In an effort to respond to the growing need, OM partner organisation AIDSLink International conducts Channels of Hope training in Malaysia and Myanmar.

On 9 August 2014, OM Malaysia held an open house to celebrate 30 years of ministry, with OM International Director Lawrence Tong as the guest of honour.

TeenStreet Malaysia 2015 was attended by over 350 teenagers wanting to draw closer to God.

A young refugee hears about Christmas.

Teenstreet Malaysia 2016 begins, and teens there are studying "The Art of Living".

The varied teaching styles at Teenstreet Malaysia 2016 helped teens to connect with the theme of discovering their identity.

Jesus speaks to a Roma (gypsy) man in a dream one night, which leads to the man’s salvation.

Various Pastors joined OM El Salvador on an outreach to Honduras, obeying the Lords command to make disciples.

In the summer of 2013, a South African member of OM Czech Republic returned to her home country to lead anti-trafficking training and awareness seminars.

Human trafficking grows like a cancer in Ecuador. Boris and Fernanda Salinas are destined to fight it.

Nathan Schmutz, an OMer working in Latin America, shares how a five year-old girl embodies OM's new mission statement.

The Gospel is primarily about relationships that impact, influence and are relevant, states Pastor Hugo Echeverri, a representative of OM in Colombia.

In a nation filled with tribal tension, OM works toward reconciliation through youth conferences, relief outreaches and a bookshop filled with Bibles.

Jude, project coordinator of OM's Refugee Relief Serbia describes her busy role, and how OM’s service can be a powerful practical witness of the love of Jesus to hundreds of refugees.

For the Kurdish people, the future is uncertain. But the gospel message that believers want to share with them is one of overwhelming hope.

As Australia grapples with a tight international schedule, cricket legend Mark Waugh foresees a future where One-Day International (ODI) cricket is largely reserved for major tournaments.

Before the toss ahead of the 3rd India vs South Africa T20I, Hardik Pandya handed the India cap to the debutant Ramandeep Singh

India will open their campaign against Pakistan at Dubai on November 30

India vs South Africa: Tilak Varma played an unbeaten 107-run knock from 56 balls at a strike rate of 191.07

If you don't know about the role and make-up of a digital team, and how it can impact customer experience and brand success, Matt Harris of Sendwithus has the answers

Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new Kardashians, to boldly market...

DeepIntent applies AI to data to identify medical and patient audiences for healthcare marketing, track them across devices, and deliver impactful messages

If this isn't real yet, surely it soon will be...

In 2013, three best friends followed their passion to build a clothing company. Their journey took them in a whole new direction

Podcasts are looking like an increasingly viable channel to engage with customers

Fraud, privacy, and tracking the customer journey will continue to be key issues for marketers doing omnichannel.

1. John Krasinski revealed as People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive after Benny Blanco confusion; fans are relieved  Hindustan Times
2. John Krasinski reveals wife Emily Blunt's reaction to his Sexiest Man Alive title  Hindustan Times
3. Not Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Leonardo Dicaprio, Chris Evans, or Tom Cruise, THIS actor is the sexiest  India.com
4. Actor John Krasinski Named 'Sexiest Man Alive' Of 2024 By People Magazine  NDTV
5. Is Jim from The Office really the sexiest man in the world?  The Guardian

1. Donald Trump appoints Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to lead Dept of Government Efficiency | World News | Onmanorama  Onmanorama
2. DOGE days are coming for the US under Trump's two Musketeers  The Times of India
3. Donald Trump calls Elon Musk's department the 'Manhattan Project', know what was this project  India.com
4. When Vivek Ramaswamy was 18: School speech emerges as he readies for DOGE role  India Today
5. Internet reacts as Elon Musk debuts ‘super cute’ logo of Department of Government Efficiency: ‘What a time to be alive’  Hindustan Times

Officials of Biñan City have been ordered to respond to a complaint filed by residents regarding a reclamation project in Laguna de Bay.

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Food and Drug Administration chief Nela Charade Puno of graft, which stemmed from a raid and closure by the FDA of a pharmacy and wellness center in Tarlac.

The drug war under the administration of President Marcos has netted P40.32 billion worth of illegal drugs, the Philippine National Police reported yesterday.

Over 50,000 senior citizens continue to benefit from Makati’s Blu Card program, which offers perks to enhance their quality of life, Mayor Abby Binay announced on Tuesday.

