Latest news with #Asma
ABC News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Israel accused of genocide by human rights groups
Samantha Donovan: As global concern about famine and killings in Gaza grows, two Israeli human rights groups have taken the dramatic step of accusing the Netanyahu government of genocide in the enclave. The groups have released separate damning reports, alleging Israel has carried out coordinated and deliberate action to destroy the Palestinian society. The Israeli government has dismissed the accusations as baseless. Dijana Damjanovic prepared this report. Dijana Damjanovic: Children in Gaza use their hands to collect flour off the ground and the scenes of starvation continue inside hospitals and makeshift homes. Asma: I'm so sorry to tell you, the starving people took everything. Dijana Damjanovic: One Gazan woman named Asma sent this voice note to the BBC. Asma: I can't go among thousands of people fighting each other in order to get food. I can't fight. I have never. I don't know what to tell you. This is death. If only I could get out of here. Dijana Damjanovic: In 24 hours, hospitals in Gaza have recorded another 14 deaths due to hunger and malnutrition. That takes the total number of deaths due to starvation to at least 147. Images of the suffering in Gaza sparked some concern in Israel. In this cafe in Jerusalem, this woman says she's shocked by what she's seen. Israeli: It feels difficult to me as an Israeli, as a Jew, to watch those images and feel anything but tremendous compassion and horror, to be honest. I feel horror. I'm a mother. I watch women holding their babies and it makes me feel despair. Dijana Damjanovic: In Israel, some activists are increasingly raising alarm about the actions of their government in Gaza. For the first time, human rights groups in Israel have called those actions genocide. Guy Shalev: That is what we understand, the only conclusion that we can infer from 22 months of the Israeli attack on the Gazan people. Dijana Damjanovic: Guy Shalev is the director of Physicians for Human Rights Israel, one of two groups who have issued separate damning reports highlighting indiscriminate bombing campaigns, the killing of health workers and the repeated forced displacement of civilians. Guy Shalev: The attack on health care, on all life-sustaining systems is not an attack on Hamas or militants. It's clearly an attack on more than 2 million people living and their conditions of living, not allowing them to survive. Dijana Damjanovic: The Israeli government has rejected both groups' findings. Government spokesperson David Mencer says their facts are wrong. David Mencer: When it comes to this accusation of genocide, yes of course we have free speech here in Israel, but we strongly reject the accusation. It is baseless. There is no intent. Key for the charge of genocide, there is no intent. It simply doesn't make sense for a country to send in 1.9 million tonnes of aid, most of that being food, if there is an intent of genocide. It's completely incongruous. Dijana Damjanovic: Dr Eyal Mayroz is a senior lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies at Sydney University. He says Israelis who have previously been silent are starting to speak out. Eyal Mayroz: More and more people that were shy of looking not only at our Israeli hostages but also at the terrible toll on the Gaza population are beginning to make noises. Dijana Damjanovic: Dr Mayroz says around 70% of the Israeli public is now against the continuation of the fighting. Eyal Mayroz: Yes, I think the Israelis are realising the toll on the Israeli society, on the death of their own soldiers, on the name and reputation of Israel that has become a pariah state. Unfortunately not enough in terms of how they view the toll on the Gaza population because the trauma and the craving or desire for revenge are still dominant in some parts of the Israeli society. Dijana Damjanovic: At the United Nations headquarters in New York, political leaders from around the world are meeting for a three-day conference to discuss a path towards peace in the Palestinian territories through a two-state solution. The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammed Mustafa, is with the Palestinian Authority, which is rival to Hamas. He's in New York for the conference and says Palestinians have been waiting years for a genuine international intervention. Mohammed Mustafa: What's happening in Gaza is its latest and most brutal manifestation and we are all more than ever compelled to act. This conference is also a message to the Israeli people that there is a path to peace and regional integration. It will be achieved through our independence, not our destruction. Dijana Damjanovic: Another issue raising concern is the role of gangs in stealing and selling aid. News outlet the Associated Press has found flour is selling for $60 a kilogram. The UN's World Food Program says it will only be able to safely deliver aid to the most vulnerable once security is restored inside Gaza. Samantha Donovan: Dijana Damjanovic reporting.
