Latest news with #Shariff
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rio Rancho's Joe's Pasta House to open Albuquerque location
May 29—Joe's Pasta House is just a few inspections closer to opening an Albuquerque location. Joe's Pasta House first opened in Rio Rancho in 1999 and was acquired by the Shariff family in 2022. The restaurant's growth since that time prompted the new owners to pursue a second location at 6650 Holly NE in Albuquerque's Holly Plaza, and maybe more in the future. The family originally anticipated the restaurant would open in mid-May but inspections have taken longer than expected. Now, the Shariffs are targeting a mid-June opening. "It feels like it should be any week now. ... Once we have those final inspections, it's going to be quick action to get open," owner Nadeem Shariff said. The restaurant will offer the same authentic Italian food, and, newly, expanded hours and a full bar. Additionally, it'll employ more than 60 people. The family said the cost of launching the new restaurant is at least $300,000, which covers extensive renovations to add a bar that wasn't in the space before. The 4,5000-square-foot space will also feature a dining room, banquet room and other surprise features, the family said. "It's nerve-wracking and it's exciting, but luckily we have a really good team," Shariff said. "We're excited to be almost there."
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Situation 'Dire': Fair Grounds May Not Run 2025-'26 Race Meet Without Legislative Help
The future of Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots is 'dire,' an attorney for owner Churchill Downs, Inc. told the Louisiana State Racing Commission on Tuesday, and if economic circumstances do not improve the 2025-'26 meet at the New Orleans track will not take attorney, Ozair Shariff, read from a statement at the emergency meeting, held at the racing commission office in New Orleans, citing the loss of revenue from historical horse racing machines at Fair Grounds and the track's off-track betting facilities. In March, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled a 2021 state law authorizing HHR machines without local referendums was unconstitutional. Fair Grounds racing operations alone lose 'millions annually,' Shariff told commissioners, but revenue from the track's slot machines offset the losses, allowing the property to break even. 'Fair Grounds' overall profitability is dependent on revenue generated from its OTB network, specifically video poker and historical racing – until last week,' Shariff said, referring to the cessation of HHR wagering after the Supreme Court decision went into effect. 'The elimination of 46 percent of the OTB revenue and an even more significant 74 percent of OTB EBITDA does not allow Fair Grounds to cover its required $9 million average annual maintenance operating capital.'Faced with this reality, operating under the current status quo is no longer an option," Shariff Louisiana legislature is in session until June 12, and Shariff said CDI is 'actively engaged in numerous discussions with key legislators in an attempt to solve this very dire problem. While these talks have slowed, Fair Grounds remains committed to maintaining an open dialogue and finding a path towards long-term viability before the end of the session.'The future success of the Fair Grounds is something we must confront together, or else the state's entire horse racing and breeding ecosystem, and the thousands of jobs that it supports, is at risk,' Shariff said. 'At this time, the Fair Grounds is unable and unwilling to commit to the 2025-2026 race dates assigned at last month's meeting, and as detailed in the HBPA's most recent submission, which were approved without application by the Fair Grounds. If a solution is found that ensures the Fair Grounds' long-term economic viability, then the Fair Grounds will commit to racing in the fall.' Shariff was immediately rebuked by Louie Roussel III, a prominent New Orleans businessman and horse owner who once owned the Fair Grounds and spoke to the commission, he said, on behalf of Gov. Jeff Landry.'Churchill Downs got along pretty good before they had HHR machines, didn't they?' said Roussel. 'They didn't complain about their profitability. They sent two individuals to meet with the president of the Louisiana Senate, Mr. Cameron Henry, asking for a subsidy for the Fair Grounds for the upcoming season. They presented no evidence of any loss of funds.'Do not let them come here and poor mouth you,' Roussel told the commissioners, adding that CDI had revenue of $2.8 billion in 2024 and $427 million in net profit. "Does this sound like someone who is poor mouthing? It's laughable. Do not allow these people to do this. … If they tell you they don't want to race, fine them $50,000 or $100,000 a day for every day they don't race.' Roussel said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Inc., threatened to 'padlock the track' if they didn't get their way.'I urge you to do what is right for the horsemen, the breeders, and, more importantly, the citizens of the state and the citizens of New Orleans to stand up to Churchill Downs and not allow them to dictate to you what you have to do. This should be a partnership: the track and the commission to help racing be better, not the way they present it.'Gov. Landry has told me to tell them, take out your HHR machines, replace them with the video poker machines you had, and start the process, the legislative process if you want HHR machines,' Roussel said. 'There will be no state subsidy for this racetrack. None.' Commissioners voted to approve a Nov. 20-April 9 meet for 2025-'26, even though Fair Grounds has not asked for dates. Under state law, any licensed track awarded dates must run those dates – barring severe economic problems – or face economic consequences, racing commission chairman Edward J. Koehl Jr. said. 'You have to show financial distress,' Koehl told Shariff."We are not accepting the race dates," Shariff said the commission would hold another meeting on June 15 once the legislative session ends.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- The Sun
Grieving elephant mother sedated after standing guard over dead calf hit by lorry
PETALING JAYA: Wildlife officers were forced to sedate a distraught elephant who stood watch for more than five hours beside her calf that was fatally struck and trapped beneath a lorry on the Gerik-Jeli highway. With the mother elephant refusing to abandon her dead offspring and creating potential hazards for motorists, Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) staff administered tranquilisers before safely guiding her away from the roadway. According to Perak Perhilitan chief Yusoff Shariff, authorities received notification about the incident shortly after 3.30am. By late morning, approximately 11.30am, wildlife personnel successfully extracted the remains of the young elephant, estimated to be a five-year-old male. 'To ensure the protection of our staff and travelers, we needed to move the mother elephant away from the accident location,' Shariff told Harian Metro. 'There was no alternative but to employ tranquilisers and transport her back into the forest using an off-road vehicle around 9am,' he continued. 'Removing the baby elephant's body was complicated as it required specialised equipment including a recovery vehicle and earth-moving machinery to extract and inter the remains,' the director revealed in his interview with the Malay daily. Previously, footage had spread across social media platforms depicting a full-grown elephant—the calf's mother—maintaining vigil over her offspring who was pinned beneath the truck. ALSO READ: Elephant calf dies after being hit by lorry in Gerik, netizens heartbroken over mother elephant In the heartbreaking video, the mother elephant could be observed attempting to move the vehicle using her head in what appeared to be a desperate effort to rescue her calf.
