Latest news with #Ilyas
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Truck falls into pit days after cave-in at Mohali
1 2 3 4 Mohali: In a shocking turn of events, a loaded truck trailer plunged into a massive pit on Airport Road near Sector 67 late Friday night, just days after the same stretch had caved in near a popular mall. The pit, left exposed and unbarricaded, turned into a deadly trap for commuters. The driver, Ilyas, narrowly escaped with his life. "I couldn't see the mud dump because a three-wheeler was blocking my view. I had to swerve to avoid it," he told TOI, visibly shaken. The truck, carrying coal from Panipat to Ropar, now lies wrecked in the cavity, a grim symbol of official negligence. But the chaos didn't end there. Mere hours before the truck incident, a Mercedes crashed into a roadside divider at the same location, further underscoring the dangerous condition of the road. The pit had remained unrepaired due to ongoing monsoon rains, and shockingly, no barricades or warning signs were placed to alert drivers. Residents are furious, demanding accountability from the Mohali municipal corporation and Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (Gmada), both of which have been accused of ignoring repeated warnings. The situation escalated on Monday when a large section of the prestigious Airport Road collapsed near the Sector 67/80 dividing line, forming a 10 to 12-foot-deep cavity. This marks the third cave-in at nearly the same spot in three years, with similar incidents reported in July 2023 and September 2022. Experts blame a failed drainage and sewerage system beneath the road for the recurring collapses. While GMADA has placed caution boards, locals argue they are insufficient—especially for night-time commuters on the high-speed corridor.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Time of India
‘Didwana arms case has links to 300cr heroin haul in Barmer'
1 2 Jaipur: Police in Didwana have stepped up their probe into a cross-border smuggling case in which they arrested two arms and drug smugglers on June 27 for supplying Austrian Glock and Chinese Norinco pistols. It has emerged that the case has links to a massive Rs 300-crore heroin consignment seized by Punjab's Amritsar police near the India-Pakistan border in Barmer on June 30. Canada-based Joben Kaler was identified as the main overseas handler of the heroin consignment. Didwana-Kuchaman police had arrested Mohammad Ilyas from Khunkhuna and Amarjeet Singh Takhar, alias Prince, from Jalandhar with two imported pistols and parts for three more weapons. During questioning, they revealed links to Dubai-based smuggler Asgar Ali. The weapons were being sent to India through Pakistani couriers named Tofiq, Mohammad Ishaq, and Joben Kaler. Police said the weapons, including Glock 9 mm and Norinco pistols typically used by military forces, were meant for gangs operating in different states. "We arrested Ilyas and Amarjeet on June 27. During interrogation, Joben Kaler's name came up, and we included it in the FIR. When the heroin was seized in Barmer on June 30, his name surfaced again. We have intensified our investigation," said Hanuman Prasad, SP of Didwana-Kuchaman, on Tuesday. He added that a police team was sent to Uttar Pradesh to track down other members of the smuggling network. Just four days after the arrests in Didwana, a joint operation by Punjab Police, BSF, and Rajasthan Police intercepted the 60.3 kg heroin consignment in Barmer. Briefings from these departments named Pakistan-based Tanveer Shah and Joben Kaler as the key handlers of the drug network. Nine suspects from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir were arrested. The investigation also uncovered a hawala system used to launder the drug money. SP Prasad said the weapons seized from Ilyas and Amarjeet were also smuggled through Pakistan, and the consignment is believed to have been arranged by Kaler. Police believe that after moving to Canada on a student visa in 2021, Kaler was using Rajasthan's remote desert areas near the border as landing zones for both arms and drugs. His role in managing both smuggling operations makes it easier for traffickers to send heroin, pistols, and ammunition in a single drop—using drones or camel couriers—which saves time and avoids detection. Currently, Didwana Police teams are stationed in western Uttar Pradesh to track money mules linked to the gang, based on details from the interrogation of arrested couriers. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Morocco World
25-06-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Turkish Airlines Marks 20 Years in Morocco and Long-Standing ONMT Partnership
Casablanca – In a celebration blending elegance, hospitality, and ambition, Turkish Airlines marked 20 years of operations in Morocco last night with a high-profile event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Casablanca. What may have looked like an anniversary celebration was, in essence, the launch of a new chapter in Moroccan tourism. The national flag carrier of Turkiye, which began direct flights to Casablanca in March 2005 with four weekly routes, now connects Morocco to Istanbul through 7 weekly flights to Casablanca and 9 to Marrakech. The scale and success of this connection were evident not only in numbers but in tone, as the event featured heartfelt tributes, music, and most importantly a strategic alliance with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT). 