(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
A series of strong earthquakes rocked southern Iran yesterday, killing at least five people, injuring over 90 others and reducing an entire village to rubble.
The quakes, including two of magnitude 6.0, struck west of the major port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, the US Geological Survey said.
The first rattled an area north of the town of Dezhgan shortly after 2:00am (2130 GMT), before a 5.7 tremor hit two hours later followed quickly by the second 6.0 magnitude quake, the USGS said.
Five people were killed, Hormozgan governor Mehdi Dousti said, quoted by official news agency IRNA.
Dousti told state television that the village of Sayeh Khosh, close to the epicentre, had been“completely destroyed”.
“Ninety-three people were injured, of whom only seven are still in hospital for treatment,” national emergency services spokesman Mojtaba Khaledi told state television.
The broadcaster showed footage of residential buildings reduced to rubble in Sayeh Khosh, which was plunged into darkness in a power outage.
In another video, a family was seen sifting through debris and trying to recover their belongings, as a woman was heard screaming in the background.
Ambulances and other vehicles tried to navigate roads covered in rubble as shocked residents wandered through the streets.
People spent the night outdoors in the provincial capital Bandar Abbas — with a population of more than 500,000, located about 100 kilometres east of the epicentre — as long queues formed at gas stations there, state media reported.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi visited Hormozgan province and told state television that restoring water and electricity were among the government's top priorities.
Iran's Red Crescent Society said in the morning that search and rescue operations were nearly over.“We are concentrating on housing the victims of the earthquake,” Hormozgan governor Dousti told state television.
A provincial heritage official told IRNA the quake damaged 50 historical windmills on Qeshm island, located just off the coast.
Iran sits astride the boundaries of several major tectonic plates and experiences frequent seismic activity.
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New York has gotten a $27 million federal grant that will go toward hiring people to help Superstorm Sandy cleanup efforts.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the National Emergency Grant on Sunday. The money is going to go to communities that were hit hard by the storm so that they can hire people.
The state Department of Labor is administering the funds.
At an event in Brooklyn about the grant, a throng of about two dozen people were already lined up to apply for the jobs, and officials say 800 people have already applied.
The jobs are expected to last generally about six months and pay up to $15 per hour.


ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Special Assistant (SAPM) on Accountability Shahzad Akbar on Friday announced that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recovered Rs7 billion during 2019.
“(PML-N spokesperson) Marriyum Aurangzeb asked about what the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU) had done to bring back looted wealth which was stashed abroad,” Akbar said while addressing a press conference here. “Critics need to understand how the ARU works.”
Akbar said that those who had remained in power since the past 35 years had illegally occupied public land, and the opposition was creating noise over its recovery.
He alleged that apart from former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, the ‘B team’ of the PML-N was also involved in corruption. He said that the incumbent government replied to the questions and criticism it received but its predecessors did not.
“Those who were in power before us did not bother answering questions,” he said. “Even Marriyum said that this government is quick to give a response.”
Akbar said that Punjab Anti-Corruption had recovered land worth Rs129 billion. He said that the government had spent Rs10.3 million on the ARU.
“Marriyum should stop misleading the nation with false claims,” he said.
He said that when Shehbaz’s son Hamza is questioned, he tells authorities to ask questions from his brother, Suleman. He said that the government was asked about various questions and it provided answers to them.
“We were asked about the money that was spent on overseas trips,” he said. “We gave them the list of expenditures that were incurred.”
Akbar alleged that the PML-N had laundered money in the past through ‘cash boys’.
“Who were Masroor Anwar and Shoaib cash boys?” he asked.
He said that it had been several days and neither Shehbaz nor anyone from the PML-N had responded to his 18 questions.
Akbar spoke about the recent settlement between Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom.
“The NCA has transferred £190m to the government of Pakistan,” he said. “The NCA’s press release has said that it was a civil suit and there was no criminal element,” he added.
The PML-N’s Marriyum Aurangzeb had earlier lashed out at Akbar and criticised the ARU. She had said that the government had spent Rs20.3 million on the unit but hadn’t recovered anything yet.
“After spending Rs20.3 million, the amount that they recovered is zero,” she had said.


Residents of Al-Warraq Island held a meeting on Friday to discuss ways to push back against the government island development plan, being carried out by the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, and decided to file a lawsuit against the government in the State Council.
Yahya al-Shahat, a resident in Warraq, said that some 3,000 citizens of the island gathered to discuss how to file a lawsuit with the State Council against the government project, which will displace vast numbers who live on the island.
Shahat said in a statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm, that there is anger and outrage among the island residents, who were told by members of the House of Representatives, that the development plan would benefit the people.
“A large press conference will be held for the people of the island soon, which will be covered by all the international media. During the conference we’ll demand the government to issue a decision on what will be implemented on the island, so that we can use it against the government in court,” he said.
He pointed out that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi always reiterates that we are a state of law, and we will resort to the judiciary to rule on the spat between the government and us.
Edited Translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm


The Federal Government on Friday said it has increased the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to N5 million in the amended National Broadcasting Code to deter people who are willingly violating the provision to destabilise the country.
Recall that the minister in 2019 announced the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari for the increase of the fine which was later stipulated in the amended Broadcasting Code.
“What motivated the amendment was that when the fine was N500,000 we saw the provision being violated at will because the amount was very easy to pay,” he said.
The minister explained that some desperate people, who know that their broadcast content contains hate speech, will insist that the broadcast stations should air it while they bear the cost of the fine.
The minister said that hate speech is not new but the social media and its wildfire capacity to spread information made it to be more problematic.
He, therefore, reiterated the resolve of the government to regulate social media without stifling the freedom of speech.


CEOs Were Bailed Out, Homeowners … Not So Much
Robert Greenwald’s filmmaking team has zeroed in on the ongoing mortgage crisis in this clip illustrating the stark contrast between the fate of Wall Street bankers and that of struggling homeowners after the initial bailout money was doled out — without any requirements that those who benefited the most account for the funds or be accountable to people trying to save their homes.
Brave New Films:WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…
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Authorities in Belarus said Wednesday that they have arrested those responsible for the attack on a Minsk metro station and that some of the suspects have confessed, according to media reports.
Belarusian officials said they apprehended three suspects, two of whom said they were responsible for the attack, the Moscow Times reported.
The blast at a station platform killed 12 people and wounded more than 200 April 11.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been the country’s autocratic ruler since 1994, said that opposition forces might know who ordered the attack, according to state-run media Svaboda.
He said that while the suspects admitted that they had carried out the bombing, he still thinks someone else was behind it.
“Maybe politicians with the fifth column will show their cards and we will see who ordered it,” he said, referring to the fragmented opposition groups in Belarus.
Officials close to the investigation told the Moscow Times that the two did not have any political motive, and likened one of the suspects to the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter.
The unnamed source said that psychologists have evaluated the suspect and noted that he “enjoys seeing human suffering,” according to the Times.
Opposition in Belarus is likely to see more crackdowns and intensified pressure in the wake of the bombing.
Often referred to as Europe’s last dictator, Lukashenko most recently cracked down on opposition in December after the presidential election.


