mock drills across 244 categorised districts in the country on May 7. We are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Targeting civilians is unacceptable – and those responsible must be brought to justice. First Published: 6 May 2025, 10:37 AM IST
