Author: World News

  • Web Desk:

    In a bid to make a video as simple as possible to discover and create, the Meta-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram has announced that it will no longer be supporting standalone app for IGTV.

    In its post, Instagram says that “it’s getting rid of the standalone IGTV app as part of efforts to make video as simple as possible to discover and create”.

    The company said that, instead, it will focus on having all videos on the main Instagram app.

    “We believe that this makes it easier for people to have all of these features and abilities in the main app, and are excited to continue to simplify and improve video in the main Instagram app over the coming months,” the company said in a blog post.

    The post also says that any videos in the main app will have a full-screen viewer and tap-to-mute, and that Instagram is working on a consistent way to share the different types of videos.

    Instagram also said that it is exploring more ways for creators to earn by creating reels that entertain the community.

    In addition to bonuses, later this year, it will begin testing a new ad experience on Instagram, which will allow creators to earn revenue from ads displayed on their reels.

  • Lahore,

    Lahore Qalandars defeats Multan Sultans’s by 42 runs in a spectacular final match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022 on Sunday and bag their first PSL title.

    PSL7 2022 champions Lahore Qalandars delivered the winning trophy to their head coach Aqib Javed at the doorstep of his room after returning to the hotel from the stadium.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the PSL 2022 total Prize Money of PKR 130 Million for Final Winner and Runner-Up. Winners receive PKR 80 million and Runners Up receives PKR 30.5 million, while Teams 3rd and 4th Place earn PKR 9.9 million each.

    A video released by the franchise showed the Qalandars celebrations while cheering for Javed as the Qalanders moved towards his room at the hotel’s corridor while he stood at his doorstep, constantly smiling.

    The winners then arrived at Javed’s door and presented him a bouquet, while the skipper, Shaheen Shah Afridi, placed the PSL 7 trophy near Javed’s feet. The head coach, overwhelmed, lifted the trophy and kissed it.

    Shaheen and other Qalandars gave credit for their success to Javed, telling him that this trophy belonged to him instead of team.

    The video ended with a merry Javed going inside his room and shutting his door before touching elbows with each of the team members in a COVID-19 safe way.

    Earlier, Javed had to detach from the squad and go into isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus. The head coach was not with the Qalandars in the PSL 2022 playoff and finale.

    Meanwhile, the runners up team captain Mummad Rizwan’s stunning and consistent performance earned him another rich reward when he was adjudged the Player of PSL 7.

    Rizwan becomes the Player of the tournament with 546 runs at a strike rate of 126.68 and earned Prize Money PKR 3 million. Multan Sultans won nine out of 10 league matches under Rizwan’s captaincy in PSL 7.

    Rizwan also collected the Wicketkeeper of the tournament award with Prize Money PKR 3.5 million. In 12 matches, he affected 9 wickets behind the stumps.

    All the individual winners, except the Umpire of the PSL7 2022 award, were selected by the members of the commentary team, who followed and described almost every ball of this highly entertaining, thrilling and exciting tournament. They considered player stats, but this was not the only criteria to pick the winners.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    The ICNA Relief New York City and Comptroller Brad Lander’s Office organized a Winter Give Away program in which hundreds of people were provided with rations, fruits, vegetables, warm clothes and various gifts.Dozens of stalls were set up at Winter Give Away from where a variety of items were distributed to the needy.Alia Latif of the Comptroller’s Office and local council member Natasha Williams were also present on the occasion. Moreover, State Senator John Lowe, Lee Roy Comri, Assembly Member Alicia Hein, Jennifer Raj Kumar, and Queen Borough President Donovan Richard’s office representatives attended the event.According to the guests, organizations like ICNA Relief are very important for the community while Assemblywoman Natasha Williams thanked ICNA Relief and said that the organization has been serving the people for many years which are praiseworthy.

    ICNA Relief Mobile Clinic were also set up a free medical camp under supervision of experienced physicians, where free Covid tests, vaccines, blood sugar tests, cholesterol tests and blood pressure tests were conducted. Free medical advice also provided to the attendees.On the occasion, Dr. Ashfaq and President ICNA Relief New York Tariq-ur-Rehman said that we are trying to help people who do not have insurance or they cannot afford these medical facilities.Dr. Arshad Jamal of ICNA Relief North East and in-charge of ICNA Relief Hunger Prevention program Ishaq Alpar, said that their organization has always serve’s the humanity on priority without any discrimination.ICNA Relief has become a symbol of hope and smiles to the needy and praiseworthy for its social and welfare activities in the United States.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Washington,

    A prominent Pakistani-American business man and owner of Chutney Restaurant Mr. Abdul Rauf shot dead last night during robbery in Anacostia southeast of Washington D.C. According to deceased’s nephew Agha Ali, The robbers fire thrice on his  uncle and he died on the spot”.