Members of the Red Cross have found evidence of chemical attacks on civilians in Mosul. They said at least 12 patients who were being treated showed symptoms of exposure to a chemical blistering agent.
Five children, three women and four men showed symptoms of blisters, coughing, irritation, and vomiting.
Residents also reported smelling something strange after mortar attacks in the region.
Timeline The fall of Mosul Introduction
Since Dec'13, clashes have been occurring between government security forces, tribal militia, and the Islamic State militants in Iraq.
In Jan'14, the IS took control of cities like Fallujah and Ramadi, inciting conflict with the army.
Mosul fell into the clutches of the Islamic State in Jun'14 when the terror outfit attacked Western and Northern Iraq occupying nearly one-third of the country.
Islamic State targets Shias Islamic State
In 2014, Salafi (Sunni) Jihadist militant group Islamic State had proclaimed itself as a worldwide caliphate.
By 2014, it gained control over much of Iraq; it was known for its brutal violence, and extreme interpretation of the Sharia law and Islamic faith.
Being a Sunni group, it targeted Shias along with other religions/communities like Assyrians, Armenian Christians, Yazidis, Mandaeans, etc.
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Sanjay Samani was re-elected as chairman of Alyth Community Council at the group’s AGM.
The meeting also saw Barbara Prettyman re-elected to the position of vice-chair of the community council and to the role of minute secretary.
Edith Payne was re-elected as treasurer and Clare Cooper was re-elected secretary.
In the chairman’s report, Mr Samani noted that Susan Allan and George Annan had both stepped down from the community council and thanked them for their hard work while in post.
He also commented that he found it “reassuring” that the community council was being productive, tackling a number of issues in the town – such as the planting at the burnside – and keeping the community up to speed on a number of high-profile planning applications.
He added that throughout the next year the community council would be looking to further build on the progress they had made.
In her report, vice-chairman Barbara Prettyman highlighted a number of the community council’s successes in the past year, in particular the introduction of the new community group award which the meeting was told had been very well-received.
The report also mentioned involvement in the celebrations to mark the completion of the refurbishment of the Arches.
Ward councillor Ian Miller thanked the community council for their efforts throughout the year and said it was “good to see numbers back up”, adding and that the group’s work was appreciated.
Tony Thompson was elected chairman of Mount Blair Community Council at its recent AGM in Kirkmichael. Andrew Duncan will continue as vice-chair, while Bernard Noonan, John Manning and Robert Brawn were also elected as office-bearers.


(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) ALGIERS, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's Representative, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation have left Algiers following the conclusion of the 31st Arab Summit.
His Highness the Amir's Representative was seen off at the airport by Algerian Minister of Knowledge Economy and Start-ups and Micro-Enterprises Yacine Al-Mahdi Walid, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Algeria Mohammad Marzouq Al-Shabu and Head of the Accompanying Mission of Honor, Algerian Ambassador to Kuwait Abdulmalek Buhdo. (end)
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Kuwait- Amiri envoy heads to Saudi Arabia to pay respect for late Prince
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) KUWAIT, Nov 7 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's envoy, Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah, departed to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The Amir's envoy would convey condolences over the death of Aseer's deputy governor, Prince Mansour bin Muqren bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
His Highness the Amir's envoy is accompanied by the Amiri Diwan Advisor, Sheikh Fahad Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah and the Chief of Kuwait Security Bureau, Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. (end) mso.mys
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Lahore: Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Health Khawaja Salman Rafiq has said that the doctors who did not pay any heed to the appeals of Chief Minister Punjab, teachers, parents and the people have ultimately announced to call off their strike on the orders of High Court.
He said that the responsibility of deaths during the strike lies on doctors, who, for the sake of their financial lust, not only violated their oath but also put the human lives at stake. He said that government, people, media, civil society and ulema repeatedly appealed to the doctors to call off strike but the young doctors tried to solve the matter through strike instead of dialogue.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said that there is no such example of strike of doctors throughout the world. He said that Punjab government will implement the orders of High Court in letter and spirit.


(MENAFN- Trend News Agency ) Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 28
By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:
Although uncertainties about the future of Iran's nuclear deal has cast shadow over Tehran's plans to renew its aged aviation fleet, the next year appears to be a great chance to acquire modern planes.
Following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA/ nuclear deal) last January, Iran concluded deals to acquire 100 planes from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from ATR.
The giant aircraft manufacturers have already delivered nine planes, including three Airbus and six ATRs as two new ATR 72-600 planes were the latest ones to touch the ground at an airport in Tehran this morning.
However strained relations between Iran and the US as well as the aggressive rhetoric of President Donald Trump against the Islamic Republic have caused concerns over the prosperity of aviation deals between Iran and the European and US manufacturers.
While the leading manufacturers require licenses from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to complete the sales to Iran, the US House of Representatives earlier in September voted in favor of new measures that block sales of commercial aircraft to the Islamic Republic, which means that the bill, once signed into law by President Trump, would prevent OFAC from clearing licenses to allow the aircraft sales.
Although Iranian officials sound confident that the manufacturers would continue to fulfill their commitments under the existing deals, an official with ATR appeared hesitant about the capability of his company to materialize the commitments, watering down Iran's plans to renew its aviation fleet.
The ATR representative during a ceremony held for marking the delivery of new aircraft to Iran in Tehran said that the manufacturers have an OFAC license which covers 2018. Therefore, the company will make efforts to deliver as many aircraft over the next year as possible.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


Members of the U.N. Food Systems Champions Network discuss the ways that public finance and fiscal policy can support sustainable food systems.
Farmers face challenges from trade wars, climate change, and COVID-19 but need more than federal payments to be sustainable long term.
Agriculture subsidies have the potential to fund conservation efforts that mitigate climate change and increase food security, according to a new report.
Agricultural lands are less productive than five years ago, even though global food production has increased. Agricultural subsidies promote practices that degrade soil health by damaging the nutrient rich microbiomes that help crops grow.


KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 30 — The Terengganu State Legislative Assembly today approved the State Budget 2024, tabled by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
Ahmad Samsuri, when winding up the debate on the Supply Enactment Bill 2024, at the Wisma Darul Iman, here today, said that the state government will generate new income through the empowerment of existing resources and the exploration of new resources, to strengthen the state government’s finances.
He said that the state’s new revenue generation plans will be the main strategy to increase government revenue.
“The government is optimistic that we are able to increase the state’s revenue in phases. However, we need to be realistic about this.
“Some of these plans can be implemented immediately, and some require more time because they involve many processes and many parties at various levels,” he said.
Therefore, he said that to ensure that the planning is truly beneficial to the people and the state, he will always be prudent and not hasty in taking action and making decisions.
Apart from that, he said that the state government will also always try to obtain funds from petroleum royalties to strengthen the state’s financial position.
Ahmad Samsuri, on Monday, tabled an allocation of RM1.860 billion for the state’s Budget 2024, with an estimated deficit of RM131 million, compared with the previous budget.
Themed “Heading to a New Era Terengganu’, the budget includes a RM500 million contribution to the Development Fund, while under operating expenditure, a total of RM84.77 million is allocated for Dependent Expenses, and RM1.775 billion for Supply Expenses. — Bernama


Local News: Warning that Sri Lanka’s economic growth is expected to fall to -3.5%, former Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe urged the government to devise a long-term strategy to revive the Covid-19 pandemic affected economy.
“I urge the government to assess the Sri Lankan economy correctly and to devise a long-term strategy to revive it,” Mr Wickremesinghe said in a special speech.
“Many sectors that may have played a leading role in reviving the economy appeared to go down. Several countries that had established these industries have spent large sums of funds to revive them. Most countries have invested 10 per cent of GDP on reviving these industries.
It seemed that Sri Lanka devoted just two percent of GDP to the same. It will take years for the economy to recover if there is no proper emphasis on industries which have the potential to sustain overall economic growth, “said Mr. Wickremesinghe.
He said the economic downturn has impacted those who depend on regular revenue including three-wheeler drivers, laborers, and artists. “It is also reported that private-sector employment has become uncertain and that close to 500,000 jobs will be lost,” he said.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said printing money worth Rs.200 billion and releasing it into the market would lead to further economic problems.
“As a result of the current pandemic condition, global economic growth is expected to fall to -3 per cent. Economic growth in Sri Lanka is expected to drop to -3.5 per cent while the local apparel industry is expected to drop by 60 per cent. International remittance from Sri Lanka is expected to decline by 20 per cent.
Additionally, restrictions on imports will also affect the retail industry and local production. It is because retail trade is primarily dependent on imports while local manufacturing industries import their raw materials, “said Mr. Wickremesinghe, too.


A Scottish charity has delivered hundreds of gifts to children in Ukraine who are living in the midst of a war that has entered its third winter. The charity, called Aid Convoy, collected donations from schools, churches, and individuals across Scotland and transported them to the eastern region of Donbass, where a conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed separatists has been raging since 2014.
A gesture of kindness and solidarity
The gifts, which included toys, clothes, books, and toiletries, were wrapped in festive paper and labelled with the names and ages of the recipients. The charity said that the aim of the project was to show the children that they are not forgotten and that people in Scotland care about them.
John McLean, the founder and director of Aid Convoy, said that the gifts were a gesture of kindness and solidarity to the children who have suffered so much from the war. He said that many of the children have lost their homes, their schools, and their loved ones, and that some of them have been injured or traumatised by the violence.
He said that the gifts were a way of bringing some joy and hope to their lives, especially during the winter, when the temperatures can drop below -20 degrees Celsius and the humanitarian situation can worsen. He said that the gifts were also a way of expressing gratitude to the local partners and volunteers who have been helping the charity to distribute aid and provide support to the affected communities.
A long-term commitment to help the people of Ukraine
Aid Convoy is a Scottish charity that was established in 2013 to provide humanitarian assistance to people in crisis situations around the world. The charity has been working in Ukraine since 2015, when it sent its first convoy of aid to the war-torn country.
Since then, the charity has delivered more than 200 tonnes of aid, including food, water, medicine, hygiene items, blankets, and winter clothing, to the people of Donbass. The charity has also funded projects such as repairing damaged schools, installing water filters, providing psychological counselling, and supporting disabled and elderly people.
The charity said that it is committed to helping the people of Ukraine for as long as the conflict lasts and beyond. It said that it hopes that the gifts will not only brighten the children’s Christmas, but also inspire them to believe in a better future.
A call for more support and awareness
The charity also called for more support and awareness from the international community and the public about the situation in Ukraine. It said that the war in Donbass is one of the most forgotten and underreported conflicts in the world, despite being the deadliest in Europe since the Balkan wars in the 1990s.
According to the United Nations, more than 13,000 people have been killed and more than 40,000 injured since the conflict began. More than 3.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and more than 1.4 million people have been displaced. The charity said that the war has also caused widespread damage to the infrastructure, environment, and economy of the region, and that the Covid-19 pandemic has added to the challenges and risks faced by the people.
The charity urged the public to donate, volunteer, or raise awareness about the plight of the people of Ukraine, and to pressure the governments and the parties involved to end the violence and find a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.


Kiefer to resign from School Board
School Board President Kay Kiefer will resign from her position on the West Fargo School Board.
Kiefer has served on the board since she was elected in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012, earning the majority of votes in her favor. She was appointed board president that same year.
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Letters to the editor
The Benghazi tragedy and subsequent coverup represents one of the low points in recent American history.
Regrettably, the vast majority of the national media chose to ignore Benghazi.…
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Army Commander and head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, General Shavendra Silva said that only 50 percent of the seating capacity will be permitted at restaurants with effect from midnight tonight (Sunday).
He also said that social gatherings and events at hotels and public halls will not be permitted from tonight.
The steps have been taken to further contain the spread of the coronavirus in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pavithradevi Wanniarachchi said that more restrictions are to be enforced.
She told heads of media institutions that the existing health guidelines will also be gazetted tomorrow (Monday).
Wanniarachchi said that all the health guidelines issued by the Director General of Health Services will be made law through the Extraordinary Gazette notice.
The Health Minister said that a new set of guidelines will also be issued, especially for the Western Province. (Colombo Gazette)


The public health authorities recorded 285 new positive cases of the novel coronavirus in Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, reporting a slight reduction as compared to the number of cases reported over the past two days.
Wahid Majroh, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, said the authorities have so far recorded 4,687 COVID-19 positive cases since its outbreak, including the 285 new cases.
According to Majroh, the majority of the new cases were recorded in capital Kabul where the authorities tested 365 people out of which 161 tested positive.
He also added that two people died of the disease in the past 24 hours while 16 others recovered across the country.
Meanwhile, Majroh warned regarding persistent outspread of the disease in the country, emphasizing that the spread of the virus will not end very soon and that the people should strictly observe the health guidelines.


ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo on Monday said the city has gotten more than its fair share of housing funding from the state.
In the latest dispute between Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio, the governor said that the city has received more than the legally required $280 million in tax-exempt bonds that the state administers for affordable housing and economic development projects.
The city has said it needs at least $200 million more to follow through on its affordable-housing commitments.
But Cuomo on Monday suggested the state also has to give other parts of the state their fair share.
"That's the question of balance," he said.