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Daughters-in-law should go out to work, says Asma Abbas
Asma Abbas recently appeared on Good Morning Pakistan, where she and her youngest daughter-in-law, Sameen Ahmed, were featured in the special Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law segment. Sameen and Asma's youngest son, Ahmed got married in January of this year. Asma's message for her daughters-in-law, particularly Sameen, was both relevant and empowering. She shared her thoughts on the role of women in her family, emphasising that she values their education and believes they should use it to its fullest potential. "I encourage my daughters-in-law to work because they've earned their degrees, and those shouldn't go to waste?" she stated. In a society where many women are often expected to pause their careers after marriage, Asma's supportive stance on women pursuing professional goals was refreshing and much needed. During the discussion, Asma was asked about her two other daughters-in-law, to which she revealed, "Yes, they work as well." She stressed the importance of maintaining a home while also acknowledging that there's no need for women to be confined to house duties. "What will they do sitting at home?" she added. "We have house help." Sameen, who praised her in-laws for being kind and supportive, fondly recalled her first day in the family, when she had stayed up late, only to wake up to a welcoming and humorous response instead of a scolding. "I was expecting to be scolded for waking up late, but instead, they were really warm," Sameen shared. In a lighthearted moment, Asma added that she enjoys when women dress up in the morning for their work. "I like it when women dress up in the morning and go out for their work," she said with a smile. When asked about Sameen's habit of sleeping in, Asma responded with a playful tone, "I don't mind her waking up late. It reminds me of [my daughter] Zara, she also loves her sleep!" Asma's candid statements received widespread praise from viewers. One user commended her by saying, "This type of mindset is rare in Pakistani society!" and another one added, "Society needs mothers-in-law like you, you're a gem." However, there were some viewers who felt that Asma should not be concerned with whether her daughter-in-law chooses to work. "Oh God, Pakistani women are never going to change. If a woman wants to sit at home, even that is a problem now," penned one commenter. "Why does a mother-in-law get to say anything at all about whether one works or roams in a night dress? She's missed the whole point while trying to act like she's nailed it."
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Science
- Business Recorder
‘River of Life method helps collect insights from vulnerable adolescents'
KARACHI: The Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC) hosted the second edition of its webinar series 'Building Communities of Practice in Education', bringing together highly accomplished Pakistani and international education researchers to share critical research findings and strategies for improving Pakistan's education system. DARE-RC is a pioneering education research initiative, generating actionable insights to drive evidence-based education reform nationwide. It is led by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) with consortium partners Aga Khan University Institute of Education (AKU-IED) and Sightsavers, and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The webinar episode 'Exploring the River of Life Participatory Method' featured Dr Asma Zubairi, an Associate Professor at the University College London (UCL), and Dr Rabea Malik, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS). This method will be used in a research study commissioned by DARE-RC to be led by Dr Rabea Malik within Sindh. During the webinar, the speakers presented the River of Life participatory method as an innovative method to gather in-depth data while working with vulnerable adolescents, particularly those affected by climate-induced emergencies or those who may be marginalised. This topic is essential for understanding how to leverage participant-centred approaches in education research. If implemented well, the River of Life method can generate rich, narrative-based data. In discussion with Dr Sahar Shah (Senior Research Manager at DARE-RC), Dr Asma Zubair and Dr Rabea Malik drew on experiences from the Girls' Education Challenge evaluation across Ghana, Kenya, and Nepal, focusing on its relevance for marginalised out-of-school adolescent girls and its potential application to the context of Pakistan. Education practitioners, policymakers, government representatives, academics and researchers engaged with the experts and raised queries related to the notion of 'agency' and 'opportunities' embedded within the methodology, navigating data collection