(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has announced a free recall campaign for iPhone 6 Plus made in 2015 for a manufacturer's defect in the rear camera that could lead to capturing hazy pictures when zooming.
The campaign is conducted in co-operation with Ooredoo and Qatar Mobile Telephone and Communication Systems Company and Vodafone.
To identify the affected products, consumer can log on to www.apple.com/support/iphone6plus-isightcamera and enter the serial number of the product.
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The Oktoberfest celebration in Penang next week will see non-alcoholic beverages served alongside their alcoholic counterpart, both to address drink driving concerns and to keep up with the current trend in Germany.
Malaysian-German Society (MGS) Oktoberfest chairperson Dr Wolfgang Mark said non-alcoholic drinks are now popular in Germany, as they are similar in taste to regular beer.
“Many have been drinking and driving after the Oktoberfest events, so we have decided to include alcohol-free beer. All can have a good (time) and not drive home drunk,” Mark said in a press conference.
Organising chairman Dr Wolfgang Mark (pic) said that members and the public who attend the event would have a choice between regular beer and its non-alcoholic counterpart.
Dr Mark said some 3,000 people are expected at the event on both days.
He said that the society had hosted the event for the past 45 years and believed that it was more than just about beer drinking.


May 31, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said the people’s power has once again proven to be stronger than the two-thirds power enjoyed by the government in parliament.
JVP parliamentary group leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a press conference today that the continuous protests by the working masses have forced the government to withdraw the proposed pension scheme for the private sector.
However, he said that the pension scheme has been temporarily withdrawn by the government until the conclusion of the local government elections in July.
He noted that the SLFP General Secretary who claimed yesterday morning that the pension scheme had to be implemented, made a completely opposition statement by evening saying it has been suspended.
According to Dissanayake, the SLFP Central Committee met last evening to discuss about the local government elections and therefore decided to temporarily withdraw the pension scheme due to the massive protest against it until the conclusion of the elections.
He said the pension scheme would be re-considered once the local government elections are concluded.
Dissanayake added that the private sector workers needed a proper pension scheme that benefited them and not the one proposed by the government, which does not benefit them.


New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Indian Army chief, General Manoj Pande, on Wednesday felicitated the personnel who recently won medals at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Athletes from the Indian Army won four gold, one silver and three bronze medals at the quadrennial showpiece event. Young weightlifters Naib Subedar Jeremy Lalrinnunga and Havildar Achinta Sheuli returned home with gold medals, while in wrestling Deepak Punia (gold) and Deepak Nehra (bronze) did the Army proud.
Subedar Amit Panghal added to his Asian Games gold by finishing on top of the podium at the Commonwealth Games, while Subedar Mohammad Hussamuddin claimed bronze in the 57kg category.
In athletics, Naib Subedar Avinash Sable won silver in 3000m steeplechase, while race-walker Sandeep Kumar won bronze.
A total of 18 sportspersons from the Army were part of the Indian contingent for the Commonwealth Games and eight of them won medals.
An Army statement said the success of the sportspersons was due to 'Mission Olympic Programme', conceptualised and launched in 2001.
During the felicitation ceremony organised in Delhi Cantt, General Pande praised the achievement of the athletes and said they were role models for the Army. He said they had made the country proud with their achievements.
The Army chief also gave away cash awards and wished the athletes luck for upcoming events. Based on their performance at the Commonwealth Games, the athletes will also become eligible for promotions.
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(MENAFN- IANS) Ankara, Feb 28 (IANS) A senior member of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) was "neutralised" by Turkish intelligence in a cross-border raid in northern Syria, a media report said.
The YPG, a militia group based in Syria, is seen by Turkey as a branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara and is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US and the European Union, Xinhua news agency reported.
Turkey's state-run TRT broadcaster identified the deceased militant as Emine Seyid Ahmed, also known as Azadi Derik, and said she was "neutralised" in the city of Qamishli without giving a date.
It said she was in charge of missile supplies and attacks on Turkish forces and civilians in the region.
Turkey often uses the term "neutralise" to mean the militants were killed, captured or surrendered.
In a separate incident on Monday, Turkish security forces arrested another YPG member who tried to cross into Turkey from Syria, TRT cited unnamed security sources as saying.
The militant, Huda al Tuma, also known as Cudi, came from the Mebruke area, where Turkey launched its "Operation Peace Spring" in 2019.
Turkey has carried out several military operations in northern Syria since 2016 to push back the YPG from its border.
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Filmhouse Cinemas in Lagos has released a statement following the vandalization of its two outlets in the state during the recent violence in Lagos.
The cinema company said in a statement posted on its social media pages that the days have been “tough” but that they will rebuild.
The company also posted photos showing their facilities in ruins following the destruction.
The statement reads:
“These past few days have been tough, more for some than others. Our circle mall and Surulere cinemas have been vandalised but Nigerians have lost more than we can imagine.”
The company then assured their supporters that the will rebuild.


Students who excelled at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination in December last year have earned acclamation from President Rajapaksa.
The function was organized at the Presidential Secretariat. Prizes, medals and scholarships were awarded to 134 students who excelled at the Examination. Among them were the 15 students who performed well throughout the island and those who secured the first place district wise.
Madhuri Yasodha of Visakha Vidyalaya Colombo who won the first place in the island said the President should earn the accolades for the programmes launched to appreciate the works of the students.
Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Chief Ministers and parents of the students were present on the occasion.


Imphal Sept 16:
Proscribed group PREPAK (Pro) has stated that the organization does not have any idea of one MD. Sanajaoba (25) and Oinam Amitkumar which the combined team of Thoubal Police commando and Assam Rifles claimed to have arrested as cadres of the outfit.
A statement said by Lanchenba, Media Coordinator of the proscribed group said that claim by the security force is to malign the image of the Revolutionary outfit PREPAK. It said that the two persons is not only related to the outfit but also the PREPAK (Pro) has no knowledge of who those two persons are.
The PREPAK (Pro) said that the act of arresting any person and charged them as cadre of any outfit is a common phenomenon to get rank in their department.
The PREPAK (Pro) statement also stated that the outfit always respect those police personnel who have been working with dedication in the war against drug and social evil, however, the outfit said that they will always stand against those police personnel who are acting against the law for their own benefit.


Data: KSA imports millions of diesel, gasoline barrels from Russia
(MENAFN) Bloomberg announced at the beginning of this week, quoting information from analytics company Kpler that Saudi Arabia shipped in 174,000 barrels of diesel and gasoil per day from Russia during the last month.
The number comes in dissimilarity to 137,700 barrels per day reported in April. Imports kept increasing this month, and totaled a 191,200 barrels per day in the initial two weeks of this month alone, reaching a peak since 2017.
Meanwhile, the Middle East country appeared as the European Union’s number one provider, advancing Russia since February.
The kingdom, on the other hand, is allegedly not selling back the diesel and gasoil that it imports from Russia, as a move like this would be deemed a break of restrictions executed by the bloc on Moscow over its army procedure in Ukraine.
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(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka : Travel technology provider Travelport Bangladesh, in collaboration with Singapore Airlines, organised a training session demonstrating the booking process for SQ NDC via Travelport GDS at a city hotel recently.
The training session was led by Mahdi Alam, Head of Product, MGH Group and co-hosted by Rifat Kader, Sales Manager, Singapore Airlines Bangladesh as well as S M Fahim Hassan, Associate Director-Head of Air Commerce, MGH Group.
The interactive session included a quiz contest to ensure active participation from attendees.
Travelport is dedicated to raising awareness about NDC bookings via GDS and extends its gratitude to Singapore Airlines for their support, as well as to all participants, for making the event a success, said
the company in a release.
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Youth encouraged to vote
THE Labor candidate for Hinkler has encouraged young people to vote in the coming federal election.
Belinda McNeven and Special Minister of State Senator Joe Ludwig visited Bundaberg on Monday with a special focus on delivering their voting message to the city's youth.
Senator Ludwig took the occasion to accuse the Opposition of failing to support legislation that would enable more people to vote at the next election.
He said the Opposition had refused to support a Bill that would have reinstated the seven-day close of rolls period during which people could enrol or update their details.
“I encourage everyone to make sure they are on the electoral roll so that they can make their voice heard on election day,” Ms McNeven said.


