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#GoldenFrames: Vinod Khanna - An actor of substance

Vinod Khanna was born on October 6, 1946, in Peshawar, Pakistan. However, shortly after his birth, India was partitioned, and the family left Peshawar and moved to Mumbai. During his time at the boarding school in Nashik, he watched the epics like 'Solva Saal' and 'Mughal-e-Azam' and fell in love with motion pictures. Khanna also aspired to become a cricketer at one point but after graduation, he was spotted by Sunil Dutt and roped him in for his 'Man Ka Meet' (1968) as a villain giving him his debut film. This was followed by more villainous characters in movies such as 'Purab Aur Paschim' (1970), 'Sachaa Jhutha' (1970), 'Aan Milo Sajna' (1970), 'Mastana' (1970) and more. After playing the villain, Khanna successfully switched over to playing the famous hero. Eventually, he starred in memorable films like Gulzar's 'Achanak' (1973), 'Amar Akbar Anthony' (1977) and 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar' (1978), in which Khanna co-starred Amitabh Bachchan. For more news and updates, stay tuned to ETimes.'

The Times of India 1 Apr 2023 8:25 pm

Target killing of minorities continues unabated in Pakistan, Christian man gunned down in Peshawar

Target killing of minorities continues unabated in Pakistan, Christian man gunned down in Peshawar

Firstpost 1 Apr 2023 5:58 pm

Pakistani police arrest 8 after deadly Ramadan food stampede

An initial report from the police says nine women, aged between 40 and 80, and three children, aged between 10 and 15, died in the rush. KARACHI: Pakistani police on Saturday arrested eight people in the southern port city of Karachi after a stampede killed 12 people at a Ramadan food and cash distribution point a day earlier. Hundreds of women and children rushed to collect free food and cash outside a factory in an industrial area of the city on Friday. Business owners during the Islamic holy month often hand out cash and food, especially to the poor. An initial report from the police says nine women, aged between 40 and 80, and three children, aged between 10 and 15, died in the rush. Police said the eight arrests include the factory manager, who did not tell local authorities about the Ramadan almsgiving. Factory management did not open the inside gate of the factory and, due to the narrow street, the people at the tail of the line pushed elderly women and children, Superintendent of Police Investigations Dr Hafeez Bugti told the media during a visit to the site. As a result, pressure increased enormously, and women and children became the victims of the stampede. Police say they issued and publicized an order saying that any person or organization planning to distribute food or other things to the poor must inform authorities in advance. The chief minister of Sindh province, where Karachi is located, announced compensation for people injured in the stampede and relatives of the victims. Murad Ali Shah said each family who lost a loved one will receive 500,000 rupees, while everyone injured will receive 100,000 rupees. Funerals were held Saturday for some of the deceased: Naseem Begum, 50, and Ma'afia Begum, 55, were buried in Karachi's Orangi Town neighbourhood. Shehzadi Umar, 60, was laid to rest in her hometown of Mirpur Mathelo, some eight hours from Karachi. At least 23 people have died in Ramadan food stampedes since the start of the holy month. On Saturday, police fired tear gas at crowds who gathered to receive free flour bags in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Cash-strapped Pakistan launched an initiative to distribute free flour among low-income families to ease the impact of record-breaking inflation and soaring poverty during the holy month. While Friday's stampede was not part of that government program, crowds have swelled at the distribution centres in recent days. The free flour distribution initiative was launched by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. His coalition government is facing the country's worst economic crisis amid a delay in getting a key $1.1 billion tranche of a $6 billion bailout package originally signed in 2019 with the International Monetary Fund. Weekly inflation is 45%, unseen since Pakistan got its independence from British colonial rule in 1947. Rising food costs and soaring fuel bills have raised fears of public unrest. Neither Sharif nor Pakistani President Arif Alvi have commented on Friday's stampede.