    ” Abdul Rauf used to live in New York, recently moved to D.C. and started a business and now a days Abdul Rauf was driving a Limousine”, Said Agha Ali.

    According to deceased’s nephew his uncle left a widow and a daughter..

    Agha Ali told  to VOSA TV that body of his uncle is under medical examiner possession for post mortem and will be released after the due procedure.

    The funeral of the deceased will be announced later by the family.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Washington,

    US President Joe Biden has nominated a black woman Ketanji Brown for a judge of the Supreme Court. She will be the first black woman judge in the history of US Supreme Court.

    An introductory ceremony was held for the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, while Biden called her a pluralist.

    President Joe Biden has also said that Ketanji will be free-spirited and honest in the Supreme Court. She has a practical understanding that the law is equal for all US citizens.

    President added that Ketanji is a woman of fair thinking and upholding truth and justice.

    Ketanji, 51, will replace Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    Investigation continues against former sergeant of New York Police Department and president of Law Enforcement Union, Edward Mullins. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided for him on two different locations, at his home and the union’s headquarters in Manhattan. FBI seized all records and important documents. Mullins accused of misusing union funds for personal use.

    According to the public prosecutor, Mullins paid for his personal and lavish lifestyle expenses through union receipts from union funds.

    Prosecutors allege that Mullins paid through union funds very expensive restaurant bills, jewelry, household items, clothing and even the tuition fees of relatives’ children with his personal credit card. Recorded expenses in Union Fund without any receipt.

    Edward Mullins resigned from union president post following an FBI raid in October last year, after which the New York Police Department withdrew his pistol and badge from Mullins.

    According to the public prosecutor, Mullins could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Forty years ago, Edward Mullins joined the New York Police in 1982, rose to the rank of Sergeant in 1993, and was elected President of the Union in 2002. Under his leadership the union mobilized for a pay rise resultant a 40% increase in salaries.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Queens,

    ICNA Relief organizes a food drive outside the Assembly-woman Jenifer Raj Kumar’s office located at Woodward Heaven, Queens, New York. State Assembly-woman Jenifer Raj Kumar attended the drive; a large number of needy queued at the ICNA Relief distribution point and received the grocery items.While, speaking to VOSA Tv on the occasion, Assemblywoman Jennifer Raj Kumar said that the needy and homeless people are facing malnutrition and the joy we feel in helping them is un-describable. The food pantry has all the necessities of daily life.

    Speaking on the occasion, Head of ICNA Relief’s hunger Prevention Program in New York, Ishaq Alpar, and the women volunteers said that even in the most difficult of times, if you are a source of help, it is God’s special grace and blessings upon you and this is one of the best blessings.

    According to ICNA Relief spokesperson, they started this food drive temporarily two years ago for the needy before the pandemic, but the food drive have now expanded and change to hunger Prevention Program and it has revealed the positive side of Muslims to non-Muslims.

    At last, Jennifer Raj Kumar distributes appreciation certificates to the women volunteers of ICNA Relief.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web Desk:

    Have you ever wished that there was an app that could help you blows out your birthday candles without having to get up and do it yourself? Well, you might be surprised to hear this, but it actually exists.

    Blower is an iOS app available on app store that uses secret hardware features of your iOS device to let you blow air out of your speakers hard enough to blow out a candle.

    Photo Courtesy: Screen Grab

    While it may sound like a gimmick, it actually works. And a You Tuber has made a video to explain how exactly the app turns your iOS device into a blower.

    YouTube channel The Action Lab did a deep dive on the Blower app to show how it works. In a detailed video, the channel found that the app utilizes an iOS device’s speaker to create enough air movement to blow out a candle.

    Contrary to the app’s claims, there isn’t any secret hardware on your iOS device that is designed to blow air. However, the app does take advantage of your device’s speaker in a pretty unique way.

    The Action Lab channel explains how sound waves are essentially a manipulation of air that causes noise. The Blower app is able to create enough air movement using your device’s speaker. It has enough power to blow out the candle.

    Photo Courtesy: Screen Grab

    Now, looking at the example in The Action Lab’s video, it’s pretty obvious that the app isn’t really super powerful. In fact, the air is blown by the speaker actually looks like it’s barely enough to blow out the candle in front of it.

    Still, it’s a pretty interesting party trick, and something that most of us didn’t know was possible on our iOS devices.