The minister pointed out that the losses in the education sector amounted to about four million dollars, according to the initial estimates.
He said, in a press conference held on Thursday after his tour of a number of damaged schools including UNRWA schools and the American School, that “five employees in the education sector were killed and more than 300 others, including students and teachers, were wounded during the aggression.”
Muzaini added that most of the students killed during the aggression were from primary schools and kindergarten, pointing out that the students from the damaged schools will be transferred to other schools until the restoration and reconstruction of their schools which had been targeted by the bombings.
He also noted that the schools will open next Saturday which will be devoted for the emotional discharge through educational methods to mitigate the effects of war on children.
He denounced the continuation of targeting the schools, teachers and even the kindergartens and urged the United Nations and the Security Council to intervene and oblige the occupation to respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, which provides for the protection of schools, the right to education, and the educational institutions.
The Minister of education stressed that in spite of the deliberate targeting of the educational process, by the occupation, it will continue because it is the way to liberate the homeland and to achieve a dignified life for the Palestinian people.


PESHAWAR: Rejecting the reports that anti-polio vaccine had caused at least 700 children in Peshawar to fall ill, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan on Monday termed it rumor adding, “The government will launch an inquiry against the people involved in spreading rumors against polio vaccine.”
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, the health minister said that 250 children were brought to Hayatabad hospital and the medical reports of all the children were normal. He said that miscreants spread rumors to fail the anti-polio drive in Peshawar.
On the occasion, the provincial health minister himself took the polio vaccine to restore public confidence.
The minister said that the polio vaccine was verified from World Health Organization (WHO) and urged the people to get administered their children the vaccine to save their future and health.
Hisham Inamullah said that action should be taken against the schools, from where the false propaganda started. He said that these school had refused to cooperate with the polio teams in the past.
Clarifying that complaints of headache and abdominal pain among the students, the minister said it was caused by panic and psychological reasons.


ISLAMABAD, Sep 3 (APP): The Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said that Pakistan was facing huge floods due to environmental degradation and urged the international community to come forward to help Pakistan in overcoming this situation.
The minister appealed to the international community that Pakistan was facing massive climatic, human disaster, which is the outcome of environmental degradation by global warming.
My appeal to international community! pic.twitter.com/EiB5bQkU1y
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) September 3, 2022
He said this while addressing an online press conference on Pakistan Television.
Ahsan said that Pakistan has less than 1% of the global carbon emissions while it is the 7th most vulnerable country affected by global warming.
The minister said that about 33 million people have been affected by the flood disaster and urged the international community to come forward to help Pakistan for their rehabilitation.


(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday reported 72 fresh cases of coronavirus while 68 more patients recovered from the deadly infection in the Union Territory during the last 24 hours.
According to officials, 62 new cases of Covid-19 were reported from Kashmir division while the remaining 10 from Jammu division, taking the total number of people infected by the virus in the Union Territory to 331638.
Giving district-wise break-up of cases, the officials said that Srinagar reported the highest 32 new cases of virus, Baramulla 11, Kupwara 5, Budgam, Bandipora and Anantnag four each and Ganderbal two. The three districts of south Kashmir, including Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian reported no fresh cases on Sunday.
Similarly, the official spokesperson said that Poonch reported 3, Jammu, Kathua and Doda 2 each and Ramban one new case of coronavirus. No fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported from Udhampur, Rajouri, Samba, Kishtwar and Reasi districts.
“Moreover, 68 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and been discharged from various hospitals including11 from Jammu Division and 57 from Kashmir Division,” the officials said.
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Indore: Three more police stations will be established in the city soon as city police have got permission to start new stations on Sunday.
New stations will be established at Gandhi Nagar in western part of the city, at Tilak Nagar in Eastern area and at Chandrawatiganj in Sanwer.
According to Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Akhilesh Jha said, “We had sent a proposal to establish three police stations and to police in District Hospital about six months ago. The proposal has been accepted and we have got the permission to start the new police station.”
He said that they have started searching place to start new police stations and also requested the department to provide force for these police stations as well.
With the establishment of new police stations, number of police stations in the city will rise to 49, including Women’s police station and cyber police station. Construction of building for cyber police station at Pipliyahana has been completed.


(MENAFN- Jordan Times)
AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania met with a group of local entrepreneurs and representatives of Jordanian social enterprises on Tuesday, commending their efforts to develop, promote, and market Jordanian products.
During the meeting at Antwork, a co-working space in Jabal Amman, Her Majesty expressed her admiration for locally made Jordanian products, and applauded all those who channel their efforts into creating resourceful platforms to promote high-quality local products to a broader audience, according to a statement from Her Majesty's office.
Attendees included a range of supporters of locally-made items, including the creators of a number of online stores, social media accounts, and online campaigns that aim to highlight exceptional local brands, and familiarise consumers with a wide pool of Jordanian products. Others offer business services to local companies, providing them with the tools to grow their businesses.
The group also included the creators of a number of Jordanian brands known for their high-quality food products, clothing, accessories, and handmade items, who are creating job opportunities for Jordanian artisans, as well as refugees.
Speaking to Queen Rania, the entrepreneurs and business owners shared their ambitions to continue opening new doors for locally-made products, thereby creating job opportunities for Jordanian talents and helping local items reach new global markets.
The group also underscored the importance of consumer trust, noting the role that the high quality of Jordanian products has played in enabling them to extend their reach on the regional and global scale.
Opened in Jordan in March 2021, Antwork has two Amman locations, each including indoor and outdoor open-plan workspaces where businesspeople and entrepreneurs can operate on a short or long-term basis. Its tech-enabled work environments are equipped with custom tools and smart services catered to the needs of local businesses. It also has locations in Cyprus and Lebanon.
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Washington area businesses optimistic, with plans to hire
Washington area businesses are feeling more optimistic than they were in the spring, according to a PNC Bank economic outlook. They are planning to hire more people and pay higher wages.
A robust 33 percent say they plan to increase hiring, up from 26 percent in the spring. Additionally, 38 percent expect to increase staff pay, much more than the 28 percent who said that last fall. These employees could feel that now they can afford a new car.
More good news from Washington area businesses: 84 percent feel optimistic about the local economy, up from 76 percent in the spring.Download Bulletin PDF


UN calls on Israel to respect rights to freedom of association, expression
(MENAFN) The UN is worried about Israel declaring six Palestinian rights groups terror organizations.
“counter-terrorism legislation must not be used to constrain legitimate human rights and humanitarian work,” according to the UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory.
It further declared that "The designation decisions published by the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing of Israel list extremely vague or irrelevant reasons, including entirely peaceful and legitimate activities such as the provision of legal aid and the ‘promotion of steps against Israel in the international arena.”
It also stated that "The UN Human Rights Office calls on Israel to fully respect the rights to freedom of association and expression, without any interference or harassment against the organizations or their staff."
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Crimean Muslims Wary of Referendum to Join Russia
Victims of Stalin’s mass deportations in 1944, Crimea’s Tatar Muslim minority look warily on next week’s referendum on joining Russia, which could well bring the crisis on the tense peninsula to new heights. At the Great Mosque in Bakhchysaray, near…
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Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.