PUBLIC sector workers from across the North West created a mega-unions alliance in Tamworth last night.
About 25 unions joined forces and vowed to kick their industrial-action campaigns up a notch against the NSW government’s proposed job cuts to 15,000 positions.
One hundred local public sector workers were expected to meet at the community centre to launch the alliance group which will provide a single voice when lobbying the government on the issue.
It comes just days after public sector workers held four-hour stop-work meetings across the state over the severe cuts proposed to their jobs.
About 28 front-line public sector positions are already understood to have been cut in the Tamworth district alone.
Visiting union executives told their members hundreds of thousands of dollars had been cut from the state budget and as a direct result, thousands of jobs across several public service sectors would be axed.
Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon, NSW Nurses and Midwives Association general secretary Brett Holmes and Independent Education Union general secretary John Quessy flew into the city and met the press before last night’s meeting.
They said the North West Community Unions Alliance would be a “strong voice” when advocating for secure jobs, workplace rights and investment in better services for the region.
Among the unions’ workers involved in the alliance are firefighters, nurses, teachers, police and dozens of public sector workers, including park rangers, school support staff and prison officers.
Mr Lennon said, across the state, workers were worried about the proposed cuts and alliances were blossoming everywhere as a result.
“They want to know what the 15,000 job cuts mean to them and it’s important that working people have that uniting voice,” he said.
“It is a local union alliance and it will be run by local unions.”
Mr Lennon said every job loss in the public sector was about two-and-a-half in the independent sector, demonstrating the ripple effect the cuts would have on other industries.
Mr Holmes spoke about the threats to nursing and midwifery positions in the health sector.
Mr Holmes said the Mehi Cluster of health providers, made up of the Narrabri, Moree, Boggabri and Wee Waa hospitals, as well as five community health centres, had been directed to reduce jobs expenditure by $400,000.
“That will affect their capacity of delivering services to their communities,” he said.
While he said the union was not yet aware of the Tamworth hospital’s targets, they would be closely monitoring those developments.
Mr Quessy, whose union represents independent education providers’ staff, said the cuts would impact on both teachers and support staff.
“It will lower the quality of education for the children of NSW,” he said.
Mr Lennon said the new North West alliance would continue campaigning for its members and, eventually, the government would have to listen.


Socheat Chi has led development and health programs in both local and international organizations and bilateral donor agencies. She has also been involved in several local non-governmental organization boards in Cambodia, helping them to improve their governance and organizational development.
Where PSI will be at GHTechX
When we lead with consumer priorities, we can develop and scale health solutions that are relevant to consumers’ lives. But too often, we build health


Shimla: Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister inaugurated annual function of Kullu Association.
Singh said that deities were the integral part of the culture and tradition of the state since people had immense faith in devotional authorities and rever their deities with dedication and devotion. He said that there was hardly any village which was not associated with fairs and festivals where the presence of the local deities was imminent. He said that the customs and traditions were still in practice as in the yester years while the young generation was making best use of the modern technology for compete at the international level. He said that no society could prosper unless its cultural roots were preserved and conserved to lay solid foundation of the future.
Shri Virbhadra Singh said that the state had composite culture as every district had its own distinct cultural identity and presented a colourful rainbow of the culture. He said that Kullu-Manali was internationally renowned tourist destination since the nature had bestowed best of its blessings to the state and Kullu-Manali was the one which was favourite destination for the visitors from all over the world. He said that the area was making rapid strides on all fronts and was poised to witness renewed momentum of development in coming time. He said that the valley was religiously and historically important and every citizen needed to contribute in maintaining its importance.


Congress President Sonia Gandhi said on Friday, her son and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi will soon take over as the party chief.
On Friday, the Congress president Sonia Gandhi has allegedly hinted that the family legacy and India’s old party will be taken forward by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.
While giving an interview to a news channel, Sonia Gandhi said, “You have been asking this for so many years and it’s now happening”.
Sonia Gandhi told the media, “You have been asking this for so many years and it’s now happening”.
Meanwhile, the Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi refused to discuss the issue.
It was reported that Sonia Gandhi became the party chief in the year 1998.
It was learned that the huge demand within the party was coming that Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi should take charge as the president of the Indian National Congress.
Sources said that it is expected that Rahul is expected to be elected as president’s post soon.
The internal elections within the party are yet to be begun.
It was discovered that the party will commence the elections by October 25.


(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette)
High-tech scanners are to be installed at the VIP passenger clearance terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The Director General of Sri Lanka Customs has been instructed by President's Secretary Saman Ekanayake to install high-tech scanners at the VIP terminal.
The order has been issued following allegations that VIPs were smuggling illegal goods into the country via the VIP passenger clearance terminal.
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PDM Rally Participants Must Quarantine: Dr Yasmin Rashid
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has urged those who participated in the Lahore rally must quarantine themselves in order to ensure the safety of the general public.
She said that “the Pakistan Democratic Movement has carried out a deadly attack on the health of its workers under the guise of its lustrous politics and in a bid to hide [their] corruption.”
Dr Rashid regretted that despite the government’s incessant efforts to prevent mass gatherings from taking place, the Opposition still went ahead with their jalsas to put the lives of its workers at stake.
She added: “People will never forgive PDM, who has become the enemy of their well-being.”
Speaking about the crowd that participated in the last PDM jalsa, PTI ministers said that the 11 parties filed to pull the crowd despite making tall claims while ridiculing the opposition for a total fiasco at the rally.
“Eleven parties could not gather 22,000 people,” he remarked.
PTI Mniister Faisal Javed Khan also alleged that opposition parties posted pictures of old PTI meetings on social media to show that a lot of people attended the jalsa.
Countering these claims, the PML-N’s Malik Ahmad Khan said that every jalsa has a unique situation. “The PDM jalsa is a movement against the tyrannical government’s rule,” he added.
“I was present at the venue and saw that there were as many people inside Minar-e-Pakistan’s as there were outside. In fact, the capacity of the venue was less for the participants,” he maintained.
In response to PTI leaders’ assertion that they would never hand over the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NROs) to them, Ahmed said that PDM leaders are not seeking NROs. “In what capacity can Imran Khan give NROs?”, he asked.
He also said that the Opposition will now exert more pressure on the government.


Govt has failed to maintain law and order, says Thapa
Panchthar, November 4
Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Kamal Thapa today said the government had failed to maintain law and order in the country.
Thapa said the government had miserably failed to employ security apparatus to maintain law and order. “Destruction of evidences to shield the guilty in Nirmala’s case has exposed the government’s weakness,” Thapa added.
Thapa said the government had neither been able to curb corruption nor was able to expedite development works across the country.


