Jammu Kashmir News
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday said 27 cases of sexual harassments in government departments were registered over the past six years.
This was stated in a written reply to a query raised by MLC Surinder Kumar Choudhary during the ongoing budget session in the Legislative Council (LC).
The government in its written reply stated that 27 cases of sexual harassment were registered since 2010 in the government departments.
Of the total 10 sexual harassment cases have been registered in the year 2015 while as six were registered in 2014 and four cases in 2011. “Two cases were registered in 2012 while as one each case was registered in 2010 and 2013 and three cases were registered in 2016 year respectively,” reads the reply.
As per the government reply only three persons including two in 2014 and one in 2011 out of 27 have been acquitted over the past six years.
“13 people have been arrested while as challan has been issued against 21 people and five cases sexual harassment are under investigation,” reads the reply.


(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday said
he will meet with President Joe Biden on Wednesday to discuss
raising the federal debt ceiling while controlling government
spending, adding that Republicans will not allow a U.S. default,
trend reports citing
McCarthy told CBS' 'Face the Nation' program that cuts to Social
Security and Medicare would be 'off the table' in any debt ceiling
But he added that Republicans want to 'strengthen' the costly
retirement and health benefit programs for seniors -- a statement
that the White House called a euphemism for cuts.
'I know the president said he didn't want to have any
discussions' on cuts, McCarthy said. 'I want to find a reasonable
and a responsible way that we can lift the debt ceiling (and) take
control of this runaway spending.'
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Story | Sep 4, 2014 | 3:00 AM
A collection of news and information related to Interreligious Dialogue published by this site and its partners.
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Story | Sep 14, 2014 | 7:00 AMBAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State.
Story | Sep 2, 2014 | 4:30 AM
To the editor: President Obama’s response — “We don’t have a strategy yet” — to the latest and most disturbing crisis in the Middle East, the onslaught of the militant group Islamic State (including the slaughter and...
Story | Aug 27, 2014 | 3:55 PM
Story | Aug 15, 2014 | 11:57 AM


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula Online
Doha: A traffic fine of QR500 is imposed for slow driving in the fast lane as it obstructs traffic, said an officer at the General Directorate of Traffic. Traffic patrols, both civilian and military, will monitor and report the violating drivers.
Colonel Jaber Mohamed Rashid Odaiba, Assistant Director of the Media and Traffic Awareness Department, told The Peninsula that:“The left-most lane is designated for certain speeds, and motorists using it are not supposed to drive below a certain speed.”
There are many complaints about this behaviour, especially on highways, because everyone is affected by it, he said.
Odaiba also noted that motorist who drives slowly in this lane will be fined QR500, especially since it is used by ambulances, police and others.
In addition to being a traffic violation, slow driving sometimes causes quarrel between drivers, because it affects the flow of traffic on the road.
He advised drivers to make room for the left lane of the road and not obstruct the flow of traffic.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister once famously said that “budgets will balance themselves”. It seems that the agriculture minister believes similarly that issues will resolve themselves.
Hog producers have been asking the minister to help him implement a plan to reduce the spread of a virus that has killed over eight million pigs south of the border. Unfortunately, the minister's office told these people that the minister would not intervene. It is the minister's job to intervene. When will the minister stand in the House, start doing his job, intervene, and help hog producers?


Kaine, Allen spar on checks for gun buyers
WINCHESTER — Virginia gun sales are on the rise after the lifting of the state’s one-handgun-a-month law on July 1.
The restriction, which was enacted 19 years ago when Virginia had a reputation of...
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(MENAFN- AzerNews) US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held discussions
Thursday with top Israeli officials on global and regional issues,
including coordination to ''prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear
weapon and ways to counter threats from Iran and its proxies,''
Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.
Sullivan hosted Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi
and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer at the White House.
He reaffirmed the Biden administration's goal of further
enhancing Israel's security and economic integration throughout the
Middle East, the White House said in a statement.
Sullivan also stressed the need to take additional steps to
improve the lives of Palestinians, said the statement.
They also discussed Russia's ''deepening'' military relationship
with Iran and the importance of supporting Ukraine in the defense
of its territory and citizenry, including from Iranian drones, it
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(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) As revellers from all over the world descend upon Dubai to ring in the New Year, a viral notice sparked a rumour in Pakistan that UAE had suspended issuing visit visas to Pakistanis as around 300,000 of them were already in Dubai on visit visas.
Earlieron Wednesday, according to a notice issued by Naeem Sharif, Chairman, Travel Agents Association Pakistan (TAAP), the UAE General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has issued a notification suspending issuance of UAE visas for Pakistanis.
A local media report (GEO TV) on the suspension soon went viral, putting many Pakistani travellers in a fix, who were planning to travel to UAE for the New Year.
Until Wednesday, no particular detail has been provided for the visa rejection, Pakistani media said.
Sharif said that this was a temporary arrangement, adding that he believes the service would resume from the start of the New Year, the report added.
He said that the visa restrictions had been imposed for Pakistanis only.
However, talking to Khaleej Times, a GDRFA official said " to enter Dubai after obtaining a visa".
"The situation is normal," the official added.
Visas being issued after technical glitch As the Khaleej Times report -- quashing the rumours -- was widely reported in Pakistan, the TAAP chairman told that UAE had resumed issuing tourist visas for Pakistani nationals, claiming that earlier visas were not being issued due to a technical glitch in Pakistan.
Talking to this reporter, a travel agency in Pakistan confirmed Sharif's claim, adding that, however, applications were yet to be processed after the technical issue was resolved.
The issue sparked a debate in Pakistan with many claiming that their visa has not been processed while others rubbished the 'suspended' rumours claiming that while the process was slow, visas were being processed.
UAE is home to around one million Pakistani expats, and Pakistanis are among the top visitors to the country.
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
Iredell County is closing in on another COVID-19 milestone — we’re a day away from surpassing 10,000 cases.
Following the New Year’s holiday weekend, the Iredell County Health Department reported 154 new laboratory confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Monday, increasing the total number of cases in the county to 9,992 since the pandemic began in March.
There have been almost 1,000 new cases in the past seven days.
Health officials also reported the county’s first three deaths attributed to COVID-19 in 2021. Some 110 people in the county who have tested positive have now lost their lives in Iredell.
The number of hospitalizations also increased sharply over the weekend. Sixty-nine people who have tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalized in Iredell County.


(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Dubai Ruler, met with His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, on Saturday after his recent successful surgery.
Earlier this week, the Ajman Ruler's Court had announced that Sheikh Humaid hadundergone a successful minor operation on his foot and was in good health.
In its statement, the court had wished Sheikh Humaid continued health and wellness.
A member of the Ajman royal family shared a picture of the meeting today.
Videos of Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visiting the Ajman Ruler in the hospital had gone viral on social media on social media.
These pictures were shared by a member of the Dubai Ruler's entourage:
A post shared by (@khalifasaeed) on Feb 3, 2018 at 6:00am PST
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The Centre has put the resources of Jammu and Kashmir on sale and has brought its economy on the brink of collapse, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said. She added that this administrative onslaught has already shown its impact.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said, "From power projects to the sand mining sector, everything is being auctioned by the present dispensation under a planned conspiracy to smash our economy to smithereens.”
"While curfews and lockdowns have caused serious dent to the economy, a series of administrative orders and laws have come as a shock…,” Mehbooba said while interacting with PDP delegations from the Chenab Valley.
The Chenab Valley, she said, is facing the worst impact of the “sell-out” by the Union government as even the power projects which Jammu and Kashmir was capable of undertaking itself has now been handed over to NHPC.
“The Ratle power project is an example where the state-owned Power Development Corporation was self-sufficient to undertake the project but it was handed over to the joint consortium that too by minimising the share of JKPDC,” she said.
She said power project construction companies were working “like the East India company ignoring the rights of the local population”.
“I have been told that locals are being denied employment in these projects despite written agreement about the share of employment”, she said.
Mehbooba claimed that local contractors were getting peanuts for the works they were executing while labourers were being denied benefits prescribed under the laws.
“Situation is grave in the areas where major projects including power sector, roads and building are being executed by the big companies from outside Jammu and Kashmir. Locals are being pushed to walls while even administration was watching interests of these corporate houses instead of the general population”, she said.
Mehbooba added that the basic eligibility criteria for the contractors have also been changed and compact tenders were being floated in order to deprive the local contractors to participate in the process.
"The local construction companies and contractors are now forced to work on sub-lease pattern for the outside companies, who are utilising manpower, resources, machinery of locals to fill their coffers," the PDP chief said.
With PTI inputs


