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Express Tribune
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Heated debate on Ajrak number plates in Sindh Assembly
Listen to article The opposition and treasury benches, during the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, traded verbal barbs over the issue of Ajrak-themed number plates for vehicles. The opposition asserted they were not against the cultural and heritage status of Ajrak, but forcing people to pay exorbitant penalties for not installing the said number plates was unjustified. Moreover, the drive to implement the Ajrak number plates was limited to Karachi only, while in the rest of the province. Several MPAs expressed serious concerns over public issues and criticised harassing citizens over new number plates. They also expressed strong reactions over the notices issued to residents of derelict buildings in Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Hyderabad. MQM member Shabbir Qureshi raised objections to traffic police unjustly issuing fines and harassing citizens over Ajrak number plates. Also Read: Parking fee abolished across Karachi In response, Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani clarified that Ajrak number plates have been in vogue for the last two to three years and include security features. He stated that motorcycles are often used in thefts and crimes, hence having registered and identifiable number plates is essential. These number plates are readable by the Safe City Cameras and have helped in apprehending persons illegally using official vehicles and government number plates. Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that since 2022, new number plates have been installed on one million motorcycles, and it is a reflection of the culture of Sindh. He added that the Punjab government adopted the Ajrak design on its flyovers, but it has been made controversial in Sindh, which is unfortunate. MQM member Najm Mirza said that Ajrak is not the issue, but people are being troubled under its guise, with traffic police issuing fines amounting to thousands of rupees. He recommended forming of a special parliamentary committee on this issue, which should also include the opposition. Read More: Private schools lead in matric results in Punjab Ghani welcomed the proposal. He further said that he accepts full responsibility for the recent building accident in Lyari in which 27 people lost their lives. He said that the affected building was constructed illegally in 1980s. Following the accident, the DG of the Sindh Building Control Authority was removed and cases were registered against 11 officers, many of whom have been arrested. He said that assistance was delayed due to the victims not having identity cards, but now Rs90,000 per family is being given as three-month rent. A total of 45 families were living in the affected building in Lyari, most of whom were tenants. He added that 66 dangerous buildings in Karachi and 87 across Sindh have been vacated, and further action is being taken under the new committee. Meanwhile, Home Minister Sindh Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said regarding police recruitment that 50,000 youth passed the written examination under the advertisement given during the caretaker government, out of which 11,000 were recruited on merit and all the details are available on the website. The Sindh Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution condemning the double murder incident in Balochistan, demanding the strictest punishment for the accused involved in the murder. The resolution was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party member Sadia Javed.
The South African
39 minutes ago
- The South African
Cop accused of hiding key evidence in gang-related murder
A police officer was arrested for defeating the ends of justice after allegedly failing to declare a firearm linked to an alleged gang-related murder. Sergeant Myka Constance Shale, attached to the Crime Intelligence Gathering (CIG) unit, was allegedly handed the firearm by an informer. The weapon was reportedly found at the crime scene. Shale appeared at the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court and was granted R4,000 bail on Wednesday, 23 July. According to a police report, the firearm was picked up at the murder scene of 38-year-old Wilfred Casper on Saturday, 12 July, in Marikana. However, after Shale received it, she allegedly failed to hand it in or declare it. Casper was found with multiple stab wounds and other injuries and was declared dead on the scene. Five days later, Ikageng Detectives arrested eight suspects, aged between 27 and 35. It is alleged they are all members of the SVK gang. The eight suspects appeared before the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court on Thursday, 17 July, on charges of murder and were remanded in custody for a bail application. Shale is expected to appear in court again on Monday, 6 October. North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, commended the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit (ACIU) for their work in the matter. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
KLIA enforcement officer remanded 5 days over RM8,000 bribe