A centralised hotline on number 1400 will be taknig calls for the Emergency Call Centre for healthcare professionals to direct callers to the best available emergency facility by assessing the degree of urgency of call-ins

Minister Chris Bonett said he sympathises with those who were stuck in traffic on Tuesday evening but added that events of this kind will inevitably result in congestion

Vitals inquiry expert Miroslava Milenović faces heated scrutiny over qualifications and methods for her role in uncovering complex financial links

The index was designed to quantify the specific vulnerabilities faced by countries, especially small island developing states

'L-Istorja, Int' (History, You), will be the theme for the 50th anniversary celebrations for Malta's Republic Day

MANILA, Philippines — Central Luzon cops arrested a woman with the alias “Tita” for posing as her niece to lure a victim into giving her gifts, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) said. According to the PNP ACG’s report released on Wednesday, “Tita” created a Facebook account using her then 17-year-old niece’s name and began messaging a 70-year-old meat vendor in San Manuel town in Tarlac province. The suspect lured the victim into a secret relationship, which lasted for more than a year, getting him to send money and gifts said to be worth a total of nearly […]...

Keep on reading: Tarlac woman nabbed for posing as niece in online love scam

MANILA, Philippines — Parañaque City police arrested three foreign nationals for shooting a Chinese man and for possessing drugs worth P1.2 million during their arrest on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The victim was identified as “Li”, a 35-year-old Chinese national who works as a money changer employee in Parañaque City. He was shot at a residential complex in Barangay Don Galo on Wednesday morning and was taken to Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay City for treatment. According to the Southern Police District’s (SPD) report, alias “Syncell”, a 32-year-old Filipino online agent who also lives in the complex, witnessed the incident. […]...

Keep on reading: Chinese man shot in Parañaque; suspects with P1.2-M in drugs nabbed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) played no role in deciding on the National Economic and Development Authority’s controversial poverty threshold. At the Senate’s marathon plenary debates on the proposed 2025 funding of the DOST past midnight on Thursday, Sen. Minority Leader Koko Pimentel asked FNRI whether it was the source of the figure that Neda issued. He was referring to Neda’s earlier disclosure that a Filipino only needs to spend P64 per day for meals to not be considered food poor. READ: You’re not food poor if you spend at […]...

Keep on reading: DOST-FNRI washes hands off Neda’s poverty threshold: PSA did the math

The World Bank (WB) has approved a new $750-million development policy loan aimed at helping the Philippine government ramp up its digital transformation efforts, marking its second financial aid of this type to a country where the internet economy has seen rapid expansion. The multilateral lender said on Wednesday that its second digital transformation package […]...

Keep on reading: World Bank oks $750-M PH digital transformation program

The study reveals that older participants exhibited lower signs of stress and anxiety than younger ones.

“Climate change continues to happen, and it is important that Israel remains part of the efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change,” Behar said.

The alleged support for Hamas related to online activity, Gloucestershire Police said.

Washington warned Israel last month that military aid could be limited until progress was made. It did so based on Memorandum 20, which links such aid to humanitarian actions.

In her Instagram post, Argamani shared her frustration that 101 hostages have not yet been rescued from Hamas.

The Israeli military "intends to continue its tireless efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in the Strip during the ongoing conflict," a statement said.

KARACHI: At a time when cities across Punjab are facing the worst air pollution in their history, two members of the ruling coalition on Tuesday made “insensitive” jibes over the issue in their posts on social media.

In his post on X, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari shared a chart of the air quality index readings of Pakistan’s major cities on November 10 at 9pm.

The chart showed Peshawar as the most polluted city with an AQI of 591, followed by Multan 573 and Lahore 479. Karachi was 7th with AQI of 78.

“Dear Pakistan, move to Karachi,” wrote Mr Bhutto-Zardari in his post.

Late at night, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said crop burning was unreasonably blamed for the smog when vehicles were the biggest polluters.

He shared a chart showing that total emissions from transport were 127 gigagrams, while that from stubble burning was 5.97gg.

The minister’s post did not mention the chart’s source or when the readings were taken.

He said the chart shows the “real culprits” contributing to the smog, but the people are being misled into believing that stubble burning, which has been going on “since the time of Mohenjo Daro”, was causing the pollution.

In another post, he referred to an order by Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim to close markets at 8pm, which was “yet to be implemented”.

According to the minister, the markets in Lahore remained open from 2pm to 2am and blamed the traders for being “intransigent” on this issue.

He also called out political leaders who are not ready to address this issue due to “political expediency”.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

• Govt objects to repeal of prison rules for PTI founder
• Imran booked in 54 cases across Punjab, LHC told

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Tuesday disposed of pre-arrest bail petitions of eight PTI activists in the case regarding an attack on the Lahore corps commander’s residence after police declared them innocent in the investigation.

ATC-I Judge Manzer Ali Gill was hearing the bail petitions of 32 activists when a prosecutor stated that a joint investigation team (JIT), formed to probe the May 9 incidents, had exonerated eight of the petitioners for lack of evidence.

At this, the lawyer for the activists sought the court permission to withdraw their bail petitions.

The judge adjourned the bail petitions of other activists till Dec 11 and 13, asking them to join the JIT investigation.

The judge allowed the request and disposed of the petitions of Tanzila Imran, Ri­­zwana Ghazanfar, Makiya Saeed, Shah­baz Amir Ali, Farooq Ahmad, Usman Naveed, Zirk Khan and Mian Ahmad Rehman.