LAHORE: Federal minister for religious affairs and interfaith harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf on Thursday said that the aged and disabled citizens will especially be facilitated under the Hajj policy.
While speaking to the media, he said that 10,000 aged and disabled citizens would be sent to Hajj through official quota, under which 5,000 such citizens and 5,000 of their caretakers would be facilitated.
The minister said that in the year 2018, 120,000 people would avail the facility under the government quota whereas 60,000 would go for Hajj through private companies.
He said that 10,000 such people would be given preference in the government quota who had been rejected during the last two, three years.
Sardar Yousuf said that about 2,700 applications have been received for registration of private companies, adding that a special board was reviewing the applications and a list would be finalised soon.
He said that about 763 private firms were already working with the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
He hoped that the government of Saudi Arabia would increase the Hajj quota after the latest census in Pakistan.


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A new poll has revealed that a majority of Americans believe the Biden administration’s change to Title IX allowing biological males that identify as female to compete against women have had a harmful impact on female athletes.
The poll, conducted by McLaughlin and Associates in partnership with Summit.org of 1,000 likely general election voters, found that 77 percent of those who had an opinion believed that the changes to Title IX have had a “harmful impact to women’s sports and biological female athletes” Just 23 percent of that group said it was helpful.
Overall, 60 percent said the changes have been harmful, 18 percent said they were helpful, and 22 percent said they did not know.
Split by political party affiliation and their chosen 2020 presidential candidate, voters across the board said that the changes to Title IX were harmful to women’s sports.
Among those who voted for Trump in 2020, 82 percent said the changes were harmful, while 8 percent said they were helpful. Among Biden voters, 44 percent said the changes were harmful and 26 percent said the changes were helpful.
78 percent called the changes harmful compared to 42 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independents, while just 11 percent of Republicans called it helpful, compared to 28 percent of Democrats and 15 percent of independents.
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The Minister of Finance said that the business that Ethiopia has left in Somaliland has been closed
Hargeisa (Qaran news) – Minister of Finance Development Dr. Saad Ali Shire, said that the trade market that used to leave Ethiopia in Somaliland was closed.
He also mentioned that the commercial market in Somaliland that used to be taken from the eastern areas has disappeared.
Dr. Saad pointed out that the closed commercial markets have led to economic decline.
On the other hand, he talked about the finances of the elections and other issues.
The Minister said this when he appeared before the Finance Committee of the Somaliland House of Representatives this morning.


The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to provide protection to three witnesses in the Kathua murder case who alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir Police were harassing them, ANI reported. The court also turned down the request of the accused to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The court will continue hearing the matter on Thursday, reported ANI.
The petitioners – among them are two friends of the juvenile accused – told the court in their plea that they had recorded their statements before the police and the magistrate. They alleged that the state police was now asking them to record their statements again and harassing their families too.
On Wednesday, the state government sought time to respond to their accusations and alleged that attempts were being made to impede the investigation.
The top court on May 7 transferred the trial in the murder and alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab’s Pathankot.


Police said on Friday that they will be sending out SMS messages to the public during mass demonstrations, warning them to mind their safety.
The force said it understands that residents have been affected and their safety has been endangered during protests, especially when violence usually follows recent mass public assemblies.
To give more information to the people, police will be sending different messages to people on their phones, to raise their awareness and be vigilant about their safety.
But the force said due to the millions of phone users in the SAR, the reception time of the SMS messages may differ from person to person.
So people should also pay attention to the updates of other channels and from the government for the latest, it adds.
The police have defended their objections to the anti-extradition rallies and marches on Kowloon and Hong Kong Island in the coming weekend, citing the violence by protesters earlier.
Officers said they are concerned that radical protesters would "hijack" the events and put peaceful protesters, local businesses and residents in danger.


Bhubaneswar, Mar 26 (Local Wire): The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday announced shifting of major haats to nearby open areas to ensure they continue their operations during the lock down period.
BMC Commissioner Prem Choudhary told reporters that it has decided to ensure operations of vegetable vendors and others selling essential products.
He said, “We have planned to de-congest the major haats through several interventions.
We have decided to shift some crowded markets into open areas near to them,”
He also said that some of the vendors who were vending into crowded market places have been shifted to such open places so that the social distancing concept could be taken care of.
Some of these vendors supplying essential commodities have been shifted to school playgrounds, road sides and other open space so that the a minimum required distancing for social distancing between the vendors and the expected crowd could be ensured.
He also said that the urban local body will also soon come up with mobile vans to provide essential commodities to the people during the lockdown period.
He said, “We are trying to ensure distribution of essential products to the people. We want to ensure that in most localities such supply is maintained and stores are opened there.
We are also planning to ply mobile vans to supply the essential commodities to the people during the lockdown period.
We will be informing about the move soon.”


PM announces electronic voting in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that he will bring electronic voting to Pakistan.
Commenting on the election process, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the ministers and the committee have worked on electoral reforms. Modern technology will be used in the next election. No government in power can bring such reforms.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said that overseas Pakistanis should also be included in the electoral process. Everyone says money is spent in Senate elections, the next Senate elections will be held through the “show of hand” .
He said that he was grateful to the people for casting their votes in the GB elections. Gilgit-Baltistan has to be given interim provincial status .
He further said that Gilgit Baltistan’s ladies have come forward to vote in such tough weather conditions which is commendable hence, we will fullfil our promise to make Gilgit Baltistan an Interim province .


(MENAFN- UkrinForm) In recent weeks, Russia's Black Sea Fleet (BSF) has suffered a series of major attacks, culminating in strikes on its headquarters on September 20 and September 22, 2023. These attacks have been more damaging and more coordinated than thus far in the war.
The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on the social media platform X , referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“The physical damage to the BSF is almost certainly severe but localised. The fleet almost certainly remains capable of fulfilling its core wartime missions of cruise missile strikes and local security patrols,” the report states.
Meanwhile, it is likely that the ability of Russia's Black Sea Fleet to continue wider regional security patrols and enforce its de facto blockade of Ukrainian ports will be diminished, according to the analysts.
“It also likely has a degraded ability to defend its assets in port and to conduct routine maintenance,” the UK intelligence noted.
A dynamic, deep strike battle is underway in the Black Sea. This is likely forcing Russia into a reactive posture whilst demonstrating that“Ukraine's military can undermine the Kremlin's symbolic and strategic power projection from its warm water port in occupied Sevastopol”, the UK intelligence concluded.
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(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 24. A special session of
the Baku Energy Week will be held in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan,
Spokesman for the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Orkhan
Huseynov said, trend reports.
Huseynov made the remark at a press conference on the
forthcoming 28th International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the
11th International Energy and Renewable Energy Exhibition, and the
20th International Exhibition on Transport, Transit and
According to him, the special session in Nakhchivan will be
entitled 'Nakhchivan and Eastern Zangazur: the potential of green
"Nakhchivan and Eastern Zangazur have a huge potential in
generating green energy and we are aimed at presenting this
potential to international players. These events are an excellent
platform for promoting the opportunities of this region of
Azerbaijan and we look forward to reaching new agreements," the
The mentioned exhibitions will be held from May 31 to June 3 in
On June 1-2, the 28th International Baku Energy Forum is
expected to be held.
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(MENAFN- AzerNews) The World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched 29 tons of
aid material to Libya following this weekend's deadly floods that
killed thousands, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Shafak.
“With enough supplies to reach almost 250,000 people with health
aid, the shipment reflects an intensified emergency response to the
unprecedented flooding in eastern Libya in the aftermath of Storm
Daniel,” the WHO said in a statement on Saturday.
“The supplies include essential medicines, trauma and emergency
surgery supplies, and medical equipment. There are also body bags
for the safe and dignified movement and burial of the
At least 6,000 people were killed and thousands of others remain
missing following deadly flooding caused by Mediterranean storm
Derna was the hardest-hit by the deadly flooding that caused two
dams to collapse in the city.
According to the WHO, more than 9,000 people are still missing,
while the bodies of 3,958 people have been recovered and identified
following the flood disaster.
“This is a disaster of epic proportions,” said Dr Ahmed Zouiten,
WHO Representative in Libya.“We are saddened by the unspeakable
loss of thousands of souls. Our thoughts are with the families who
have lost loved ones, as well as with all of the affected
“We are committed to providing the necessary support to restore
health services for the affected population in eastern Libya,” he
On Friday, Libya's Tripoli-based government said that 38 planes
carrying relief aid to the flood survivors had arrived in the
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Story | Mar 31, 2011 | 9:32 PMNeiman Marcus Beverly Hills hosted New York designer Ralph Rucci for a brunch and informal fashion show on Thursday, where he talked through pieces from the fall collection. It’s such a treat to hear Rucci speak about his hyper-luxurious clothes....