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Selangor has remanded an enforcement officer suspected of accepting around RM8,000 in bribes while on duty at the arrival counter of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The five-day remand order, effective until July 29, was issued by Magistrate Zur Azureen Zainalkefli following MACC's application at the Shah Alam magistrate's court Friday morning. According to a source, the suspect, in his 20s, was arrested at 3pm Thursday at his workplace. "Preliminary investigations found that the suspect is believed to have received the bribe while on duty, and the act was detected through closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance. "Upon inspection, around RM8,000 in cash was found in his pants pocket, and the money is suspected to be proceeds from counter setting activities," the source said. Meanwhile, Selangor MACC deputy director Khairul Izwan Karim, when contacted, confirmed the arrest. The case is being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009. - Bernama
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Opinion: Looking into a lead-filled society
Although the majority of Orange County is filled with clean suburbs where good health and environment is expected, in the city of Santa Ana, there are many industrial regions where the air, water, and soil are polluted. These contaminants create an ugly landscape. More importantly, they pose substantial dangers to residents, who are a historically disproportionately marginalized community. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if the amount of lead in the soil exceeds 400 parts per million (ppm) , it is deemed hazardous to health. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment lowered the soil lead risk standard to just 80 ppm . However, in Santa Ana, out of the 1,500 soil samples collected, half of them were found to have exceeded the standard of 80 ppm. Furthermore, some samples were found to have reached an astounding 2,600 ppm, highlighting the severity of the issue. Interestingly, UCI-led research found that in the soil where the median household income was below $50,000, there was a 440% higher amount of lead than in places with a median household income of $100,000. Furthermore, over 50% of unsafe lead found in samples were primarily in places with more minority residents who cannot afford benefits such as health insurance. According to the samples collected, two main causes of the lead contamination issue in Santa Ana were found. The first was the excessive use of lead paint up to the year 1978. Buildings were primarily painted using lead paint, and their paint chips and dust continue to be a risk for lead poisoning. However, the main cause of the lead contamination was found to be from historical gasoline emissions. Santa Ana's many old highways and streets cause higher lead concentrations, especially due to its close proximity to neighborhoods. In fact, high levels of lead in children can cause many neurological issues such as developmental delay, learning difficulties, loss of appetite/weight loss, hearing loss, seizures, and more. Adults can also suffer from high blood pressure, joint/muscle pain, loss of memory and concentration, mood disorders, miscarriage, and other symptoms. Although there are still many challenges that the city of Santa Ana faces in regard to its lead contamination, there are many organizations working to make the city a safer place to live. Recently, an initiative headed by Jovenes Cultivando Cambios, called 'PloNo Santa Ana!' partnered with the Orange County Environmental Justice (OCEJ) organization to launch a General Plan (GP) to test lead, repair the soil, and to provide health care to residents who are impacted by the lead contamination. Furthermore, professors from UCI and community members of the Inequities in Childhood Life-Course Lead Exposure and Academic Neurobehavioral Outcomes (I-CLEAN) work to further study the impact that lead has on children. There are several things that all of us can do to alleviate this problem. For example, you can plant vegetation such as sunflowers, spinach, or corn, which have the ability to remove lead from the soil . Furthermore, such plants add much-needed greenspace to cities like Santa Ana. If you want to help advocate for larger changes, then you can join organizations such as the OCEJ PloNo! movement and help change environmental policies on both local and national levels. All of us can agree that everyone, especially children, deserve to live in clean environments. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we build a country in which everyone has the right to live free of dangerous pollution and contaminants. Related
Rakyat Post
2 hours ago
- Business
- Rakyat Post
RM1.99 Gadgets, Freebies & Trips To Japan? Acer Day 2025 FTW!