Officials said that the new parking facilities would be automated and convenient for commuters. Commissioner of IMC, Manish Singh said that they had planned to come up with multi-level parking at areas like Palasia, LIG and Greater Kailash.
"At these places we would not have any land issue and we will be able to complete the projects without any hurdles," Singh said. He said they would make parking arrangements at regular distances keeping in mind the expected rise in the number of vehicles in the next few years.
Singh said that the master plan expected to be implemented full-fledged by 2021 also have conditions related to parking in private commercial buildings. Builders would have to reserve 45-50 percent of the areas in their building for parking.
Officials said that they were also working on various new plans.
"The earlier plan that we had were not adequate to cater to the rate at which the number of cars is increasing in the city so we had to stop it," Singh said.


(MENAFN- Asia Times) Chinese officials will grab the opportunity of having the“Two Sessions” this week to gather opinions from lawmakers and business leaders about how to formulate China's technology policy.
In a press briefing on Monday, Lou Qinjian, a spokesperson of the National People's Congress annual meeting, commented on China's competition with other countries in 5G, chip and artificial intelligence sectors.
“To push forward a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, it is normal for countries to compete with each other,” he said.“But pushing for 'decoupling' and 'small yard, high fence' will only hinder global scientific and technological progress, harm industrial development and widen the development gap between countries.”
He said China has made the right choice by promoting cooperation in science and technology development. He also said that it's only a matter of time before China can break through to the technological levels that have been achieved elsewhere.
Premier won't brief afterward
Meanwhile, foreign journalists were disappointed by Beijing's Monday announcement that there will not be a media briefing at the close of the“Two Sessions,” making them unable to question Chinese Premier Li Qiang about China's economic policies.
Some commentators said the briefing was canceled as Li won't have more details to offer before the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee holds its third plenary, which was delayed from late 2023.
Some others said the
NPC annual meeting, which will kick off on Tuesday, is now a chance to define China's technology policies, which aim to improve productivity in the high-end manufacturing sectors. They said an industry upgrade is important for China as it can help the nation avoid getting stuck in the middle income trap.
The arrangement that the premier will not hold the usual media briefing after the NPC annual meeting will continue for the remainder of this legislative term, spokesperson Lou said Monday.
The premier's annual press conference had been a tradition for many years – valued especially by foreign journalists, who were permitted to ask questions about China's economy and government policies.
That tradition didn't last long after former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said in the media briefing of the NPC annual meeting in 2020 that 600 million people in China were making less than 1,000 yuan (US$139) per month.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Brussels: The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has underscored that Qatar made remarkable progress in the workers' rights field over the past years.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides before the European Parliament, Borrell praised the reforms and legislation implemented by Qatar, saying that Qatar was the first Gulf state to abolish the (kafala) sponsorship system and adopt a new law that sets a non-discriminatory minimum wage for workers.
The European official pointed out that Qatar is at the forefront of ensuring strict control over infrastructure projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and many other projects.
He pointed out that Qatar's organization of the 2022 World Cup contributed to accelerating the pace of reforming its work system, calling for the need to continue encouraging it to achieve more progress in this field.
He affirmed the EU's readiness to support and assist Qatar in the field of human rights, indicating that the State of Qatar has always been open and welcoming to cooperation in this field.
Borrell described the session held by the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the European Parliament last week with HE Minister of Labor Dr. Ali bin Saeed bin Smaikh Al Marri as 'constructive,' explaining that the human rights situation in Qatar was discussed with great openness.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that giving the impression that the government is coming to an end is the dream of the opposition, hopefully the allies will support the government, all the allies will be happy , all their demands will be fulfilled.
The details of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) core committee meeting chaired by Prime Minister said that the opposition will be taken into confidence .
Sources say the Core Committee welcomed the services chief’s tenure to resolve the issue in a smooth manner.
The Corps Committee said the current situation required the Army Chief’s term to be extended.
The Core Committee was also briefed on the reservations, demands and delegation-level meetings of the allies, on which the Prime Minister hoped that the allies would cooperate with the government, all the allies would be restless.


President Sauli Niinistö stressed that human rights were discussed more than pandas during the state visit of the Chinese President. Niinistö wondered at a press conference about the criticism over the historic visit of the Chinese President. Many had criticized the fact that pandas played the main role and that Finland did not dare to raise serious human rights issues. According to Niinistö, these claims are wrong.
Main source: Sauli Niinistö/ president


Tokyo, Feb 4 (IANS) The number of flu patients across Japan in the week that ended on January 29 has reached epidemic warning levels in the country for the first time in three years, the health ministry said on Saturday.
According to data released by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, the average number of patients per medical institution nationwide came to 10.36, surpassing the warning level benchmark of 10 per institution, reports Xinhua new agency.
The warning level suggests the possibility of an epidemic occurring in the coming four weeks.
About 5,000 regularly monitored medical institutions in all of Japan's 47 prefectures reported a total of more than 51,000 influenza cases during the seven-day period, the data showed.
By prefecture, the per-hospital number was the highest in Okinawa at 41.23, followed by Fukui at 25.38, Osaka at 24.34, and Fukuoka at 21.70.
Experts here warned that flu infections may further spread unlike normal years after strict Covid-19 countermeasures apparently helped keep flu infections at fairly low levels in 2021 and 2022.
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WASHINGTON: The coronavirus pandemic has reported more than 26 million cases worldwide and up to 873,100 deaths.
The number of coronavirus infection cases across the world has surged to 26,471,948 and the pandemic has so far claimed over 873,228 lives. So far, 18,664,396 have been cured in the world and at present, the number of active cases is 6,932,642.
The number of people infected with coronavirus in the United States has risen to more than 63.35 million, with 191,058 deaths.
Brazil is the second most affected country by the coronavirus, with more than 4,046,000 patients and 124,000 to 729 deaths.
India ranks third among the countries affected by coronavirus, with more than 3.93 million people affected and a total death toll of 68,569.
Russia is the fourth most affected country by the coronavirus, with more than 1,090,000 people infected and 17,528 deaths.
In Peru, more than 670,000 people have been affected and 29,405 have lost their lives. coronavirus has killed 20,618 people in Colombia and more than 641,000 cases have been reported.
The death toll from coronavirus in South Africa has risen to 14,563, with more than 633,000 people affected. More than 616,000 people have been affected in Mexico, with 66,329 deaths.