The New Indian Express 1 Apr 2023 5:43 pm

Christian man killed by unknown gunmen in Pakistan: Police

This is the second incident of target killing of minority members in the last 24 hours in Peshawar. PESHAWAR: A Christian man was gunned down by a few unknown men in Pakistan's northwestern region on Saturday, police said. The incident happened when Kashif Masih was at his home in Peshawar's Sufaid Dheri Pishtakhara area. Kashif Masih was gunned down while at home by a few unknown men, police said, adding that efforts to nab the culprits are being made. This is the second incident of target killing of minority members in the last 24 hours in Peshawar as Sikh trader Diyal Singh was murdered on Friday. Muslims account for about 96 per cent of Pakistan's 207 million population, Hindus 2.1 per cent and Christians about 1.6 per cent according to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan estimates.

The New Indian Express 1 Apr 2023 4:42 pm

Sikh businessman shot dead by unknown gunmen in Pakistan's Peshawar city

Sikh businessman shot dead by unknown gunmen in Pakistan's Peshawar city

India Today 31 Mar 2023 11:12 pm

Pakistan: Sikh businessman shot dead by unknown gunmen in Peshawar

Peshawar: A Sikh businessman was shot dead on Friday by unknown assailants here, in the latest incident of targeted attacks against minority communities in Pakistan. The incident took place at 3 pm when armed men on a motorcycle opened fire at Dayal Singh, a businessman in Peshawars Dir Colony area, police said. The gunmen fled Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

The Siasat Daily 31 Mar 2023 8:50 pm

In attacksrebels from Pakistan kill 4 police officers and injure 6

Peshawar: In an early-Thursday attack on a police station in northwest Pakistan, Taliban militants wounded six people and killed four police officers by targeting a police vehicle with a roadside bomb, according to police and the insurgents. Four police officers in a police vehicle carrying reinforcements sent to deal with the attack on a police station in Lakki Marwat, a town in the Afghan bordering province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were killed by the bomb. The attack at the police station left six officers hurt. The militant suspects who attacked the Lakki Marwat police station and later targeted the police vehicle with a bomb are being sought after, according to local police officer Ashfaq Khan. Also Read: The laughing was heard by Sheffield Children's Hospital staff as a 5-year-old was dead Both attacks were blamed on the Pakistani Taliban. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as TTP, is a distinct organisation that is allied with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Since the Pakistani Taliban brokered a cease-fire with the Pakistani government, there has been an increase in attacks in Pakistan. Also Read: Seven people were imprisoned in connection with the Belgian terrorism investigation Since the Afghan Taliban took control of the nation in 2021, as US and NATO troops were preparing to leave Afghanistan after 20 years of conflict, the TTP has grown more confident. Since the Taliban took over, many TTP leaders and fighters have found refuge in Afghanistan. Also Read: Pope Francis's health deteriorated, treatment is going on in this hospital Numerous militant attacks have occurred in Pakistan over the past 20 years, but since the TTP brokered a cease-fire with the Pakistani government for several months in November, there has been an increase.

News Track 30 Mar 2023 12:56 pm

Pakistan: More clashes, injuries and deaths in the month of Ramzan amidst severe food crisis in the country

Protests and brawls against the scarce supply of free wheat flour on Tuesday were witnessed at various places in Peshawar.

OpIndia 29 Mar 2023 5:50 pm

Video Shows Pakistanis Fighting Over Free Flour As Country Reels Under Economic Crisis

A video has now surfaced showing hundreds of Pakistanis in Peshawar running behind and pouncing on a truck carrying wheat flour meant for poor people.