French authorities announce the failure of the plan to assassinate Macron
French police announced on Tuesday they had arrested six people who were planning to assassinate French President Macaron.
The French authorities said that in the framework of investigations conducted by the French intelligence, was arrested six people who planned to assassinate French President Macron and that they are now in detention.
The arrests took place in the Izère and Mozelle regions of eastern France, following investigations by France’s internal intelligence service.
A source familiar with the investigation said the suspects had drawn up an “inaccurate and loose” plan to carry out “violent action” against the president.


UAE - Rafael Benitez sacked as Everton manager
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)
Published: Mon 17 Jan 2022, 12:26 AM
Rafael Benitez was sacked as Everton manager on Sunday after just 200 days in charge of the struggling Premier League club.
Benitez was an unpopular appointment in June last year after his long spell with Everton's Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
The Spaniard paid the price for a dismal run of nine defeats in Everton's last 13 league matches, culminating in a 2-1 loss at lowly Norwich on Saturday.
“Everton Football Club can confirm the departure of Rafael Benitez as first-team manager,” a club statement said.
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Latifa Hospital receives Dh5 million for equipment
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The agreement was signed by Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Director of Al Tayer Group, and Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of DHA. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr Muna Tahlak, CEO of Latifa Hospital and senior officials from both sides.
Al Tayer highlighted the importance of the humanitarian role played by the DHA in serving patients. He said: "We, at Al Tayer Group, are delighted to contribute towrads serving the community of the United Arab Emirates by supporting its humanitarian services such as health, education and social affairs. We do so by strengthening values of compassion, solidarity and cooperation between sons of the community and participating with the Public Sector to support programmes of economic and social development."
Al Maidoor highlighted the importance of this agreement that reflects the cooperation the private and public sector. He said: "We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Al Tayer group. At the DHA, it is our aim to provide our patients with the best of facilities and high quality medical care. Such contributions help support the authority's plans and directly contribute to the betterment of the health sector."
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‘Left, Right & Center’: NSA Spying and the Obamacare Wars
Truthdig Editor-in-Chief Robert Scheer, The Washington Examiner’s Byron York and host Matt Miller discuss revelations from Edward Snowden that the National Security Agency taps into Yahoo and Google data centers around the world and listens in on foreign leaders. Do such practices go against the Fourth Amendment? Also, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius appears before Congress and takes the blame for the glitches on HealthCare.gov.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
KCRW:Wait, before you go…
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Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.Support Truthdig


The Supreme Court on Monday sought the details of meeting chaired by Delhi LG Najeeb Jung on the Chikungunya and dengue menace in the national capital.
During the hearing, the apex court told the Delhi government that the court has learnt that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was not present in the meeting as he was in Gujarat on a visit.
The lawyer for Delhi government told the Supreme Court that the Delhi Chief Minister could not attend the meeting due to health reasons, however, Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister were present in the meeting.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also raised concern over infections among people living in and around the dump yards and has sought answer from MCD and Delhi Government in this regard. Next hearing will take place on October 21.


Save the Arts
There are many schools that don’t have an art department. There are many schools that don’t have a drama class. This will change the school’s view on the need for the arts, and show it’s not just a distraction. As citizens, it is extremely important to contact officials, go to town meetings, and vote for the laws to save the arts in schools.


The University of Buea football team who were abducted earlier in the week has been freed.
According to the university head coach in an interview with CNN on Friday the team of 20 students was taken while they were training at the University of Buea on Wednesday.
He said they were released outside Buea town, in the southwest region of the country, the coach Nicolas Asongu told CNN.
The players informed their coach that they were tortured by their kidnappers.
“They were maltreated and some of them have wounds on their backs,” Asongu said.
A ransom was demanded for the players but the coach is uncertain whether the university paid it.


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) AP
New York: Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from New York City's Central Park Zoo and became one of the city's most beloved celebrities as he flew around Manhattan, has died, zoo officials announced Friday.
A little over one year after he was freed from his cage at the zoo in a criminal act that has yet to be solved, Flaco appears to have collided with an Upper West Side building, the zoo said in a statement.
Staff from the Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife rehabilitation center, responded to the scene and declared Flaco dead shortly after the collision. He was taken to the Bronx Zoo for a necropsy.
Until now, Flaco had defied the odds, thriving in the urban jungle despite a lifetime in captivity.
He was known for turning up unexpectedly at New Yorkers' windows and was tracked around the Big Apple by bird watchers as he roosted atop buildings and water towers.
"The vandal who damaged Flaco's exhibit jeopardized the safety of the bird and is ultimately responsible for his death,” the Central Park Zoo said in the statement. "We are still hopeful that the NYPD which is investigating the vandalism will ultimately make an arrest.”
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Over 1000 families in Elgeyo Marakwet will benefit from food donations worth Sh5.2 million from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Days Saints.
Speaking at the governor’s office in Elgeyo Marakwet, the Governor Alex Tolgos said that the food stuff will be distributed across all the four sub-counties which include Marakwet west, Marakwet North, Keiyo North and Keiyo South.
The county also received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as well as other medical equipment from the church, the governor alluded that the medical apparel will be distributed to all the health facilities in the county. “The donations will go a long way in helping the fight on Covid -19,” said Tolgos.
He said that the donation came at a time when most people needed them and the food distribution will be focused mainly on the vulnerable and people living with disability.
“We are also going to support our special needs schools as well as our athletes,” he said.
The governor said that it will come in handy as the previous year they were not able to hold the fundraiser in the special schools to help with their daily operation.
He assured the involved party that the health equipment will be put to good use and the food donation will reach the designated sub-counties in time.
He urged the business community to follow protocol and observe all the Covid 19 rules as the county was lucky not to be under lockdown, because the last time the economy and people were affected.
The governor said that he was happy that the county was still in operation, “But we must maintain the Covid-19 protocols so that we keep safe because we have lost a lot of members of the community,” he added.
By Rennish Okong’o


Tyson Foods to Close Two Chicken Plants, Affecting Nearly 1,700 Employees
(MENAFN) Tyson Foods has announced that it will close two chicken plants in May, affecting almost 1,700 employees. The company said that the decision was made to strengthen its poultry business by optimizing operations and utilizing full available capacity at each plant. The Van Buren, Arkansas, and Glen Allen, Virginia plants will close on May 12. Tyson will shift demand to other facilities.
The meat giant is the latest food supplier to lay off workers in an effort to cut costs. Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, which make alternative meats, have cut over a fifth of their workforces as demand wanes for their products. Coca-Cola offered voluntary buyouts to North American workers, while PepsiCo cut jobs in its Frito-Lay and North American beverage units. Spice giant McCormick said it would offer buyouts and lay off workers to save $75 million.
Tyson said it is helping affected employees apply for open jobs and offering relocation assistance to other plants. The Glen Allen plant has 692 employees, while the Van Buren facility has 969 workers.
The closure of the two chicken plants is a strategic move that aims to optimize operations and strengthen Tyson's poultry business. However, it will have a significant impact on the affected employees and the local communities. Tyson's efforts to assist affected workers in finding new jobs and providing relocation assistance will be closely watched by industry analysts and stakeholders.
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Individual and Communal Benefits of Volunteer Programs
Volunteering is a powerful tool that benefits the individuals who are donating their time while also strengthening the communities they are serving. Companies that encourage their employees to volunteer provide their workforce with the opportunities to give back. They feel the joy and accomplishment that comes from making the lives of the people in their communities around them better.
Volunteering can also significantly impact the overall health of an employee. Studies have shown that volunteers are more likely to report a sense of social connectedness and community engagement, which, consequently, can have a positive impact on their overall mental and physical health.
By volunteering, employees can unlock new creative ways to use their skill sets while simultaneously building deeper connections to their communities. These relationships will also foster a greater sense of empathy and understanding among people, and will create new perspectives and experiences to be shared with one another.
Beyond the personal benefits that volunteers receive from giving back, their efforts can also have a positive impact on economic development. By bringing resources to underserved communities, volunteers can help to create new opportunities and strengthen local economies. Many volunteering initiatives focus on areas such as education, the arts and healthcare. By partnering with local organizations, employee volunteers can help to address community needs and support local initiatives. The community itself can become more vibrant, healthy, and a better place for all involved to live.
Volunteers can provide essential services that might not be available within many communities, supporting food banks, shelters, and community centers. These previously under-supported organizations have the means to serve the populations they set out to help through the donation of time and resources.
The Bottom Line
Companies that encourage their employees to volunteer are investing in their health, and the health of the communities they serve. By partnering with local organizations and supporting community development initiatives, corporate volunteer programs can help to address critical community needs and promote economic development. Volunteering provides countless benefits for both the individual and the community, and it can help individuals build connections, develop new skills, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.