(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)
Published: Wed 18 May 2022, 6:29 AM
The weather in UAE will be hot and dusty on Wednesday, according to the National Center of Meteorology (NCM).
The weather forecast for today is hot and fair in general, and dusty at times.
It will get humid by night and Thursday morning over some coastal areas.
There will be light to moderate winds, freshening at times especially over the sea, causing blowing dust that will impact horizontal visibility at times during the day -- especially Westward.
- Watch: Sandstorm hits Abu Dhabi, Dubai; reduces visibility
- UAE weather: Hot and dusty forecast for Tuesday, mercury to hit 45°C
The sea will be slight to moderate, becoming rough at times Westward in the Arabian Gulf and slight in Oman Sea.
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National Counter-Terrorism Center NCTC Director Brigadier General Zakariya Mansoor says with the help of foreign experts the center has trained more than 1100 Maldivians to fight terrorism and violent extremism.
He made the comments while speaking at the one-day webinar held to strengthen & empower Maldivian media against Terrorism & Violent Extremism.
The webinar organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs was held in partnership with the NCTC and Maldives Police Services.
It was held to further educate the media on using news reporting tools while covering stories related to radicalization and violent extremism. Officials also said that the virtual seminar was held to make the media understand and realize its role in safeguarding national security while reporting on terrorism and extremism.
Speaking at the webinar, NCTC Director Brigadier General Mansoor said that the most dangerous issue facing the international world is the rapid rise of terrorism and acts that perpetuate these radical ideologies.
He said that these groups were creating chaos and confusion within communities with no regard for the laws and regulations of the land while destroying people’s properties and harming lives outside of the norms of the society.
He also said that the most important step the NCTC has taken against terrorism and violent extremism is to formulate the National Strategy on Preventive and Countering Violent Extremism


Somaliland police commissioner, Mohamed Aden Saqadhi Dabagale has downplayed the public support he gained since he assumed office late last year.
Police boss Dabagale said that the praise shared by the entire police force and attributed his success to the Almighty Allah.
He also disowned reason disciplinary measures against police officers which won him popular support.
He said police do not base their decisions on social media posts and warned against filing police officers.
He further warned against what he called people becoming more daring the deals with the police.
The police boss was referring to public outcries against two incidents were police officers caught in tape brutalizing civilian women, among the emergence of the videos and the subsequent public outcry.
The police took disciplinary measures against the police officers.
However, today police boss Dabgale seems to be disowning those measures and responsiveness that led him to his popularity.
It is not obvious whether the boss is turning his back on the accountability or he is trying to reassure the rank of the police force that he is on their side.
The Commissioner made the remarks of opening a new police station in Faraweyne village south west of Hargeisa.
On Wednesday, the boss launched a pilot project for effective community policing.
According to the UK government which supports the program, this will help the police implement and develop approaches more effective policing at local level.


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Terrorist networks in Pakistan destroyed, says PM’s adviser
According to Radio Pakistan, Irfan Siddiqui in an interview stated that the incidents linked to terrorism, extremism and violence were reduced since action was taken against outlawed groups and hate literature.
The PM’s adviser also said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb was launched against terrorists in full force.
He added that 322 terrorists were hanged while 1500 books containing hate material were also seized.
Siddiqui said that international community had lauded Pakistan’s efforts in the war against terrorism and the country’s image had also increased due to the efforts of the federal government.


Prime Minister will not act against Venezuelan Consul yet
WILLEMSTAD – The Prime Minister of Curaçao, Ivar Asjes will not act against the new Venezuelan Consul. She recently called on the people of Curaçao to sign a petition against President Obama after the U.S. sanctioned some of the South American country’s government officials.
In a press statement the Prime Minister says that other countries are not allowed to influence the Curaçao people against another country.
But Asjes still refuses to call the consul on the carpet. Any meeting would moreover be the first time, as the new Consul has not yet presented her credentials to the government.
This is common when accepting a new post.


St. Luke's completes construction
By Linda Sailer
“We really had fantastic people on the construction committee who offered their input,” board member Todd Otto said. “We had focus groups of family members, residents, staff and board members. We all offered thoughts and ideas.”
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Many leaders have given ludicrous statements about its side effects. But the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh has given a suggestion to increase the confidence of the vaccine.
He has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his 70 Union Ministers should first start the Corona vaccine. Which will increase people’s confidence in the vaccine.
He has also said that the Chief Minister and Ministers should also get it first in the state.
He said this to reporters at the Heliped on the police line.


Managing Director of National Iranian Drilling Company Seyfollah Jashnsaz said in Tehran on Thursday that of 95 wells scheduled to be drilled this year 87 have thus far been drilled and repaired, IRNA reported.
Jashnsaz told a press conference that more than 1,800 wells have been drilled and repaired from 1979 to 2002.
He said that since March 21, marking start of the new Iranian calendar year of 1382, the NIDC has drilled more than 218,000 meters of wells.
The official said that the NIDC is expected to earn a revenue of rls 2,500 billion this year, of which 80 percent has already been met.
He said that the NIDC has procured 35 percent of its equipment through tender.
He put the value of contracts the NIDC has signed at dlrs 275 million, saying the company has also drilled more than 117 wells.
... Payvand News - 12/19/03 ... --


Dashing through the mall
Christy Holsclaw is dressed for the holidays as she runs in the YDC Apple Capital Jingle Bell 5K on Saturday through the Loudoun Street Mall. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)
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Two gunmen with Kalashnikov’s killed a policeman in cental Paris
A police officer was shot dead and another seriously wounded by two Kalashnikov-wielding gunmen on the Champs Elysees in central Paris tonight.
French police said that the incident was probably a ‘terrorist act’ and the world famous avenue was on lockdown by 9pm.
Heavily armed officers had flooded the tourisic area and a third individual – believed to be the killer – was also hurt and ‘neutralised’, according to police sources.
Reports suggest ‘at least’ two people were involved in the attack which took place as presidential candidates took part in a TV debate nearby.


Bilawal Bhutto will be opposition leader in NA: Khurshid Shah
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah has said that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto will replace him.
Talking to the media on Wednesday, he said that he would perform responsibilities as adviser to Bilawal.
“We are trying that the system should remain in the hands of the masses,” he said.
Khurshid Shah said that the interior minister expressed no-trust in the prime minister.


Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that present situation demands that all stakeholders including provincial governments stand united against the menace of terrorism. He said this while meeting Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Parvaiz Khattak at PM House Islamabad today. Federal Minister for Finance Mr. Ishaq Dar and Senior Minister KP Mr. Siraj-ul-Haq were also present in the meeting.
Prime Minister said that Federal Government values the contributions of all provincial governments towards strengthening the federation and further said that the Federal Government understands the problems faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government regarding tackling terrorism.
The meeting also discussed the development activities being carried out in KP. Prime Minister said that the Federal Government will provide support to the provincial government in order to overcome their problems and directed Finance Minister to hold threadbare discussions with the Chief Minister KP and other Provincial Government officials on the issues being faced by them.