    This app is not available for free but it costs $1.99. Even so, it ranks eighth on the Apple Store in the category of entertainment apps. Apart from iPhone, it is also available for iPad and iPod. However, it only supports iOS / iPad OS 11.0 or later.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Islamabad,

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senior leader and former interior minister Rehman Malik passed away in the age of 70 on Wednesday morning after severely ill after contraction with coronavirus in Islamabad. He is survived by his widow and two sons.

    According to his spokesperson Riaz Ali Turi confirmed the news on his official Twitter handle. “Deeply devasted to say that former interior minister, PPP’s senior leader Abdul Rehman Malik passed away,” he said.

    Earlier this month, Malik was shifted to a private hospital, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for treatment of lung complications, which he developed after contracting Covid-19.

    Malik was a senator for the PPP and had served as the interior minister for the country from 2008 to 2013.

    The news of the former minister’s demise going to public, politicians offer their condolences to the micro-blogging site.

    PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif expressed his “condolences and profound sympathies to the bereaved family and the PPP leadership.”

     

     

    PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief and deep sorrow over Malik’s demise and said the former minister had “always practiced politics of honesty and principles.”

    PPP senior leader Sherry Rehman also offered her condolences.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid also expressed sorrow over PPP senior leader Rehman’s demise.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    A prominent socio-political figure of Pakistani-American community in New York, Ahsan Chughtai, met Mayor Eric Adams. Chughtai is one of the close and long old associates of Mayor for the past twenty years.

    During the meeting Mayor Eric Adam decides his appointment as Senior Advisor to his office. Ahsan is the first Pakistani-American Muslim appointed on this post. He has taken the charge after confirmation of the appointment. Ahsan Chughtai thanked Mayor Adams for his trust and said he would do his best to meet his expectations.

    On the other end, President, Brooklyn Borough, Antonio Reynoso, has appointed young and energetic Muslim Pakistani-American Omar Usman as his Personal Aide.

    The Pakistani community celebrated the appointment of Ahsan Chugtai and Omer Usman in New York City government and cut the cake.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web Desk:

    It was reported that the US national visited the emergency department at Fortis hospital in New Delhi complaining of something moving under her eyelid for at least the last four weeks. A statement from the hospital said that she was diagnosed with a rare case of myiasis where a botfly was living underneath her skin and would need surgery.

    Photo Courtesy: dailymail

    Myiasis is the infection of a fly larva (maggot) in human tissue. This occurs in tropical and subtropical areas. The patient visited the emergency department with complaints of swelling in the right upper eyelid along with redness and tenderness. She also revealed that she had been feeling something moving inside her eyelids once in a while for the past 4-6 weeks, Fortis hospital, Vasant Kunj, said in a statement.

    She had consulted doctors in the US, but the myiasis (botfly) could not be removed and doctors discharged her on a few symptomatic relief medications, it said.

    Dr Mohammad Nadeem, consultant and head emergency department, at the hospital, said, “It was a very rare case of myiasis. Therefore, these cases need to be evaluated in detail urgently,” he said.

    Photo Courtesy: Internet

    Dr Narola Yanger from the surgery department proactively managed to remove “three live human botflies almost of 2 cm in size — one from the right upper eyelid, second one from back of her neck and third from her right forearm,” the statement said.

    According to the statement, surgery was completed in 10-15 minutes with all aseptic precautions, without any anesthesia. The woman was discharged on symptomatic prescribed medicines from the emergency department..

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Long Island,

    Pakistani American Community of Long Island (PACOLI) invited Deputy Director of Asian Affairs in Governor’s Office Sibu Nair, Nassau representative Andrew Mulvey, and Mark Kennedy from office of Senator Kevin Thomas at Meet and Greet.

    PACOLI team welcomes the guest, President Azra Dar and General Secretary Atiq Qadri briefed to US officials about the organization.

    Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Director of Asian Affairs in Governor Office, Sibu Nair that,

    the Governor’s administration wants to work with all communities.

    Governor Kathy Hochul’s Representative of Nassau County, Andrew Mulvey, briefed on various projects.

    Dr. Ijaz-ul-Hassan, Abdul Rehman, Jamal Mohsin, Salman Sheikh, Ayaz Siddiqui, Madiha Mustafa, Tahira Din and others were also present on the occasion.

    Senator Kevin Thomas’s Representative Mark Kennedy told to PACOLI team that Senator’s priority is to improve relations with immigrants.

    U.S. officials appreciated PACOLI services and assured them full cooperation on various issues. President Azra Dar thanked the guests for attending the Meet & Greet.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    Civic Engagement Commission NYC welcome’s Language Assistance Advisory Committee (LAAC). It is a charter-mandated advisory group that plays a vital role in developing and implementing the New York City Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) poll site language assistance program and advancing language justice.

