Latest news with #Omar
Toronto Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
This restaurant chain took a gamble on bitcoin to combat inflation. Here's what happened
Five years ago, when the world was gripped by the uncertainty of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the founders of Tahini's, a Canadian fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, took an unusual gamble. Co-founders and brothers Omar and Aly Hamam took Tahini's cash reserves and invested in cryptocurrency bitcoin. It was a prescient move.
Rudaw Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi parliament fails to discuss drone attacks on Kurdistan Region
Also in Iraq Iraq's top court rejects lawsuits against Kurdish parliament PM Sudani welcomes new commander of anti-ISIS coalition Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's parliament wrapped up a session Monday without addressing recent drone strikes on Kurdistan Region oil infrastructure, after Kurdish factions boycotted the session for unknown reasons, sources told Rudaw. The session's agenda included two main topics: the deadly fire at a shopping mall in Iraq's Kut and drone attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region's oil and energy infrastructure. The parliament said in a statement only the former topic was discussed without elaborating. Lawmakers from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) boycotted the session. Only three Kurdish parliamentarians attended it, according to Soran Omar from the Islamist Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal). Two of them left the session before it ended. 'The first item was discussed, but because Kurdish parliamentarians did not participate, I requested Muhsin al-Mandalawi, Deputy Speaker of Parliament who was chairing the session, to remove the drone attacks item from the session agenda. He removed it and it was not discussed,' Omar told Rudaw. The first agenda item was a massive fire late Wednesday at a newly opened shopping mall in Kut, the capital of Wasit province, which killed at least 77 people. Most victims died from smoke inhalation, and the incident sparked public outrage over the lack of emergency exits and lax safety standards. According to Omar, Mandalawi expressed his surprise at the absence of Kurdish lawmakers, saying, 'They themselves had requested the session, yet now they have not participated in the session.' Dara Sekaniani, a Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) lawmaker and member of the Iraqi parliament's legal committee, said he left after it became clear the drone strikes would not be discussed. Showan Kalari and Sherwan Dubardani, KDP lawmakers, later told Rudaw they were instructed by party leadership not to attend, without knowing the reason. 'We have no information, they just said not to participate and we did not participate,' they said. PUK lawmaker Srwa Mohammed also confirmed her party's absence but did not provide further details. Omar criticized the Region's ruling parties for not participating, especially since the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has directly accused Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of being behind the drone attacks - a claim denied by Baghdad. Omar said that since the interior ministry has made the accusation, the Region's ruling parties - the KDP and the PUK - should have attended the session and voiced their concerns. Since early July, nearly 20 drone attacks have hit the Kurdistan Region, mostly targeting oil fields and causing significant financial losses. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks and there have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports on Thursday. The map shows the approximate locations of drone attacks on the Kurdistan Region recorded by Rudaw English between July 1-17. Iraq's parliament on Friday launched an investigation into recent drone attacks. 'Next week we, as the Security and Defense Committee, will have a visit to learn the details of the incident and who is behind this incident,' Mohammed Rasul, a member of parliament's Security and Defense Committee, told Rudaw on Friday. The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources have all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account. The international community has also condemned the attacks. KRG Deputy Chief of Staff Aziz Ahmad said last week that drone strikes by 'criminal militias on the Iraqi government payroll' have led to the loss of nearly 200,000 barrels of oil production per day. Ahmad also said that the drones were launched from Kirkuk province.