NDTV 29 Mar 2023 12:33 pm

Dhaba Delights: Off the highway, in the city

Offering a smorgasbord of dhaba-style recipes with a generous dose of flavours is Chennais latest Delhi Dhaba CHENNAI:Making time for yourself while schedules burst at the seams is a potion of luxury. Sitting down for a relaxed lunch and focusing on yourself is uber luxury. And thats exactly what a mid-week hearty meal at Delhi Dhaba by Shyams Hospitality can do to pulp you out of fatigue. Like me, if you are a Bollywood fan, youll instantly grin looking at the caricatures of a buttoned-down Shah Rukh Khan, a brooding Sanjay Dutt and a smiling Aishwarya Rai that adorn the walls here, upon entry. After this very filmy welcome, its the rusticness of wooden tables and seating with mini auto rickshaw models for company that offers me the promise of pampering my senses. It was precisely this thought that coaxed Ravikumar Reddy and Nina Reddy to start their fourth branch in a prime spot opposite The Music Academy and above the famous Amaravathi. Kabul to Delhi Dhaba The first Delhi Dhaba outlet was opened in 2007. Delhi Dhaba was started by my father-in-law (late Vijaykumar Reddy). There used to be a brand called Kabul that served North West Frontier, Peshawari-style food; it shut down. As the Chennai market grew, we realised a requirement for North Indian-style food with an Indian-Tandoor-Chinese concept. So when the dhaba concept emerged, we thought of doing it on the ECR, OMR highways, and call it a dhaba, as dhabas are always found on the highways, shares Bheeshma Kumar, head of operations. While other brands are serving similar cuisine, the team felt the need to set up their trademark in Mylapore. Chennaiites love their sapaadu for lunch and (opt for) rotis for dinner. Since we have a good following for our brand in Akkarai, a lot of clients said it would be nice if there was something in the city. We thought we have the space so why not look at launching a branch here. We have modernised this a lot by not doing it up too much, and adding a lot of quirky things. We are also trying to do an open kitchen where people can see what is happening, he shares. Delhi Dhaba, according to Bheeshma, is a combination of things. Our USP is the unique dishes with traditional recipes that we have been doing for over 20 years, he says. On the menu are items that are not specific to Punjab or Delhi as one would expect. They have delicacies from Hyderabad, Lucknow and other cities, adding variation, and focussing on some of their old recipes. The team is also taking all steps to ensure a good balance of vegetarian and non-vegetarian items. Usually when you hear of a dhaba, you associate it with butter chicken. We try to replicate everything from a non-vegetarian dish into a vegetarian dish. We dont believe that just because something is done in a particular meat format it cannot be replicated in vegetarian (dishes). We are trying to bring particular vegetarian dishes too, he shares. One challenge that Bheeshma has tasked himself with is to get the city crowd to take to North Indian food at their property that houses Amaravathi, which boasts a huge fan base. We are showcasing the dhaba experience where you walk in and get roti and Indian food but also get noodles and fried rice. As a family, when you come here, everyone can choose their own thing and not be forced to have one kind of food, he adds. Behind the scenes Bheeshma believes Chennaiites are aware of and nostalgic about food. We still have customers who come to any of our restaurants and ask for seekh kebab from Kabul. It is tricky getting them to try new things as we have those nostalgic values. But I think they are open to it. Its more challenging for me to keep up with the customer because the demands have gone up. If I do butter chicken they want authentic butter chicken. Twenty-thirty years back I could have served anything as butter chicken and no one would have told me anything. Today if it doesnt taste like butter chicken everybody will tell me. The focus is on authenticity. As a restaurateur that is my responsibility, he explains. To serve authentic dishes here, the chefs were trained by an expert from Delhi, when the first branch opened. Bheeshma credits this to his father-in-law, who was a stickler for authenticity. He would try the dishes till we got the recipe right. For every 50 dishes on the menu, there are 100 that are not. All these recipes have been made into a book. This training was given 15-20 years ago, and these chefs have been retained. Our retention rate is 95%, he says. Menu makers We are seated below the caricature of Bollywood film Ram-Leelas