among vulnerable groups, and the impact of this approach when speaking to children with varying personalities, or those who may be differently abled. Dr. Asma elaborated on how the River of Life method allows vulnerable young people to map out and provide critical insights into their lives such as their experiences of services, peer and family influences, barriers and negative experiences, and empowering experiences at different stages of their lives. It can also help them consider alternative future aspirations. While the method promises a rich and nuanced investigation into the lives of vulnerable populations, it does not come so without its challenges. Dr. Asma highlighted that while this research method was used to gather insight into the lives of 98 adolescent girls across Ghana, Kenya and Nepal, its effective implementation required significant time and conducive physical spaces. Moreover, there is a risk of triggering traumatic memories for participants which requires nuanced navigation by educational researchers; in this case a psycho-social counsellor was hired during data collection to manage any such instances. Moreover, this method may potentially lead to fatigue for both the participant and researcher. Additionally, some participants may need more hands-on support compared to others, meaning researchers must arrange for extra assistance to help guide and generate an in-depth discussion. Dr. Rabea, emphasized that it is crucial to recognise that this is a participant-led approach, and within the context of Pakistan, researchers must be ready to adapt and be flexible in the use of tools to make participants as comfortable as possible. This episode as part of the DARE-RC webinar series marks a significant step in fostering an evidence-driven approach to education reform in Pakistan. By engaging key stakeholders in meaningful dialogue, the consortium continues to advance its mission of leveraging rigorous research to shape policies that ensure equitable, high-quality learning opportunities for all children, especially the most marginalised. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
A taste of Calcutta in London: The story behind Asma Khan's restaurant Darjeeling Express
The jam-packed streets of Soho in Westminster, London, reflect the city's vibrant diaspora and multiculturalism. From Chinese to Thai and Italian, the area offers a global gastronomic tour in just a few blocks. Among these flavours, tucked on the top floor of Kingly Court, is Darjeeling Express, a restaurant known for its Mughlai and Bengali cuisine Established in 2017, it is run by a team of all-women chefs and has a menu that remains proudly consistent. 'There are some restaurants that can change the menu and get away with it. We get people crying and screaming at us. We're quite trapped because we can't really change things,' says Asma Khan in an interview with Asma, an India-born British restaurateur, began her journey by hosting intimate 'supper clubs' at her home. Today, her restaurant, Darjeeling Express, stands tall among London's Michelin-starred dining spots. So how did a home cook open one of London's most popular Indian restaurants? Asma comes from a family with royal lineage. Her father, Farrukh Said Khan, was a Muslim Rajput, while her mother, Faizana Khan, was of mixed Bengali and Bihari heritage. 'My nana (maternal grandfather) was my father's landlord when he was posted to Calcutta working for General Electric Company (GEC),' says Asma, adding, 'he was quite a regal-looking man with his huge moustache, and my nana was impressed.' She explains that while the matrimonial alliance was formed, little was discussed about the practicalities of the marriage itself. 'My mother had never eaten roti in her life. She loved fish and rice. My father, interestingly, sees fish and gets scared. And he doesn't eat rice. There were also language and other differences. But they got married.' Asma was born in the family's Elliot Road home in 1969. 'I remember waking up with the sound of the trams,' she says. 'I must have been two and a half years old when a crow took my food while I was eating on the verandah; that's my first memory of food.' The family then moved to Hyderabad due to Farrukh Said Khan's transfer. 'My brother was born there. Then we went to Madras (present-day Chennai).' The Khans lived opposite former chief minister Jayalalithaa's house. 'At that time, she used to call us her Bengali neighbours. And we used to climb on the wall, and she used to give us sweets.' Asma reiterates that they always identified with Calcutta and being Bengali. 'Even though I am technically only a quarter Bengali.' Asma says that her maternal grandfather and two of his brothers married women from Bihar. Her grandmothers, with their entourage of cooks, ayahs, and drivers, all spoke in Hindi or Urdu. 