Latest news with #Muhammed
Arab News
5 days ago
- General
- Arab News
98-year-old Egyptian pilgrim fulfilling lifelong dream
JEDDAH: Ahmed Tamim, 98, is fulfilling a lifelong dream of performing Hajj this year. Tamim is a native of Egypt's Sohag governorate, located on the west bank of the Nile, and is one of the oldest pilgrims on this year's Hajj. He arrived in Madinah on May 18 accompanied by his son, to embark on the sacred journey that is mandatory for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to complete it. They are among 13,062 Egyptian pilgrims who were selected through the annual lottery to perform the pilgrimage this year. His son Muhammed told Arab News: 'It all started with a phone call from my friends who said the Hajj lottery is open, aren't you going to apply for your father? 'I tried to contact the lottery mission, and they told me tomorrow is the last day (and) anyone who hasn't applied can still apply. 'At the time, we hadn't applied, but after that call, I decided to apply for my father, and thank God, his name was added to the reserve list due to his advanced age.' He added: 'Every year he used to wish to perform Hajj or Umrah. This time, when he found out his name was called after all these years, his eyes filled with tears and he reacted with happiness, he couldn't believe it.' Muhammed said his father is insisting on performing all the rituals unaided despite his difficulties in walking and hearing. 'He always (said) 'this is an opportunity Allah has chosen me, and I want to experience it to the fullest.'' Muhammad added: 'Everyone in Sohag is happy for my father, because he's not only the oldest pilgrim, but he's a very respected religious person in the governorate. 'May Allah accept his Hajj and we are all so glad that he finally made Hajj.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Curry house forced to close after complaint it smelled like curry
Curry house forced to close after complaint it smelled like curry The restaurant had been operating for more than 20 years Shirazul (right) with his uncle Muhammed (Collect/PA Real Life) A popular curry house has been forced to close after two decades in business following complaints about it smelling of curry. Cinnamons Restaurant in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, had been operating for over 20 years when a complaint was made to South Oxfordshire District Council about the 'curry odours' emanating from the restaurant in 2021. After environmental health officers visited and upheld the complaint, the Bangladeshi restaurant said they spent around £35,000 for a new extractor fan to combat the odour. However, another complaint was made and the curry house was served an abatement notice, which deemed Cinnamons' new ventilation system to be defective. Unable to afford the installation cost of a new system, which the restaurant claimed to be in the region of £50,000, Cinnamons was taken to court and forced to pay a £25,000 fine after pleading guilty in October 2024. Despite the funds spent, the council issued a further abatement notice and in May this year, Cinnamons announced that it could not afford the demands and would close in mid-June, making 10 people unemployed. South Oxfordshire District Council said they have no option but to prosecute 'if measures are not introduced to solve the issue and abatement notices are breached' and that Cinnamons 'admitted that they could have done more to mitigate the odour'. Restaurateur Shirazul Hoque, 32, told PA Real Life: 'The village wants the restaurant to stay, otherwise we would have closed before paying the £25,000 fine. 'It's really hard for us and feels absolutely wrong as we love our village… it is hurtful to have our cuisine, which is loved, described as producing obnoxious odours that stink.' All our employees have families and the chefs who live above the restaurant will be made homeless – it's a big punch in the gut.' Cinnamons Restaurant has been operating in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, since 2000. Shirazul's uncles took over the business in 2012, and they have been serving Bangladeshi and Indian food there ever since. Many TripAdvisor reviews describe the restaurant as an important part of the community. Article continues below 'We are so lucky to have this restaurant in our village,' one review reads. In 2021, the restaurant won the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award, which is given to businesses that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% in their field on TripAdvisor. That same year, an odour complaint was made to South Oxfordshire District Council against the restaurant. An officer from the Environmental Health Agency upheld the complaint. After over two decades of service, Shirazul claimed Cinnamons had never received such a complaint but as a result installed a roughly £35,000 ventilation system as demanded. 