Ranveer Singh and Coolies Amitabh Bachchan staring down at us, besides the outdoor seating that has dhaba-style arrangements looking over the buzzing Cathedral Road flyover. The restaurant was launched on March 3, and the team is still refining the menu with suggestions from customers. On the menu for us were all their specialities, starting with the mango lassi. The team is focussing on presenting a variety of flavours in lassi and we cannot wait to try them out. While they work on that, we have an expansive menu laid in front of us. For appetisers, there is Tiranga Paneer, Veg Galouti Kebab, Murgh Kadak Sheek Kebab and Pathar Ka Gosht. The hariyali, malai and tikka flavours of the paneer are the kind of protein generosity you can afford to your palate to start your meal. Coated with masalas and smoked in the tandoor, the spongy paneer is an ideal tender, melt-in-your-mouth. Next up is Galouti Kebab, prepared with a melange of vegetables with a potato base. Bheeshma is quick to acknowledge our feedback that this one tastes more like a cutlet, and he promises to rework the recipe. If fried food is prized for you, the Murgh Kadak Sheek Kebab is not to be missed. The crispy exterior and juicy interior assures your taste buds have a darn good time! Besides this, the team takes pride in Pathar ka Gosht, an almost Hyderabadi-style lamb delicacy cooked technically on a stone. Then there are the typical dhaba delicacies sarson ka saag, butter chicken and dal makhni. Making a daring choice, we opted for the chilli cheese naan and methi paratha, instead of the usual tandoori roti. Our favourite pairing was the mildly spicy naan and the green goodness of the saag. We finish the main course with a helping of chicken biryani prepared in the Awadhi style. Though it includes a lot of spices, the subtlety enhances the tasting experience. While Punjabi-Delhi delicacies are touted to be heavy on the belly for their liberal use of butter, ghee and malai, at Delhi Dhaba, the dishes taste homely and do not play havoc in your stomach. Its no easy feat to finish the last course of the meal, but no one ever said no to a gulab jamun. Here, this sugar ball finds its companion in rabdi a match made in heaven. Bheeshma reveals that since they have their own ice-cream and sweet shops, the plan is to create several dessert options. We are making a Parle-G ice-cream, calling it the Desi Biscoff. Everyone is so enamoured by it, but Parle-G is the original. We are also doing Chai-Biskut, a masala chai flavoured ice-cream with Marie biscuit mixed in. The ice-creams are all made from scratch and not just biscuit bits added to vanilla ice-cream, he elaborates. As we listen to the sweet details, ice-cream is served in a goblet glass, with a Parle-G biscuit topping and some crumbs. One scoop of the Desi Biscoff and we are sure that Chennai is going to fall in love with this dessert just like we did. This family of restaurateurs is known for their hospitality and we leave with a full stomach and even fuller heart, with the taste of authenticity lingering for hours on end. We are making a Parle-G ice-cream, calling it the Desi Biscoff. Everyone is so enamoured by it, but Parle-G is the original. We are also doing Chai-Biskut, a masala chai flavoured ice-cream with Marie biscuit mixed in. Bheeshma Kumar, head of operations

The New Indian Express 20 Mar 2023 10:32 am

Peshawar Blast: ,

India Today 2 Feb 2023 4:54 pm

We sowed seeds of terrorism, worshippers not killed even in India: Pak minister

Speaking in reference to the Peshawar mosque explosion that has so far claimed 100 lives, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Pakistan sowed the seeds for terrorism.

India Today 1 Feb 2023 9:26 am

17 killed, several injured in Peshawar mosque blast

17 people, including two cops, were killed while 15 were critically injured in a blast at a mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar. The injured people have been rushed to hospitals.

India Today 30 Jan 2023 3:19 pm

28 dead, 150 injured in blast at mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar

At least 28 people were killed and 150 injured after a blast inside a mosque in Pakistan's Peshawar on Monday. The explosion took place near the city's police lines area at around 1.40 pm after the Zuhr prayers.

India Today 30 Jan 2023 2:18 pm

Scindia in Peshawar: From Maratha, Sikh and Afghan sources

Scindia at the border of Maratha empire Atkepar Zende is a Marathi phrase that Marathas have historically cherished, but what does it mean? It means flags beyond Attock, which happens to be a fort in...

The Times of India 18 Jan 2023 4:40 pm