    LAAC members are functioning in different public, private and governmental institution. Its team consists on twenty one lingual experts and work on twenty different languages.

    Ahyoung Kim is the Korean language expert and presently she is the Associate director of small business programs at the Asian American federation.

    Asad Dandia is Urdu and Arabic lingual expert; he is student, writer and free-lancer. He I also work as Community program coordinator at the council on American-Islamic relations.

    Allison Corbett is a French and English language expert. She currently serves as the director of Colibri Academy for HIV and language justice.

    Carlos D. Sanchez is an outreach Spanish professional that supports a multilingual high school in New York City public school system.

    Christelle N. Onwu is a former French CUP and ICLP fellow, Sifi certified and mid-level professional wit over ten years work experience.

    David Arnov is a Russian language expert and a first generation American community activist and non-profit co-founder.

    David Coloibaly is a also a French language expert and graduated from Notre Dame, he always seek to empower and engage African communities.

    Debbie Louis is a Haitian Creole experts and completed her Masters in Industrial organizational psychology

    Pakistani-American Erum Hanif is also the member of since the commencement of LAAC and represents Urdu language. She is the CEO and the board member of APNA Brooklyn community center and director strategy and contracting at APNA adult day care.

    Jin Hyun Bai is a Korean language expert resided in queens. She also speaks two more languages while she is the special advisor for the programs and services department at Queens’s public library.

    Joy London is the Russian and Yiddish language expert and the Associate General Counsel and director of International Department at the OSET institute.

    Kujegi Camara is a Soninke expert while she works to strengthen community engagement between the university and and the surrounding neighborhood.

    Lydia Li is Chinese Cantonese Mandarin multi lingual expert and experienced coordinator. She is working in government administration and professional educator.

    Marie Lily Cerat is a Haiti Creole and French language expert. She has a Ph.D in urban education and a certificate in African studies.

    Mariya Markh is a Russian language expert and she has worked in NYC government and politics for 16 years.

    Muhammad Rawashdeh is an Arabic language expert and an Arab American community leader. He focuses in empowering the civic and cultural aspects of his community.

    Samuel M Stern is a well-known activist for the orthodox Jewish community. He served as the chairman of the united Jewish organization.

    Shahid Khan is Urdu language specialist and involved in education sector and community development for more than 25 years.

    Somnath Ghimire is a Nepali, Bangla, Urdu Hindi multilingual professional. He has been involved in Democratic policies and campaigns.

    Wai Yee Chan is a Chinese, Cantonese and Mandarin languages expert. She served as Asian American community for more than 20 years.

    Tirtho Dutta is a Bangla expert and leads the project at NYC public engagements every day.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Manhattan,

    Muslim march to the streets of Manhattan, New York and gather outside the Indian Consulate. Demonstrators show solidarity with Indian Muslims against the Muslims Hijab ban.Earlier, in Indian state of Karnataka impose Hijab ban on Muslim students in educational institutes.

    The demonstrations was attended by children, men, women and scholars from different countries. Demonstrators held banners and placards with various slogans and demands justice against Hindu extremism and said that,

    wearing hijab is not only our religious ordains but it is also a part of our culture and human fundamental right.

    Demonstrators also added that Modi’s fascist government in India has narrowed the ground for Muslims and now the basic rights of Muslim women are being taken away by banning the hijab.

    The women offered Asr prayers in front of the Indian Consulate during the demonstrations and call on international community to exert pressure on Modi government to provide basic rights and protect Muslims in India.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web Desk:

    According to The Times of Israel, Judicial Appointments Committee on Monday appointed four new Supreme Court justices, among them the court’s first Muslim and first Mizrahi woman.

    The four new justices appointed to the 15-member court are Judge Ruth Ronnen, Judge Gila Kanfi-Steinitz, attorney Yechiel Kasher and Judge Khaled Kabub.

    Photo Courtesy: timesofisrael.com

    More than 20 percent of Israeli citizens are Arab, and there has been an Arab jurist on the top court since 2003, but all previous appointees have been Christian.

    Khaled Kabub, 63, has become the first Muslim permanently named to the tribunal in the nation where Arabs, Christian and Muslim, have complained of systematic discrimination.

    Born in Jaffa, Kabub studied history and Islam at Tel Aviv University. He completed his law degree there, and then worked in private practice before becoming a judge.

    Photo Courtesy: ior Ben Nisan/POOL/Flash90

    Judge Kabub currently serves as vice president of the Tel Aviv District Court, will be the Supreme Court’s first permanent Muslim justice. In September 1997, Kabub was appointed as a judge to the Netanya Magistrate’s Court.