Science discoveries of the 90s
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Science discoveries of the 90s:
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Downtown Daily Grind closing today
WINCHESTER — Time to start looking elsewhere for that downtown cup of coffee.
The Daily Grind on the Loudoun Street Mall is closing its doors today.
E.E. Yigzaw, operator of the coffee…
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Shehbaz Sharif has demanded the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to form a full court commission for the investigation of the attack on Imran Khan and said everyone including him will appear before the court for cooperation.
He said that he will in writing send a request to the CJP for the formation of a full court commission to bring facts to the people. He said that it was mandatory that the matter should be investigated in detail to bring forth the truth to the nation for the best interest of the country. He also said that if the investigation would not be made in-depth then questions will continue to rise.
He also said that he had himself formed a commission for slain journalist Arshad Sharif and spoke to Kenyan President personally for a thorough investigation. He again requested the CJP to form the same full court commission on the matter so that answers to all questions could be brought forward.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Imran Khan has stood up against his own institutions and was trying to attack the army just like an enemy of Pakistan. He further added that India was happy over the narrative that how he alleged the Pakistan army.
He said that Imran Khan was continuously lying to the nation in an effort to take the country towards a new low level. He also said that the diamonds and jewellery received by Imran and his family were proof.
He said that Imran Khan had offered the army chief an extension just to save his government and now he has been trying to derail the country. He said that now that his government has been ousted constitutionally then he has started targeting the army.
Addressing the press conference in Lahore he said that it was blamed and accused that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and an officer of the institution were involved in the attack. He said that he along with all political leaders condemned the firing incident on the PTI march.
PM Shehbaz also questioned the delay in the registration of FIR of the attack on Imran Khan. He said that the lodging of FIR was delayed to create more misinformation and chaos. He demanded Imran bring forward proofs against the three he had accused. He said that if Imran could get registered an FIR of his own will then why the delay was caused?
Shehbaz Sharif also questioned the going of Imran Khan to a charitable hospital for treatment after travelling hours instead of a nearby government hospital for medico-legal procedure as per the law.
He said that the interior ministry has been directed for a detailed investigation and cooperation with the provincial government as much as possible as there was no place for such baseless allegations. He said that Imran Khan was taking the country towards anarchy.
The premier added that he was informed that there were security threats and that Imran Khan was conducting rallies and gatherings and the said information was shared with the Punjab government. He said that we have been blamed for an attack on him but they are in the government in Punjab.
The premier said that once again lies were spoken but there was no place for such blame-game in the country. He said that the worst allegations were lamented in media talks of the previous few days. He said that he had announced the Kissan package just before going to China further adding that progress has been started as a result of their China visit.
Old videos of Imran Khan’s statements and some of the leaked audio were also aired during the press conference. PM Shehbaz said that fake cases were started against him using former chairman NAB but their lawyers did not appear before the courts just to cause delay. Videos of accidents during the long march and PTI’s protests were also aired. PM Shehbaz also targeted Imran for not going to the funerals of his close ones like Naeem-ul-Haq.
Shehbaz said that he has many secrets of foreign policy that will remain hidden in his heart. He will not destroy foreign policy and relations with countries. He said that Imran Khan has always made baseless accusations against his opponents.
He said that the nation has come to a point where truth was needed to bring forward to the people of Pakistan. He also said that earlier Imran had said that four people were behind the plan of his assassination and now he is taking the names of three.
PM Shehbaz further said that Imran Khan had always spoken against the people whom he had called very honest and responsible earlier including the Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja.
Later responding to questions PM Shehbaz said that he has requested a full court because the allegations being levelled were of serious nature and it was necessity of time to form a full court commission so that the menace of anarchy could be eradicated from the country.
Answering questions regarding the attack on Governor House Lahore he said that was a gruesome activity and the people behind that should be brought to justice.


Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has blamed the seemingly lack of police response to the insecurity rocking the country on the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force which he said has dampened the spirits of police officers across the country.
The governor, in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise programme which was monitored by CEO Africa, said that not everyone believes in the #EndSARS protests.
He added that the scrapping of SARS dispirited police officers and caused them to leave the streets which had in turn given hoodlums the opportunity to oppress the masses.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu had scrapped the special police unit in the wake of the #EndSARS protests against the brutality and extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by ex-SARS operatives.
Adamu also announced a replacement for the police unit known as the Special Weapons and Tactics unit.
Nonetheless, there have been reports of hoodlums overpowering police officers to burn down police stations and other infrastructure they guard.
“Now SARS has ended, police morale has been dampened, they have gone off the streets, and the hoodlums have taken to the streets. Who do we report to?” the governor asked during the programme.
Also recall that Gov. Bello had earlier endorsed and drummed up support for the #EndSARS protest, even volunteering to lead the youths on a march to Abuja.


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The Straits Times
December 12, 2022
A three-year-old child was among six bus commuters who were taken to hospital after two SBS Transit buses, a car and a pedestrian were involved in an accident in Marine Parade Road towards Bedok South Avenue 1.
The police said they were alerted to an accident last Saturday afternoon. They added that the six commuters, aged between three and 73, were conscious when taken to hospital.
A 72-year-old pedestrian who was involved in the accident was also conscious when taken to hospital.
On Monday, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that four people were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, two were taken to Changi General Hospital, and one person was taken to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Another person was assessed to have minor injuries and did not want to be taken to hospital, said the SCDF.
Police investigations are ongoing.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, SBS Transit vice-president (special grade) of customer experience and communications Grace Wu said: “A pedestrian who had suddenly stepped onto the road and six other passengers who were on our buses were injured. Both bus captains quickly attended to them and medical assistance was deployed.”
She added that the company has reached out to four of the injured passengers, and are still trying to contact the others to offer help where needed.
SBS Transit is assisting the police in their investigations, said Mrs Wu.


