Latest news with #Bethlehem
Zawya
a day ago
- Politics
- Zawya
South Africa: Thabo Mofutsane District Residents Suggest Vetting of Marriages to Foreign Nationals in Line with Global Best Practices
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs was urged by Thabo Mofutsanyana District residents yesterday at Bethlehem where it conducted public hearings on Marriage Bill, to ensure that the Bill has strong vetting procedures to protect the population register against fraudulent marriages, enabling access to foreign nationals through marriage. The committee successfully hosted three public hearings in the Free State where the Bill enjoyed support of the majority of the people who participated in the public hearings. Although the majority supported the Bill, they also raised an alarm at the increasing rate of marriages of convenience. They argued that the trend exposes the population register to fraudulent entry, and also places participants in difficulty, especially in cases where they want to dissolve the marriage. The committee acknowledged the persistence of the challenge and committed to engaging the department to do a full-scale analysis of these marriages to ensure that officials who participate in this fraudulent process are investigated. Also, some participants urged the committee to ensure that provisions regulating marriages to foreign nations are in line with international standards by adopting effective practices elsewhere in the world. They told the committee that the application of international best practices and constant monitoring of these marriages will be an effective deterrent to the rise of convenience marriages. Some participants argued for the insertion of a section in the Bill that codifies sanctions and penalties to explicitly include harsher penalties for any South African who participates in such marriages. Meanwhile, there was broad agreement on the intention of the Bill to increase the age of consent for parties who intend to get married from the current 16 to 18, but many argued that the provision does not go far enough. Participants argued that 18 years remains too young, and that the committee consider increasing it to 21 years to ensure that participants are mature enough before entering into marriage. Marriage officers welcomed the expansion of those who can be designated as marriage officers, but cautioned the department to ensure that they are trained. They highlighted their concern that while the Bill protects them from solemnising marriages that go against their belief system, they also expressed a fear of reprisal if they refused to solemnise those marriages. Also, they called for the Bill to be explicit on the process to be followed when there is an objection to a marriage. On the same sex marriage, like in other public hearings that took place at other parts of the country, participants at Bethlehem differed on the issue of same sex marriages. Representatives from faith-based organisations underscored that same sex marriages go against their religious beliefs and teachings. Those who support same sex marriages, including representatives from traditional leadership organisations, argued that the South African Constitution was clear on the prohibition of discrimination against sexual orientation and that people's rights ought to be protected. At the end of the hearings, the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Mosa Chabane, thanked the participants and commended them for their inputs, which he described as invaluable. He said all their inputs will be taken into consideration when the committee deliberates on the Bill at Parliament. The committee will, from Monday, 4 August, conduct public hearings on the Bill in the Northern Cape. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Al Jazeera
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Israel kills two Palestinian minors amid raids across occupied West Bank
Two Palestinian teenage boys have been killed by Israeli forces in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency, in the latest deadly violence in the territory continuing in tandem with Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. The bodies of 15-year-old Ahmad Ali Asaad Ashira al-Salah and 17-year-old Muhammad Khaled Alian Issa, who were killed at dawn, were withheld by the Israeli army, the report said, adding that two more children were also injured in the gunfire. The deadly incident came as Israeli forces arrested at least 25 Palestinians in multiple raids across the occupied West Bank, according to Wafa. The arrests include 10 Palestinians in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron; two in the town of Idhna, west of Hebron; three in the town of Dura al-Qari, north of Ramallah; one in the city of Ramallah; five in the village of al-Mazraa ash-Sharqiya, east of Ramallah; and four in the city of Nablus. 'Making Palestinian lives impossible' Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank has escalated dramatically, with near-daily reports of mass arrests, killings and Israeli settler attacks, often supported by Israeli soldiers. Settlers have been rampaging with impunity, attacking and killing Palestinian civilians and burning their properties and olive groves. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 948 Palestinians have been killed in the territory by Israeli soldiers since October 7, 2023. Of that figure, at least 204 are children. Meanwhile, from the beginning of 2024 until the end of June 2025, more than 2,200 Israeli settler attacks were reported, resulting in more than 5,200 Palestinian injuries, according to OCHA figures. In that same period, nearly 36,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced across the occupied West Bank due to Israeli military operations, settler violence or home demolitions carried out by the Israeli government. The Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank is part of the Israeli government's strategy for preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state, according to Amjad Abu El Ezz, a lecturer of international relations at the Arab American University. The increased number of killings, and the destruction of Palestinian homes and vehicles by Israeli settlers in coordination with the Israeli army, aim to encourage Palestinians to leave their land, Abu El Ezz told Al Jazeera from Ramallah. Israel is weakening the governing Palestinian Authority, 'making Palestinian lives impossible', while at the same time 'building Israeli facts on the ground' to prevent the Palestinians from building their own state, he added. 'We are talking about more than 700,000 Israeli settlers. They have weapons, they are acting as an army in parallel to the Israeli army,' Abu El Ezz said. On Wednesday, Israel's parliament approved a symbolic measure calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank. Knesset lawmakers voted 71-13 in favour of the motion on Wednesday, a non-binding vote which calls for 'applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley' – the Israeli terms for the area. The motion, advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, is declarative and has no direct legal implications, though it could place the issue of annexation on the agenda of future debates in the parliament. The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement has called the Israeli parliament's non-binding vote on the annexation of the occupied West Bank a 'dangerous escalation'. In a statement on Telegram, the group said the move was a 'clear disregard for the international community' and a way for Israel to implement 'its criminal plans targeting the land of Palestine and its people'. The West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. Since then, Israeli settlements have expanded exponentially, despite being illegal under international law and, in the case of settlement outposts, Israeli law.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OraSure to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Host Earnings Call on August 5th