    In June 2003, he was appointed a judge of the Tel Aviv District Court and in September 2017was appointed as vice president. His most significant ruling was the 2016 conviction of former billionaire Nochi Dankner for manipulating shares in his company.

    The only other Muslim to have sat on the Supreme Court was Abdel Rahman Zoabi, who was given a temporary, one-year term, in 1999.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New Jersey,

    President, PTI New Jersey, Naveed Warraich, meet a party officials and workers at a local hotel for consultation and information on preparations for participation in the Overseas Convention to be held in Pakistan.While, addressing on the occasion, President PTI USA Munir Khatana and General Secretary Sam Khan said that millions of people always respond to Imran Khan. Overseas Pakistanis have always stood by Pakistan. Imran Khan’s decision to giving the right to vote to overseas Pakistani’s has strengthened the belief that all the problems will be solved.

    President PTI USA Munir Khatana (right), General Secretary PTI USA Sam Khan (left)

    The function was attended by a large number of party functionaries and workers. On the occasion, President PTI Maryland Waqar Khan and President PTI New Jersey Naveed Warraich said that for the first time since the Musharaf era, Pakistan’s GDP growth rate has reached to 6%. No matter how many opponents of PTI there are, there is no precedent for what Imran Khan has done.

    President PTI Maryland Waqar Khan (right).

    The participants of the press conference also presented various views and suggestions regarding the convention and further improvement of overseas chapter. The participants were informed that a committee has been formed for resolving the overseas issues and the positive effects will be coming in effect.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) in corporation with State department issues an extra ordinary employment visas for skilled workers and professionals of Medicine, Education, arts etc., during the fiscal year of October 2021 till September 2022.

    According to US Immigration attorney Jonathan Aftalion, Right now in US there is abundance of available work visa numbers. Employment visas currently issued by USCIS and state department for Professionals attempting to come to US with work visa. Peoples come to US with employment category; basically the government allocates the certain number of visas in the fiscal year from October 2021 till end of September 2022. A lot of work visa available for this fiscal year in US.

    US Immigration Attorney Jonathan Aftalion. photo from Jonathan twitter

    Last year due to corona virus USCIS limited the number of visas for work employment, for this fiscal year if peoples are priority worker or worker with special extra ordinary abilities. Rite now definitely it’s time to apply for work visa to come to US, because the USCIS is encouraging these peoples.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Manhattan,

    Muslims and Sikhs protest in front of the Indian Consulate in Manhattan, New York. Demonstrators held placards and also chanted slogans against the Modi government’s anti-Muslim and anti-Sikh policies in India. Demonstrators demanding uplift the ban on hijab and a separate homeland for Sikhs of Khalsa.

    Indian student Muskan Khan was under attack while entering the classroom, this brave student started chanting slogans of Allah Akbar. Muslims all over the world feel proud due to Muskan Khan Act.

    Muskan action gives a message for whole of India; that everyone has to fight for their rights.

    Khalistan flags were also hoisted on vehicles on Manhattan streets, while Sikh demonstrators criticized Indian policies.Muslims also held up placards with “Hijab is my choice” and in support of Muskan Khan.After the Sikh referendum, Sikh nation demanded the separate homeland and this demand of secession from India risen up day by day.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Nassau County,

    Hampstead Supervisor, Don Clavin announced his victory and the end of Governor Kathy Hochul’s housing plan in a press conference held in front of Raheel Ahmed home. Raheel is a Pakistani community entrepreneur in Nassau County, Long Island, New York.

    Dan also added that,

    “I stand with local state, county and town officials who have strongly opposed the bill to convert residential homes into apartments. I am grateful to local residents and elected officials”.

    More than 12,000 people signed the petition by Don Clavin and the Hampstead Town Board to take over the state’s local zoning regulations and remove the legal status of EDUs and the proposal from the New York State budget.

    Changes to the New York State Housing Regulations barred suburban communities from converting to urban areas. This can affect population growth, pollution, water, electricity and sewerage systems and lack of facilities.Supervisor, Don Clavin added that Governor Hochul’s proposal was tantamount to an attack on our suburban standard of living on Long Island. And it is heart-warming to see that this proposal has been removed from the budget after pressure from us.

    Don also vowed to continue to oppose such actions by the administration in the future.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Long Island,

    A prestigious ceremony was held on the occasion of induction of Crescent Islamic School to National Honor Society of America (NHS). The chief guest of the event is Native female Judge.  Student social activist New York and school chairman Habib Ahmed specially attended.

    The National Honor Society was established in 1921 and has a tough screening process for membership. The screening process includes scholarships, leadership ability, service, role and civic responsibilities.