Kentucky officials have asked the public’s help in locating a teenager who’s been missing since the summer.
Christian County Sheriff's officials said 17-year-old Tysean Johnson has been missing since July.
His last know whereabouts were in Clarksville but authorities said he has also been known to frequent the Murfreesboro area.
Johnson has also been seen in the area of McPherson Street and 2nd Street.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Juvenile Division of the Christian County Sheriff's Office at 270-887-4135.


Magwegwe North residents in Bulawayo have set up a foundation to assist less privileged members of the community with food and other items.
This comes at a time when the global pandemic, Covid-19 has threatened the already critical food security situation in the country, especially in urban centres.
The World Food Program (WFP) had said that 7, 7 million people are food insecure in Zimbabwe, however, the movement restrictions associated with Covid-19 has led to higher than previously anticipated food insecure population.
In an interview with CITE, one of the residents in the forefront of the foundation, Toddy Bwalya said the foundation was founded by residents after noticing the plight of many residents in the community.
“One of the residents who now stays in South Africa, upon visiting back home, realised the plight of many families that is when she decided to engage former residents who are now in different countries such as America, Ireland and the United Kingdom to come together to form the foundation to help the needy in the community,” said Bwalya.
“At first residents were sceptical of the initiative as they thought it was a group of conmen who wanted to rob people of money, but residents have now joined the idea.
“As residents of Magwegwe North we contribute money, then send through an account number to the team in South Africa, they are the ones who then buy commodities and deliver via Malaitsha .com that is how the initiative works.”
Bwalya said they were mostly targeting orphans, widows and the elderly.
“We distribute the food items in phases where we select at least 50 people who are going to benefit per phase, so we are expecting another batch of commodities such as mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar, rice, flour and many other basic commodities.
“We have the treasury department who are responsible for recording the money received and goods bought so we hope that our foundation will go a long way in helping people,” he said.
Farai Sibanda said the foundation has made an impact in the community.
“This foundation has made a huge impact in the community, as they say, charity begins at home, we hope that the foundation will grow big and extend to other suburbs,” said Sibanda.
He said the foundation also distributes sanitary wear to school girls.
“The foundation also distributes sanitary wear to school children and face masks to protect people from Covid-19,” said Sibanda.


No public recommendations added yet.
Goibibo is one of the leading online travel sites in India that enables travelers to buy air and bus tickets, hotels and holidays. It is a part of the MIH India Group and was launched in September 2009. Within a short span of time, Goibibo has trounced hundreds of travel sites. Goibibo has a very strong technology enabling it to serve its customers fastest in the market.
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The UPFA rebels supporting former President Mahinda Rajapaksa have decided to sever their ties with the SLFP and contest as a separate front at the upcoming Local Government elections.
A large group of SLFP MP’s too have already initiated discussions to join the front under the blessings of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Rebel group member Vasudeva Nanayakkara said political parties in the UPFA other than the SLFP had held a discussion with former President Rajapaksa on Sunday about forming a common front to defeat the UNP and SLFP coalition.
Nanayakkara said that over 30 SLFP MP’s too participated indicating a major split within the party led by President Maithripala Sirisena.
He said that the new front has the blessings of Rajapaksa and added that soon the stance of the new front will be announced to the public.
Nanayakkara said that the SLFP’ers who have formed a so-called national government with the UNP have not expressed any desire to beat the Ranil Wickremesinghe led UNP at the upcoming polls.
The UPFA MP pointed out that during the last general election too the grassroots SLFP voters had defeated those who conspired against Rajapaksa and added that in future too the new alliance was confident of getting their support.
Nanayakkara went on to say that voters who are burdened with the spiraling cost of living and disappointed with the broken promises of the so-called Yahapalana government was clamouring for a change.
He said that as a section of the SLFP, including its new leaders have tied the knot with UNP the grassroots level members of the party were waiting for an alternative led by Rajapkasa.
He said that the new front will fill this vacuum and will come forward as a viable alternative to the UNP ands SLFP coalition.
Meanwhile the new SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake said that the UPFA will win the forthcoming polls under the leadership of Sirisena.
Dissanayake refuted claims that there was a split in the party and added that the UPFA consisting the SLFP and other affiliated parties will contest under one banner.


Minority Parties to Support Prime Minister
The debate on the No-Confident motion, filed against Ranil Wickremesinghe, by the Joint opposition is scheduled today.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress has decided to vote against the No- Confidence Motion filed against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the sources related to the party reveal. The decision was reached following a meeting at the SLMC headquarters Darusalam last evening.
Party leader Minister Rauff Hakeem said members of the SLMC discussed at length the challenges faced by the party including the Muslim community.
Minister Hakeem said the party is of the view that the No-Confidence Motion has been filed not against the Prime Minister but against the entire government.
Minister Hakeem accordingly said they will vote against the No-Confidence Motion.
The All Ceylon Makkal Congress led by Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and the Tamil Progressive Alliance led by Ministers Mano Ganesan and P Digambaram have declared that they will vote against the No-Confidence Motion.
While the Tamil National Alliance has not declared its official stance sources suggest they will not vote in favour of the Motion while a possibility lies where they may abstain from voting.


KARACHI: The confirmed cases of coronavirus in Pakistan have surged past 26,900 as the country prepares to ease the lockdown.
According to the provided details by the provincial health departments, almost 1,958 cases were reported across the country, taking the national tally to 26,957.
Punjab Health Department informed that almost 838 new coronavirus cases were reported across the province. After which the confirmed virus cases in Punjab rose to 10,033.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has informed that almost 598 new cases were reported across the province today (Friday). The new cases have taken the provincial tally to 9,691.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department reported 371 new cases of coronavirus across the province in the last 24 hours, bringing the provincial tally to 4,327.
According to the provincial health department, another 151 coronavirus cases have been reported in Balochistan.
The provincial governments today (Friday) have announced the partial easing of lockdown measures, even as the number of infections in the country registered a record daily increase.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the lifting of the countrywide lockdown in phases from Saturday. PM Imran had acknowledged that the lockdown was being eased at a time when our curve was going up but maintained that it was not edging up as we were expecting.
‘Breakup of the tally’


Goa government on Monday said that Classes VII and VIII will begin physically from November 25 onwards.
Bhushan Saviakar, Director of Education, said that the Board will issue the SOPs needed for the school on Tuesday.
Last week the state expert committee, through the recomendations od the Covid Task said that, it was decided that classes I to VIII should begin offline classes, but however CM and Education Minister Pramod Sawant said that they are still thinking about the classes and would let them know later on.
However the officials said that no information has been out by the government regarding the need to begin classes I to VIII, even when the expert committee doctor have said that it is safe to begin classes even for the Nursery students as the Covid positivity rate is is at an all time low.
The task force said that they are leaving the decision to the school management to take the call on how they are going to conduct the class for the students depending on the school space, infrastructure, its conditions and how many are attending the school.
They also said that the SOPs given should be treated as broadlines and followed well by the management and they should also put in their own instruction also to ensure social distancing and other necessary precautions needed.
The expert committee has also said that the schools are not allowed to have assemblies and have to follow staggered timing.
Staff members are already been told to produce a negative Covid certificate on weekly basis of those who have not been vaccinated and also both the parents of the child are told to take vaccination.
Classes for the students of STD IX to XII students are already on as they are having a combination of online and offline classes