BETHLEHEM, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSUR) has scheduled its regular earnings conference call covering second quarter 2025 financial results and certain business developments for 5 p.m. ET on August 5, 2025. A webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor relations page of OraSure's website at Please click on the webcast link and follow the prompts for registration and access at least 10 minutes prior to the call. The webcast will be archived on OraSure's website shortly after the call has ended and will be available for approximately one year. For participants interested in asking questions during the conference call, please follow the link below to pre-register. After registering, you will be provided with access details via email. About OraSure Technologies, Inc. OraSure Technologies, Inc. ('OraSure' and 'OTI') transforms health through actionable insight and powers the shift that connects people to healthcare wherever they are. OTI improves access, quality, and value of healthcare with innovation in effortless tests and sample management solutions. Together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, DNA Genotek Inc. and Sherlock Biosciences, Inc., OTI is a leader in the development, manufacture, and distribution of rapid diagnostic tests and sample collection and stabilization devices designed to discover and detect critical medical conditions. OTI's portfolio of products is sold globally to clinical laboratories, hospitals, physician's offices, clinics, public health and community-based organizations, research institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and direct to consumers. For more information, please visit Investor Contact:Jason PlagmanVP, Investor Relationsinvestorinfo@ Media Contact:Amy KochDirector, Corporate Communicationsmedia@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
HNL Lab Medicine Opens New Location at Tower Place in Bethlehem
HNL Lab Medicine - Tower Place Location ALLENTOWN, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HNL Lab Medicine is pleased to announce the opening of its newest patient service center at Tower Place – LVHN Health Center, located at 1490 8th Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018. This modern, spacious facility offers high-quality diagnostic testing for both adults and children in a convenient, walk-in setting. Open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the new location features a welcoming environment with dedicated pediatric services to support patients of all ages. No appointment is necessary. Lab services are fully walk-in, making it easier than ever for the community to access the lab testing they need, when they need it. 'We're excited to expand our presence in Bethlehem with a location that puts patient convenience and comfort first,' said Leanne Anderson, Marketing Director at HNL Lab Medicine. 'It's important to us that children feel safe and parents feel supported. This new location is one more way we're helping families get the care they need, close to home.' In addition to traditional lab services, patients can also take advantage of HNL Lab Tests Direct, which allows individuals to purchase their own lab tests without a doctor's order or insurance. This self-pay option offers privacy, control, and flexibility for those managing their own health. The Tower Place location marks another step forward in HNL Lab Medicine's commitment to accessible, patient-centered care across the Lehigh Valley. For more information, visit HNL Patient Service Center – Tower Place - LVHN Health Center Address: 1490 8th Ave, Bethlehem, Pa. 18018 Phone: 484‐425‐5315 | Fax: 484‐425‐5345 Website: Hours of Operation: Monday‐Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. About HNL Lab Medicine HNL Lab Medicine is a leading multi‐regional, full‐service medical laboratory providing testing and related services to physician offices, hospitals, long‐term care facilities, employers and industrial accounts. With 50+ patient service centers in Pennsylvania and 16 acute care laboratories within partners' hospital sites, and over 40 board-certified pathologists and scientific directors, HNL Lab Medicine provides high-quality, advanced diagnostic testing. Learn more at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: Media Contact: Alexandra Ford 484-425-8007
Associated Press
21-07-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
HNL Lab Medicine Opens New Location at Tower Place in Bethlehem
ALLENTOWN, Pa., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HNL Lab Medicine is pleased to announce the opening of its newest patient service center at Tower Place – LVHN Health Center, located at 1490 8th Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018. This modern, spacious facility offers high-quality diagnostic testing for both adults and children in a convenient, walk-in setting. Open Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the new location features a welcoming environment with dedicated pediatric services to support patients of all ages. No appointment is necessary. Lab services are fully walk-in, making it easier than ever for the community to access the lab testing they need, when they need it. 'We're excited to expand our presence in Bethlehem with a location that puts patient convenience and comfort first,' said Leanne Anderson, Marketing Director at HNL Lab Medicine. 'It's important to us that children feel safe and parents feel supported. This new location is one more way we're helping families get the care they need, close to home.' In addition to traditional lab services, patients can also take advantage of HNL Lab Tests Direct, which allows individuals to purchase their own lab tests without a doctor's order or insurance. This self-pay option offers privacy, control, and flexibility for those managing their own health. The Tower Place location marks another step forward in HNL Lab Medicine's commitment to accessible, patient-centered care across the Lehigh Valley. For more information, visit HNL Patient Service Center – Tower Place - LVHN Health Center Address: 1490 8th Ave, Bethlehem, Pa. 18018 Phone: 484‐425‐5315 | Fax: 484‐425‐5345 Website: Hours of Operation: Monday‐Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. About HNL Lab Medicine HNL Lab Medicine is a leading multi‐regional, full‐service medical laboratory providing testing and related services to physician offices, hospitals, long‐term care facilities, employers and industrial accounts. With 50+ patient service centers in Pennsylvania and 16 acute care laboratories within partners' hospital sites, and over 40 board-certified pathologists and scientific directors, HNL Lab Medicine provides high-quality, advanced diagnostic testing. Learn more at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Media Contact: Alexandra Ford [email protected] 484-425-8007
