Latest news with #KhalidMahmood
BBC News
17-05-2025
- BBC News
Bus driver sentenced for causing fatal Manchester cafe crash
A bus driver who crashed into a cafe in Manchester killing a woman has been given a suspended sentence. Almena Amica, 77, who was known as Mena, died in hospital after the bus struck the T4 bubble tea cafe in the Piccadilly Gardens area of the city centre in October 2023. Eleven other people were injured. Khalid Mahmood, 66, previously pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous was given a two-year suspended sentence and banned from driving for five years. 'Sense of absence' Several passengers and pedestrians suffered from minor from Eccles, had claimed the crash was a result of a defected vehicle, Greater Manchester Police a specialist forensic reconstruction officer found this that this was not the case, with his report concluding that it happened as a result of a failure to apply the Mahmood was sentenced, Mena's sister described her as a woman who was "dedicated to her family, friends and faith"."It is impossible to put into words the impact the death of my sister has had on me, to translate feelings into words, to convey the sense of the absence of Mena into words," she said."Mena was my last living sibling, we had so many plans together, but her future has been taken away from her, and our shared plans have been taken from me."She thanked the police and the charity, Brake, for their support. "I am also very grateful to all the members of the public who went to Mena's aid at the time of the incident and for the flowers left in her memory," she added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
16-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Bus driver who failed to brake and killed 77-year-old woman pedestrian before smashing into cafe avoids jail as her sister pays heartbreaking tribute
A bus driver who failed to brake and killed a 77-year-old woman has avoided jail as her sister pays a heartbreaking tribute. Almena Amica was using a pedestrian crossing to cross the road in the centre of Manchester when the bus accelerated and collided into her. A further 11 people – a mixture of pedestrians and passengers - escaped with minor injuries as the single decker bus smashed into a café in Piccadilly Gardens on October 16, 2023. Bus driver Khalid Mahmood was arrested at the scene a and while in custody maintained that the incident was as a result of a defected vehicle. A specialist forensic reconstruction officer conducted an extensive investigation and identified that this was not the case, with his report concluding that it was in fact a result of failure to apply the brakes. On March 12, Mahmood, 66, from Eccles, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court. He has today received a two year suspended sentence and has been disqualified from driving for five years. Whilst battling her own cancer diagnosis and recovery, and the recent death of their brother, Almena's sister said it is 'impossible to put into words' the impact of her death. In an emotional statement she described her sister - who was known by her loved ones as 'Mena'- as a woman who was dedicated to her family, friends and faith. She said: 'It is impossible to put into words the impact the death of my sister has had on me, to translate feelings into words, to convey the sense of the absence of Mena into words. 'Mena was my last living sibling, we had so many plans together, but her future has been taken away from her, and our shared plans have been taken from me. 'The first anniversary of our brother's death took place just over two months after Mena's death and without her for support, I mourned two siblings instead of one, alone.' She to regularly has to pass through the area where Almena was kielled and is 'forced to relive that very day'. 'When I received the call from police, I could not understand how it was Mena who had been involved in the incident,' she continued. 'All I wanted to do was to go in and see and speak to my sister. I wanted to let her know that I was with her.' She also spoke of their family's Jamaican heritage and Almena's plan to record Jamaican folk tales for her younger family members. She said: 'Of all our family, Mena spent the most time living in Jamaica and was the best link to our culture and language. Her death results in the loss of a part of our heritage. 'Our grandson is only three and will not hear Jamaica Patois spoken by a close family member. 'Mena was planning to read and record Jamaican folk tales for her younger family members so they could hear the stories spoken in Jamaican dialect. 'No words will ever be able to convey the impact of Mena's death on me. My sister's death is not a small thing to me. 'On behalf of the family, I would like to thank the police for their investigation and support, and to the charity Brake, for their support. 'I am also very grateful to all the members of the public who went to Mena's aid at the time of the incident and for the flowers left in her memory. 'I will focus on these acts of public kindness when travelling through the bus station rather than the memory of it being the place of death of her sister.' Eleven other people, both pedestrians and bus passengers, were either treated at the scene or in hospital for minor injuries. In the wake of the horror smash a crowd of people could be seen standing on a pavement with the front end of a single-decker Diamond-branded blue bus ploughed into a side of newly-opened bubble tea shop T4, leaving staff shaken. One picture on social media showed a woman applying pressure to an injured man's leg. She could be seen using what appears to be an item of clothing as a tourniquet. Shattered glass was scattered on the floor while white tents were erected by the emergency services at the scene. Sergeant Louise Warhurst from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: 'The impact of Mahmood's dangerous actions on Mena's family have been truly devastating and our thoughts are with her loved ones.'