(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Rabat - Israel has been preparing for in-country backlash against US President Donald Trump's announcement on Wednesday recognizing Jerusalem as the country's capital. Before Friday prayers in Al Aqsa mosque, the Israeli government deployed hundreds of extra security forces, fearing the anger of protesters, who see Trump's decision as a major shift of US support towards Israeli claims to the city. Protests were not only taking place in Al Quds (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) but also as far as Indonesia and Malaysia, where protesters headed to US embassies to express their anger over Trump's decision. On Wednesday, Trump delivered a speech in the White House, formally declaring Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The president added that he is also ordered his aides to start process of moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move that provoked Muslims around the world. While many in Israel, as well the US and around the world, were celebrating the US recognition, intense protests took place in the area by Palestinians on Wednesday night denouncing Trump's decision. Arab leaders, including King Mohammed VI, also voiced their condemnation of the unprecedented move. Arab leaders believe that the US move will undermine peace and escalate tensions between Israel and Palestine. Potentially violent protests have been also expected after the decision was made. As protesters called for a "day of rage on Friday" to protest against Trump's decision, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called for a new Intifada (Palestinian uprising), a decision which was fully supported by Lebanese Islamist party Hezbollah. Protests will be carried out in different countries, including Morocco where a "million person" march is going to take place on Sunday. The National Group for Palestine (NGP) and the Moroccan Association for the Support of the Palestinian Cause (MASPC) called on citizens to take to the streets of Rabat to protest against"
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By Bashir Rabe Mani
Sokoto – The Sokoto State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of two businessmen – Labbo Giyawa and Murtala Dantata – by some unknown gunmen.
El-Mustapha Sani, the Command’s spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Monday that the two men were kidnapped at Giyawa, Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.
Sani said: ”I can confirm the abduction of the two businessmen on Sunday night, at around 10 p.m.
”They were seized by some gun-wielding men, while they were reportedly sleeping in the frontage of their various houses.
”They were said to have been taken to an unknown destination, but the police is suspecting that they were being held captive in the nearby Gundumi Forest.”
He, however, said that the kidnappers were yet to establish communication with either their families or the police.
Sani said that the command had taken stern measures to ensure the safe rescue of the captives.
The police spokesman also confirmed the arrest of four gang leaders of street urchins at the Kwanni area of Sokoto on Monday.
Sani said that the suspects were arrested following raids on their hideouts, adding, ”we will thoroughly drill them to unravel their various memberships.”
NAN recalls that two local government officials in the state who were recently kidnapped were rescued from Gundumi Forest.


China: Export container distribution index increases
(MENAFN) According to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, China's index of export container transport increased in the last week ending on Friday, January 10.
According to the exchange, the average China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) hit 1,753.85, augmented 5.7 percent from a week earlier.
The sub-reading for Mediterranean service led the increase with a week-on-week upsurge of 11.7 percent, followed by that for the Europe service, which augmented 9.2 percent from the past week.
The CCFI tracks spot and contractual cargo rates from Chinese container ports for 12 shipping routes throughout the globe, based on statistics from 22 international carriers.
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Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults on the rise in area
Toni Carlstrom is seeing more cases of financial exploitation since the economy went sour years ago.
The victims – vulnerable adults – make the cases particularly wrenching to deal with because the Hubbard County licensed social worker’s client base often has a degree of dementia.
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Health care reform promises to change the way Ocean State citizens access and pay for health services. But it also is going to change dramatically Rhode Island’s delivery infrastructure.
With more people being brought into the health care system through the individual insurance-coverage mandate, community health centers are going to see their patient volume jump, with some centers expecting to see twice as many patients within a few years.
The state has been fortunate to win nearly $100 million from the federal government to prepare for the implementation of health reform. Setting up the health-benefits exchange has taken the lion’s share of that funding, but a number of community health centers have been making capital improvements to their facilities in anticipation of increased volume. They are also hiring more people to care for the expected patient increases.
So far, at least, it sounds like a double win for the state – more jobs in the health care sector and a healthier population. •


Domeabra (Ash),– Baffour Owusu Bediako, paramount chief of Domeabra traditional area in the Asante Akim Municipality has appealed to the Minerals Commission to compel the Owere Mines Limited to undertake responsible mining in the area.
He said the company must be compelled to live its corporate social responsibilities and assist communities in its catchment area in their development process.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at his palace at Domeabra, Baffour Owusu Bediako said the traditional council wanted the company to support it to promote economic activities in the community and bring development to raise the living conditions of the people.
He said what the people were expecting was that the mining would spur up economic activities and boost the local businesses in the area to improve the living conditions and the socio-economic lives of the people.
This, he said the company had failed to generate in the area.
“They have failed to draw any social development agreement with the traditional council of Domeabra and also not encouraged and promoted business activities in this community”, he told the GNA.
He said the community had nothing to be proud of as a mining community and this had adversely affected the standard of living of the natives.
Baafour Owusu Bediako said the traditional council plans of constructing a Police Station and a health facility for the community would need the assistance of the company.
He stressed the need for the mining company to take measures to cover pits that had been left open to prevent any disaster in the community.
Barima Kwasi Osafo Kantanka, a geologist of the Owere Mines, when contacted told the GNA that the company was at the exploration stage and had not reached the mining stage yet.
However, it had employed some youth from communities in the area to assist in the exploration works.
Barima Kantanka said the company was ready to work in close collaboration with the traditional leaders and other opinion leaders in the area to fashion out a comprehensive strategy to promote development in its catchment area when it starts full operation.
Source: Ghana News Agency


Lambton public health reported 12 new local cases of COVID-19 Tuesday in the Sarnia area.
The number of local cases listed as resolved increased 11 Tuesday to 4,173. There were 39 active local cases – one more than the previous day.
The public health agency said a total of 4,285 local cases have been confirmed since the pandemic began.
The number of local deaths, 73, was unchanged Tuesday.
Public health officials said there were ongoing outbreaks Tuesday at Bluewater Health, Brigden public school and two unnamed workplaces.


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Story | Mar 6, 2015A Thai court has sentenced 15 members of the "Red Shirt" political movement to four years in prison for inciting rioting that disrupted an important regional conference in 2009, a lawyer said.
Story | Dec 8, 2013 | 10:19 PM


(MENAFN- IANS) Gorakhpur (UP), Sep 22 (IANS) The Railway Protection Force has rescued eight children from a trafficker in the Amritsar-Jalandhar Janseva Express (14617) at Gorakhpur railway station, RPF sources said here on Friday.
RPF inspector Dr Dashrath Prasad confirmed that following the input, a raid was conducted in coach number 171059/C of Janseva Express on Thursday evening and all the children were rescued.
He said that project director of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Lalit Kumar Yadav, had filed a complaint with the GRP regarding trafficking of children from Purnia district of Bihar to Jalandhar for child labour.
The accused has been identified as Ghanshyam Pal, a resident of Kathotiya, under the Dhighri police station of Madehpura district of Bihar, he added.
An FIR has also been lodged.
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South Korea's finance minister Hong Nam-ki is attributing the employment gains to the government's policies.
And the government, he says, will continue to focus on economic vitality and employment.
In a meeting Wednesday with other ministers, Hong discussed a range of issues such as ways to boost the content industry and strategies to strengthen exports.
Hong said over the next three years the government will invest around two.two billion U.S. dollars to help with R&D and overseas M&As.
He also said Korea will aim to raise the proportion of strategic and emerging markets in its exports to 45 percent by 2022 as a way of responding to uncertainties.


