Day: 18 August 2023

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OPPO Unveils Winners of imagine IF Photography Awards 2023, Inspiring Smartphone Users to Create Timeless Masterpieces

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach – 18 August 2023 – OPPO today announced the winners of the imagine IF Photography Awards 2023. Fifteen photographers have been awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, and thirty-two inspiring entries spanning eight different categories were revealed to inspire the creativity of OPPO users worldwide.

Launched on April 17, the imaging IF Photography Awards has received more than 700,000 entries from 51 countries and regions. The competition aims to inspire OPPO users and mobile photographers to push beyond conventional boundaries associated with mobile photography and unleash their imagination to create memorable masterpieces.

Gold Award: “Daughters of the Moon” by Ahei Huan (China), Shot on OPPO Find X6 Pro

Celebrating the Fifteen Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award Winners

With exceptional skill and talent showcased throughout the competition, Ahei Huan emerged as the winner of the OPPO image IF Master of the Year (Gold Award). The artist’s winning series, “Daughters of the Moon”, was selected through a rigorous process overseen by a distinguished panel of internationally acclaimed judges.

“Daughters of the Moon” includes a series of portrait photos that capture the characteristics of Yi minorities, depicting the serenity and positivity of Yi women and their ethnic fashion and lifestyle.

“What first catches my eye about this work is its professionalism,” said Alec Soth, a renowned contemporary photographic artist and member of Magnum Photos. “These images are crafted with precision and great sensitivity.”

As the Gold Award winner, Ahei Huan will receive a prize of RMB 160,000,  a 2023 OPPO flagship product set featuring a smartphone, headset, watch, and tablet, and will be invited to participate in the Hasselblad Image Training Camp and signed as OPPO Photographer of the Year.

OPPO is committed to delivering innovations in smartphone imaging technology that empower everyone to create timeless masterpieces. Its latest flagship, OPPO Find X6 Pro, has garnered considerable acclaim among professional photographers and photography enthusiasts since its launch earlier this year. Notably, more than 80% of the award-winning entries were shot on this exceptional device.

Beyond Find X6 Pro, the precise reproduction of light and shadow on other OPPO smartphones give images a distinct, impactful look. The four Silver Award winners have expertly leveraged this capability to infuse artistry and imagination into their work. They will each receive a prize of RMB 60,000 and an OPPO Find X6 Pro in addition to opportunities for training and international exposure.

Sliver Award winners:
Left: “People around Tashilunpo Monastery” by Zhijie Yang (China), Shot on OPPO Find X6 Pro Upper-middle: “Dancing with the wind” by BeiShanHuangTu (China), Shot on OPPO Find N2Lower-middle: “Catch Fish In The Net” by DO ANH VU (Vietnam), Shot on OPPO Find X6 Pro
Right: “Harp Concerto” by Huo Qiu (China), Shot on OPPO Find X6 Pro

In addition, ten photographers from China and Bangladesh were honoured with OPPO Bronze Awards[1]. Their creative work includes portraits, architecture, landscape, magnificent nature and more, all showcasing inspiring colour contrast, strong colour composition, and unique expressions of emotion. Each Bronze Award winner will receive a prize of RMB 20,000 and an OPPO Find X6 Pro, as well as opportunities for training and exposure.

Beyond the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, OPPO also unveiled a total of thirty-two creative works across eight entry categories, including The Distant View, Portrait, Night Scenery, Colors, Landscape, The Taste of Memories, Light & Shadow, and Chapters of a Life. To view all the inspiring works, please visit the official OPPO imagine IF Photography Awards website at https://imagine-if.oppo.com/en/.

As the Associate Partner of the largest international art fair, Paris Photo, OPPO will bring some of the winning photographic works from the OPPO imagine IF Photography Awards 2023 to the exhibition and celebrate them together with global audiences.

[1] Ten winners of OPPO Bronze Awards are Di Lu “Eye-shaped Storm”, Feng Zhu “Boy Playing in the Water”, Weikai Chen “Light Catcher”, Sheng Da “Portrait of A Young Man”, Jian Cui “Make a Summer Dream”, Shenlong Shi “Facing the Sun”, Fuxiaofu Zhong “Landing”, Shiguangzhuying “Time Tunnel”, Mithail Afrige Chowdhury “A Dangerous Journey”, and Tanvir Ahmed “The balloon seller is a small child”.

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Crimes of US-Saudi aggression on August 18

On August 18, the US-Saudi-Emirati aggression aircraft targeted historical cities, archaeological sites, populated areas, ports, and grain silos, leaving martyrs, wounded, and great destruction in the regions of Yemen

On August 18, 2015, 13 citizens were killed and more than 20 others were injured in the aggression’s warplanes targeting the area of the College of Education in Amran city, which caused the destruction of a number of citizens’ homes and cars.