Sarwar Road police of Lahore had registered a case against PTI leaders and workers for attacking the Lahore corps commander house, also known as Jinnah House, on May 9 last year.

Separately, ATC-III Judge Arshad Javed adjourned the hearing of post-arrest bail petitions by the PTI leaders, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, in May 9 cases.

The judge directed the petitioners’ lawyers to conclude their arguments on the next hearing; otherwise, the petitions would be decided on the basis of police record.

The judge postponed the pleas of Rasheed till Nov 12, Dr Yasmin till Nov 13 & 16, and Qureshi till Nov 19.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, issued a notice to Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat on whose petition the section was set aside, seeking his response.

Prison rules

Meanwhile, a two-member division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up the petition of the chief commissioner Islamabad against setting aside of Section 265 of the Punjab Prison Rules that prohibits political discussion during prisoner meetings with visitors.

The plea contested Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan’s verdict, which had struck down Section 265.

Advocate General Islamabad Ayaz Shaukat argued that the IHC lacked jurisdiction to intervene in Punjab’s laws and maintained that the single bench did not have the authority to nullify provisions in the Punjab Prison Rules.

Chief Justice Farooq asked, “So, you are saying that the Islamabad High Court cannot interfere in any provincial law?”

Justice Imtiaz noted that the Punjab Prison Rules are also applicable to prisoners in Isla­mabad, suggesting an overlap in jurisdiction.

The CJ inquired whether a formal notice under Section 27A was issued to the attorney general or the advocate general by the single bench, a requirement before declaring any law invalid.

While the advocate general said he had been summoned, he acknowledged that a formal notice was not issued.

Advocate General Shaukat requested the immediate suspension of the single bench’s decision, but Chief Justice Farooq scheduled a formal hearing for the next week.

Justice Farooq Haider was hearing a petition filed by Imran’s sister, Noreen Niazi, challenging the non-disclosure of the cases’ details against her brother.

Cases against Imran

Also on Tuesday, Punjab Police told the La­­­hore High Court that 54 criminal cases, in­­cluding those related to May 9, had been registered against PTI founding chairman Imran Khan in different cities of the province.

An additional advocate general presented a report on behalf of the inspector general of police, revealing that 21 cases were registered in Lahore, 19 in Rawalpindi, seven in Sheikhupura, five in Faisalabad and one each in Gujranwala and Mianwali.

The cases include attacks on the Jinnah House, Askari Tower at Liberty Roundabout, General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and office of an intelligence agency in Faisalabad. A law officer for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought additional time to provide details of the cases, if any, against Imran Khan.

The judge allowed the request and adjourned further hearing till Nov 20.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024

Residents of India’s capital New Delhi choked in a blanketing toxic smog Wednesday as worsening air pollution surged past 50 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended daily maximum.

Many in the city cannot afford air filters, nor do they have homes they can effectively seal from the misery of foul-smelling air blamed for thousands of premature deaths.

Cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds trap deadly pollutants each winter, stretching from mid-October until at least January.

At dawn on Wednesday, “hazardous” pollutant levels in parts of the sprawling urban area of more than 30 million people topped 806 micrograms per cubic metre, according to monitoring firm IQAir.

That is more than 53 times the WHO-recommended daily maximum of fine particulate matter — dangerous cancer-causing microparticles known as PM2.5 pollutants that enter the bloodstream through the lungs.

By midday, when air usually is at its best, it eased to about 25-35 times above danger levels, depending on different districts.

The city is blanketed in acrid smog each year, primarily blamed on stubble burning by farmers in neighbouring regions to clear their fields for ploughing, as well as factories and traffic fumes.

‘Alarming’

But a report by The New York Times this month, based on air and soil samples it collected over five years, revealed the dangerous fumes also spewing from a power plant incinerating the city’s landfill garbage mountains.

Experts the newspaper spoke to said that the levels of heavy metals found were “alarming”.

Swirling white clouds of smog also delayed several flights across northern India.

The India Meteorological Department said that at least 18 regional airports had a visibility lower than 1,000 metres (1,093 yards) — dropping below 500m in Delhi.

India’s Supreme Court last month ruled that clean air was a fundamental human right, ordering both the central government and state-level authorities to take action.

But critics say arguments between rival politicians heading neighbouring states — as well as between central and state-level authorities — have compounded the problem.

Politicians are accused of not wanting to anger key figures in their constituencies, particularly powerful farming groups.

City authorities have launched several initiatives to tackle pollution, which have done little in practice.

Government trucks are regularly used to spray water to briefly dampen the pollution.

A new scheme unveiled earlier this month to use three small drones to spray water mist was derided by critics as another “band-aid” solution to a public health crisis.

The WHO says that air pollution can trigger strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.

It is particularly punishing for babies, children and the elderly.

A study in The Lancet medical journal attributed 1.67m premature deaths to air pollution in the world’s most populous country in 2019.