(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Gaza City, Dec 16 (Petra) –– Egypt on Saturday reopened the Rafah land crossing with the Gaza Strip for four days, allowing travel for stranded Palestinians and sick people to and from the coastal enclave.
Palestinian sources confirmed that buses had left Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip in the early hours of the day and crossed into the Egyptian side of the border.
16/12/2017 - 03:21:02 PM
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Volunteers needed for new visitor information center at Cedar Creek
MIDDLETOWN — The Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park will open a space in April where visitors can find information about the park.
The Visitor Contact Station — which will be…
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(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 5 . Both the revenues
and expenditures of Azerbaijan's state budget for 2023 are proposed
to increase by 53 million manat, trend reports.
The amendments to the state budget for 2023 have been
discussed during today's session of the Committee for Economic
Policy, Industries, and Enterprising of the Milli Majlis
(Parliament) of Azerbaijan.
According to the amendments, the revenues of
Azerbaijan's state budget for 2023 are going to total more than
30.773 billion or $18.1 billion (+53.278 million manat or $31.3
million), the expenditures - more than 33.353 billion manat or
$19.62 billion (+53.278 million manat or $31.3 million), including
the centralized revenues - more than 30.016 billion manat or $17.66
billion (+53.278 million manat or $31.3 million).
The local revenues have been approved in the amount of
756.98 million manat ($445.2 million), the centralized revenues -
32.583 billion manat or $19.17 billion (+53.278 million manat or
$31.3 million), local expenditures - 769.286 million manat ($452.5
After the discussion, the budget was recommended for
the plenary session in the third reading.
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Once again rising Omicron and Corona cases in Punjab educational institutions have put the lives of students at risk.
The district administration has taken action due to increasing cases of COVID-19 in Rawalpindi but is unable to take action against those educational institutions where the highest rate of corona cases has been recorded.
Similarly, we received information about the Physiology Department of Riphah University Al-Mizan Campus where the highest rate of corona cases was recorded but the District Health Officer Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi administration did not listen to them.
Due to these increasing cases, when we spoke to the students, they said that the university campus administration has put pressure on us to ensure that students who have positive the Corona test also ensure their attendance on campus. The students further said that the university administration is making decisions to satisfy their ego which is further endangering the lives of the students and harming their curriculum.
Remember! An audiotape was leaked yesterday in which the administration of Riphah University Al-Mizan Campus was threatening to the students and asking them to take illegal action against the students and it was revealed that those who students were complaining about the university campus-based on this, checking their papers will be very strict this time.
The students further said that we request to the Government of Pakistan, Government of Punjab, Ministry of Education, Rawalpindi District Administration and University Administration that please not to play with the lives of the students and close the campus for a few days.
So that the students who are infected with COVID-19 can recover and take exams on campus and we are ready to cooperate fully with the university administration in this matter.


Government is set to give at least $1 000, 00 to families that lost their loved ones to cyclone Idai.
Government will also assists with transport to bury the diseased.
In an interview, Public Works and Local Government Minister July Moyo said government was doing this so that families could concentrate on mourning the diseased.
“We have announced that as government that for all those who have lost their beloved ones, as government, we will give them at least $1 000, 00 and then help them with transportation to the destinations where they want to bury their diseased.
“All this we do so that families can concentrate on mourning their dead,” he said.
Moyo said the death toll has risen from 31 to over 65 people and a number of people are still missing.
“The death toll when we were informed while we were in Mutare has risen from 31 to now over 64 that are confirmed.
“Some of the bodies have been found floating along the rivers and we believe that there might be some who are trapped and who we have not been able to find.
“As you have been told there are a number of people who are missing and among the missing I am sure there will be people who are still alive and families have not been able to locate them but there might be others who might have lost their lives.
“All this, we can only think that as we continue to work we will find solutions, the police are taking care of all the bodies and the mortuaries are not working but solutions are there, the health people are here,” he said.
He said a lot of people including Zimbabweans and international organisations were helping with food resources as well as many other things needed in the area.
“The mobilisation of food resources has gone very well, both international and Zimbabweans are helping as much as they can.
“We have been given fuel for instance, 10 000 litres by a Zimbabwean business man, we have been given things by UNICEF, by MSF and other well-wishers and we continue to appeal.
“Our appeal is for the short term immediate things that are needed by people who are marooned or people who have relatives who are diseased so that we can give them decent burials,” he said.


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A business traveler who visited Chanute last week has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Neosho County Health Department reported Monday that the person had tested positive. Health Department Administrator Teresa Starr said the patient came from Lenexa and visited a Chanute business on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The health department has contacted everyone involved and quarantined those who were exposed. Starr reported that the department will continue to monitor their progress and is working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and other medical professionals.
Starr said this was a business trip, so recent efforts to decrease coronavirus restrictions would not have made a difference. She said the patient did not have symptoms while he was here.
Neosho County has had two people with positive COVID-19 tests and both have recovered. Johnson County, where Lenexa is located, has had 844 total cases, with 507 people recovered and 63 deaths. Statewide, 4,438 of the 9,877 cases have recovered, with 217 deaths.


Downpatrick police station has been temporarily closed to the public because of an outbreak of Covid-19.
Ten officers have tested positive and 22 are self isolating. The station is now undergoing a deep clean.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said the officers were receiving help and he wished them a speedy recovery.
The PSNI said they had planned for situations like this, and have resources and staff in place to ensure continuance of service.
ACC Todd also said the PSNI had initiated its contact tracing process.
He said any members of the public who may have been a close contact with the affected officers had been referred to the Public Health Agency.
The PSNI would be contacting people who had been due to attend the station in the coming days to make alternative arrangements, he added.


‘WikiLeaks has made every person a potential journalist’
Karachi: WikiLeaks is a good illustration of the rapid changes taking place in the field of journalism. Every person has now become a journalist and there are no gatekeepers to check the flow of information, Patrick Butler, Programmes Vice-President of the International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) said on Saturday.
Talking to students and journalists at the office of the Pakistan Press Foundation, the two-member delegation of the ICFJ spoke on the US-Pakistan Journalism Exchange and also discussed the new trends taking place in the field of journalism.
The journalist said that he believed that it was good that WikiLeaks had released information but, at the same time, it should also analyse the information that is being leaked and decide whether its release would be harmful for the people or not.
He said he was impressed by the way the Pakistani media handled the leakage of information, and newspapers apologised when they ran a false story. He said that the amount of information is overwhelming and one should learn to analyse information.
Speaking on the positive changes taking place in the media worldwide, he said that now it was very easy for the masses to raise their voice. He said that in some countries, bloggers were doing a better job than journalists, and were doing stories that traditional media would dare touch.
He also discussed the negative changes that the US media was witnessing and said that intense pressure and the race amongst media organisations to break the story first had increased risk of inaccuracy.
Butler said that it was unfortunate that people were turning away from the mainstream media towards the Internet. He said that people need to understand that the Internet could not afford quality journalism due to its financial constraints.
He said that media houses are suffering due to the Internet phenomena, and many media organisations have shut down their bureaus offices and investigative units across the globe.
He said that the Pakistani print media should be prepared to lose its audience to the Internet in the near future, as the phenomena is taking place worldwide.
He said that in order to keep up the standard of investigative reporting, some organisations were running on donations. He cited the example of the US where wealthy people have teamed up to support journalists doing investigative pieces for the public.
Meanwhile, Johanna Carrillo, Senior Programme Director ICFJ, elaborated on the exchange programme and said that around 130 Pakistani journalists would be taken to the US for a four-week internship, whereas 30 American journalists would come to Pakistan.
She said that the first batch comprises 40 broadcast journalists whereas in the second one journalists from the print media would be entertained.
Source: The News


