Latest news with #FatimaIqbal
CBC
27-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Hamilton family appeals to Ottawa for help locating Canadian man, 2 kids missing in Panama
A Hamilton couple is appealing to the government of Canada to help Panamanian authorities locate a Canadian man who has gone missing in the Central American country with his two young children — aged two years and seven months. Ghussan Iqbal, 31, has been living in Changuinola, a city in the Bocas del Toro province of Panama on the border near Costa Rica, with his wife, Fatima, and two children for the last two years, family members living in Hamilton told CBC News. According to the family members, on the afternoon of May 21, they received a message from Fatima that when she woke up that morning her husband and children were nowhere to be found. Ghussan's brother, Sulman Iqbal, and his sister-in-law, Nagham Azzam-Iqbal, who live in Hamilton, travelled to Panama on May 23 to assist with the search. But they say the search has been "complicated" given the geography of the area, which is "dense jungle with one mountain road and with sparse communities located around," and there's simply not enough resources. "We need the Canadian government to do something, we are in an area that is not well resourced," Azzam-Iqbal told CBC Hamilton via Zoom from Panama Tuesday morning. "We have three very vulnerable individuals and they need your help. We have a lot of very caring communities here that really care about Ghussan and the kids and they're doing everything they can, but they don't have the resources. "[Canada has] the resources and we need to deploy them for our people," she added. Azzam-Iqbal said Ghussan, who previously lived with his parents on the Hamilton Mountain, is a McMaster University graduate and has diagnosed mental health issues that have required treatment in the past. His two-year-old is also a Canadian citizen, Azzam-Iqbal said. 'Significant concern' about well-being of 2 children Azzam-Iqbal said the family is extremely concerned about the well-being of the two children. "We've been here for the last few days, the elements are not easy, it has been raining, like pouring rain, and then hot and humid. The jungle is thick and the resources are sparse," she said. "We're concerned that Ghussan is either hiding or running from something, whether it's real or imagined, and we have significant concern about the well-being of these two children." "We're worried that something happened to the children or, you know, the children are struggling and we need to find him. I think Ghussan is resilient. However, these children are extremely vulnerable and so any resources we can have, anything we can get to be able to find him sooner rather than later," Azzam-Iqbal added. A media report in Panama shows emergency crews part of the search set up under a tent as recently as Monday. Amber alerts run by the local ministry of public security were issued for the two children on May 22. Meanwhile, Ghussan's brother Sulman said the family has reached out to Lisa Hepfner, MP for Hamilton Mountain, as well as Global Affairs Canada to make them aware of the case and ask for help. "The police, the community [were] very willing to do what they could, the only problem we found was that they don't have many resources," Sulman said. "Panama doesn't have, apparently, search dogs to deploy. Heat-capable drones, we haven't been able to locate one, so … we're hoping Canada can help give some of those resources to find two of its citizens." In an email statement to CBC Hamilton, Global Affairs Canada said it is aware of "the case involving a Canadian citizen and his two children in Panama" and that consular officials are "actively engaged with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family." However, local law enforcement is "responsible for investigating reports of missing persons in their jurisdiction," said the email from Dina Destin, spokesperson for the department. CBC News reached out to Hepfner for comment. It has also reached out to government officials and police in Panama. Police there said they were not authorized to speak to international media. How people in Canada can help The family is asking any of Ghussan's friends in Canada who have been in touch with him to reach out and share whatever information they have about their last contact, his mental state and location. "If he does get in contact, if he does get a phone and contacts anybody, please reach out," Azzam-Iqbal said. "You can either reach out to Hamilton police … or you could reach out to us individually. We're advocating for him and we're here to support him. We want to find the children, that's our number one priority."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Student Wins NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Students win $3,550 in Shark Tank-style pitch competition and advance to national finals NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Champion 2025 NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Winners Chicago, IL, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global entrepreneurship education nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has named six local student businesses as the winners of its annual Midwest Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. The young entrepreneurs distinguished themselves through innovative business ideas, which they will present at the national finals in New York on Oct. 8 to compete for the National Champion title and cash prizes. Competitors pitched their original business concepts to a panel of esteemed judges, including Jennifer L. Husbands, PhD, Founder of Steward Education Advisors; Fatima Iqbal, Discovery Specialist at Traub & Associates and CEO of Naz Exotic Auto; Sholape Kolawole, EY–Parthenon Chicago Office Leader; Marcus A. Payne, Vice President, Operations at Ingredion; and Aaron Trinidad, NFTE alumnus and Account Management at Ogilvy. The judges selected a first-place winner to receive $1,500, a second-place winner to receive $1,000, and a third-place winner to receive $500. The audience also selected a fast pitch people's choice winner receiving $250 and two runners up each receiving $150. 1st Place: Joshua Mallory from Chicago Hope Academy with his business idea Easy Fit, which provides accessible dress shirts with magnetic closures for people with upper body mobility challenges. 2nd Place: Prince Amankwaa from Horizon Science Academy in Columbus, Ohio, with his business idea Goal Home, which brings affordable, high-quality soccer camps directly to underserved neighborhoods. 3rd Place: Aminah Taylor from the Saint Louis Science Center with her business idea Fye Haven, which provides a bridge between therapy and everyday life for people with autism, fostering independence and growth through accessible, tailored support. 'We are immensely proud of the outstanding youth who have participated in competitions across the Midwest,' said Dr. Scott Nasatir, NFTE Midwest Executive Director. "These remarkable young entrepreneurs are not only generating innovative solutions to complex societal challenges, but they are also deeply committed to enhancing their local communities. Their dedication, along with the steadfast support of their educators and families, is truly commendable.' The event also honored Rookie Teacher of the Year Harvey Love and Veteran Teacher of the Year Luke Petro, as well as individual Volunteer of the Year Kristoffer Kizer and corporate Volunteer of the Year ShipBob for their deep commitment to coaching and mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs. The NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was presented by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) and Ingredion, with signature support from Santander Bank, associate support from PayPal and Zuora, and additional support from Slalom. For media inquiries, please contact Denise Berkhalter, APR, 917-281-4362, at mediainquiries@ ### About NFTE: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) ignites the entrepreneurial mindset with unique learning experiences that empower students to own their futures. A global nonprofit founded in 1987, NFTE provides high-quality entrepreneurship education to middle school, high school and postsecondary students. NFTE brings the power of entrepreneurship to students, regardless of family income, community resources, special needs, gender identity, race, or ethnicity. NFTE has educated more than a million students, delivering our programs in school, out of school, in-person, online, or through hybrid models. Visit to learn more. Attachments NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Champion 2025 NFTE Midwest Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Winners CONTACT: Denise Berkhalter, APR Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) 917-281-4362 deniseb@ in to access your portfolio