    Student.

    The students of the school debating various topics, said that we want to live our life according to the prevailing principles of Islam and it is guided by Islamic teachings.

    Native Female Judge

    Native female Judge, recalled her schooling days and praised the quality and teaching process of Crescent School.

    The principal of the school, Iffat Ahmed, while revealing the honor received from the National Honor Society, and has said that

    “it was a matter of great pride”.

    Crescent School Principal Iffat Ahmed.

    It is not an easy task to be a member of National Honor Society, a highly reputable institution for testing the quality of education. Educational institutions and students have to show extra ordinary performance. It’s screening process covers academic and extracurricular activities.

    Moreover, Iffat Ahmed further added that

    we impart modern knowledge in the light of Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Peace Be upon Him. Our students are the best leaders in the society and ideal Muslims.

    At last, Chief Guest honorable Judge distributed appreciation certificates to the students issued by the National Honor Society.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • London,

    Storm Eunice hits Europe on Friday, while Britain affected with record-breaking winds and forcing millions to take shelter. At least 7 peoples killed in Britain. Storm disrupted flights, trains and ferries across Western Europe.

    London was empty after the British capital was placed under its first “red” weather warning, meaning there is “danger to life”. According to police, by nightfall, a woman in her 30s had died after a tree fell on a car.

    Meanwhile a man in his 50s was also killed in northwest England after debris struck the windscreen of a vehicle while travelling, according to Merseyside Police.

    Falling trees during storm killed three people in the Netherlands and a man in his 60s in southeast Ireland, while a Canadian man aged 79 died in Belgium, according to officials in each country.

    In London, the highest weather alert level was declared across southern England, South Wales and the Netherlands, with many schools closed and rail travel halted, as high tides waves broke sea walls along the coasts.

    Meanwhile, power outages and blackout to more than 140,000 homes in England, mostly in the southwest, and 80,000 properties in Ireland according to utility companies.

    Three people were taken to hospital after suffering injuries in the storm, and a large section of the roof on the capital’s Millennium Dome was shredded by the gales.

    Wind gusted of 122 miles (196 kilometers) per hour was measured on the Isle of Wight off southern England, “provisionally the highest gust ever recorded in England”, the Met Office said.

    Scientists said the Atlantic storm’s tail could pack a “sting jet”, a rarely seen meteorological phenomenon that brought havoc to Britain and northern France in the “Great Storm” of 1987.

    Eunice caused high waves to batter the Brittany coast in northwest France, while Belgium, Denmark and Sweden all issued weather warnings. Long-distance and regional trains were halted in northern Germany.

    Ferries across the Channel, the world’s busiest shipping lane, were suspended, before the English port of Dover reopened in the late afternoon.

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has ordered the British army on standby and tweeted,

    “We should all follow the advice and take precautions to keep safe.”

    Environment Agency official Roy Stokes warned weather watchers and amateur photographers against heading to Britain’s southern coastline in search of dramatic footage, calling it “probably the most stupid thing you can do”.

    London’s rush-hour streets, where activity has been slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels, were virtually deserted as many heeded government advice to stay home.

    Trains into the capital were already running limited services during the morning commute, with speed limits in place, before seven rail operators in England suspended all operations.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Brooklyn,

    The New York City council official for 36th district Chi Ossé visited to an immigrant family-owned bodega and a chicken shop, at 357 Nostrand housing, Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Council member also share the detail on his social media official account.

    Earlier, on February fire broke out in a vacant building in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Resultant, the neighboring property located at 357 Nostrand Avenue suffered a tremendous amount of smoke damage, and has left the entire property unsafe to occupy. As of now the property is under a vacate order by the New York Department of Buildings.

    According to the owner of bodega and a chicken shop, they need money for a structural engineer, an architect, and a contractor, so we can submit repair plans to the DOB and have to lifted the vacate order. Beyond that we also need money to replace all of the kitchen equipment that was damaged by the water used to extinguish the fire.

    After two years of COVID hampered many businesses around the globe and in New York as well, the burden of the repair costs are more than owner can bare. City council member Chi Ossé partnering with @newyorknico along with Muslim community of New York initiates a fundraising to get the immigrant family back on their feet.

    Help Save 2 Immigrant Owned Businesses & Buildings

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web Desk:

    According to The News on japan, East Japan Railway has unveiled the country’s first hydrogen-powered train. The train has a top speed of about 100 kilometers per hour.

    The firm hopes to replace its diesel models with the new design, which emits no CO2. JR East developed the train with Toyota Motor and Hitachi.