Ten citizens were injured and many homes were damaged in a raid by the aggression’s warplanes on al-Sahuba area in Naqil Ba’adan in Ibb countryside district, and the aggression warplanes also launched a raid on the security point in Naqil Shaban al-Sayyani area in Ibb province.

Six children and three women were killed in the aggression’s bombing of the building of the General Authority for the Development of Tehama in Hodeida city, which led to the destruction of the authority, buildings and residential homes.

The aggression warplanes targeted berths No. 7 and 8, and the berth 6 crane in the port of Hodeida, grain silos, the container port and hangers, which led to large fires in the berths and port facilities.

A citizen was killed and ten others were wounded in two raids of the aggression on Razih district in Sa’ada province. The agression warplanes targeted Bani Moath area in Sahar district with six raids, which caused great damage to the citizens’ homes and farms.

The aggression’s Apache warplanes launched an attack with more than 25 missiles on al-Qamaa area in Ketaf district in Sa’ada province, while the Saudi enemy’s artillery targeted the same area with more than 60 artillery shells.

The hostile aircraft launched seven raids on the historic city of Baraqish in Majzar district of Marib province, which left great damage to its ancient walls and its temple.

On this day in the year 2016, four citizens were killed and three others were injured in two raids of the aggression on two tankers loaded with foodstuffs on the public road in al-Matma district in Jawf province.

In Sa’ada province, a man and his wife were killed and others were injured in the aggression’s raids targeting of a citizen’s house in the Baqim district. The aggression warplanes also launched a raid on the Saqin district, a raid on al-Hasama area in the border district of Sheda, and a raid on Sarrah area in Majz district, and more than ten raids on the village of Qamar in al-Khouba and al-Amoud and Hussama in Jizan region.

The hostile aircraft launched a raid on Noqm area in Azal district in the Capital Sana’a, which caused severe damage to public and private property, and two raids on Dabwah area in Sanhan and Bani Bahloul districts in Sana’a province, which caused damage to citizens’ homes and property.

On August 18, 2017, the aggression warplanes launched four raids on Serwah district, and three raids on Harib al-Qarameesh district in Marib province, which caused great damage to the homes and farms of the citizens, while the mercenaries targeted with artillery shells the al-Amal School and the citizens’ homes in al-Hazm area of the district, which caused damage.

The aggression warplanes launched eight raids on Haradh and Midi districts in Hajjah province and two raids on Wadi Mawza in Taiz province.

The aggression warplanes launched four raids on al-Malaheth area in l-Zaher border district in Sa’ada province, which caused severe damage to the property and farms of the citizens, and also launched three raids on Jabal al-Amoud in al-Khuba in Jizan sector.

In 2018, a citizen was killed and three others were injured by Saudi missile and artillery shelling on citizens’ homes and farms in the border district of Sheda in Sa’ada province, while the warplanes launched a raid on a citizen’s car in the district, which led to its destruction.

In Sa’ada, the aggression warplanes launched three raids on citizens’ homes and property in Baqim district, six raids on separate areas in the border district of al-Zahir, and two raids on al-Rabua’ah in Asir region.

The aggression warplanes targeted Sana’a province with 11 raids on the village of al-Gharza in Hamdan district, which caused damage to citizens’ homes and property, and launched 13 raids on al-Sama’ and al-Farija areas, and a raid on Shamlan’s house in Arhab district, and two raids on al-Majawha area in Nehm district.

The hostile aircraft launched eight raids on al-Jah area in Beit al-Faqih district of Hodeida province, and four raids east of Jabal al-Masluq in Harf Sufyan district of Amran province.

On August 18, 2019, the aggression warplanes launched a series of raids in Sa’ada province on separate areas in al-Dhaher district, six raids on Marran area in Haydan district, and a raid on al-Ja’amalah area in Majz district.

In Hodeida province, the mercenaries targeted, with artillery and medium machine guns, Hodeida airport and the north of Hays district, and carried out a comb with medium machine guns on the College of Engineering. They also bombed with 14 artillery shells the village of al-Shajan, northeast of the city of al-Durayhimi, and carried out an intensive search with different calibers on hangars and commercial places in the Kilo 16 area.

On August 18, 2020, the aggression warplanes launched two raids on Al Ali area in the border district of Razih in Sa’ada province, causing damage to the citizens’ property, while the districts of Razih, Sheda, and al-Zahir were subjected to Saudi missile and artillery shelling that targeted populated villages, roads, farms, and public and private property.

The aggression warplanes targeted Serwah district with 15 raids, and launched a raid on Salb area in Majzar district in Marib province and two raids on al-Labanat area in al-Hazm district in Jawf province and a raid on Wald Rabi’ district in Bayda province.

In Hodeida province, the hostile air forces launched six raids on al-Hashidi farm in al-Arj area, and the mercenaries bombed with Katyusha rockets and artillery shells the citizens’ properties north of Hays district, and they also bombed separate areas in the province with artillery, missiles and bullets.