(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)
Amman, Oct. 15 (Petra) - Minister of Transport Wesam Tahtamouni and a delegation from the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents (FONASBA), headed by Javier Dulce, discussed the agenda of FONASBA 2023 Annual Meeting slated for October 16 to 19.
Tahtamouni highlighted the significance of the yearly gatherings of the maritime industry and their crucial role in achieving economic reform, developing solutions to environmental challenges, and finding ways to minimize the negative consequences associated with carbon emissions within the sector, according to a statement released on Sunday.
Dulce discussed the recent advancements in the maritime shipping industry regarding international relations, eco-friendly transportation, and collaboration between organizations. He also highlighted specialized training programs aimed at promoting best practices and improving human resource capabilities to implement international standards related to safety, security, and environmental performance of maritime shipping.
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The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) said today its General Secretary, and Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka was not in his vehicle at the time of the Rajagiriya accident.
“Minister Ranawaka was at his official residence at the time of the accident,” Party National Organiser Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said responding to a question at a news conference.
He said certain media institutions and MPs such as JHU breakaway Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerawansa were attempting to tarnish the image of Minister Ranawaka by misusing the incident.
“These are the people who have cases against them at the CID and other courts. But today MP Gammanpila is holding news conferences displaying maps to depict how the incident had occurred. It appears he is the one who seems to be judging the incident today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Legal consultant of the party, Tudor Perera claimed the two youths who met with the accident, had told the Police in their first statement that Minister was not in the vehicle.
He denied commenting further on the matter saying it was unethical to comment more since the Minister was yet to make a statement to the Police.
“The Police are still probing the accident and if a requirement arises, they will summon the Minister to record a statement,” he said. (Lahiru Pothmulla)


Gordon Brown: Burma Death Toll ‘Far Greater’
The British prime minister has warned that the number of dead in Burma is probably “far greater than is being reported so far.” The world community has widely condemned the Burmese government’s violent response to the thousands of protesters who’ve been flooding the streets of Yangon.
Wait, before you go…
“I am afraid that we believe the loss of life in Burma is far greater than is being reported so far,” Mr Brown said.
He said he hoped the combined international pressure from the US, China, the EU and UN would “begin to make the regime see this cannot continue”.
Both the British and Australian ambassadors in Burma said they believed the number of dead “could be many multiples” of the number given by state media.
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The Australian high commissioner to Vanuatu says there will be more support as the country rebuilds from Cyclone Harold.
Australia has contributed nearly $US2.5million in relief supplies while also supporting Covid-19 preparations.
Sarah deZoeten said the focus so far has been on immediate relief such as medical supplies, tarpaulins, shelter kits and water and sanitation.
"But we also acknowledge that there is a longer-term objective that we also need to work with the government of Vanuatu to respond to the recovery process."
"To help communities rebuild, to help schools and health facilities return to the situation they were in before this tragedy," she said.


Jordan- Crown Prince visits Civil Defense Department
(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Amman, Nov. 8 (Petra)--His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II, on Wednesday visited the Civil Defense Department (CDD) to check on the CDD's preparedness to deal with unusual weather conditions during the winter season.
His Highness stressed the importance of continuing efforts to develop the CDD to improve services it provides to citizens.
During the visit, Prince Hussein met with CDD Director General Mustafa Bazaiah who presented a briefing about the CDD's strategy and its plans to develop services through establishing stations and providing them with modern equipment and qualified cadres that are able to perform their duties in a professional manner.
His Highness voiced satisfaction over the advanced level the CDD has reached in various fields.
Prince Hussein also toured the command, control and operations center as well as other facilities used by the CDD and checked on modern techniques, technology and equipment used to improve services and performance.
8/11/2017 - 05:34:52 PM
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(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) The 9th meeting of Councils and Houses of Shura, Representatives and National of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states will start here on Wednesday.
At the outset of the meeting, participants will discuss the annual report of the eighth meeting's chairman, Advisory Council Speaker HE Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi.
They will also be briefed on a summary submitted by the GCC General Secretariat about the march of GCC joint action for 2015 and recommendations of the parliamentary coordination and foreign relations committee at its eighth meeting held on 5 November 2015 on topics listed on the agenda and taking necessary decisions thereon.
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LAHORE: Both Pakistan and India should follow the policy of peaceful coexistence and compete only in the field of economy and trade to bring prosperity to their people.
Interim Chief Minister Najam Sethi expressed these views on Wednesday during a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Sharat Sabharwal who called on him at CM’s Secretariat, according to a handout.
Mr Sethi said Pakistan and India being neighbours would have to follow the policy of peaceful coexistence. He said the both countries should resolve their bilateral issues through meaningful dialogue as wars gave nothing except poverty, price-hike, hunger and devastation to the two countries.
He said there was a need for the two countries to spend their resources on progress and development of their peoples.
The chief minister said both countries should take solid measures to increase bilateral trade, adding that exchange of trade, cultural and social delegations could also help improve their bilateral ties.


(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Community and data platform for start-ups, MAGNiTT, released a report on startup financing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) showing growth in the number of financing deals that concluded in the first nine months of this year, compared to the same period last year.
The report stated that about 354 investment deals worth $517m were concluded in the third quarter (3Q) of this year, an increase of 30% in the value of funds from last year, and 3% in the number of deals concluded.
According to the report, the average deals completed were about $2.5m, constituting the highest average achieved by startups in the region.
Egypt topped the list of countries concluding finance deals in the Middle East and North Africa with 27% of concluded deals, and ranked second in terms of attracting funds with a share of 13% of the total funds attracted by the region.
The UAE topped the list of countries attracting startups to finance and acquired 62% of the total funds established by startups in the Middle East and North Africa.
The report ranked the Egyptian startup "Maksab" as the largest company to attract funding in the Middle East and North Africa in 3Q, with $6.2m.
The report said that the financial technology sector dominated the largest number of financing deals with a share of 14% of total transactions, up 3% from the comparative period last year due to the demand of investors and business accelerators on startups operating in the sector.
The report showed that the number of investors increased during the current year until the 3Q to 163 investors compared to 159 investors during the whole year.
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Obenshain: Small businesses must have regulation protection
WINCHESTER — Small businesses are the backbone of Virginia’s economy and need protection from destructive policies, says state Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg.
He spoke on Friday at the…
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ATLANTA — Police now say that as many as seven people have been shot in one of Atlanta's busiest neighborhoods and two victims have died.
Atlanta Police said they were called to Mason Avenue NE to reports of five people shot. Police said that some of the victims were taken to the hospital by ambulance while others were taken by private vehicle.
However, police later confirmed their concern that there may have been even more victims. In an update late Saturday even, the police confirmed two more people have been shot. Of the total seven victims, two have also died.
Police said at least three of the victims have been stabilized though their exact condition hasn't been released. All five of the initial victims were said to be seriously injured at the time they were taken from the scene.
Since the shooting, police have identified a vehicle they believe is connected to the crime. Police believe someone in the vehicle fired several shots into a group of people and hit several of them.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the person behind it is asked to call Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477 (TIPS). Tipsters do not have to provide identifying information to be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.


The Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue said on Wednesday that it had collected about N6 billion as internally generated revenue in 2015.
Chairman of the board Alhaji Musa Maccido, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto that much would have been collected if the businessmen community had paid their taxes.
He said that only 10 per cent of business men and women in the state paid taxes to the government which was effecting the revenue generation in the state.
Maccido called on the government to set up mobile courts to prosecute defaulters.
He explained that such mobile courts across the state would facilitate payment of tax by the community when due.
He said that the board had taken concrete working measures to ensure proper collection of revenue generation in the state.


Children receive speech services during summer months
Wadena-Deer Creek Speech-Language Pathologist Tabitha Petrowski helps children receiving speech services throughout the school year continue their speech-language learning during the summer months. Then, when school starts in the fall, they are able to read, write and speak more successfully.
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(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) 3069995 KUWAIT -- Kuwait's Constitutional Court turns down challenges filed against National Assembly (parliament) 2022 elections on grounds of irrelevance.
3070005 KUWAIT -- His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah holds official talks with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammad Shia' Al-Sudani on Wednesday at Bayan Palace.
3069973 ISTANBUL -- A powerful earthquake rocks Turkiye' s northwestern Duzce province early Wednesday, leaving 35 people injured in the region, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca says.
3069961 KUALA LUMPUR -- Indonesian authorities says the number of victims of an earthquake that struck Cianjur city, West of Java Island, has risen to 268 with at least 390 people injured, while 31 others still unaccounted for. (end)
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Thousands of protesters took to Cuba’s streets on Sunday to vent their anger over the deteriorating economic conditions in the country that been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the protests were a result of America’s attempt “to create instability.”
US President Joe Biden signaled his support for the Cuban protesters on Monday, saying that Havana should respond to the demands of the people.
“We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba’s authoritarian regime,” Biden said in a statement shared by the White House.
According to the US president “the Cuban regime” should “hear their people and serve their needs at this vital moment rather than enriching themselves.”
Biden also said that the people of Cuba were bravely defending their basic and universal rights, including to peacefully protest.