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Twin landslides kill Vaishno Devi devotee, Poonch school kid
Twin landslides kill Vaishno Devi devotee JAMMU: Massive landslides struck a route to Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra and a govt school in Poonch on Monday, leaving a pilgrim and a five-year-old student dead in the twin tragedies in J&K's Jammu region. Authorities briefly suspended the Vaishno Devi yatra after the landslide around 8am in Katra's Banganga, the starting point for the pilgrimage where mostly pony-riders gather along the old track and register before taking devotees to the cave shrine. The deceased was identified as Uppana (70) from Chennai. His wife K Radha (66) was among 10 other pilgrims injured and admitted to two Katra hospitals where their condition is stable, officials said. 'The yatra was suspended on the old track till 1pm as a precautionary measure but is progressing smoothly from the new Tarakote Marg route,' an official said. More pilgrims take the old route through Banganga as it is shorter and has other temples on way to the main Vaishno Devi shrine. Army troops joined the rescue. 'In response to the landslide in the general area of Katra, troops of White Knight Corps were swiftly mobilised to assist in relief and rescue operations in collaboration with civil authorities. Immediate support was provided to affected locals, showcasing Army's unwavering commitment to the people,' the Army's White Knight Corps said in a post on X. Hours later, a giant boulder rolled down the hillside and smashed into Govt Primary School in Bainch Kalsan area of Poonch, leaving five-year-old Ehsan Ali dead and five other children injured. Poonch DC Vikas Kundal sanctioned a compensation of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 each for the families of the injured children. J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the deaths and ordered proper medical care for the injured. 'Deeply saddened by the tragic landslide at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in which a devotee lost his life. The news of the death of a five-year-old child due to a rockslide into the school in Poonch is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of other children,' Sinha posted on X. Omar echoed the grief. 'Chief minister has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic landslide at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine that claimed the life of a devotee. He has expressed heartfelt condolences over the loss of a young student in the landslide that struck a govt school in Bainch Kalsan, Poonch,' Omar's office said in a statement on X.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Omar seeks Centre's ‘urgent' intervention after Ramban resident's abduction in Niger
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday sought the central government's intervention in the release of a Ramban resident abducted by militants from Dosso region in the West African country of Niger. In a tweet on his official handle on X, Omar sought the 'urgent intervention' of the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure Ranjeet Singh's return. While Ranjeet was abducted, two other Indian migrants – including one from Jharkhand – were killed on July 15 after some gunmen attacked their worksite some 30 km from the country's capital, Niamey. 'The Chief Minister has expressed concern over the abduction of Ranjeet Singh, a resident of Ramban, in Niger. He urges the Hon'ble EAM @DrSJaishankar and #MEAIndia to urgently intervene to secure Ranjeet's safe and swift return,' a post on X by the Chief Minister's Office said. Omar's tweet followed a similar appeal by Ranjeet's wife Sheela Devi. A senior safety officer at an integrated power transmission and distribution company in Niger, Ranjeet was at the worksite during the attack. At home in remote Chakka Kundi village in Ramban, Ranjeet's old parents Mohan Lal and Sadhu Devi are waiting for him to return. Talking to the media during the day, Sheela Devi said that the family last talked with Ranjeet last Tuesday and there had been no contact since. 'I came to know about her husband's abduction through his friend the next day… I don't know what kind of situation my husband is in and I don't know what the local government is trying to do to secure his,' she said, adding that she had met Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan, who promised 'to do everything in his capacity'. In a post on X Friday, the Indian Embassy confirmed the 'heinous terror attack' on July 15. 'Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Mission in Niamey is in touch with local authorities to repatriate mortal remains and ensure the safe release of the abducted Indian. All Indians in Niger are advised to remain vigilant,' the post said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
LG pats J&K police, BJP slams Omar for ‘taking on' cops
Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah (PTI photo) SRINAGAR: Lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha hailed J&K police Sunday for 'establishing an era of peace', the fulsome praise coming hours after opposition BJP accused CM Omar Abdullah of 'confronting' cops and 'provoking separatism' last week when they tried to stop him from heading to a graveyard of 1931 martyrs' in Srinagar. The Omar-led National Conference (NC) govt does not control police or security, whose reins are in the hands of the Centre-appointed LG, an arrangement that took shape after the 2019 abrogation of J&K's special status under Article 370. 'J&K police stand as a testament to selfless service, duty and sacrifice. Its legacy is written by the blood of its brave personnel, whose ultimate sacrifices have strengthened national unity, inspired new hope and propelled J&K towards an era of peace and prosperity,' Sinha said Sunday after inaugurating a cycle race, 'Pedal through Paradise'. Sinha urged the youth to contribute towards building 'a terror-free, drug-free and fit J&K'. 'We must unite and wage a war against terrorism, its ecosystem and drug addiction. Don't touch the innocent and do not spare the guilty is our policy. We believe in establishing peace and not buying peace,' Sinha said. The LG asserted that the administration was committed to delivering justice to the 'families of victims of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Later in the day, BJP leader of opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma held a news conference, targeting Omar over the events on July 14 when the CM went to Naqshband Sahib, the resting place of 22 people killed during an uprising against Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931. Sharma described Omar as an 'unsuccessful CM' and alleged that he had provoked 'separatism' when he faced off with cops by proceeding to Naqshband graveyard despite being stopped. Omar had denied having done anything 'unlawful or illegal'. 'In fact, these so-called protectors of the law need to explain under what law they were trying to stop us,' the CM had said after the standoff. On Sunday, NC spokesperson Ifra Jan rejected Sharma's claims. 'Instead of apologising to the people of J&K for disrespecting their elected representative, the LOP is pushing the state towards a police state. We are proud of our CM for defying the naka (police barricade) and truly embodying the spirit of July 13,' Jan said.