'We wanted to resolve it because we've been here for 20 years, we love our village and we wanted to do something about it,' Shirazul said. A higher specification ventilation model was suggested by a consultant, but the restaurant felt they could not afford the installation cost, estimated to be roughly £50,000, nor the maintenance cost. Despite the expensive work carried out by a reputable company with over 30 years of experience, Shirazul said, another complaint was lodged with the council. The Environmental Protection Team was sent to the restaurant and the odour was deemed to be unacceptable, and their ventilator defective. Cinnamons were then asked to rectify the ventilation system. 'We weren't able to afford it,' Shirazul said. 'To be honest, business had not rebounded post-Covid, we'd not been making any profit so we didn't have the money for this.' Since no action was taken, the restaurant was issued with an abatement notice and taken to court. Cinnamons pleaded guilty and accepted a £25,000 fine in October 2024. The issue of ventilation was still deemed unsolved however which left the restaurant facing a further expense estimated by Shirazul to be in the region of £50,000. On Monday May 19, Cinnamons realised they were unable to continue fighting the battle, telling their 10 employees they were without a job. 'It's very hard to share this story because I've spent a lot of my time in the business,' Shirazul said. Asked what other restaurants can learn from his situation, Shirazul said: 'Do due diligence in seeing how the council environmental health officers operate and learn the appeal process.' He also says that on Sunday June 15, their last day of trading, the restaurant will be giving out free meals to anyone who comes through. 'It's a gesture of thanks for all the support we've received through the difficulties of the last few years,' he said. 'It's a way of saying thank you for standing by us.' South Oxfordshire District Council said in a statement: 'The council has a legal duty to investigate nuisance complaints about smells from industrial, trade and business premises that could be a statutory nuisance. We always aim to advise and support businesses on how they can resolve issues. However, if measures are not introduced to solve the issue and abatement notices are breached, we have no option but to prosecute. 'In the case of Cinnamons Restaurant in Wheatley, the Council's Environmental Protection Team has assessed the odour complaint following our procedures and legislation. An extensive investigation at this site determined a statutory nuisance existed in relation to the kitchen's ventilation systems. 'Cinnamons Cuisine Limited, who run the restaurant, has since failed to follow our recommendations and has breached an environmental abatement notice on several occasions between October 2023 and April 2024. Cinnamons pleaded guilty to four charges ahead of a scheduled three-day court appearance on Wednesday 2 October 2024. 'The District Judge at Oxford Magistrates' Court reviewed the evidence and statements provided by council officers and the company, and taking into consideration the revised guilty plea, the judge ordered that the company pay a total of £25,000 – this includes an £11,000 fine, an award of full costs of £12,000 to South Oxfordshire District Council, alongside a victim surcharge of £2,000. 'As well as pleading guilty to the charges of statutory nuisance laid against them, Cinnamons admitted that they could have done more to mitigate the odour. The council can advise and assist where we can, but ultimately responsibility for fixing the problem sits with the business. Article continues below 'The business has been provided advice and guidance on steps they can take but to date have failed to follow our recommendations. 'Cinnamons is still the subject of an ongoing legal case, and we will therefore not be in a position to comment any further on this case other than the information provided in the statement above.'
Time Out Dubai
20-05-2025
- Time Out Dubai
When are all the long weekends 2025?