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Climate
- Express Tribune
35th National Games rescheduled for December
Global warming and climate change is forcing Pakistani sports calendars to change exceedingly. On Friday, the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) announced that the 35th National Games will be held from December 6-12 instead in May 2025 after they had a detailed meeting with meeting with Chief Minister Sindh on May 7 in Karachi. The Games were postponed on the advice of the Sindh Government in an announcement last month, which stated that the severe heat wave is making it difficult for the athletes to continue training and eventually competing at the Games that are taking place in Karachi after 2007. Karachi has been experiencing high temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius since April. "We had originally chalked the National Games to take place in May because in previous editions that were held in Karachi, in 1997 and 2007, they took place in May-June," The POA Secretary Khalid Mahmood told this correspondent. According to the press release, the high-level meeting in Karachi with the Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah was attended by a delegation of the POA led by its President Arif Saeed, with Senior Vice President Fatima Lakhani, Secretary General Muhammad Khalid Mahmood, and Ahmed Ali Rajput, Secretary General of the Sindh Olympic Association. "The heatwave was there, and the temperatures began to rise, so we decided that nothing is more important than the well-being of the athletes. That is paramount. The Sindh Government advised us, and we have to trust them because they are the best judge on this matter. The Chief Minister of Sindh has taken complete ownership of the Games," explained. Mahmood also highlighted the need to reschedule the sports calendars, keeping two things in mind. "The two important thigs are to schedule training sessions in a way that athletes do not bear the brunt of the heatwaves and so keeping the training for the evnets and the scheduling of the events have to be such that we are not harful for the athletes and the weather is good so they can train and play, and yes, the climate change and this global warming is affecting our calneders and athletes in a big way." To tackle the challenges, he added that the POA has notified its Environment Commission to supervise the situation for the next four years. Meanwhile, he added that CM Sindh Shah has given a complete assurance of help with further assistance in budgeting for the 35th National Games, too: "He has assured that if we need more, he will sanction the amount we need." He said the National Games used to cost between Rs 20 to 25 crores. However, the cost is now almost Rs 50 crore with 7000 athletes competing in the Games due to rising costs of transport and other amenities for all the participants, including the officials. The venue for the Games will remain the same, KMC Sports Complex, but the Sindh Government has promised upgrades to the facilities. "The Chief Minister emphasized his commitment to sports and athlete development, and assured that comprehensive arrangements will be made for the safety, comfort, and high-performance environment of all participants. He instructed the concerned departments to provide top-tier accommodation, medical services, transportation, and to ensure compliance with international standards for all competition infrastructure and equipment, for which Secretary of the Sports & Youth Affairs Department Abdul Aleem Lashari will be the focal person. Among key announcements, the Chief Minister declared the construction of a new, state-of-the-art swimming pool and the procurement of advanced electronic timing and scoring systems,' read the press release.
Business Recorder
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘All segments should be united for economic revival'
FAISALABAD: All patriotic segments including bureaucracy and the business community must change their mindset for the expeditious economic revival of Pakistan, said Rehan Naseem Bharara, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). Addressing the participants of 37th Senior Management Course of National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA) Peshawar, he introduced Faisalabad and FCCI in addition to explaining the overall economic situation in the country. He also responded to the question and queries of the participants and said that textile is the iconic representation of Faisalabad but its industrial portfolio has been entirely changed during the last two decades with diversification. 'Now Faisalabad has a car assembly plant, in addition to the state-of-the-art pharmaceutical, food, confectionary, diaper and tile units which are not only catering to the domestic needs but are also exporting the surplus production,' he said and endorsed the 'Economic Transformation Plan' which has potential to enhance exports up to $100bn by formulating tangible policies in consultation with the genuine stakeholders. He underlined the need for consistent policies to achieve the ultimate objective of sustainable economic growth. He appreciated the efforts of the Federal Finance Minister and SIFC for the revival of the economy. Coordinator Capt Khalid Mahmood (Retd) offered vote of thanks on behalf of the NIPA Peshawar while President FCCI Rehan Naseem Bharara and Chief Instructor NIPA Peshawar Tariq Bakhtiar, exchanged shields of their respective organizations. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
BBC News
25-04-2025
- BBC News
Missing murderer Raymond McCourt caught on Edinburgh bus
A convicted murderer who went on the run from an open prison in Dundee has been found in McCourt was arrested by plain clothes officers after being removed from a Lothian Bus in the city's London Road area on Friday had previously been seen on Duke Street in Glasgow on Tuesday after being reported missing from HMP Castle 59-year-old was jailed in 1993 after murdering shopkeeper Khalid Mahmood in Cambuslang, Lanarkshire. An eyewitness told BBC Scotland news McCourt was "surrounded" by six officers when he was asked to step off the number five service close to the junction with Leith is thought he boarded the bus in the Abbeyhill area minutes saw him being searched by plan clothes and uniformed officers before the bus was allowed to move on. Police Scotland had warned the public not to approach alarm had been raised on Tuesday evening after he did not return to prison following a period of leave. McCourt was jailed for the shooting of Khalid Mahmood at the age of was released on licence in 2015, but was returned to prison after stealing valuables from his partner in Alyth, used the money to pay for a holiday to Blackpool before being tracked down by told officers he was struggling to cope with life outside prison and had stolen the items to have a blow-out prior to his return to was given a further 10-month sentence for that crime and returned to prison on his life term for murder. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