    Photo Courtesy: FuelCellsWorks/Internet

    When hydrogen in the rooftop tanks reacts with oxygen in the air, it produces electricity.

    “Trains powered only by batteries have short ranges, so we looked at using hydrogen, which is already commercialized for automobiles,” said Shoichi Oizumi of the JR East group’s Research and Development Center.

    Hydrogen-powered passenger cars and buses are already running in Japan, but the law doesn’t allow trains to use the fuel.

    JR East had to apply for an exemption for its new prototype. The rail firm plans to conduct test-runs from next month and have the train running commercially in 2030.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web desk,

    “The Candy Bomber” Gail Halvorsen, former US pilot has died at the age of 101. He gives the idea of dropping parachutes loaded with sweets and chocolates for children into Berlin during the Soviet blockade.

    The Allied Museum dedicated to Cold War history in Berlin, former American sector confirmed media reports of Halvorsen’s death on Wednesday.

    “Gail Halvorsen died in Utah in a hospital, surrounded by his family,” a museum spokeswoman said according to AFP.

    “The Candy Bomber” Gail Halvorsen, former US pilot. photo courtesy wikimedia

    A lifelong ambassador for German-American friendship, Halvorsen became famous in the embattled city as the first American pilot to drop bundles of chocolate and chewing gum from his plane to local youngsters waiting on ground.

    Fans nicknamed him “the candy bomber” and “Uncle Wiggly Wings” for the way he maneuvered his plane. The children, still traumatized by the war, would know to look out for incoming treats.

    He inspired many imitators in the ranks of the air force.

    “Even though I flew day and night, ice and snow, I was happy because of the look on the faces of the children when they would see parachutes coming down from the sky,” he told AFP in 2009.

    “They would just go crazy.”

    Halvorsen rose to the rank of colonel and eventually ended up commander of the Tempelhof airfield, the staging ground for the 1948-49 Berlin airlift.

    Pilots flew supplies to West Berlin’s 2.5 million people, still reeling from the Second World War.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    Pakistan exports are zero compared to imports; government should not legislate to protect personal or party interests, this was said by Farooq H Naik on the occasion of UN Annual Parliamentary Meeting.

    Pakistan Consulate in New York honor a reception for the Pakistani Parliamentarians attended the UN Annual Parliamentary Meeting. The Members of Parliament briefed the participants regarding the Pakistan stance presented in the UN meeting.

    The parliamentary delegation included from the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), opposition parties, PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI). Senator Sarfraz Bugti, was also a part of the parliamentary delegation and said that the way Pakistan has deal with pandemic was a big achievement.

    In response to a question, Senator said that terrorists have no religion and nationality.

    The Consul General, Ayesha Ali, Deputy Consul General Nawab Adil Khan and other prominent personalities of the Pakistani community also attended the meeting.

    On the occasion, PML-N member Khalid Javed Warraich and JUI-MNA Zahid Akram Durrani said that the present government imposes ban and black out the media houses. These efforts to curb the media were unparalleled as compare to any previous democratic elected government. Meanwhile, PTI MNA Sardar Talib Hussain said that media in Pakistan is completely free.

    The parliamentary delegation said that there are many differences among the government and the opposition parties but Pakistan’s interest should be on priority on the international forums.

    Consul General of Pakistan Ayesha Ali thanked the Parliament Members and other participants for attending the meeting.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web desk:

    According to Associated Press, after a year-long jam, a mammoth Israeli strawberry is entering the record books.

    Weighing a whopping 289 grams (10.19 ounces, more than half a pound), the titanic berry this week was declared as the world’s largest by Guinness World Records.

    Photo Courtesy: AP/Ariel Schalit

    The strawberry was picked on Chahi Ariel’s family farm near the city of Netanya in central Israel in February 2021. But only this week, Guinness confirmed it as the heaviest on record.

    “We waited for a year for the results,” Ariel said. “We kept it in the freezer for a year. It’s no longer as pretty as it was.”

    The supersized strawberry is a local variety called Ilan that tends to grow to a hefty size. Ariel said the record-setting specimen has shrunk to about half the size it was a year before.

    The previous record-holder for the heaviest strawberry was a Japanese fruit grown in 2015 in Fukuoka that tipped the scales at 250 grams (8.8 ounces).

    Photo Courtesy: AP/Ariel Schalit

    The wait turned out to be fruitful. Ariel said he jumped up and down in his car, laughing and singing when he got the news.

    “We are very happy to be in the Guinness World Records,” he said.

    Guinness World record also shared a video of world largest strawberry on their Instagram and twitter handles.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • New York,

    The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf-PTI USA chapter has been appointed Mr. Khurshid Ahmed Bhalli as head of overseas affairs committee.