'We are very excited today to celebrate this event with our partners, with our agencies, and with the representatives of tourism in Morocco,' said Sayfullah Ilyas, General Manager of Turkish Airlines Casablanca, in an interview with Morocco World News. 'It's a great pleasure for us to be a representative in Morocco. We want to extend our operations here, and therefore we signed this partnership with ONMT today. With their support, we will promote Morocco more through our international channels.' With this new, mutually beneficial agreement, Turkish Airlines and ONMT aim to strengthen cooperation and elevate Morocco's visibility on a global scale. This includes joint campaigns, collaborative projects, and sustained partnerships to drive tourism growth and diversify Morocco's tourist source markets. For Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT, the partnership couldn't be more timely. 'Exactly the type of partnership Morocco and Turkiye need,' he said, pointing to Istanbul's status as a global hub and its value in creating new development basins outside Europe. '80% of tourists visiting Morocco still come from Europe.' Indeed, the numbers speak volumes. Morocco welcomed 17.4 million tourists in 2024, with projections of 26 million by 2030. Meanwhile, Moroccan airports served 32 million passengers in 2024, with 70 million projected by the end of the decade, a leap that positions aviation and tourism as core pillars of Morocco's development strategy, particularly ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030. 'We made the right choice,' Fayda said. 'This is a long-term partnership.' At the heart of the event, both literally and symbolically, was the legacy of Ibn Battuta – the Moroccan explorer whose journeys embody Turkish Airlines' marketing campaign slogan: 'Widen Your World.' Ilyas reminded guests of the explorer's admiration for Turkish hospitality, saying, 'Ibn Battuta once thought God gathered all the world's beauty in one place.' But, it was Morocco that inspired his journey. 'What pushed Ibn Battuta to discover the world?' Ilyas asked, 'It was the beauty of Morocco, the one place where you can experience six or seven countries in one.' That sentiment now lives on in action. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in Morocco, Turkish Airlines launched a 20% discount campaign covering 150+ destinations in 20 countries, and a 15% discount for over 50,000 Moroccans living in Turkiye returning home. The airline also announced a giveaway of 20 free tickets to destinations once visited by Ibn Battuta on their social media. Hikmet Mesut Turkseven, Turkish Airlines Vice President for Africa, added context to the airline's broader strategy: 'Turkish Airlines connects cultures, enterprises, and families… Casablanca is a critical point between Europe, Asia, and Africa.' The airline now flies to 353 destinations in 131 countries and is eyeing expansion to a fleet of 813 aircraft, aiming to serve 171 million passengers annually by 2033. That scale brings weight. Mustafa Ilker Kilic, Turkiye's ambassador to Morocco, highlighted how 250,000 Moroccans visited Turkiye last year, while 60,000 Turks visited Morocco. He also reaffirmed the diplomatic and cultural ties between both nations, noting Turkiye's involvement in cultural events like the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music. Still, global tensions are rising. In response to ongoing flight disruptions, Ilyas reassured Moroccan passengers: 'We will continue our Casablanca and Marrakesh flights as usual. There is no cancellation for now. But we recommend passengers stay updated through our social media and official website.' The evening concluded with Turkish music, and a musical performance by Moroccan pop star Douzi, alongside a tombola where seven lucky attendees won various prizes. It was the perfect end to a night that not only celebrated the past but hinted at a more connected and collaborative future. For Morocco, this celebration wasn't just about Turkish Airlines, it was about growth, positioning, and the power of strategic partnerships to redefine a nation's touristic aspirations. Tags: flight travelMorocco travelONMTTurkish AirlinesTurkish travel
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mum of murdered footballer blasts killers: 'They took his future'
Two drug dealers have been sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for murdering a promising young footballer who had stolen €6,000 worth of cannabis. Muna Ali, the mother of the deceased man Mahamud Ilyas (22), wrote a statement that was read out at today's sentencing hearing for her son's murderers, Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24). She described Mahamud as a good son and a lovely young man who had "high hopes for a career in football". She added: "Everybody in the family loved him and he had a lot of good friends. He was a good brother, especially to his sisters, and was like a father figure when his father was not in Ireland." The trial heard that Doroscan and Clejan beat Mr Ilyas by stamping on him, kicking him, and striking his head with a hammer at an apartment in Blanchardstown in Dublin. They tied his hands and feet, wrapped him in a duvet and travelled to a wooded area at Belgree Lane in Co Meath where they left their victim to die from his injuries. Ms Ali said reliving the nightmare of her son's death has left her devastated. She said: "He was left in the middle of nowhere with no respect. The way he died was so painful and I feel helpless that I could not help him... They took his future, he was so young and full of life. My son was everything to