(MENAFN - The Peninsula)
Doha: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has said that its strategy has identified seven sectors which would be developed further to meet the need of local market and play crucial role in diversifying the economy.
''The Ministry encourages establishing industries to manufacture certain products such as plastic, aluminium, food, beverage and pharmaceutical products,” said Director of Industrial Development Department at MoCI, Yousuf Ahmad Al Emadi, while speaking in a Qatar TV programme.
The programme hosted MoCI official and a number of Qatari industrialists and investors. He said that there are seven basic sectors in the strategy. The aluminium sector is an example where Qatar has one of the largest aluminium smelters which is producing ingots.
''The prices of ingots are very competitive and lower compared to those in other countries. The investors can utilise the available ingots to make aluminium products like rims of car tires and electrical cables,” said Al Emadi.
He said that Qatar also has aluminium and polymers (plastics) Polyethylene which could be used to make other products like those products which are needed in water sector.
''We asked the investors to submit their applications for opening the industries through single window system,” said Al Emadi.
He said that all required documents should be attached to the application. ''Separate form is available on the system for applying for loans from Qatar Development Bank,” said Al Emadi. He said that the opening an industry is a time-taking process which requires many things from investors like feasibility studies, market survey to get an idea of competition among others.
''We in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry assess the application whether it is among those projects which the country wants to promote to avoid unnecessary competition,” said Al Emadi.
Speaking about the promotion of local products, he said that the Governmental Procurement Law gives priority 10 percent to local products on imported one.
''Apart from that major commercial outlets and hypermarkets are not taking service charges for local products which is a privilege,” said Al Emadi.
However, he said that Qatari market is open for everyone. If there is any illegal practice that affects anyone, the Ministry takes action following the complaints.
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'State of Hate in Greater Rochester' report shows majority of Jewish residents feel discrimination has increased
A majority of local Jewish residents recently surveyed feel that discrimination against Jews in the Greater Rochester area has increased over the last couple of years.
The State of Hate in Greater Rochester report was commissioned by the Levine Center to End Hate which is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester.
The recent survey shows that 63% of Jewish respondents locally think that discrimination against Jews has increased in recent years, compared to 31% of all of those who responded to that survey.
The survey also showed that 45% of Jewish respondents have felt personally discriminated against in the last couple of years, and 57% have personally known a Jewish person who has experienced an act of discrimination.
Karen Elam is executive director of the Levine Center, and said that a main focus of doing this survey is to come up with ways of combating discrimination locally.
“So when we see for example, that the Jewish community is feeling discrimination at a higher level than what the general community is understanding to be that discrimination, we know we need to do some more education,” said Elam. “We saw the same results from the African American community, that the experience of discrimination and racism that they were reporting was higher than what people believe to be the case.”
Elam said that it’s not only Jews who are threatened by “the toxic environment that is being created around us.” She said that other minorities are also at risk. Elam said that the Levine Center saw similar results with an earlier survey focused on the African American community, where she said the discrimination and racism experienced by Black people was higher than what the general population believed to be the case.
Elam also said that “antisemitism is being mainstreamed in very dangerous ways,” and she said the recent data was collected before recent displays of anti-Semitic rhetoric by prominent celebrities and politicians.


Qatar introduces first local mobile car reservation app
(MENAFN) Qatar's Al Dana Company has announced the launch of the first local mobile reservation application, with reasonable prices.
Al Dana Company's CEO Sheikh Hamad Al Thani assured the service to provide safety, reliability and competency to guarantee security and protection of users' data.
The CEO stated "looking at the growing need for such unique applications in Qatar, we have developed this application, which will offer excellent services to our fellow commuters who are increasingly looking for an ease of travel with advanced technologies that protect their personal information in better ways than other applications."
He added "official statistics point that Qatar is witnessing growth in all sectors, thereby attracting many visitors from different countries, in addition to the increasing numbers of citizens and residents, and that's where the opportunity for such services lies."
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Kathmandu: The government has signaled to take action against the media for giving provocative expressions and priority to such expressions on social media.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday to announce the decision of the cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Parbat Gurung said that preparations were underway to issue Directives on Social Media 2077, soon to prevent distortion in various media such as Facebook, YouTube and online portals.”
Warning Nepali society not to engage in activities that push it towards anarchy, distortion and anomaly, and mass media workers not to become chaotic, unreasonable and irresponsible, he said, “directives are being issued to bring such activities under the purview of the law.”
He also said that the directives are being brought to regulate the freedom of expression, provocation, person-centeredness, misrepresentation of the highest organs of the country and individuals and such expressions being published and broadcast by social media and some responsible media with priority in the last few days.
“It is unfortunate that the hard earned democratic system of governance established by the long political conflict has been attacked, violence is being spread and the country is being pushed towards confrontation,” he said.


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) khalid elsawi |
The Peninsula Online
Doha: The Qatar Football Association's disciplinary committee has fined three players belonging to the Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd.
Akram Afif, Hassan al-Haydos, and Saad Al Sheeb have all been fined QAR 5,000 by the governing body.
The decision comes after all three players failed to show up for a post-match interview following their 1-0 league win over Al Markhiya.
All players were found in violation of article 3/2, 1/58 of the disciplinary regulations.
On the otherhand, Bashar Resan of Qatar SC, who was shown a second-yellow card and expelled from the game versus Al Arabi, had his appeal denied by the QFA's committee.
The committee noted that its refereeing department's statement confirmed the validity of the second yellow card Resan received, and that the decision to expel him still remains valid.
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Pakistan will use every forum to highlight Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir: Sartaj
Adviser on Foreign Affairs says Kashmiris fighting for just right of self-determination.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz has said Pakistan would continue to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to the people of Occupied Kashmir.
Talking to a TV channel, he said the people of Occupied Kashmir particularly youth have started a landmark independence movement.
The Adviser said Pakistan would use every forum to highlight the Indian human rights violations and atrocities against the innocent Kashmiris, who were fighting for their just right of self-determination.
He said during the current spate of human rights violations around 7000 Kashmiris have been injured while around 200 lost their eye-sight due to the use of pellet guns by the Indian forces.


(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The Ukrainian and Japanese governments discuss holding the second round of an international Ukraine restoration conference in Japan.
As Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Serhii Korsunskyi told nhk in an interview, the governments discuss holding a conference after the Ukraine Recovery Conference that will be held in London in June.
Korsunskyi emphasized that no country in the world has a better and more thorough reconstruction experience than Japan. After all, Japan managed to rebuild and restart the economy after natural disasters and destruction, and Ukraine wants to learn from its experience.
Commenting on the visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to Japan to participate in the G7 Summit, the Ambassador said that it was a very difficult task, but Zelensky could not miss the opportunity to personally communicate with the leaders of the G7 countries, India, and other states.
As reported, the Ukraine Recovery Conference will be held in London in June. It will focus on mobilizing international support for the economic and social stabilization of Ukraine and the subsequent recovery from the consequences of the war, in particular through emergency aid for immediate needs and funding the participation of the private sector in the recovery process.
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461 COVID-19 new cases reported in Armenia per day
A total of 461 COVID-19 new cases have reported in Armenia per day, bringing the total number to 34,462, News.am reported citing the health ministry.
In the meantime, 10,507 patients are now being treated.
According to the latest data, 23,123 people have already recovered.
The death toll has reached 631.


Ms. Ingermarie Vennize, Head of Communications, of World Food Programme (WFP) Nigeria, formally visited NAN where she said $126 million had been spent to provide food in embattled North East.
The amount, she said was in form of food assistance and other forms to 1.2 million persons in 3 North eastern Nigerian states, since 2017.
Vennize in Abuja, identified the states as Taraba, Borno, and Adamawa.
Vennize, however, said that the programme was working toward meeting its target of providing aid for the most food-insecure and vulnerable persons in the Northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
“At the moment, WFP is providing food and cash assistance to more than 1.2 million persons in the region,’’ she said.
She noted that the number of affected people in the Northeast had increased, as more than 20,000 people were now returning from the neighbouring country of Cameroon.
She said that the development had increased the activities of WFP in the affected areas, particularly during the lean season between June and September when the food stock would have been depleted.
Vennize said that as a result of that, WFP urgently required at least 49 million U.S. dollars to enable it to sustain the life-saving support until the end of 2018.
“WFP is able to carry out the exercise by mopping up assistance from the government of countries that are friendly to Nigeria.
“We also provide nutritional supplies to pregnant women to prevent unnecessary maternal and child deaths,’’ she said.
She said that WFP was also providing food assistance to children with ages between six and 23 months as well as malnourished children within the two to five years age bracket.
The WFP official said that pregnant and lactating women also received nutrition assistance as well as cash and food support.
Vennize, however, said that in areas where there were returning Internally Displaced Persons’ livelihood support interventions were implemented to facilitate the returnees’ early recovery and reduce their reliance on food assistance.