'So sadly, the Bengali language kind of slipped off. But from a very young age, I identified strongly with Calcutta. This was home for me.' 1974 brought some good news for the Khans as Farrukh Said Khan was transferred to Calcutta. 'I remember my father's tears when he came in and said he had been transferred. Everyone was silent. I remember that emotion.' The family was both excited and relieved to return to Calcutta, she describes. 'A sense of homecoming…We were going home! And that is a feeling that I relate to even now.' Initially, Asma's mother thought of taking cooking classes. However, luck, according to Asma, landed her a catering contract at the Tata Centre. 'That was her first catering job… the rest is history.' She soon began catering at some of the city's most popular clubs — Tollygunge Club, Royal Calcutta Turf Club, and Calcutta Cricket and Football Club. Meanwhile, Asma attended La Martiniere School on Rawdon Street and later, Loreto College on Park Street. 'There was a very different sense of equality at that time in the 80s. Calcutta in the 80s and 90s was an incredible space,' says Asma, adding that one felt protected and valued. That feeling of protection wasn't the only thing that Asma loves about Calcutta. Food was central to her growing years. She talks about the 'rolls at Badshah in New Market, the chana bhatura and tutti frutti at Kwality on Park Street, the dosa at Jyoti Bihar, and the Chinese at the Taj Hotel.' That wasn't all. The American chop suey at Bar-B-Q is unmatched, although the queue to get a place is terribly long,' she laughs. For sweets, she names K.C. Das on Chowringhee, and for mishti doi (sweetened yogurt), Khan recalls visiting Mithai on Park Circus. She also explains the colonial influence on her family's food. 'My mother cooked a lot of continental food… She made Chicken à la Kiev, a prawn cocktail inspired from what was served at popular joints such as Sky Room, Mocambo, and Trincas on Park Street.' Having spoken at length and passionately about Calcutta's food, Asma says, 'All the Indian Chinese food in the rest of India is horrible. Calcutta Indian Chinese is really Indian Chinese.' Pausing for a few seconds, she utters excitedly…'And then, this kind of fabulous Dhaba culture – the chicken bharta, which is such a Calcutta thing. It's the adding of eggs to chicken. It's the combination of the Punjabi trucker and the Bengali kind of sentiments.' From a supper club to Darjeeling Express What remains in Calcutta for Asma is a house. 'My parents moved back to Aligarh, and my ancestral home on Elliot Road was demolished.' However, Asma bought a flat in the newly built apartment at the same place. 'I was the last granddaughter to be married from that house. And my mother was born in that house. So that link to that house was so great. In some ways, it's nice that I have a flat on the 11th floor.' Asma and her husband left Calcutta in 1991 for the United Kingdom. Years later, she began a supper club at home. 'I served chicken chop, rezala, kosha mangsho (dry chicken), gughni (chickpeas), luchi, aloo dum, and biryani.' 'People must have a desire to try good food,' she explains as her purpose behind the supper clubs. In 2017, she turned the supper club into a restaurant, retaining the name Darjeeling Express. 'My supper club was called Darjeeling Express after the toy trains in Darjeeling, which I cherished very much. Moreover, I thought my clients should know that it's by the same person. Otherwise, I would not call it this,' she laughs. Everything about the restaurant is designed to reflect Calcutta — walls painted in warm yellow hues, adorned with family portraits of the Khans and their home on Elliot Road, and a menu curated from Khan's favourite picks in the city. Although the eatery offers three varieties: à la carte lunch, pre-theatre menu, and set menu dinner, what remains constant are the tangra prawns, puchkas, niramish (a Bengali term for a vegetarian dish), prawn malaikari, and kosha mangsho. There is a cocktail called Jhal (a Bengali term for spicy) and a mocktail Jhalphoron. For dessert, Asma's restaurant serves the iconic Bhapa Doi, steamed yogurt. The locals and tourists alike flock to eat these dishes, resisting any change. 'That's what Calcutta food does to one,' she says gleefully. From the menu, Asma says, the favourites are kosha mangsho followed by prawn malai curry. 'Ta-da! Both Bengali dishes. These are our top favourites.' The next favourite is Calcutta biryani. When asked to describe it, she says, 'It is mild, fragrant. It does not contain too many spices, and the biggest thing is that the rice is not sticky. It's just separated.' Khan's favourite element of the biryani is the aloo (potato). 'The potato is better than the meat and the rice. All the flavour has gone into it. Best thing in the world. If that's the last meal of my life, I don't want the biryani. I just want the aloo.' 