Subscribe to our FREE In celebration of its 35th anniversary, Acer Malaysia has officially launched Acer Day 2025 — a nationwide tech party running from July 24 to September 30, themed #BreakALimit. The campaign also highlights AI-powered tools and smart devices in Acer's lineup, alongside collaborations with lifestyle and sports brands like Adidas to promote innovation, wellness, and fun. Acer Day 2025 is a celebration of pushing boundaries. We aim to inspire people to step outside their comfort zones and discover new possibilities with the support of our latest solutions. Our collaboration with sports brands also reflects our commitment to pushing the envelope in terms of innovation, while promoting community and the dynamic energy across the region. Acer Inc Pan Asia Pacific Operations President Andrew Hou. Expect a jam-packed Acer-vaganza filled with roadshows, flash sales, carnivals, and even a pickleball tournament, all designed to bring Malaysians together. 17 Cities, One Big Carnival The Acer Day Carnival kicks off in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, on July 24, then hits 17 cities across Malaysia throughout August — including Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Kuching, Bukit Mertajam, and Alor Setar. So be on the lookout for interactive product demos, games, giveaways, and of course, the Acer Day Flash Sale. Flash Deals from RM1.99! Yes, really! To celebrate, Acer's throwing out crazy-limited-time deals during the Acer Day Flash Sale, starting from just RM1.99, including: Acer Wired USB Mouse – RM1.99 (SRP RM30) Aspire Lite 14 Laptop – RM1,199 (SRP RM1,599) Acer Nitro V 15 Gaming Laptop – RM2,299 (SRP RM2,849) Acer Nitro KG270X1 Monitor – RM379 (SRP RM549) AOPEN QF23s LED Projector – RM399 (SRP RM649) Nitro Wireless Gaming Controller – RM79 (SRP RM199) Predator Gaming Chair – RM399 (SRP RM1,299) Acerpure CHEF KF1 Air Fryer – RM299 (SRP RM799) Plus, enjoy up to RM2,000 in savings on selected products, and redeem up to RM200 in Touch 'n Go eWallet credit. Six Words = Trip to Japan? Acer is also launching its 'Six-Word Challenge,' inviting Malaysians to describe their Acer experience in just six words. Prizes include: A pair of tickets to Japan for the VCT (Valorant Champions Tour) Pacific Stage 2 Finals — flights + hotel included Premium bicycles & gym gear RM200 Adidas e-vouchers And more — all from a RM150,000 prize pool Acer Pickleball Tournament to Award RM20,000 Scholarship In line with the campaign's active lifestyle theme, Acer will host its first-ever pickleball tournament for university students on August 3. The winning team will receive RM20,000 in scholarships, part of Acer's effort to promote health, sports, and community among Malaysian youth. Just Dropped: New Tech for Gamers & Neat Freaks Acer's not just throwing a party, they're also dropping fresh gear catering to both hardcore gamers and those who take cleaning really, really seriously. Predator X27U X2 OLED Gaming Monitor – RM1,999 Leading the pack is the Predator X27U X2, a 27-inch OLED monitor with WQHD resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and a lightning-fast 0.03ms response time. It supports HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort, making it ideal for both console and PC gamers seeking smooth, sharp visuals. Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop – From RM4,399 If you're looking for a new gaming rig, check out the refreshed Acer Nitro 50, now with Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 graphics. There are two versions available: Intel Core Ultra 5 – RM4,399 Intel Core Ultra 7 – RM5,299 Acer Nitro TKL NKW129 Keyboard – RM149 Don't need a full-sized keyboard? The Nitro TKL NKW129 is a tenkeyless (meaning, without the numpad) gaming keyboard with 19-key anti-ghosting and 3-zone LED backlighting. It's compact, clean, and built for fast-paced play. Acerpure CLEAN V2 Vacuum – RM1,299 At just 1.37kg, this cordless vacuum includes: New Pet Mode and Pet Hair Brush 20,000Pa suction power Hair-free tech to avoid tangles One-touch dustbin release and washable HEPA filter Promo price: RM999, plus up to RM150 Touch 'n Go credit (valid until August 6). Acerpure COZY HF1 Fan – RM199 This compact fan features: Up to 13,000 RPM fan speed 100 adjustable speed settings 180° tilt, 6-hour battery life, USB-C charging Promo price: RM159, with up to RM20 eWallet credit. Acer Swift Edge 14 AI – RM7,999 A premium, AI-powered laptop weighing under 1kg with a 3K OLED display and long battery life. Bonus: Purchases from July 23 to August 6 come with gifts and a chance to win prizes. AOpen QF23s Smart Portable Projector – RM649 A compact, travel-friendly projector with built-in speakers. Promo price: RM559 from July 24 to September 30. Acer PM161QT Portable Touch Display – RM499 A 15.6-inch slim Full HD portable touchscreen for productivity on the go. Promo price: RM459, valid July 24 to September 30. Acer EK1 Monitor Series – From RM359 New high-refresh-rate monitors ranging from 23.8-inch to 27-inch, priced between RM359 and RM429. Bonus: Purchases between July 24 and September 9 come with a free wireless optical mouse. Bonus Time: Free Gifts & Another Chance to Win a Trip to Japan From July 23 to August 6, buyers of the Nitro 50 will get a Nitro Wireless Gaming Controller and Touch 'n Go eWallet credit. Buying the Nitro keyboard? You'll get a Nitro Mouse for free. And here's the big one. If you purchase either the Predator X27U X2 or Nitro 50 before September 30, you'll be in the running to win weekly prizes and the grand prize, a trip to Japan for the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Finals. For more information on what's happening throughout Acer Day 2025, visit Acer Malaysia's Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