me." The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Handing down the mandatory sentence for murder, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said Doroscan and Clejan had suffered a "massive loss of control and reason" when they assaulted Mr Ilyas. However, a distressing aspect of the crime, he said, was the "disrespectful and callous way in which the seriously injured Mr Ilyas was dealt with." By the time they had driven to Belgree Lane, Mr Justice Hunt said their "passions should have cooled". Nevertheless, they "parcelled Mr Ilyas up" and left him. Whatever chance he had of surviving the assault was "snuffed out by their callous actions", the judge said. Extending his sympathy to the family, he added: "The loss is unimaginable for those who have not had the misfortune to find themselves in that situation." Doroscan, of Bay Meadows Square, Hollystown, West Dublin, and Clejan, with a former address at Verdemont, Blanchardstown, Dublin pleaded not (NOT) guilty to the murder of Mr Ilyas on December 9, 2022. A jury convicted them of murder by unanimous verdict earlier this year. Gardai discovered Mr Ilyas's body at Belgree Lane the day after the murder following a tip-off from a member of the public. Detective Garda Sean O'Farrell today told the court that Clejan had no relevant previous convictions while Doroscan had two for possession of drugs and one for possession of drugs for sale or supply. Robert Burns (59), who lived at the apartment in Verdemont where the assault took place, previously pleaded guilty to impeding the arrest or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan by cleaning Mr Ilyas's blood from the carpet and walls. Another co-accused, Lorenzo Cantaragiu (22), of Castlegrange Park, Blanchardstown, was found guilty by a jury of four counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Doroscan and Clejan. Cantaragiu drove the two killers to Belgree Lane with Ilyas in the back and later cleaned blood from the back seat before selling the car. Lawyers for Cantaragiu and Burns will make submissions to the court on July 4 before Mr Justice Hunt sentences them. Det Gda O'Farrell told prosecution counsel Eoin Lawlor SC, with Jane Murphy BL, that Clejan and Doroscan were using Burns's home to store drugs. On December 8, 2022 Mr Ilyas entered Mr Burns's home and stole a bag of drugs, which Burns estimated was worth €6,000. Mr Ilyas spoke to Doroscan on the phone that night and offered to sell some of the drugs back to him for €500. They arranged to meet the following afternoon. When Ilyas went to Verdemont, Clejan and Doroscan got him on the floor where they demanded he tell them where he had put the drugs, beat him with hammers and used their feet to stamp and kick him in the torso and head. Doroscan recorded part of the assault on Snapchat. Both Clejan and Doroscan claimed they acted in self-defence after Mr Ilyas attacked them with a crowbar. Doroscan claimed that Mr Ilyas was alive and screaming abuse when they left him at Belgree Lane. State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head using a blunt object such as a hammer, blows, and kicks. She said death could have occurred anywhere between 30 minutes and up to five hours after the attack but that the deceased would have become unconscious very quickly.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AIMPLB urges nationwide 'lights out' on April 30 to protest Waqf Act amendments
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has called for a nationwide "lights out" protest on April 30, 2025, from 9 pm to 9:15 pm against amendments to the Waqf Act. AIMPLB had temporarily suspended its campaign due to the Pahalgam terror attack. NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board ( AIMPLB ) has urged citizens across the country to switch off the lights of their homes, offices, and businesses on Wednesday from 9pm to 9.15pm in protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. In a statement, AIMPLB spokesperson SQR Ilyas said the Board had launched a nationwide movement on April 10 against the "discriminatory and constitutionally incompatible" amendments made to the Waqf Act. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "As part of this campaign, various programmes are being organised across the country. So far, several large public meetings have been held in various cities, and roundtable meetings have been conducted with fellow citizens and civil society. "At the district level, protests, demonstrations and human chain programmes have also taken place," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He said that on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, from 9 PM to 9:15 PM, a nationwide "lights out" programme will be held. As a mark of solidarity with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the Pahalgam terror attack, the AIMPLB had suspended its campaign against the "controversial amendments" to the Waqf Act for three days starting April 23. Ilyas stated that while the "lights out" programme is symbolic in appearance, it will serve as a "powerful expression of protest by the country's Muslims and all justice-loving people, united against these dark amendments". The Board appealed to all citizens to stand against what it called governmental "injustice and oppression" and to demonstrate unity by turning off the lights of their homes, shops, offices, and business centres for just 15 minutes at 9 PM on April 30. "We hope this small sacrifice will have an extraordinary impact. Try to ensure that no home, shop, or centre is left out of this campaign," Ilyas said.