With everyone back in the office, it's time to start thinking about when we're next scheduled for a long weekend off work. Earlier this year, we enjoyed a bumper long weekend for Eid Al Fitr, with the first public holiday 2025 taking place between Sunday March 30 and Tuesday April 2. While we won't know the exact dates of every long weekend of this year until closer to the time, several of the biggest public holidays in the UAE are tied to moon sightings, and we are still able to predict when we'll next get time off. UAE public holidays for 2025 will equate to at least 12 days in total, and if you combine these days with weekends, you could be looking at some serious time off work this year. As of January 1 this year, a new public holiday law outlined that if a non-Eid public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off can now be moved to another date. A guide to the long weekends UAE 2025 First long weekend: Eid Al Fitr Eid al Fitr 2025 The first big UAE public holiday of the year was Eid Al Fitr. The UAE government has confirmed that we will have three days off to mark the end of Ramadan in 2025. After official moon sighting, the Eid Al Fitr break began on Sunday March 30 until Tuesday April 2, meaning most residents had a four day weekend off work. You may like: Islamic calendar vs. Gregorian calendar: Why public holiday dates in the UAE change every year Second long weekend: Eid Al Adha Your complete guide to Eid Al Adha: When it is, where to go and what to do (Credit: Canva) The second long weekend of the year will be for Eid Al Adha. Eid Al Adha dates fall at the end of Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and comes in the month of Dhu Al Hijjah. The UAE public holiday comes is held between Dhu Al Hijjah 9 and Dhu Al Hijjah 12 which is predicted to be between Thursday June 5 and Sunday June 8 in 2025. The four-day long weekend is dependent on moon sightings but we should know when exactly it will be held more than a week in advance. You might also like: Eid Al Adha break will fall over the weekend this year: Here's why UAE public holidays that fall on a weekend can be shifted to the working week as of this year but this does not apply to either Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Third long weekend: The Prophet Muhammed's birthday (PBUH) Everything you need to know about the next public holiday (Credit: Shutterstock) The final long weekend of the year looks like it will be for the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH). Currently, this break is expected to come on Friday September 5 which would mean we get a three-day long weekend. This one falls on the Rabi' Al-Awwal 12 which is currently predicted to be on Friday September 5 but this could change depending on how many Islamic months have 29 or 30 days. UAE public holidays in full The UAE public holidays for 2025 have been revealed by the country's cabinet so we can start planning for next year. It looks like we'll have at least 12 public holidays in the UAE in 2025, with an additional day off if Ramadan is a 30-day month like it was in 2024. While we won't know the exact dates until much closer to the date due to moon sightings, we do know the occasions we'll be off for. January 1 2025: New Year's Day Shawwal 1: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 2: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 3: Eid Al Fitr holiday Dhu Al Hijjah 9: Arafat Day Dhu Al Hijjah 10: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 11: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 12: Eid Al Adha Muharram 1: Islamic New Year Rabi Al Awwal 12: Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday December 2: UAE National Day December 3: UAE National Day Predicted UAE public holiday dates 2025 For the latest on dates for 2025, head to our complete guide. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 50 free things to do in Dubai this month Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Dubai's newest restaurants to try The latest openings to tempt your taste buds Plus: Never miss a single thing about where to go and what to do in Dubai Get the latest news, reviews and incredible deals by signing up to our free newsletter
Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Leader Live
Flintshire Council comments as car dealer is jailed
In April, Zana Muhammed was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to one count of participating in fraudulent business carried on by a sole trader. The 42-year-old, from Prince's Street in Flint, had, between February 2021 and June 2023, 'dishonestly sold motor vehicles' to customers resulting in a £300,000 loss overall. The vehicles sold by Muhammed were either classed as Category S (eg suffered serious structural damage) or Category N vehicles (bodywork damage, suspension, steering, brakes etc). Nineteen witness statements were provided in the case, with 'at least another 36' vehicles having been sold. The case was brought by Flintshire County Council's Trading Standards Team after they received multiple complaints from customers across the UK, who had purchased cars from The Old Ambulance Station, Chester Road in Flint. Customers stated they were never told the cars were insurance write offs and they only found out after buying them. Extensive investigations carried out by Trading Standards officers found a significant number of Category N and Category S written off cars were being obtained from salvage auctions and were later being advertised for sale on Facebook Marketplace and eBay. There was no mention within the adverts of them being write offs and in some cases, the adverts were changed after purchase to include this information in an attempt to suggest it was there in the first place. Some cars broke down leaving customers with significant repair bills, sometimes thousands of pounds, for cars they would not have bought if they had known they were insurance write offs. Commenting on the sentencing, Councillor Chris Bithell, Cabinet Member for Planning, Public Health and Public Protection said: 'Despite being advised by Trading Standards officers, Mr Muhammed continued to fail to declare that the cars were insurance write offs. Whilst selling insurance write offs is not illegal, withholding this information is illegal and it must be made known to prospective customers to allow them to make an informed decision before buying a car." IN OTHER CRIME NEWS Cllr Bithell added: 'This case shows that Flintshire Trading Standards take these matters seriously and will investigate and prosecute where necessary, in order to protect the public and legitimate car traders. Our advice to consumers is to do thorough checks before buying a car, such as HPI reports, MOT history, service history, test drive the car and always ask for a receipt.' Sentencing Muhammed, Judge Simon Mills said this was a case of 'sophisticated' and 'well thought out' offending. The judge added: "The purchase of a car is one of the most significant financial agreements that people undertake. Customers need to know that they can buy a car from a dealer in confidence of knowing they're getting a safe and roadworthy vehicle. "Yet, for well over two years you sold cars to customers without telling them they were insurance write-offs. You repeatedly told lies about the history of the cars. You ignored complaints from customers and Trading Standards. Muhammed was sentenced to four years in prison. A Proceeds Of Crime Act investigation into the matter is ongoing ahead of a hearing on September 12.