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Story | Dec 31, 2013 | 9:23 AMNEW YORK — U.S. stocks advanced modestly on Tuesday, boosted by a solid consumer confidence reading, keeping the S&P 500 on track for its best year since 1997 and the Dow on pace to record its best performance since 1995.


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Just who are parades for?
During this year’s Apple Blossom Festival, I was able to attend both the Firefighters’ Parade and the Grand Feature Parade.
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Council's first meeting of the year
The newly elected school council met for the first time today.
Our new school council members were elected by their peers over the last week and attended their first meeting today. The first meeting helped them to understand their role a little more, and the etiquettes for the meetings. They are now looking forward to working with the children across the school to decide what their first project will be.


Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is reporting that the island welcomed a record two million visitors for the first five months of 2019.
He was speaking at the official opening of the R Hotel in New Kingston last week.
Mr. Bartlett also said that the country earned US$1.7 billion for the period, as a result of the increase in arrivals.
The Tourism Minister said the Government is working to retain a greater portion of visitor spending, so that more Jamaicans can benefit from the industry.
He noted that the country now retains 41 cents out of every tourism dollar spent on the island, up from 30 cents.


Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised government’s economic team and said that the value of the rupee has increased by four rupees after the current account deficit has been eliminated in four months.
Imran Khan paid appreciated the economic team and said that due to the policies of the government, the value of the rupee had increased.
He further said that the economy had stabilized and the country would now progress. “The most positive outcome is that the IMF, World Bank and ADB themselves said that Pakistan is on the right direction.
On the other hand, Federal Minister Asad Omar has said of due the China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) that the country’s debt will be significantly reduced in the next 3 years and the project will increase employment in the country.
Eralier, Chinese ambassador has also said that China has always helped Pakistan beyond political goals and specific governments. If Pakistan is in trouble, repayment of loans will not be required.
According to details, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing expressed a shocking response to US Ambassador, US Deputy Foreign Minister Alice Wells. Chinese Ambassador said why the United States suspended Pakistan’s aid to political priority.
The Chinese ambassador said that Pakistan had a severe energy crisis in 2013. Where was the US then? Why US companies didn’t set up power plants in Pakistan
Chinese Ambassador said that China has always helped Pakistan in overcoming political goals beyond specific governments.
If Pakistan is ever in trouble, it will not require the repayment of loans.
Pakistani, Chinese media should face propaganda against CPEC.


SBP governor says inflation expected to decrease in coming days
ISLAMABAD: Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Reza Baqir, said that inflation was expected to decrease further in the coming days and that the central bank was ready to “take action” in the coming days regarding the interest rate if the situation required so.
Baqir was speaking to anchor Shahzeb Khanzada on Geo News’ programme ‘Aj Shahzeb Khanzada Ke Sath’ when he said that the central bank takes decisions about the interest rate by taking into account the inflationary situation in the days to come.
“The statistics that we have with us clearly show that inflation is expected to decrease further in the coming days,” he said. “As we keep receiving information about the country’s economy, the State Bank will be ready to take action in future about the interest rate,” he added.
He said that it was extremely important for the government to focus its energies on employment and economic growth. The SBP governor said that Pakistan had cut its basis points by 255 which was the second-highest decline in the world.
Speaking further about the SBP’s new scheme, Baqir said that businesses who do not lay off employees will be able to avail loans on a 5% rate. “Businessmen who are on the active tax list will be able to avail loans on 1% interest rate as well,” he said.
Baqir said that the scheme’s policies favoured small businesses more than the larger ones. He said that businesses whose salaries expenses amounted to less than Rs20 crores could secure the entire amount as a loan.


(MENAFN) An 11-year-old Toronto girl has had her parts of her hijab cut off by a scissors-wielding man on her way to school.
The student girl said on Friday that while she was walking with her younger brother, she felt someone behind her, and then the man pulled off the hood of her jacket and started cutting the back of her hijab, which made her turn around and scream.
She also added that he came back another time later and continued to cut her hijab from behind, then he smiled and ran away.
On the meantime, her mother is appealing to police to handle it as a hate crime, while they are searching for a suspect in his 20s.
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PM assures entrepreneurs of higher return of their investment in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has assured prospective entrepreneurs that their investment will be secure and they will have the higher return on their investment in Pakistan.
He was addressing an investment conference in Islamabad on Monday.
The prime minister, according to state-run radio service, said because of its business friendly policies, location, incentives, ease to doing business, vast consumer base and improvement of infrastructure and connectivity, Pakistan has become an attractive investment destination.
Mr. Abbasi also assured potential investors that they will not suffer losses by investing in Pakistan and said many companies came and went but none of them suffered losses.
The prime minister said the country faced many serious challenges when the present Government assumed power in 2013 and most of them have successfully been addressed.
Power outages are going to become part of the past and the country is poised to have surplus electricity by 2025. He said we are now planning on reducing the cost of power.
He said gas shortages have also been addressed through the import of LNG.
The premier said in the past investors had security concerns but these have also been taken care of because of an effective war against terror. “Efforts are being made to make the security sustainable for future of Pakistan,” he added.


Bhopal, May 11
The government is considering that a provision of life imprisonment should be made for those who indulge in fraudulent use of fake medicines in the state, said Madhya Pradesh’s Home Minister Dr Narottam Mishra.
Dr. Mishra said that the law department is being consulted for amending the law to take legal action against the enemies of human beings who trade fake drug injections.
Dr. Mishra said that the government will take strict action against those who sell fake medicines. At present, action is being taken under the National Security Act for selling fake drugs, but soon it will also be brought under the Food Adulteration Act. The Food Adulteration Act provides for life imprisonment against those who commit such acts.
He said that a draft is being sent to the Law Department for this. Once finalized from the department, it will be incorporated into law. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself has indicated the harsh action against such people.
Dr. Mishra has said that not only will strict action be taken against such people, but their property will also be seized and destroyed.
The Home Minister has clarified that selling fake medicines is an evil crime and the government is going to take severe action against those who do so.
He said that so far action has been taken against more than a dozen people under the National Security Act and the licenses of hospitals have also been revoked.


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The Himachal Pradesh Congress on Sunday accused the BJP-ruled state government of leaving the common masses to fend for themselves, charging that they were being made to suffer owing to wrong decisions of the government.
State Congress spokesperson Vijay Dogra said in COVID19 pandemic when the state government should have provided relief to common masses, the government’s decision had resulted in price-rise, causing mental and economic harassment.
“The residents of the state had to seek permission for coming to their own state while outsiders are being brought to state via flights.
If the state government is giving argument that they were asking the people to seek e-COVID pass to track their history, then they should follow the example of Punjab wherein e-Registration facility is launched for inter-state movement,” he added.
Dogra said many people had lost their jobs due to Corona crisis in the state and many employees were being harassed and ousted by private companies but the government hadn’t taken any corrective measures resolve these issues.
“The BJP government seems to careless about such issues which were being faced by the people.
The BJP leaders are shedding crocodile tears and giving false assurances on being supportive towards the needs of general public. But the situation on ground tells an entirely different story,” he added.
He further stated that BJP ministers were organizing public functions amidst the COVID-19 pandemic without caring for the safety of masses as these could lead to community spread of disease.
The state government had imposed various sanctions on holding of various social functions and even marriages but there seemed to be no such restriction on functions and programmes organized by the party, he added.
He urged the BJP government to take decisions for the welfare of general public and utilize the funds to provide them relief.
He also took a dig at state BJP chief Suresh Chief for terming Congress a party without any leader and advised him to focus on his own party organization as Congress had strong leadership and even better policies to help people in such a crisis.