At least 17 students of a school in Bentota, in the Galle district, suffered shock today morning when the school building was struck by lightning.
The incident occurred at 8.30 am at Elakatha Maha Vidyalaya, Bentota while the students were in the classroom.
Disaster Management Center Galle District Coordinator, Col. Asitha Ranasinghe said that the affected students were all admitted to the Nagoda General Hospital in Kalutara. He said the electrical circuits in the school building were destroyed during the incident. He said the students suffered from shock but no further injuries were reported.
Col. Ranasinghe said that a large crowd gathered at the scene when the incident took place creating a tense atmosphere but that teachers and parents had calmed the other students and had immediately rushed the students to the hospital.
14 students have already been discharged after OPD treatment, the rest will also be released soon, Col. Ranasinghe said. Meanwhile residents in the area were of the opinion that the tall fern trees in the schoolyard might have been the cause of lightning. (Olindhi Jayasundere, Kirthiwansa Tilakaratne and G.D Sugathapala)


More than 1,000 investors from Arab countries have gathered on Sunday to launch the 16th Conference of Arab Businessmen and Investors.
Speaking on the behalf of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, Minister of Supply Khaled Hanafy said that Egypt is currently adopting several national projects to stimulate the economy, such as the new Suez Canal project and the global logistics centre, in addition to projects in the energy, housing, and agriculture sectors, in order for Egypt to become a global trade hub.
Hanafy said that the government is adopting a “legislative revolution” to attract investors, with the aim of maintaining Egypt’s position as the largest market in the Middle East and Africa.
“It is the time to take actions and to convert the bilateral relations to economic cooperation,” said Hanafy, claiming that the conference is a significant step towards that aim.
Head of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce Ahmed El-Wakil opened the conference, stressing that the event sends a strong message that Arab nations will continue to economically cooperate to achieve high levels of growth.
Among the main panel was Arab League head Nabil El-Araby who said that the cooperation between Arab economies will support national security in the Arab region.
Meanwhile, Minister of Investment Ashraf Salman said that the government is depending on the private sector to achieve 3.5% of GDP economic growth by the end of the current fiscal year, explaining that the government invests EGP 85bn and is expecting from the private sector to invest around EGP 280bn to achieve the desired target.
Salman claimed that all disputes with foreign investors will be solved before the economic summit in March.


Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Chief Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday raised question as why the police have not taken any action against the Supari syndicate that is going on in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, KMSS chief said that the city police have not yet taken any action against the supari syndicate. “The police have not taken any action against the four supari mafia and also the trucks that were being seized from Jalukbari have been kept in ISBT but till date no action has been taken against it,” claimed Akhil.
He further stated that the supari syndicate should be investigated through National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The KMSS Chief further stated that the police have not yet filed a suo moto case against the supari mafia and that they have only filed a case in general diary entry.
Gogoi further raised many questions as why the Chief Minister and Finance Minister are silent over the issue, why the police have not yet seen the supari truck. “The silence of government and police clearly indicates that they are involved with the syndicate that is going on in the state,” said Akhil.
KMSS have also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking immediate investigation of the supari syndicate.
Akhil earlier alleged that many Minister, MLAs and SPs are involved with the supari syndicate and said that they will disclose the names of the persons in the near future.
Speaking about NRC, Akhil said that the BJP is trying to create chaos regarding NRC and also a section of Muslim community is in a state to create communal riot.


(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- Muhammad Ishaq, counsellor (Commercial and Education) of Pakistan Embassy visited Sohar recently as part of the 'community outreach initiative' to maintain a sustained trajectory of contacts with the Pakistani diaspora across the sultanate.
On the occasion, he appreciated the Pakistani community's soft power and unity towards making the visit a very successful interaction.
Ishaq convened a community meeting and also held discussions with parents on the status of education and facilities offered in Sohar. He briefed the community on the launch of the online platform for the youths titled 'Young Pakistan Forum Oman' and expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support towards organising a remarkable event in Sohar, which saw participation by Governor of North Batinah H E Sheikh Mehana bin Saif bin Salem al Lamki and numerous other distinguished Omani officials on August 21 as part of six-week long celebrations of the 70th Anniversary of Day of Independence of Pakistan across the sultanate.
He also appreciated last year's celebrations of Oman's National Day by the Pakistani community across the sultanate and solicited their support for the forthcoming 47th National Day of Oman to furthering Pakistan's strong friendship with Oman.
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(MENAFN- NewsBytes) After sharing screen space with superstar Rajinikanth, Keerthy Suresh is likely to join hands with Suriya in his upcoming film with ace director Bala. If this rumor turns out to be true, this collaboration will mark the actor's second pairing with the Jai Bhim star after their 2018 film, Thaanaa Serndha Koottam. However, this news has not yet been officially announced by the makers.
Significance Why does this film matter?
Bala's last film was Varmaa, the remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy. Though his earlier films were lauded by fans and critics, the Dhruv Vikram-starrer was widely given negative feedback. This project will mark the director's fourth collaboration with Suriya, including the actor's cameo appearances in Avan Ivan, Pithamagan, and Nandha. The duo is coming together after a long time for this flick.
Details Suriya also attached to project as producer too
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(MENAFN- African Press Organization)
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) strongly condemns the cowardly attack on Thursday morning in Mogadishu that killed and injured members of the public, including school children.
At about 7:30 am, a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) exploded in Hodan District near a school, killing and maiming students, other innocent civilians and destroying property.
There was no AMISOM convoy at the scene of the attack or its environs at the moment of the explosion, and no AMISOM assets or personnel were impacted by the blast as Al- Shabaab falsely claimed. Initial reports indicate that the explosion targeted a private security company.
“We condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly attack on innocent civilians who were going about their daily activities. This is yet another evidence of Al-Shabaab's disregard for human life. AMISOM stands with the people and the government of Somalia in this trying moment and will continue supporting their efforts to bring peace and normalize life in the country,” said the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Francisco Madeira.
Ambassador Madeira sends his condolences to the bereaved families and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Mission in Somalia.
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More than seven in 10 officers say in Pew Research Center survey that police have become more timid about stopping to question suspicious people, three-quarters say fellow officers report they are more reluctant to use force when necessary, and more than 9 in 10 say fellow officers have grown more worried about their safety . . .
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Lahore:Senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Member National Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah have termed the registration of a bogus case by FIA against Secretaries to Chief Minister and other persons as vindictive action of the federal government. They said that the case against the colleagues of Chief Minister has been registered on the basis of malafide intentions and political victimization. They said that Punjab government has fully implemented the recommendations of the Judicial Commission which has not ordered registration of FIR. They said that federal government is trying to create hurdles in the implementation of public welfare projects in Punjab through bogus case and misusing the report of judicial commission. They said that the case against government officers is ridiculous and the worst example of political victimization. They said that action was not recommended against these officers in the report of judicial commission. They said that Rehman Malik is the mastermind of the bogus case and the federal government has stooped to vindictive action to divert attention from people’s problems. They said that they are fully prepared to meet the situation and will counter the illegal actions of the federal government at every forum.


BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti says he failed to recognise early enough that the financial support needed to sustain the website’s news operations was not there.
BuzzFeed says it will close its news division
Digital media company BuzzFeed will shut down its news division and cut another 15 per cent of its staff across the company, adding to lay-offs made earlier this year.
BuzzFeed has approximately 1200 total employees, according to a recent regulatory filing.
In a memo sent to staff, co-founder and CEO Jonah Peretti said that in addition to the news division, lay-offs would take place in its business, content, tech and administrative teams.
BuzzFeed is also considering making job cuts in international markets.


The COVID 19 Pandemic has been going on for several months and many safety protocols have been put in place that many had never experienced before, the most extreme of which was a full lock down.
Retired public health worker Jo Beyers told Arctic Radio that the lock down approach was put in place because early on we did not have a positive idea of how this virus worked and having too many cases early on could have overwhelmed the healthcare system.
The lock down put in place early on helped health care systems to prepare and adapt to the current situation.
A lot of these health care systems have increased their capacity and staffing and received more protective equipment.
There has also been an increase in the public health laboratory ability to test and contact trace.
While we are still in the pandemic Beyers also recommends that we avoid what is known as the three C’s of COVID. Closed Spaces, Crowded Places, and Closed contact.
She added that in the foreseeable future we will continue to see regional and local public health responses which will be different depending on the number of active cases in the respective areas.


(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) The Ministry of Defence today asserted that there was no threat to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and that an email warning of an attack was fake.
Defence Secretary General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) said that the public do not need to panic over the email.
He said that the defence and law enforcing agencies are continuing to maintain security and will not allow anyone to disrupt the peace.
Security was beefed up at the Bandaranaike International Airport after an email was received warning of attacks.
BIA officials said that operations at the airport are ongoing as usual while security has been tightened. (Colombo Gazette)
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GHB is a class B drug, which the World Health Organisation says has lead to comas, and from which there have been reported deaths around the world.
Police said they were concerned at the number of people who had needed hospital treatment, but were not sure if the cases were linked.
Detective Senior Sergeant Marcia Murray said they were waiting on toxicology tests to confirm what a man and woman, who were treated yesterday, had taken.
"Any illegal substance is dangerous, we don't know what those other people have taken.
"People are being transported to hospital with Status 1, Status 2 conditions, which is life-threatening."
She said the pair's hospitalisation led the police to the other cases, which will be investigated.


(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- In line with the Information Technology Authority's (ITA) efforts to spread awareness on latest digital advancements, it recently organised an awareness session titled, Tech Talk.
It focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and was held at the Sas Center for Mobile Applications Development. A number of specialists, including Dr Bader al Mandhari, DG of Information Security at ITA, Dr Asma al Saidi, Computer Sciences Researcher at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), and Dr Hamza Zidoum, assistant professor in Computer Sciences at SQU participated, stated a press release.
The session discussed a range of topics related to artificial intelligence, including concept, main applications and impacts, and how to be prepared for such technologies.
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Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday informed the State Assembly that as a part of modernization of the police force of the State, the Manipur police department would be equipped with sniper rifles, MP5 sub-machine guns and bomb diffusing kits.
The chief minister further said that some of the equipments have already been ordered while responding to queries raised by opposition party during cut motion, according to reports.
Singh also revealed that the police department will post 2217 police personnel in different police stations across Manipur.
Singh also added that his government has introduced new transfer and posting policy which requires a police personnel to stay in his/her place of posting for at least two years.
He also said that to improve the relationship between the police and the general public, the police department organizes several interaction programmes monthly in the state.
The police department has also installed several CCTV cameras at several locations in Imphal and also distributed over 65 police vehicles to meet current shortcomings.
During the cut motion, Congress MLA K Ranjit said that the militants are equipped with better weapons than the police.
He also said that the police force of Manipur had not been successful in curbing anti-social elements.
The chief minister in response to these queries said that the police department has taken all the modernization measures to curb militancy.


A total of 23,857 tests were carried out over the last day, and of those that reported results, 6.1 per cent were positive.
With today’s new cases, the total number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic is at 337,471.
Yesterday 478 people were in hospital with the virus, this is down 24 from the figure reported on Friday, and 60 people were being treated in intensive care, which is three more than the figure reported on Friday.
The total death toll since the start of the pandemic is now at 7,848 with the additional 11 deaths that were recorded in the last 24 hours.
To date, 3,994,883 people have received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination and 3,064,441 have received their second dose


Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said that domicile policy can never be made on the basis of Khatiyaan of 1932 in Jharkhand. Chief Minister Hemant Soren during the ongoing budget session of the Jharkhand Assembly said that if the policy will be made on basis of Khatiyaan of 1932 it will be rejected by the court. He said that local and domicile policy is on the agenda of the government.
He said that earlier BJP and its leaders were batting and they were bowling, but now they are batting and BJP is bowling and now for him to decide on which ball to hit single, when take double and when go for four and sixes. The Chief Minister said that in 14 years, the BJP government has devastated the state in many ways.
Again, zero work has to be done in erecting those systems. Further attacking the BJP he said that everyone knows that this state is going to lay the golden egg, but to get the egg one has to feed, not tear the stomach and take out the eggs and had the present government followed in their (BJP) footsteps not a single Jharkhandi would have got a job. Responding to the uproar of the opposition, the Chief Minister said that he was not their Prime Minister, but if luck will favor he will definitely become their Prime Minister in future.
He said that he saw the Prime Minister’s interview on TV twice. He said that the Center claiming that is giving full money in the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He asked as to whether the entire money is being received from the Centre. He said that they (BJP) have social media and speaker of news channels therefore they want that whatever they say is right.
The CM said that the BJP is beating its chest by saying that crime has increased in Jharkhand, but 13 Maoists have surrendered in this government. 7-8 Maoists have been killed in the encounter. He said that while there were 3798 murders in the BJP government, 3740 murders took place in his government, where 438 dacoits took place in the BJP government, 244 in his government, where 19,861 incidents of theft took place in the BJP government, while 19,503 incidents took place in his government.
The Chief Minister said, while there were 910 Maoists related incidents in the BJP government while there were 707
incidents in his government. The Chief Minister said that the public will soon take down the pride of BJP.


ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Assembly was informed Friday that the government was planning to conduct a fresh survey during next year to include more deserving people in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Responding to question, during Question Hour, Parliamentary Secretary, Rana Afzal Khan said that an amount of Rs.315 billion has already been disbursed among more than 5 million beneficiary families upto June 2015 since the inception of the programme in July 2008.
He said that the present government increased expenditures of BISP form Rs.40 billion in 2012-13 to an allocation of Rs75 billion in 2013-14 and then to Rs.97.15 million in 2014-15 and now the allocation has been further enhanced to Rs.102 billion for financial year 2015-16.
He said that the disbursements per family were increased from Rs.1000 to Rs. 1500 and smart cards were given to the vulnerable families through which they were facilitated to draw advances of upto three months.
To a question, he informed the house that the programme was started as the safety mechanism for the poorest of the poor against fuel and food inflation.
“So this is not a poverty reduction programme rather it is an income support programme to provide minimum income package to the poor to protect the vulnerable population against chronic and transient poverty,” he said.
He said that for the first time the most vulnerable people have an access to a basic safety net programme that has positively impacted their living condition.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that under the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM), Rs.18.94 billion has been disbursed to more than 1.1 million beneficiary families up to 30th June 2015 across the country from 2009-10.
He said that the current government has increased the budget of PBM for FY 2015-16 from Rs.2 billion to Rs.4 billion.