'Dates Fest' kicks off in Mangalore, showcasing 40 varieties from 11 countries
Mangaluru: The much-anticipated 'Dates Fest,' organized by the renowned date store 'Reem,' commenced on Friday with an inauguration ceremony in front of the Spar store at Fiza Mall. The festival, featuring an exhibition and sale of a diverse range of dates, will run until March 3rd, offering Mangaluru residents the opportunity to explore and purchase approximately 40 varieties from 11 different countries.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted by Dr. Abdulla Kunhi, the Chancellor of Yenepoya University, and Advocate Manoraj Rajeev. The guests conveyed their best wishes for the success of the festival.
Among those present at the inauguration were Iqbal S, the Managing Director of Gold Palace, Asif Sufi Khan from Home Plus, and Ahmed Hussain, partner, Reem Dates.
The 'Dates Fest' features a collection of high-quality natural dates, including American varieties, sourced from 11 countries. Muhammad Mukhtar, a partner at Reem Dates, highlighted that the festival provides a unique opportunity to showcase and sell dates, with a special focus on the rare and exclusive variety.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
