Latest news with #Rasheed
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Chamayappura' to demystify the art of make-up
The Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi's national make-up workshop, Chamayappura, led by eminent make-up artist Pattanam Rasheed, began on Friday. Film director Kamal formally inaugurated the workshop and spoke about the often-overlooked, yet crucial, role of make-up in visual storytelling. 'Just as much as acting, make-up is instrumental in connecting the story and its characters to the audience. Unfortunately, many fail to recognise its importance,' Mr. Kamal remarked. Citing the film Celluloid, he highlighted how Mr. Rasheed's mastery of make-up brought actor Prithviraj closer to the real-life persona of J.C. Daniel, Kerala's first filmmaker. 'It wasn't just a transformation of the actor, but a complete recreation of an era and its people. That is Rasheed's genius,' he said. Akademi executive member Saheer Ali presided over the function. Akademi Secretary Karivellur Murali and Programme Officer V.K. Anilkumar also spoke. Mr. Rasheed marked the beginning of the first session by demonstrating a live transformation. In front of a captivated audience of participants, cameras, and art enthusiasts, he began applying makeup on actor Sunil Sukhada, gradually transforming him to an elderly man. 'In the world of make-up, I am still a student,' Mr. Rasheed said. He expressed his desire to make make-up artistry accessible to more people, beyond the domain of just a few experts. He added, 'This workshop is part of a larger dream, to professionalise the field and give everyone a chance to learn. As I teach others, I continue to learn new things myself. That is the beauty of this art form.' Mr. Rasheed also appreciated the Akademi's initiative in recognising the importance of makeup through such a national-level workshop. Mr. Kamal distributed workshop kits to the 30 selected participants, officially launching the hands-on training component. The Chamayappura workshop, being attended by artists from across the country, will be on till June 26.
The Journal
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
'I was always with them': Man separated from family after deportation from Ireland to Nigeria
A MAN DEPORTED by the Irish government on a chartered flight to Nigeria last week has said he has been separated by his family because of the move. Rasheed Dimeji Ismail is challenging the deportation on the grounds that the State accepted that his wife Basirat and their three daughters faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria – yet he was still sent there. Rasheed – who is a chairman of a community garden organisation in Clondalkin in Dublin, after coming to Ireland three years ago – was among the 35 people deported to the west African country on the flight . It's the third such chartered deportation flight in the lifetime of the government. The 43-year-old was among a group of people deported last week who spoke to The Journal over a Zoom call today. He said he believes that the deportations are largely down to the government making them a 'scapegoat' because of the 'far-right and the anti-immigrant protests'. Rasheed and his solicitor are seeking for Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to reverse the deportation. They have also expressed serious concern over the welfare of his wife who was receiving hospital treatment for a respiratory condition. 'I need to see my family,' Rasheed said. 'After my wife gave birth to my first born, I've never missed one week – I was always with them and if I was not with them, I would be with them on the phone.' He also called on O'Callaghan to come face to face with the men, women and children he had deported. 'The minister should see what they are doing to people,' he said. Advertisement 'My children were doing well in school, I was doing well, my wife was working, I was working before the deportation order. These are the people contributing to the country. We are all human.' Maeve Murphy, the chief executive of Clondalkin Global Garden where Rasheed volunteered and elected as chairman, told The Journal that it was important to see him returned. She said he was a respected member of the community in Clondalkin, even attending Áras an Uachtaráin last year for an event honouring volunteer groups with the president. Rasheed and Sabina Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in 2023. His wife and three daughters – aged 13, ten and seven – were saved from deportation thanks to a last-minute injunction secured by the family's solicitor, on grounds that they faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria. Despite this reprieve for his family, Rashid was still deported as his solicitor could not make an application in time. Legal challenge Faisal Sadiq Khan, of FSK Solicitors, said that his firm is contending Rasheed's deportation on the grounds that it was not in compliance with the spirit of the law and international protection rules. 'His family in the state are also at a greater risk, and they're not able to look after themselves. His wife is really ill, and she's not able to look after their children without his help,' Khan said. Rashid's efforts to protect his wife and children from female genital mutilation have made him a target of the same groups, Khan said. 'Because of the brutality of the practice and the location where he is at, and the level of political support for that kind of practice, he is a specific target now because of what he had done,' Khan said. Rasheed would be able to return if the State approves his wife Basirat's application to remain, but another route exists if the State accepts that his removal and the separation of the family was incorrect. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Economic Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
How China's craze for Pakistani donkeys is crushing the cash-strapped country's poor
Ejiao demand fuels price hike Live Events Livelihood at stake Chinese interest and ethical concerns What about meat concerns? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Abdul Rasheed is in trouble. Last week, his donkey named Tiger, his only source of income, died in an accident. Without a donkey cart, Rasheed has no way to earn money. But buying a new donkey is now a big problem. Prices have shot up to as high as Rs 2 lakh in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, far more than the Rs 30,000 he paid for Tiger eight years is not alone. Many other poor workers who rely on donkeys for their daily earnings are facing the same crisis. The reason? A growing demand from China, which uses donkey skin to make a traditional medicine called ejiao. It is believed to help with fatigue, improve immunity, reduce tumours, and treat ejiao industry has seen a huge boom. With not enough donkeys at home, Chinese buyers are turning to Pakistan, where donkeys are cheaper and easier to per a PTI report, Dr Guo Jing Feng, who runs a medical centre in Karachi, said China's need for donkey hides is only going to increase. 