Israel asks Canada to be responsible for Nazi legacy
(MENAFN) Ottawa has to accept that with its “historic sin” of banishing Jews while protecting Nazis in the result of the World War II, Israeli Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism Michal Cotler-Wunsh informed the newspaper during this week.
A scandal exploded in Canada when parliament gave a respectful tribute to Ukrainian Waffen SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka throughout his trip by Ukrainian Leader Vladimir Zelensky in the last couple of days of September.
Honoring the 98-year-old World War II Nazi traitor has caused a global rage also gained condemnation from Russia, Poland as well as Jewish institutions. The occurrence caused the quitting of Canadian House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota, who took full accountability for the Nazi veteran’s summons.
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Wasay Jalil terms Malir SSP’s press conference biggest joke of year
KARACHI (92 News) – MQM leader Wasay Jalil has termed the press conference of Malir SSP Rao Anwaar as the biggest joke of the year.
In a statement on Thursday, he said that the arrested man Tahir has been asked to give the statement before the media like a parrot.
He said that the MQM has no link with Tahir Lamba.
He said that the 1992 operation drama was staged against the MQM, while the Jinnahpur allegations were also levelled by the then establishment.


Is there really such a thing as the perfect time? Is there really such a thing as being truly prepared?
Telling ourselves that we need to be ready, that we need to be fully prepared before we can do whatever it is that we keep telling ourselves we will do is just a cop out. The more we delay in doing what it is we truly want to be doing is when we let the fear win. As much as we don’t want to admit it, that is the emotion we allowing to rule our life. It’s time to step up.


Turkey's benchmark stock index increases on Wednesday
( MENAFN )On Wednesday, Turkey's benchmark stock index ended the day at 1,417.89 points, dropped 0.19 percent.
Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index decreased 2.71 points from Tuesday's close at 1,420.59 points, after opening the day at 1,420.94 points.
The index averaged amid 1,403.61 and 1,422.48 points. 12 stocks on the index increased, as 85 dropped in comparison to the last close.
The total amount of market worth of the BIST 100 stood at 1.08 trillion Turkish liras (USD139 billion) by market close, with a daily rate of 17.5 billion Turkish liras (USD2.5 billion).
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Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has taken a bold step towards strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin, who addressed newsmen after a meeting of the state Executive Council, last week, said the Health Sector Reform Act will bring a lot of positive changes to the health sector and will comprehensively address health-related issues.
Ekochin explained that the new law has components that were integrated for positive results, disclosing that the district health system introduced by the colonial government has been repackaged and replaced, accordingly.
He added that the district health boards were also affected by the new law.
“We are now going to key into the Ward Health System, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) had recommended and was long adopted by the Federal Government.”
The health commissioner further explained that the law gives the state government authority to oversee healthcare from the hospital management board.
“This hospital management board takes over from health management board that existed before now,” the commissioner said.
He disclosed that a new agency, the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, will be established immediately, “to ensure that the primary healthcare programmes are implemented in Enugu State under one roof, in line with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency’s guideline.’
“This is going to see to further revitalisation of primary healthcare centres at the grassroots, designed to provide adequate healthcare services to rural dwellers,” he added.


German Company to Inspect Iraq's Electoral Software
(MENAFN - Iraq Business News) By John Lee.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Iraqi Cabinet approved the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) decision to pay the German company Hensoldt to inspect the software running the country's electoral systems.
The company, which has 5,600 employees, describes itself as "a pioneer of technology and innovation for defence and security electronics."
General parliamentary elections are scheduled for 10th October 2021.
(Source: Govt of Iraq)
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(MENAFN- Gulf Times) At least four people have died when a rockslide slammed into a passenger bus in quake-devastated central Nepal, police said yesterday.
Security forces used metal cutters to slice through the mangled wreckage of the bus, crushed by a boulder that rolled down a hill in Nuwakot, one of the districts that suffered heavy damage when an earthquake hit the Himalayan nation in April.
"We understand that around a dozen passengers were travelling in the bus, we have rescued eight people, including five injured persons," said Arun Prasad Paudel, district police chief.
"We have pulled out four bodies, including that of the driver, we don't think any more people are trapped inside," said Paudel.
More than 8,800 people died when a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, followed by a massive aftershock on May 12, which together destroyed nearly 600,000 homes, leaving thousands in desperate need of food, clean water and shelter.
The UN says some 2.8mn people still require humanitarian aid, with delivery of relief supplies to mountainous villages expected to suffer a serious blow amid fears that monsoon rains will trigger landslides.
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EU supplies Ukraine to limit without risking own security
(MENAFN) European Union nations have supplied Ukraine with all the available weaponry they can provide without jeopardizing their own defense capabilities, as reported by Politico. The outlet cites a European official who reveals that Ukraine is currently experiencing reductions in both arms deliveries and financial assistance, signifying a waning in Western support for the country.
“We cannot keep on giving from our own stockpiles,” the European source stated as cited on Monday. There could still be strong political backing, but “we’ve given everything that will not endanger our own security.”
The statement was provided to Politico in the context of its coverage of the recent International Industries Defense Forum held in Kiev. During the forum, Ukrainian hosts engaged in a concerted effort to engage with manufacturers of weaponry, as detailed in the report.
In a separate article published on Tuesday, Politico noted that the backing for financially supporting the Ukrainian government is displaying greater signs of strain and division than before.
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(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 21. Azerbaijan is
working on providing visa-free system for Chinese tourists, Head of
the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration
Hikmet Hajiyev said in an interview with China Global Television
Network (CGTN), Trend reports.
“Chinese citizens can obtain their visas upon arrival to Baku.
But there will be more even in a sense that Azerbaijan is looking
forward to completely ensure visa-free system to Chinese citizens.
We are working on that and hopefully, within a short period of
time, such good news will come. We are very much pleased to see
Chinese tourists, businessmen, partners and investors in
Azerbaijan. There is a historical linkage between our countries,”
Hajiyev pointed out that tourism is also a part of the
“We also see it as part of the global development initiative
that China has put forward. It is also a part of the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI), as BRI is also about people-to-people contacts
and tourism is one of the key components of that,” he said.
Hajiyev noted that there are direct flights between Beijing and
Baku and Azerbaijan is looking forward to open more flights to
different Chinese cities.
“People-to-people contacts are also about business
opportunities,” he added.
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BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja to be held later this month. State BJP president Dilip Ghosh said a few days ago that the Bengal unit of the party would request the Prime Minister to send a message to the people to follow the guidelines of Covid-19 during the upcoming Durga Puja.
Vijayvargiya said that Prime Minister Modi will address the people in a virtual manner on the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja. He will connect with people in a virtual way on 22 October.
Also read- Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said on turban dispute: gross misuse of police power, action will be taken
The state’s chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has already announced that Durga Puja will take place in the state this year amid stringent protocols related to Covid-19.
Amit Shah can tour before Durga Puja
Recently, Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh had said that before Durgapuja starting from October 22, it is very likely that Shah will visit the state to discuss election preparations with the leaders there. He had told that the state unit has requested both Shah and Nadda to visit the state.
Also read- Stones on West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh’s convoy
According to sources, the party leaders have asked the leaders of the state BJP to inform the public about the benefits of recently passed bills related to agricultural reform. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is campaigning against these bills. State leaders have also been asked to tell people that the Trinamool Congress government in the state is not implementing the welfare schemes of the central government.


AT-KABUL: A policeman and two prisoners have been killed when prisoners transport vehicle turned turtle in western Herat province.
Rafiq Sherzai, spokesman for central hospital in the province, said that the incident took place in Pul-e-Pashtun area of the province. “As result of the incident one policeman and two prisoners have been killed and 11 others wounded,” he added. Sherzai added that the wounded people include five policemen and six inmates.
He said that some of the wounded people are in critical health conditions.
Abdul Rauf Ahmadi, a spokesman for Herat police, said that security forces were transferring the prisoners from Gozara district to Herat hospital for treatment, when their vehicle turned turtle. He said only two prisoners have been killed in the incident and eight people including six policemen and two prisoners.