    According to notification issued by general secretary PTI USA Sam Khan, the appointment of the committee head is approved after due consultation of President PTI USA Munir Khatana.PTI-USA congratulates to Khurshid Bhalli on his appointment as head and also expressed confidence that he would extensively work for party expansion.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Jakarta,

    An Indonesian court sentenced a teacher for the rape of 13 students to life in prison. The case has drawn countrywide attention to sexual abuse in the religious boarding schools.

    Herry Wirawan, 36, was found guilty of raping 13 all minors’ female students. He impregnates eight of them by Bandung district court in West Java.

    The case sparked national outrage, President Joko Widodo has paid special attention to the case according to a senior government official.

    The pattern of cruelty came to light after the family of a female student reported Wirawan to the police for raping and impregnating their teenage daughter last year.

    During the trial, it was revealed he had raped the children belongs to poor families. These attended students were on scholarships over five years.

    Prosecutors requested chemical castration and the death penalty for the accused, who asked the judge for leniency to allow him to raise his children.

    Wirawan arrived in court in handcuffs and kept his head down as judge Yohannes Purnomo Suryo Adi sentenced him to life in prison.

    The court said compensation for the victims will be paid by the government.

    The chairman of Indonesia’s Child Protection Commission said Tuesday’s verdict meant “justice for the victims has been served”.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Web Desk:

    Famous Indian musician, composer and singer, Bappi Lahiri the King of Bollywood disco breathes his last in Mumbai. The veteran singer suffered multiple diseases before he breathed his last on Tuesday at Mumbai’s CritiCare Hospital in Juhu. He was 69.

    Dr Deepak Namjoshi, director of the hospital, evaluated that Lahiri had been admitted to the hospital for a month and was discharged on Monday. But his health deteriorated on Tuesday and was brought to the hospital. He had multiple health issues. He died due to OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) shortly before midnight.

    Tune Maari Entriyaan singer’s last rites will be held on February 17 as the family waits for his son to return from Los Angeles.

    “It’s a deeply sad moment for us. Our beloved Bappi Da has left for heavenly abode last midnight. The cremation will take place on the arrival of Bappa from LA tomorrow mid-morning. We are seeking love and blessings for his soul,” statement issued by his family read.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was saddened by Lahiri’s death.

    King of Bollywood disco, Bappi Lahiri, the voice behind popular disco songs in the 80s and 90s, has left a huge void in the film industry with his untimely demise. He was known for his groovy disco tunes and eye-catching fashion style. His funky, foot-stomping music had Indians fall in love with disco and had an entire country dancing to his tunes.

    The most striking characteristic about Lahiri was his casual, ornamental bling. Always seen sporting gleaming gold chains and bracelets, he was a style icon for many. His flashy velvet jackets and sequined robes were also a trademark style.

    Lahiri, composed songs for hit Bollywood movies including Disco Dancer, Himmatwala, Sharaabi, Adventures of Tarzan, Dance Dance, Satyamev Jayate, Commando, Aaj Ke Shahenshah, Thanedaar, Numbri Aadmi and Shola Aur Shabnam.

    His death shook India as Bollywood celebrities mourn his death few days after demise of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar. Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vidya Balan, Raveena Tandon, Ajay Devgn and Nimrat Kaur, and filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Sujoy Ghosh, pays tribute to the late singer.

    Bollywood Diva Kareena Kapoor Khan posted an Instagram story, “Yaar Bina chain Kanhan Re RIP KING”

     “I wish you joy wherever you go Bappi da because that’s what you brought to the world through your music and your being. Love always, Bidda (as you’d so endearingly call me),” Vidya Balan wrote on her Instagram as she pays respects to Lahiri.

    Raveena Tandon shared tweet, “Grew up listening to your music, Bappi da, you had your own style and always a smiling face. Your music shall play on forever.”

    Ajay Devgan also mourned the legendary singer, he wrote in a tweet, “Bappi Da was so endearing in person. But, his music had an edge. He introduced a more contemporary style to Hindi film music with Chalte Chalte, Suraksha and Disco Dancer. Dada, you will be missed.”

  • Web desk,

    A fire broke out at a western military base in Iran on Monday, no casualties were reported yet, media affiliated with the country’s Supreme National Security Council reported.

    According to Nour news, “On Monday morning, fire broke out at a warehouse of motor oil and other flammable materials were stored. The military base is one of the support bases of the Revolutionary Guards in the Mahidasht region of Kermanshah province, causing damage to an industrial shed”.

    The fire was extinguished by rescuers, and teams have been dispatched to the support base to investigate the cause of the fire.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.