'This is now a global trade,' he explained, 'and China's demand is much higher than its supply.'Even in the Lyari market, Pakistan's biggest donkey market, prices have jumped. Rasheed says the cheapest healthy donkey he could find was Rs 1.55 lakh. 'How can I afford that? Even if I somehow buy one, what if it dies before I recover my investment?'Donkeys are vital for many industries in Pakistan, from brick kilns and agriculture to transport and even laundry services. Workers like Samad use them to carry heavy loads across rough roads, earning Rs 1,500–2,000 a day, half of which goes into feeding and caring for the around 5.9 million working donkeys, Pakistan is home to the third largest donkey population in the world, after Ethiopia and April 2025, a Chinese delegation met with Pakistan's food security minister to discuss setting up donkey farms. The idea is to use local labour for care and management, which could help Pakistan's not everyone agrees. Dr Asal Khan, a senior official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said some Chinese companies had shown interest in exporting donkeys, but 'we are not allowing that to happen.'Donkey traders say some Chinese buyers are even willing to purchase weak animals just for their hides. In one case, a group paid Rs 40,000 each for 14 unhealthy issues also remain. Saleem Reza of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce says there must be strict rules. 'Donkey meat is haram for us,' he said. 'The government must ensure donkeys are not slaughtered in Pakistan and their meat is not sold illegally.'He added that proper factories are needed to manage hide and meat processing, to make sure nothing enters local markets from PTI
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
How China's craze for Pakistani donkeys is crushing the cash-strapped country's poor
Abdul Rasheed is in trouble. Last week, his donkey named Tiger, his only source of income, died in an accident. Without a donkey cart, Rasheed has no way to earn money. But buying a new donkey is now a big problem. Prices have shot up to as high as Rs 2 lakh in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan, far more than the Rs 30,000 he paid for Tiger eight years ago. Rasheed is not alone. Many other poor workers who rely on donkeys for their daily earnings are facing the same crisis. The reason? A growing demand from China, which uses donkey skin to make a traditional medicine called ejiao. It is believed to help with fatigue, improve immunity, reduce tumours, and treat anaemia. China's ejiao industry has seen a huge boom. With not enough donkeys at home, Chinese buyers are turning to Pakistan, where donkeys are cheaper and easier to find. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like "후원은 제 삶에서 많은 것을 바꿔놓았어요." 월드비전 더 알아보기 Undo Ejiao demand fuels price hike As per a PTI report, Dr Guo Jing Feng, who runs a medical centre in Karachi, said China's need for donkey hides is only going to increase. 'This is now a global trade,' he explained, 'and China's demand is much higher than its supply.' Even in the Lyari market, Pakistan's biggest donkey market, prices have jumped. Rasheed says the cheapest healthy donkey he could find was Rs 1.55 lakh. 'How can I afford that? Even if I somehow buy one, what if it dies before I recover my investment?' Live Events Livelihood at stake Donkeys are vital for many industries in Pakistan, from brick kilns and agriculture to transport and even laundry services. Workers like Samad use them to carry heavy loads across rough roads, earning Rs 1,500–2,000 a day, half of which goes into feeding and caring for the animal. With around 5.9 million working donkeys, Pakistan is home to the third largest donkey population in the world, after Ethiopia and Sudan. Chinese interest and ethical concerns In April 2025, a Chinese delegation met with Pakistan's food security minister to discuss setting up donkey farms. The idea is to use local labour for care and management, which could help Pakistan's economy. But not everyone agrees. Dr Asal Khan, a senior official from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said some Chinese companies had shown interest in exporting donkeys, but 'we are not allowing that to happen.' Donkey traders say some Chinese buyers are even willing to purchase weak animals just for their hides. In one case, a group paid Rs 40,000 each for 14 unhealthy donkeys. What about meat concerns? Ethical issues also remain. Saleem Reza of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce says there must be strict rules. 'Donkey meat is haram for us,' he said. 'The government must ensure donkeys are not slaughtered in Pakistan and their meat is not sold illegally.' He added that proper factories are needed to manage hide and meat processing, to make sure nothing enters local markets wrongly. Inputs from PTI
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Donkey prices soar in Pakistan due to China's demand for ejiao
Abdul Rasheed is in a fix these days. Tiger, his donkey and the only source of income, died in an accident last week. Staring at the prospect of dire poverty, Mr. Rasheed is undecided about buying a new one as donkey prices have soared in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan. 'A donkey now costs as high as ₹2,00,000 in the market, way too high than ₹30,000 eight years ago,' Mr. Rasheed said. Hundreds of poor wage earners such as Mr. Rasheed, who are dependent on donkeys as their only source of livelihood, now face a tough competition from high-value buyers from China. The reason for this sudden surge in donkey prices has been a growing demand from China to source these animals from Pakistan. Reason: China's multi-billion-dollar ejiao industry. Ejiao is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine, made by stewing and concentrating donkey skin. It is widely used in clinics for its biological advantages of being anti-fatigue, immunity-improving properties, for tumour suppression, and for its anti-anaemia effect. For animal rights advocates, China's interest in sourcing donkeys, particularly for their hide, is not new. Mr. Rasheed said despite having good contacts in Karachi's Lyari, the largest donkey market in the country, the cheapest healthy donkey available is for ₹1,55,000. 'Where can I get that sort of money? And even if I manage something, I am not sure whether the animal will not die out on me before I have recovered the money,' Mr. Rasheed, whose annual income is less than ₹4,00,000, said. Donkeys are an integral part of many industries. Poor wage workers use their donkeys or donkey carts daily to load structural iron and other heavy stuff and transport them across several miles every day in all kinds of terrain. A journey of an hour or more earns Samad, another wage worker, a daily income between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000, almost half of which is spent on the donkey's upkeep.