Hindustan Times
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pahalgam attack: Pakistan bans Indian ships from its ports in tit-for-tat move
Pakistan banned Indian flag carriers from using its ports hours after New Delhi announced a similar measure as a fresh punitive step against the neighbouring country for its role in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Hours after India's move, Islamabad announced late Saturday that any Indian flag carriers will not be allowed to visit any of its ports and also barred Pakistani ships from docking at any Indian port. 'In view of the recent development of maritime situation with neighbouring country, Pakistan in order to safeguard maritime sovereignty, economic interest and national security enforces following measures with immediate effect: Indian flag carriers shall not be allowed to visit any Pakistani port, Pakistani flag carriers shall not visit any Indian port (and) any exemption or dispensation shall be examined and decided on case to case basis,' the Dawn reported, quoting an order by Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs' Ports and Shipping Wing. In addition to its move on Pakistani ships, India banned all direct and indirect imports of goods from the neighbouring country. 'Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders,' the notification states. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday defended his country's retaliatory actions against India, saying his government's measures were 'responsible and measured.' 'Despite India's provocative actions following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan's response was responsible and measured,' Shariff told Turkey's ambassador Dr Irfan Neziroglu. The PML(N) party leader claimed that Pakistan was being falsely accused of abetting the Pahalgam attack and alleged that India was 'yet to respond to Pakistan's offer to have a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation to ascertain the facts behind the Pahalgam incident'. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. India has taken several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and closing its airspace for Pakistani planes.
ABC News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Singapore orders foreigners' Facebook posts removed under election law
Singapore has ordered Facebook parent Meta to block Singaporeans' access to posts made by foreigners ahead of a national election, under rules restricting their social media posts. The Infocomm Media Development Authority issued the orders after some posts by foreigners were deemed as "intended to promote or prejudice the electoral success or standing of a political party or candidate". The South-East Asian The rules bar foreigners from publishing online election advertising, which it defines as online materials that could help or hurt any political parties or candidates. The Ministry of Home Affairs identified the foreigners as Iskandar Abdul Samad, national treasurer of the Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia and Mohamed Sukri Omar, the party's youth chief in the Malaysian state of Selangor. It also identified Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, an Australian who renounced his Singapore citizenship in 2020. Mr Samad had expressed support for the opposition Workers' Party's Faisal Manap in a social media post. Supporters of the Workers' Party attend a rally in Singapore. ( Reuters: Edgar Su ) The authorities said Mr Shariff had accused Malay-Muslim members of parliament of failing to represent Muslim interests, saying Singapore did not need another Malay MP who did not represent their views. The government said the posts interfered with domestic politics and influenced citizens to vote on racial and religious lines. Malays, who are recognised as the indigenous population of ethnic Chinese-majority Singapore, account for 13.5 per cent of the population. Mr Shariff, responding to the takedown request, posted on Facebook that the action showed the ruling PAP and its supporters were "scared" and that "desperation reeks". He said he was creating a WhatsApp channel and another website to advocate for issues. The opposition Workers' Party said in a statement it did not have control over foreign parties who expressed support for its candidates. It said Mr Manap had spoken about how religion needed to be "kept aside, or apart from politics, so that religion will not be used to gain personal benefit or to benefit any political party". Singapore's general election will be held on Saturday May 3. While Singapore has flourished as one of the world's wealthiest nations, it has also become one of the most expensive cities to live in. The PAP has been criticised for tight government control and a government-knows-best stance, media censorship and the use of oppressive laws against dissidents. Issues like widening income disparity, increasingly unaffordable housing, overcrowding caused by immigration and restrictions on free speech have also loosened the PAP's grip on power. Reuters/AP