Time Out Dubai
05-05-2025
- Time Out Dubai
UAE public holidays: When are all the long weekends 2025?
With everyone back at work, it's time to start thinking about when we're next scheduled for a sweet, long weekend. Earlier this year, we enjoyed a bumper long weekend for Eid Al Fitr, with the first public holiday 2025 taking place between Sunday March 30 and Tuesday April 2. While we won't know the exact dates of every long weekend of this year until closer to the time, several of the biggest public holidays in the UAE are tied to moon sightings, and we are still able to predict when we'll next get time off. UAE public holidays for 2025 will equate to at least 12 days in total, and if you combine these days with weekends, you could be looking at some serious time off work this year. As of January 1 this year, a new public holiday law outlined that if a non-Eid public holiday falls on a weekend, the day off can now be moved to another date. A guide to the long weekends UAE 2025 First long weekend: Eid Al Fitr Eid al Fitr 2025 The first big UAE public holiday of the year was Eid Al Fitr. The UAE government has confirmed that we will have three days off to mark the end of Ramadan in 2025. After official moon sighting, the Eid Al Fitr break began on Sunday March 30 until Tuesday April 2, meaning most residents had a four day weekend off work. You may like: Islamic calendar vs. Gregorian calendar: Why public holiday dates in the UAE change every year Second long weekend: Eid Al Adha Your complete guide to Eid Al Adha: When it is, where to go and what to do (Credit: Canva) The second long weekend of the year will be for Eid Al Adha. Eid Al Adha dates fall at the end of Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and comes in the month of Dhu Al Hijjah. The UAE public holiday comes is held between Dhu Al Hijjah 9 and Dhu Al Hijjah 12 which is predicted to be between Thursday June 5 and Sunday June 8 in 2025. The four-day long weekend is dependent on moon sightings but we should know when exactly it will be held more than a week in advance. You might also like: Eid Al Adha break will fall over the weekend this year: Here's why UAE public holidays that fall on a weekend can be shifted to the working week as of this year but this does not apply to either Eid Al Fitr or Eid Al Adha. Third long weekend: The Prophet Muhammed's birthday (PBUH) Everything you need to know about the next public holiday (Credit: Shutterstock) The final long weekend of the year looks like it will be for the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (PBUH). Currently, this break is expected to come on Friday September 5 which would mean we get a three-day long weekend. This one falls on the Rabi' Al-Awwal 12 which is currently predicted to be on Friday September 5 but this could change depending on how many Islamic months have 29 or 30 days. UAE public holidays in full The UAE public holidays for 2025 have been revealed by the country's cabinet so we can start planning for next year. It looks like we'll have at least 12 public holidays in the UAE in 2025, with an additional day off if Ramadan is a 30-day month like it was in 2024. While we won't know the exact dates until much closer to the date due to moon sightings, we do know the occasions we'll be off for. January 1 2025: New Year's Day Shawwal 1: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 2: Eid Al Fitr holiday Shawwal 3: Eid Al Fitr holiday Dhu Al Hijjah 9: Arafat Day Dhu Al Hijjah 10: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 11: Eid Al Adha Dhu Al Hijjah 12: Eid Al Adha Muharram 1: Islamic New Year Rabi Al Awwal 12: Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) birthday December 2: UAE National Day December 3: UAE National Day Predicted UAE public holiday dates 2025 For the latest on dates for 2025, head to our complete guide. Looking for things to do in Dubai? 50 free things to do in Dubai this month Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Dubai's newest restaurants to try The latest openings to tempt your taste buds Plus: Never miss a single thing about where to go and what to do in Dubai Get the latest news, reviews and incredible deals by signing up to our free newsletter