'And no city in the world, and I have travelled the world, for me, compares to Calcutta,' she asserts. 'I wish the government would do more. The state government would do more to promote tourism. I am tired of people coming to my restaurant and saying, Oh, I've been to India, I've been to Kerala, I've gone to see the Taj Mahal. I ask: Why have you not gone to see Calcutta? Our colonial history, our Bengali heritage, the beautiful stories about the synagogue, Nahoum's, you've got the Armenian tradition, you've got this amazing Muslim food as well as Indian Chinese (food). We have everything in the world but not tourists.' Asma expresses her desire to give back to the city that gave her an identity. 'I am willing to do it for free… to encourage people to put Calcutta as a destination. You cannot understand India if you do not understand and have not eaten in a city like Calcutta. It's the food capital of India and of the world.' On her plans for Darjeeling Express, Asma says she wanted to do something in Kolkata. 'In the West, I have achieved a lot. I need to go home. But in which way and how, I don't know. But the calling is very, very strong. The desire to go back is there. I want to go back when I can be of help. I want to go back when I still have the fire and I'm physically strong and I have the creative energy. Because the city has given me everything. I am what I am because of Calcutta. I also want to do something for Calcutta.' 'The Calcutta I grew up in,' Asma says in a low voice, 'has changed…I feel lost now'. Buildings demolished, streets renamed, modes of transportation modernised, and people more aloof. 'Yet,' she notes, sounding positive, 'the food remains the same – the best in the world.'
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Asma Abbas wants her daughter-in-laws to work, not sit at home and waste their degrees
Asma Abbas recently appeared on Good Morning Pakistan, where she and her youngest daughter-in-law, Sameen Ahmed, were featured in the special Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law segment. Sameen and Asma's youngest son, Ahmed got married in January of this year. On the show, they shared a candid and heartwarming conversation about family dynamics, the role of women in her household, and the importance of maintaining a balance between career and family life. Asma's message for her daughters-in-law, particularly Sameen, was both relevant and empowering. She shared her thoughts on the role of women in her family, emphasising that she values their education and believes they should use it to its fullest potential. I encourage my daughters-in-law to work because they've earned their degrees, and those shouldn't go to waste?' she stated. In a society where many women are often expected to pause their careers after marriage, Asma's supportive stance on women pursuing professional goals was refreshing and much needed. During the discussion, Asma was asked about her two other daughters-in-law, to which she revealed, 'Yes, they work as well.' She stressed the importance of maintaining a home while also acknowledging that there's no need for women to be confined to house duties. 'What will they do sitting at home? We have house help.' Sameen, who praised her in-laws for being kind and supportive, fondly recalled her first day in the family, when she had stayed up late, only to wake up to a welcoming and humorous response instead of a scolding. 'I was expecting to be scolded for waking up late, but instead, they were really warm,' Sameen shared. In a lighthearted moment, Asma added that she enjoys when women dress up in the morning for their work. 'I like it when women dress up in the morning and go out for their work,' she said with a smile. When asked about Sameen's habit of sleeping in, Asma responded with a playful tone, 'I don't mind her waking up late. It reminds me of Zara, she also loves her sleep,' she laughed. Internet Reacts Asma's candid statements on Good Morning Pakistan received widespread praise from viewers, who admired her modern and supportive perspective on women's empowerment. Many applauded her belief in the importance of women pursuing careers and their education. However, there were some viewers who felt that Asma should not be concerned with whether her daughter-in-law chooses to work, as this should be a personal decision. One user commended her by saying, 'This type of mindset is rare in Pakistani society!' and another one added, 'Society needs mother-in-laws like you, you're a gem.' On the flip side, some were of the opinion that Asma Abbas's remarks were not as progressive as she thought. 'Oh God, Pakistani women are never going to change. If a woman wants to sit at home, even that is a problem now. Why does a mother-in-law get to say anything at all about whether one works or roams in a night dress? She's missed the whole point while trying to act like she's nailed it.'