On August 18, 2021, a citizen was killed and another was wounded by Saudi border guard fire in al-Raqu area of the border district of Munabeh, Sa’ada, while the warplanes launched a raid on al-Fara’ area in Ketaf district.

The mercenaries of the aggression created combat fortifications in al-Jabalia and al-Tuhaita in Hodeida province, and bombed many areas with 114 artillery shells and various bullets.

In 2022, spy planes launched three raids on Hays in Hodeida province, while the mercenaries created fortifications in the west of al-Khazzan in al-Jabalia area in al-Tuhaita district and in the northeast of Hays district in the province.

The mercenaries opened fire on separate areas in the provinces of Marib, Taiz, Hajjah, Sa’ada, Al-Dhalea, Bayda, Hodeida and the border fronts, and shelled with artillery al-Balq al-Sharqi and Mala’a in Marib province, Haradh and Bani Hassan in Hajjah province, al-Malaheth, burials, al-Baqa’, Sheda, al-Madhalah and Baqim in Sa’ada province, severely injuring Sultan al-Khamisi and Ali Sharif in al-Kabsa area, and Fayez Misfer Saleh was seriously injured in Munabeh.

Intense artillery shelling targeted the mercenaries northwest, northeast, and east of Hays in Hodeida province, Maqbana in Taiz province, Jabal Tuwailik and al-Amoud in Wadi Jarah area in Jizan region.

H.H

Source: Yemen News Agency

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Aggression commits 78 violations in Hodeida in 24 hours

The aggression forces committed 78 violations of the ceasefire agreement in Hodeida province over the past 24 hours, an official at the operations room to monitor the violations said on Friday.

The official in the operations room told the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that among the aggression forces violations were the creation of combat fortifications in Hays, and spy planes flew over of Maqbana, Hays and al-Jabaliya.

He indicated that the aggression forces also committed 10 violations with artillery shell on Hays, Al-Jabaliya and Maqbana, and 54 violations with various gunshots.

Source: Yemen News Agency

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US Calls for Ceasefire in South Darfur

The US Administration called on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to stop the renewed fighting that led to deaths and destruction in Nyala, South Darfur, and other populated areas.

Spokesperson for Department of State Matthew Miller said in a press release carried by Al Hurra TV that the US was particularly concerned about reports of indiscriminate shelling by both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, which has caused civilian casualties.

Civilians should not pay the ultimate price for the warring parties’ unreasonable actions, and both sides should comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including those relating to the protection of civilians, he said.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Colombian Capital

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Colombian capital, Bogota, today.

According to the Colombian Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was in the center of the country, 40 km southeast of Bogota.

Buildings shook, sirens sounded and thousands of residents took to the streets in a state of panic.

So far, there have been no reports of material or human losses due to the earthquake.

On May 28, an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck northern Colombia.

Source: Qatar News Agency

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MoI: 15 people arrested in possession of drugs, firearms, counterfeit money

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced that the criminal security sector, represented by the General Department of Anti Drug Trafficking, managed to arrest 15 people of different nationalities in possession of narcotics, psychotropic substances, alcohol bottles, firearms and counterfeit money.

MoI said in a press release issued by the General Directorate of Security Relations and Media Friday that this comes as a continuation of the ministry’s efforts to combat drugs, psychotropic substances and intoxicants, and to track down their smugglers.

There were 10 separate confiscations, such as possession of about 6.150 kilograms of various drugs, 763 psychotropic pills, 145 bottles of alcohol, two firearms, money from sale proceeds, and counterfeit money, it explained.

By confronting the defendants with what was seized in their possession, they admitted that it belonged to them with the intent of drug trafficking and abuse, it added.

It emphasized that the criminal security forces are continuing to crack down on drug dealers and protect and preserve society from these dangerous pests, underlining the need for concerted efforts to eliminate drug dealers.

It urged everyone to cooperate with the security men and report any negative phenomena to the emergency phone number 112 and the hotline of the General Department of Anti Drug Trafficking at 1884141

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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Somali president vows to wipe out terrorism

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has affirmed his resolve to press ahead with his campaign to wipe out terrorism and corruption in his country.

The Somali news agency, Sonna, said in a report on Friday that the president was addressing a group of citizens regarding the government performance and the ongoing war against terrorists.

The greatest challenge facing Somalia is terrorism that has claimed thousands of lives and has become a hurdle obstructing development, he said, praising sacrifices of the Somali regular forces and residents of liberated regions.

He indicated that the regions that have been cleansed of terrorism are witnessing security and stability.

The Somali military often reports about operations and raids targeting Al-Shabab militants

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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UNRWA suspends work at refugee camp

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) declared on Friday suspending its humanitarian operations in Palestiian refugee camp of Ain El-Helweh in response to gunmen’s takeover of its facilities.