Area briefs: Millbrook girls’ soccer routs Warren
WINCHESTER — Brooke Borlie and Holly Elko had two goals each to lead the Millbrook girls’ soccer team to a 6-0 non-district victory over Warren County Wednesday.
The Pioneers (3-2) also received…
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“GT7 has been impacted by Covid-related production challenges and therefore will shift from 2021 to 2022. With the ongoing pandemic, it’s a dynamic and changing situation and some critical aspects of game production have been slowed over the past several months. We’ll share more specifics on GT7’s release date when available.”
When asked about games such as Horizon Forbidden West and Ratchet and Clank, Ryan said that those were still on track to hit their 2021 release dates. We know that Returnal was delayed earlier this year and will now release on April 30th.


NATO discards Russia’s order to leave Bulgaria, Romania
(MENAFN) On Friday, NATO opposed Russia’s request to remove its political forces from Bulgaria and Romania.
NATO representative Oana Lungescu mentioned in a report in response to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s insights, “NATO will not renounce our ability to protect and defend each other, including with the presence of troops in the eastern part of the Alliance.”
On the same day, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey clarified that Russia’s suggestions on European security arrangement are “about withdrawing foreign troops, equipment and weapons, as well as about other steps aimed at restoring the 1997 configuration of those countries who weren't NATO members at that time and that includes both Bulgaria and Romania.”
NATO representative added, the military union can’t conform to Russia’s orders for they are constructed on the “idea of spheres of influence in Europe” and “would create first and second class NATO members.”
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Stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui has been removed from the line-up of performers at the Gurgaon Comedy Festival over 'public safety concerns.' The organizers of the three-day event said they had received 'repeated calls' and online messages against Faruqui's inclusion in the line-up. The event will take place at Airia Mall, Gurugram, from December 17 to 19. Earlier, Faruqui's show in Bengaluru was also canceled.
Context Why does this story matter?
Faruqui's exclusion from the event is what critics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ) describe as a crackdown on 'artistic expression' and dissent. On Monday, BJP leader Arun Yadav opposed Faruqui's participation and filed a case against him 'for insulting Hindu Gods and Goddesses.' Faruqui was infamously arrested this January for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments during a show in Indore.
Quote Comedy fest organizers feared public threat
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50 Nabbed For Online Gambling
(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Criminal Investigation Department arrested 50 Asians for engaging in online gambling at a residence, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said Friday.
With the necessary permission from the Public Prosecution, the house was raided, and the suspects were captured, MoI said in a post on X.
Upon searching the premises, a significant amount of money from the gambling activities and alcoholic beverages were discovered. The arrested been referred, along with the seized items, to prosecution and further legal procedures, MoI added.
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Ever since Tommy Alter was diagnosed with severe food allergies as a baby, his parents have been vigilant about keeping him safe, even handing out printed cards that list what he can't eat. So when the Highland Park 9-year-old, along with his cousin and...


ROSELLE — The District 12 school board was told Tuesday night that the district is moving forward with technology improvements and that the first goal already had been achieved.
As Supt. Robert Balthus listened, the board's Technology Committee reviewed a list of technology priorities the panel had created, which included installing lines that would connect the district to the Internet.
Curriculum coordinator Robert Robertshaw said the district already had hired a consultant to help in updating the technology, which was the first priority on the list.
Robertshaw said the next priorities are to have TV/VCR/laser disc combinations installed in classrooms, to avoid transporting them on carts; and to wire buildings and make infrastructure changes to accommodate the updated equipment.
"We're also recommending hiring a computer coordinator to work the media center and train teachers," Robertshaw said.


To those who have lost a loved oneTo the wounded
To the soldiers who have healedTo those who did notTo fathers and mothers who had to leave their childrenTo sons and daughters who had to leave their parentsTo the men and women who are far awayTo the ones who may leave at any time
To those who have returnedTo those who direct themTo those who train themTo those who treat themTo those who feed themTo those who minister to themTo those who love themTo those who pray over them
To those who have returned
Let us never forget.


The World Food Programme (WFP) has called on its humanitarian partners to step up their support for the people of South Sudan to prevent starvation.
WFP made the call after further reducing rations from 70 to 50 percent for about 700,000 refugees and displaced persons in the country due to lack of funding.
The organisation’s Country Director in South Sudan, Matthew Hollingworth, said South Sudan was already in a dire situation before the WFP decided to implement the cuts.
The UN agency had warned that its beneficiaries would face increased hunger if it does not receive the money needed to keep its programme running.
South Sudan has been struggling with communal conflict, plus the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and frequent flooding.
More than 1.4 million South Sudanese are displaced inside the country, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, according to a report by Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE).
The years-long civil war has contributed to an economic crisis and below-average harvest that continues to send food prices skyrocketing.
The result has been a food crisis that has seen 9,000 people losing access to food every day, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), which recently released an urgent appeal for $1.7 billion to help 6.6 million people facing food insecurity in South Sudan.
‘With the worsening food insecurity this year, where we expect around 7.2 million people to suffer from severe food insecurity in this lean season coming, we have to prioritise the most needy, knowing that those who will lose some of their assistance will suffer because of the decision’, Hollingworth said in a statement.
‘We will be working with the communities themselves and with organisations that support them in the camps to monitor the situation to try and ensure we can mitigate the impact on the most vulnerable, because we know these sorts of cuts can lead to higher rates of malnutrition and anemia.
‘WFP will make sure that young mothers and their babies from these communities will continue to receive our nutrition support despite the other cuts’.
Hollingworth said to continue to provide sufficient food quantities, including larger rations, WFP needed more funding.
According to him, the food agency needs $125 million to carry out its humanitarian response for the next six months.
‘We are calling on our partners, donor governments and wealthy individuals around the world to step up and support the people of the world’s newest nation so that we can prevent starvation, we can sustain our food assistance programme to vulnerable refugees and the displaced and we can reinstate the rations we had to cut as soon as possible’, he said.
Also, Hollingworth called on the government of South Sudan to provide more agricultural land so that refugees and IDPs living in camps can grow their own produce.
Photo source: WFP


Rwandan police, on Thursday, arrested four people who had escaped from a COVID-19 treatment center in Eastern province.
The Ngoma district police in a statement said that the patients who contracted the disease and were receiving treatment at the center set up at a secondary school in Ngoma district escaped on Wednesday evening after breaking iron window bars.
According to the statement, it took the efforts of Security officers and local leaders to locate their whereabouts and arrest them following a tip-off from people who saw them.
It also stated that Security officers and medics are tracing their likely contacts, including their families, according to the statement.
The police appealed to those who could have had contact with the four to come forward for tests and due treatment to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
Rwanda has reported 16 new cases, 3 deaths and 13 recoveries, bringing the total confirmed cases to 1,210 and total recoveries to 623.


Andhra Pradesh transport minister Perni Nani today said that the state-owned RTC buses of Telangana and AP would be operated only till the borders of the respective states.
He said that all possible steps were being taken to to ensure the availability of an adequate number of buses at the borders of the states for further travel.
Addressing the media in Amaravathi, Nani said that the situation had arisen due to the discussions with the authorities of Telangana not reaching fruition yet. He said that AP natives who had settled down in Hyderabad were waiting to return to their native places to celebrate Dasara with their families, and that though the APSRTC had prepared to make the necessary transport arrangements, it couldn't due to the ongoing lack of any any agreement with the Telangana government.
He added that the APSRTC authorities had requested the TSRTC authorities to operate buses till the AP border at least, as a temporary solution.
He said that the APSRTC had kept its buses ready for those who reached the border, at Panchalingala, Garikapadu, Wadapally, Pylon, Jeelugumalli and Kallugudem in Kurnool district.
He also said that the APSRTC had restored bus services to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
He said that the APSRTC and the TSRTC would once again hold discussions on Tuesday.