M'luru: ‘The Shepherds' Int'l Academy’ hosts 2023 annual day celebrations, showcasing talents
Mangaluru: The much-anticipated annual day celebrations of 'The Shepherds' International Academy' unfolded with grandeur and enthusiasm, showcasing a myriad of talents and accomplishments of the students. The event, themed "Realms of Children," took place on December 16 at Town Hall, Mangaluru, and commenced with a warm welcome by Ms. Zunaira, setting the stage for a memorable day.
The event showcased a variety of engaging activities and presentations, highlighting the achievements and talents of the students.
The formal proceedings began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Master Armaan, eloquently translated by Aroosh of Grade 5, setting a spiritual tone for the day. Following this, Lubna Banu, the school's Principal, delivered a warm welcome speech, extending greetings to the chief guest, management, staff, parents, and students.
The distinguished Chief Guest, Dr. Airani Mohammad Khan, a senior professor and chairman of the Department of Electronics, and former Registrar of Mangalore University, captivated the audience with insightful words on parenting, emphasizing the importance of quality time spent by parents with their children. Architect Mohammad Nisaar, the Chairman of the school, felicitated Dr. A.M. Khan for his valuable contribution to the event.
A special moment unfolded as students excelling in academics were recognized and felicitated for their outstanding achievements. Architect Mohammad Nisaar, the chairman, addressing the gathering, expressed gratitude to the school community for their collective efforts in nurturing excellence.
The Annual Report for the academic year 2022-23 was eloquently presented by Qizra Noorain, providing an overview of the school's accomplishments, academic progress, and extracurricular achievements.
Expressing gratitude to all contributors and participants, Neelofer delivered the vote of thanks for the formal event.
The event, a culmination of months of meticulous preparation and dedication, was attended by a vibrant gathering of students, parents, and staff, all contributing to the joyous ambiance of the day.
Amal Fathima, a fifth-grade student, provided a brief insight into the theme, setting the stage for the captivating performances that followed. The program was skillfully hosted by Khadeejah Raba (Mont 3), Sheikh Isa (Mont 3), and Ilan Abbas (Grade 3), with Nafeesa Ayath (Grade 4) joining them in steering the program seamlessly.
The enchanting journey commenced with the youngest performers from Mont1 expressing gratitude through an action song titled 'Pizza in my Pocket.' Mont2 students then painted a 'cotton candy sky' with their innocence, while Mont3 students used a 'Nasheed' to express the kaleidoscope of childhood emotions. The stage came alive with Grade 1 students presenting a Kannada action song 'Dhandikere Muduka' and a skit on the "Excessive Impact of Screen Time."
Grade 2 students conveyed a vital message on environmental conservation through a Hindi group song 'Aao hum sab haath milaye,' followed by Grade 3 students showcasing their musical prowess with the empowering song 'Our Own Superhero.' Grade 4 students presented a captivating Mime on 'Sin Chair,' while Grade 5 students delivered a thought-provoking Hindi skit 'Mansik Vatavran Ki Jagruta,' depicting a child's emotional well-being.
The cultural extravaganza reached its zenith with Maaz Naushad of Grade 5 sharing poignant reflections on Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) behavior with children. The program concluded on a high note with Luqmaan (Grade 3) delivering a heartfelt vote of thanks.
The Annual Day Programme was a testament to the diverse talents nurtured at The Shepherds' International Academy and underscored the collective achievements and high spirits of the academic year. As the curtains fell, the audience departed with indelible memories, a renewed sense of accomplishment, and eager anticipation for the forthcoming year, solidifying the sense of unity and pride within The Shepherds' International Academy community.
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Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz if US lifts its blockade and the war ends: officials
Cairo (AP): Iran has offered to end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its blockade on the country and an end to the war, while proposing that discussions on the larger question of its nuclear programme would come in a later phase, two regional officials said Monday.
US President Donald Trump seems unlikely to accept the offer, which was passed to the Americans by Pakistan and would leave unresolved the disagreements that led the US and Israel to go to war on February 28.
With a fragile ceasefire in place, the US and Iran are locked in a standoff over the strait, through which a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passes in peacetime. The US blockade is designed to prevent Iran from selling its oil, depriving it of crucial revenue while also potentially creating a situation where Tehran has to shut off production because it has nowhere to store the oil.
The strait's closure, meanwhile, has put pressure on Trump, as oil and gasoline prices have skyrocketed ahead of crucial midterm elections, and it has pressured his Gulf allies, which use the waterway to export their oil and gas.
The closure has also had far-reaching effects throughout the world economy, raising the price of fertilizer, food and other basic goods.
The proposal would push off negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme to a later date. Trump said one of the major reasons he went to war was to deny Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons.
The two officials, who had knowledge of the proposal, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door negotiations between Iranian and Pakistani officials this weekend. The Axios news outlet first reported Iran's proposal.
It came as Iran's foreign minister visited Russia, which has long been a key backer of Tehran. It's unclear what, if any, assistance Moscow might offer now.
Strait of Hormuz remains blocked
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Iran's ability to choke off traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, has proved one of its biggest strategic advantages in a war that has often boiled down to which side can take more pain.
Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began and tankers full of crude became stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit through the strait and reach global distribution points.
On Monday, the spot price of Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at around $108 per barrel, nearly 50 per cent higher than when the war began.
Iranian foreign minister holds talks as negotiations with US stall
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Trump last week indefinitely extended the ceasefire the US and Iran agreed to on April 7 that has largely halted fighting. But a permanent settlement remains elusive in the war that has killed thousands of people.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in St. Petersburg on Monday morning ahead of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It is a good opportunity for us to consult with our Russian friends about the developments that have occurred in relation to the war during this period and what is happening now,” Araghchi said in a video interview posted by IRNA.
It comes as Pakistan has been seeking to revive stalled talks between Iran and the US, and negotiations had been expected in Islamabad over the weekend. Instead, Trump called off a trip by his envoys and suggested the talks could take place by phone instead.
Over the weekend, Araghchi made two stops in Pakistan and a visit to Oman, which shares the strait with Iran. He also spoke by phone with counterparts in Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Iran wants to persuade Oman to support a mechanism to collect tolls from vessels passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter.
Oman's response wasn't immediately clear.
The official, who is involved in mediation efforts, also said Iran insisted on ending the US blockade before new talks and that Pakistan-led mediators are trying to bridge significant gaps between the countries.
Trump says Iran has offered a much better proposal
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Trump told journalists Saturday that after he called off a trip by his envoys to Pakistan, Iran sent a “much better” proposal.
He did not elaborate but stressed that one of his conditions is that Iran “will not have a nuclear weapon”.
Iran insists its programme is peaceful, but the US wants to remove Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which could be used to build a bomb, should Tehran choose to pursue one.
Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have been killed in Iran and at least 2,509 people in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group resumed two days after the Iran war started. Another 23 people have been killed in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 US service members in the region and six UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have been killed.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has been extended by three weeks. Hezbollah has not participated in the Washington-brokered diplomacy.