The UNRWA said in a statement that it had decided to suspend all its services at the refugee camp due to ongoing presence of the armed men at its buildings and schools, warning that the Palestinian students might not be able to attend classes at onset of the upcoming scholastic year because of the situation.

It reiterated the call upon the gunmen to vacate its buildings instantly.

UNRWA provides relief and educational services and aid to some 50,000 refugees in Ain Al-Helweh, a shanty town situated on outskirts of the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon, some 40 kms from the capital Beirut.

The camp has recently witnessed bitter fighting among factions, inflicting heavy casualties and losses

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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A Ukrainian container ship reaches the Istanbul Strait

A container ship, named Joseph Schulte, which set sail from Ukraine’s Odesa port earlier this week, has reached the Istanbul Strait, the state-run Turkish news agency Anadolu reported on Friday.

It is the first vessel that has departed from Odesa port after Russia?’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative last month.

The Hong Kong-flagged vessel entered the Istanbul Strait through the Black Sea at 06.10 a.m. local time (0310GMT). The container-laden vessel will anchor at Istanbul’s Ambarli port.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the first vessel left Odesa port on Wednesday after the suspension of the Black Sea grain initiative in mid-July.

“Container ship Joseph Schulte (Hong Kong flag) is proceeding through corridor established for civilian vessels to/from the Black Sea ports of Ukraine. This transport corridor will be primarily used to evacuate ships that were in ports at the time of the full-scale invasion of the Russia,” Kubrakov said.

On July 17, Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea grain deal, which it signed last July along with T?¼rkiye, the UN, and Ukraine to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February. But even when renewing the deal in previous months, Moscow has complained that the Russian part of the agreement was not being implemented

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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Kuwait FM applauds Iranian FM’s visit to S. Arabia

Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has applauded visit by the Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, to Saudi Arabia and the meeting with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.

The visit reflects the two countries’ keenness on restoring the normal bilateral relations and their commitment to preserve the region’s security and stability, minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah said.

He noted China’s role in mending fences between Tehran and Riyadh, with its recent hosting of bilateral talks that had led to the resumption of the diplomatic relations on the basis of good neighborliness ties, non-intervention in other States’ domestic affairs, boosting the relations and establishing cooperation.

Amir-Abdollahian, on Thursday, paid the first visit by an Iranian official of such rank to the kingdom since many years ago, against backdrop of the Beijing accord.

Sheikh Salem has also indicated at positive impact of such rapprochement on the regional countries with respect of stability, peace and prosperity

Source: Kuwait News Agency

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Nine Palestinians on hunger strike against unfair administrative detention by Israel

Nine Palestinian detainees remain on an open-ended hunger strike today in protest of their unfair administrative detention under Israel’s so-called administrative detention policy, said the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS). PPS said detainees Kayed al-Fasfous and Sultan Khlouf have been on hunger strike for 16 days. Another detainee, Osama Darkouk, has been on hunger strike for 12 days. Meantime, six other detainees have been on hunger strike for nine days. The six detainees are: Hadi Nazzal, Mohammad Taysir Zakarneh, Anas Kmail, Abdelrahman Baraka, Mohammad Basem Ikhmis, and Zuhdi Abdo. Last week, the PLO Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs called on the international community to break its silence over the Israeli crime of administrative detention, under which Palestinians are imprisoned without charges or trial in violation of all international laws and norms. In a press statement, the Commission demanded “real, tangible action in the way to form an international human rights committee that will immediately go to the Israeli occupation prisons, examine the crime [of administrative detention] in all its details and closely observe the suffering of the administrative detainees, who are detained without any charges or trials, and who live at the mercy of the so-called Israeli intelligence officers.’ ‘The immoral and inhumane abuses associated with the use of this policy by the occupying power violates all principles of international law and humanity, and are in real contradiction with the theorists of democracy and those claiming to be democratic in all of the world, especially America and Europe,’ the statement added. According to figures obtained by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, in March 2023, Israel was holding 1,017 people in administrative detention, which is the highest number of administrative detainees since April 2003, when Israel held 1,140 administrative detainees.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA

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EU says appalled by Israel’s demolition of EU-funded school in Ein Samiya

The European Union said today it was ‘appalled’ by the demolition of the EU-funded school yesterday in the village of Ein Samiya, to the east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, demanding the Israeli occupation authorities to respect Palestinian children’s right to education. ‘Appalled by the demolition of the EU-funded school in Ein Samiya in the Occupied West Bank. [We] call on Israel to respect Palestinian children’s right to education and to compensate EU for the funding lost,’ said the bloc in a tweet condemning the demolition of the school, which occurred just a few days before the start of the new school year. In the last 12 months, three schools were demolished by the Israeli occupation authorities affecting 78 students. 58 other schools remain under the threat of demolition.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA