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A black-clad gunman killed two children and wounded 17 other people Wednesday, when he opened fire on students at a Minneapolis Catholic school, authorities said.The assailant, a man in his early 20s, fired dozens of rounds through the church windows and then took his own life, officials said. He was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and a pistol, they said."This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara told reporters.The shooting occurred two days after school started at Annunciation Catholic School, a private elementary school with about 395 students connected to a Roman Catholic church in a residential area in the southeast part of Minnesota's largest city.Local TV showed parents ducking under yellow police crime tape and leading students out of the school.Officials said the shooter did not have an extensive criminal history. They did not provide his name and said they were trying to identify a motive.Law enforcement was investigating multiple online videos to determine if they were posted by the shooter, according to two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.Local hospitals said they were treating 15 children and two adults, with many suffering gunshot wounds.School shootings occur on a regular basis in the US, spurring ongoing debates about gun laws and school safety. There have been more than 140 such incidents so far this year, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database."Don't just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying. It was the first week of school. They were in a church," Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey said at a news conference, visibly angry.US President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and said the FBI was on the scene. "Please join me in praying for everyone involved!" he said on social media.The US department of homeland security is in touch with local authorities and monitoring the situation, Homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said on social media.There have been three other shootings in the midwestern city since Tuesday afternoon, including one at a high school, that have together left three people dead and seven wounded, according to police.Wednesday's shooting did not appear to be related to the others, O'Hara said.Minneapolis has experienced a significant rise in homicides in the years following the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, which prompted nationwide protests, civil disturbances and staffing shortages in the city's police department. The city recorded 54 homicides last year, down from 71 in 2021 but well above the 29 recorded in 2019.In June, Minnesota also experienced an incident of political violence, when a gunman posing as a police officer allegedly assassinated a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband in their home, and wounded another lawmaker and his wife.The suspect was arrested after a massive two-day manhunt and faces state and federal murder charges.Minnesota state law requires background checks for all gun sales and the state as a whole has a gun death rate below the national average, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention group.

As the new 2025/2026 academic year approaches, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced the completion of all school zone safety measures around 669 schools across Qatar and development of 53 existing schools, including upgrading fire protection systems. Such plans, Ashghal said in a statement, aim at protecting students and ensuring the safety of road users during school drop-off and pick-up times, along with ensuring the highest standards of safety and security towards enhancing the efficiency of educational facilities.This is done in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. Ashghal also plans to improve 140 schools within a comprehensive plan that includes developing fire protection systems, enhancing educational, recreational, and sports facilities to help provide a safe educational environment that supports the learning process. The plan also covers the reconstruction of seven existing schools to meet the latest global standards and specifications in design and equipment. Project Engineer Dana Saeed Al-Saiari from the Building Projects Department explained that the Ashghal, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has carried out a wide range of development and improvement works in 53 existing schools. These included upgrading fire protection systems in line with the highest international standards, as well as introducing advanced technical and operational enhancements that improve the efficiency of the buildings and the overall quality of the learning environment. On the other side, Eng. Abdullah Al Maraghi, Road Safety Engineer, said that the school zone safety strategies cover the road networks surrounding 673 schools in various areas, as part of the School Zone Safety Programme, since the start of the programme in 2013 until now, which is being implemented in coordination with all relevant authorities. In this context, Ashghal has also undertaken comprehensive preparations over the past months to enhance road infrastructure and implement safety measures to facilitate traffic flow. These technical and essential improvements represent an important step towards providing a safe and sustainable school environment for all community members in the new academic year. The improvements include the installation or upgrading of clear and prominent traffic signs, as well as the inspection, maintenance and installation of speed bumps and pedestrian crossings to alert drivers to slow down at school entrances and exits. These enhanced measures aim to improve pedestrian visibility in areas surrounding schools, while enforcing the minimum speed limit of 30 km/h. In addition, further road safety measures have been adopted to regulate traffic flow during peak times at school entrances during drop-off and pick-up hours. Moreover, road markings, such as pedestrian crossings and stop lines, are being repainted to ensure maximum clarity for road users. In addition to expanding and repaving sidewalks adjacent to schools to provide safer pedestrian pathways capable of accommodating larger numbers.

Mowasalat (Karwa) participated in the annual “Back to School” event by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE).The two-day event at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) concluded Tuesday.Karwa hosted a dedicated booth that welcomed hundreds of students and families. The booth featured interactive games, puzzles and a Virtual Reality (VR) experience simulating school bus rides.Beyond the event, Karwa reaffirmed its strong commitment to supporting the MoEHE with safe and reliable school transport services.For the new academic year, nearly 2,500 modern school buses are ready to operate daily, ensuring thousands of students reach their schools and return home safely and on time.Each school bus is equipped with advanced safety features such as GPS tracking systems, CCTV cameras, emergency communication tools, and safety alarms – all designed to provide parents and schools with peace of mind.Karwa also places strong emphasis on professional training for its drivers and bus attendants, who undergo various programmes covering safe driving techniques, child safeguarding, emergency preparedness, and first aid.This ensures that every journey is carried out with the highest standards of care, safety and professionalism.Mass Transit executive director Ahmed al-Binali said the “Back to School” event was a wonderful opportunity to engage directly with students and families, reminding them that “their safety and comfort are at the heart of everything we do”.“As we begin this academic year, Mowasalat remains fully committed to supporting the ministry in providing a safe, reliable, and enjoyable school transport experience for Qatar’s young learners,” he added.

Rawabi Hypermarket has officially launched its Back-to-School promotion, offering exclusive discounts on essential school supplies.The event was inaugurated by Kannu Baker, group general manager of Al Rawabi Group of Companies along with other officials.As part of this initiative, Rawabi Hypermarket has introduced interactive IQ questions and fun activities in its Back-to-School promotion booklet. These additions aim to encourage children’s curiosity, enhance problem-solving skills, and make learning an enjoyable experience, even outside the classroom, a statement explained.The Back-to-School promotion features 'unbeatable deals' on stationery, notebooks, backpacks, uniforms, and more. Speaking at the launch, Baker, said: "At Rawabi Hypermarket, we believe in supporting the development of the next generation. This year, we’ve taken extra steps to ensure that our Back-to-School campaign not only helps families save but also brings joy and inspires students through engaging activities. It’s about creating meaningful experiences for our customers beyond the traditional shopping trip."The promotion will run across all Rawabi Hypermarket outlets in Qatar until September 5, the statement added.

Qatar Rail has announced the extension of the daily timings for the second edition of the "Back to School" event, organised in collaboration with several commercial partners at the Sport City Station. The extension comes in response to the remarkable public turnout and engagement since the event kicked off on August 19, Qatar Rail said in a press release on Monday.Under the new schedule, the daily activities of the "Back to School 2025" event will run from 4pm to 9pm throughout the week. Previously, the timings were from 4pm to 8pm (Sunday to Wednesday) and 4pm to 9pm (weekends).The event, running until September 2, 2025, is part of "The Metro Events" series, held throughout the year at metro stations. The initiative is aligned with the company's strategy to transform metro stations into vibrant community destinations.Sales Manager at Qatar Rail Mohammed Ahmed Al Jaidah said: "We are delighted with the strong public turnout with the second edition of the Back-to-School event and the positive feedback we've received since its launch, as we witnessed growing interest in the early-bird bookings for the 365-Day metropass. The launch of this new product directly responds to requests and suggestions from our valued customers, as we always prioritize their needs. We remain committed to continually developing innovative products and services that make travelling on the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram easier, more flexible, and of the best value."In collaboration with several partners, the event provides exclusive promotions and competitive prices on school supplies, alongside a variety of free entertainment activities for children and families.

LuLu Hypermarket, one of the most trusted retail names in the region, has officially launched its ‘Back to School Savers’ campaign across all its outlets in Qatar.This seasonal promotion aims to support students and families by offering high-quality products at exceptional value, making the back-to-school shopping experience both affordable and enjoyable, a statement said Sunday.From early learners to university students, LuLu Hypermarket presents a one-stop destination for all academic and lifestyle essentials.The curated collection includes everything from laptops, tablets, and printers to stationery, backpacks, water bottles, lunchboxes, footwear, and more – all sourced from globally recognised brands.Among the featured names this year are Reebok, Faber-Castell, Staedtler, Wagon R, Eten, Ferrari, Wildcraft, American Tourister, Beelite, Cortigiani, Win Plus, Pilot, UHU, Maxi, Cello, Maped, Lumberjack, Skechers, Play-Doh, and many others.“Our objective is to simplify the back-to-school shopping process by offering great savings, trusted products, and the convenience of finding everything under one roof,” said a LuLu Hypermarket Qatar spokesperson.“We want families to enjoy a rewarding and stress-free shopping experience while ensuring their children are ready to succeed in the new academic year.”Adding even more value and excitement to this promotion, LuLu Hypermarket Qatar has introduced several special offers. Shoppers can take advantage of the latest electronic and gadget tech deals promotion until September 9, as well as enjoy 33% savings on 33 selected brands, exclusively for LuLu Loyalty customers, valid until August 27.Additionally, LuLu has also rolled out a Fashion Store Promotion, valid through September 6. This seasonal offer showcases exciting deals on a broad selection of fashion apparel and accessories, including T-shirts, shirts, women’s dresses, ladies’ handbags, children’s wear, footwear, and more, a statement added.