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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday while once again offering “charter of economy” said that the country is facing cruel realities which can be faced with the continuation of policies.
Addressing the nation, the Prime Minister said that the nation is facing despair and crisis today but it has full potential to achieve every goal and today, with many others, we face an emotional crisis.
He said that Pakistan has been achieved after millions of sacrifices.
This is a developing news story. More to follow


The World Health Organisation has declared a global emergency over the Zika outbreak, declaring it a public health emergency for the entire world.
The WHO also said the virus poses a global public health threat and urged the public to stay informed about the outbreak.
Read more …
The declaration was announced by WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in a press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.
Chan said the crisis is the biggest public health crisis since the pandemic of 1918, which killed some 8.6 million people and infected 1.2 million others.
Chan said she is “deeply concerned” by the outbreak and her department is working with countries to “prepare for the consequences of the virus.”
She said the outbreak has left tens of thousands of people without water, food, sanitation, and clean water, and forced the closure of more than 1.5 million public housing units and schools.
“It has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and exacerbated the impact of the pandemics that led to World War I and World War II,” Chan said.
“The virus has now crossed the borders of almost half the world’s population and infected almost three times as many people as it did in 1918.”
The global response has been extraordinary,” she said.
Chan urged the world to “rein in” the spread of the disease, and pledged that countries will continue to work with countries and regions to provide the necessary support to people who are infected.
She said the WHO is working to develop “a comprehensive, coordinated, and integrated global response.”
The WHO is also urging countries to limit the number of travelers to the country of their origin to a maximum of 100,000 per calendar year.
Chan also urged the global community to intensify efforts to eliminate the spread and spread of mosquitoes, which are responsible for transmission of the Zika.
The WHO has already launched a $5 billion fund to combat the Zika crisis, with the goal of doubling that amount in the coming months.
The declaration comes as the WHO said Tuesday that there were more than 50 cases of the new virus among people living in Brazil and the United States.
The virus is also found in the Caribbean and the Pacific region.WHO said the most affected countries in the Americas and Africa are the U.S., the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the Dominican republic.
The new virus is believed to be linked to the birth of the world famous “Zika” virus that was discovered in 1947.
It is thought to be caused by a newly discovered strain of the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
It has been found in people who were previously infected with the Zika virus and spread it to others.
The new virus has been detected in at least two people in the U!
and is spread through close contact.WHO also said that the World Food Program is launching a nationwide effort to vaccinate pregnant women against Zika, and will be testing pregnant women who are not currently vaccinated to make sure they are not infected.


Prime Minister Imran Khan held a telephone conversation with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as part of his contacts to brief important regional countries and their leadership about the regional situation.
Both leaders reiterated the importance of strengthening bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister expressed his heartfelt condolences on the recent terrorist attack in which 27 Iranian guards were killed.
Both leaders agreed on the need for closer cooperation among the two intelligence agencies in combatting terrorism.
President Rouhani said that Pakistan and Iran are neighbours and brotherly countries linked through centuries of closed historic cultural and people to people linkages and their role would remain central in promoting peace, stability and economic development in the region.


Date: 18 Oct 1942
The body of a newly born male child was found in the Shropshire Union Canal Main Line at the City Road bridge in Chester.
The child was discovered by an apprentice plumber who said that he was near the City Road bridge when he saw two boys throwing things at what he thought was a fish but said that he later found that it was the body of a newly born child.
The pathologist that carried out the post-mortem said that the child had been born alive and said that there was evidence of violence being inflicted before death. He said that he thought that the evidence indicated that the child was dead before it was put into the water.
He said that the child’s death was due to a fractured skull.
However, the coroner said that there was not enough evidence to show how the injuries were received and an open verdict was returned.


Tallinn City Government decided on Wednesday to sack 10 percent of the municipality's staff and increase the salaries of the rest by 8 percent.
Deputy Mayor Taavi Aas said a total of 158 people will leave the city's payroll, including from Tallinn government's office, district governments and other city departments.
He said the city decided to look over its personnel situation now, as the last such analysis took place in 2000. The total salary fund will increase by 8 percent, although department heads will have the final say how that is divided.
Aas said last December, when first floating the idea, that city officials' salaries have been frozen since 2009 and need to be increased to keep up with the general level of salaries on the market.
Other public agencies, most notably the police force, have recently also announced similar measures.


QUETTA, 9 October: Unknown armed persons gunned down five members of the ethnic Hazara Community while one other was seriously injured on Quetta’s Kasi road on Monday, police said.
The police said that deceased were going in a car to Hazar Ganji vegetable market when armed motorcyclists sprayed bullets at the vehicle. Police reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident. The motorcyclists fled the scene successfully after committing the crime.
Hazara community has been on target of terrorists as more than 1,400 incidents targeting the minority Shia and Hazara community have taken place in the province during the past 15 years, according to media reports.


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Cargill employees help River Keepers
As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, Cargill employees from West Fargo have joined River Keepers to help sponsor the 13th annual Red River Water Festival. The festival is put on as a means to educate regional third and fourth graders about various water matters through "hands-on" learning activities. Cargill, through local funds and corporate grants, has donated $9,000 for the event.
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Jump in Egypt's G7 exports, imports
(MENAFN) Egypt registered a boost in its exports of products to members of the Group of Seven (G7) from January to June this year, standing at USD3.8 billion.
During the first half of 2018, Egyptian exports to G7 countries reached USD3.5 billion, noted the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Most of Egypt's exports to G7 members went to the United States to account for USD1 billion, as unveiled CAPMAS in a statement.
CAPMAS added that the country also reported a surge in its imports from the G7 during the six month period to hit USD8.7 billion from last year's USD8.5 billion.
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The County government of Nandi through the leadership of Governor Stephen Sang has launched the Land Rights and Land Justice programme which will help in tackling the historical land injustices in this County.
Addressing the public at Bears Club grounds in Nandi Hills constituency during the launch of the programme, Nandi governor Stephen Sang confirmed to the public that he had pledged to look into the long-standing issues of land and historical injustices that continue to affect the people and hinder the quest for prosperity and harmonious coexistence, adding that he is fulfilling a pledge he made.
Sang cited that his administration has initiated the formal registration of disputes that relate to past abuses of land rights affecting individuals, public institutions and the communities living in the County.
He said the white settlers who lived in Nandi between 1900 to 1996 took advantage and grabbed land that was meant for the community and they even executed some residents from the Nandi community.
The Governor elaborated that because of illiteracy, they frustrated the community and secured land that was supposed to belong to them. He said this issue has been persistent throughout all the governments in Kenya, and he added that those affected will be compensated.
He revealed that the team of experts will appeal to the British government to compensate the people through the government and that is why the County government of Nandi has come up with the initiative of seeking justice through collective agreement and proposals from the entire community through their respective locations.


Bathinda: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today said that the lakes in the city will be given a facelift to emerge Bathinda as a tourist hub in the state in general and Malwa region in particular.
The Chief Minister held detailed parleys with the officers on Tuesday to review the development works in the city.
The Chief Minister said that the lakes in Bathinda will be rejuvenated by pumping in the necessary resources. He said that no stone will be left unturned for ensuring that Bathinda is emerged as a tourist hub in the state. Bhagwant Mann said that development of the city will be accorded top priority.
Acceding to demand raised by MLA Jagroop Singh, the Chief Minister gave green signal to construct new bus stand in the city. He said that this will help in solving the problem of traffic in the city. Bhagwant Mann said also asked the Municipal Corporation and POWERCOM to explore the feasibility for using the Lake number 1 as water tank for solving the problem of potable water supply in the city.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government is making strenuous efforts to make agriculture a profitable venture. He said that the state government is committed to bail out the farmers for the current crisis. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is promoting alternative crops to supplement the income of the farmers.
The Chief Minister further said that the state government is committed for imparting quality education to the youth. He said that major thrust is being laid on transforming the schools in the state. Bhagwant Mann envisioned that the Government schools of state will produce the leaders and builders of nation in coming times.


Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has said that there is an urgent need to mobilise additional funding for a sustained and proportionate response to the crisis in Chad.
MSF, in a statement, said that the recent floods that hit central and southern regions of the country have exacerbated the needs of communities who now have their homes submerged in water.
Since the start of 2022, Chad has witnessed extreme weather conditions related to the current climate emergency which has affected more than one million people across 18 of the country’s 23 regions.
‘These latest floods have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation’, Alexis Balekage said in the statement.
‘Chad experiences floods every year, yet the scale of the phenomenon this year is far more significant.
‘It has led to large-scale displacement and immense needs that greatly outweigh the current response, in a country that continues to be almost invisible in terms of international attention’.
As of 15 November, more than 155,000 people in the nation’s capital, N’Djamena, had been displaced from their homes by floods, according to the United Nations (UN).
People sheltering in various displacement sites are exposed to various health risks, particularly during the current seasonal peak of malaria.
Photo source: MSF


Two more police officers have contracted COVID-19.
According to the TTPS, one officer from the St. Clair Police Station tested positive yesterday, while one from the Besson Street Police Station tested positive today.
A total of eight officers have now been infected over the past two weeks.
The St Clair Police Station was reportedly sanitized last night, while the Besson Street Station was done today.
One civilian staff member has also tested positive.
The TTPS says in addition to the sanitization of police stations, several persons have also been quarantined during contact tracing.
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith is now urging those working for the service to exercise every possible precaution while on the job.


The national airline, Maldivian, has increased its flights to three destinations.
The airline will increase its flights to N. Maafaru, Lh. Madivaru, R. Ifuru.
Maldivian's media officer told AVAS that the flights to Maafaru, Madivaru, and Ifuru were increased due to the increase in the number of people who want to travel to these areas during the school holidays. Additional flights to these destinations are scheduled to start on July 20.
In the past, Maldivian has provided additional flights to certain destinations on holidays and special occasions.


NEW YORK, Aug 11 (APP):Special prayers were offered for the safety and security of the besieged people in Indian Occupied Kashmir in big Eid-ul-Azha congregations across the United States on Sunday, according to reports received here.
American-Muslims also prayed for the success of Kashmiri people’s struggle for self-determination and freedom from the Indian yoke.
In their Khitabs, Imams specially drew attention on the plight of Kashmiri people who have been virtually locked up in their homes for the past one week. They urged the United Nations and world powers to come to their help and push India into ending its occupation.
Prayers were also offered for the oppressed Palestinian people, as also for the urgent need for Muslim unity, inter-faith harmony and peace in the world.


Bad news on state suicide rates
With more and more Minnesotans hounded to the grave by the “black dog of depression,” as Winston Churchill put it, Minnesota health officials are highlighting the importance of knowing suicide warning signs and that mental illnesses are treatable and suicides preventable.
The most recent available data shows Minnesota with the highest rate of suicide in more than a decade, according to data released recently by the Minnesota Department of Health.
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LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the administrative and police officers should take special measures to solve problems of the public, and keep their doors open to the people.
Issuing directions to the chief secretary, inspector general of police and the heads of various other departments, the chief minister said every possible effort be made to address the complaints of the people, the complainants be treated with respect.
He directed the officers to spare two hours daily to listen to public complaints and display their time for receiving public complaints prominently at their offices. The people should see positive change in the attitude of the public servants.
He warned action would be taken against the officials not taking public complaints seriously.
He said a comprehensive system had been made to monitor the steps taken to address the public complaints.
The chief minister said that in new Pakistan, the officers and officials should focus on the public service and the distance between the public and government officers should decrease.


ESL, CM Kiran salute police martyrs
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy paid tributes to policemen who laid down their lives while discharging their duties.
The two leaders paid their respects at Police Commemoration Day parade held at Gosha Mahal Stadium here.
As many as 576 police personnel were killed during discharge of their duties in the country in the last one year. They include K.L.V.S.S.H.N.V. Prasad Babu, an inspector of Andhra Pradesh Special Police who was killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh in April.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said Andhra Pradesh Police should become number one police force in the country. He said the police shoulder high responsibility in the society and they have to be always on their toes.
In an obvious reference to the protests during the past few years for and against separate state of Telangana, the chief minister said the work pressure on police has increased due to the situation prevailing in the state. He said to ease the work pressure, 28,000 policemen were recruited during last three years.
Kiran Reddy promised that the government would take all possible measures for the welfare of policemen and their families.
Director General of Police B. Prasada Rao mmade various suggestions for the welfare of police personnel. He called for increasing the budget for construction and maintenance of police quarters.
The police chief also suggested that the state government extend the same Aarogyasri benefits to police personnel as were given to government employees.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma and other senior officials were also present.
Similar programmes to pay tributes to police martyrs were held in districts.


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Story | Sep 13, 2012 | 1:22 PMThe U.S. embassy in Armenia joined those in at least six other nations on Wednesday in warning of possible anti-American protests following the attack on the consulate in Libya that killed an ambassador and three other officials.


(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)
Srinagar- An 11 year old boy on Thursday evening drowned to death in Umerhair Buchpora area of Srinagar, official sources said here.
Official sources said that the boy identified as Arsalan Ahmad Sheikh of Beerwah area of Budgam, who was at his grandfather's residence at Umerhair Buchpora drowned in a Nallah this evening while taking bath.
They said that the boy was fished out by a team of Ahmad Nagar police station with the help of locals and was subsequently shifted to hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The officials said that police have taken cognizance of the incident. (KNO)
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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says foreign forces trying to sabotage economic corridor project
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that foreign forces are trying to sabotage the economic corridor project and it is their duty to fight against secret objectives of the terrorists.
Addressing the meeting of parliamentary leaders, the prime minister said that the Safora tragedy is tragic and stern decisions have to be made after it. “The government believes in resolving all national issue through consensus. It has always taken the parliament into confidence over all national issues,” he said.
Briefing on the economic corridor project, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said that the objective of the project is to ensure uniform progress in all parts of the country under the long-term programnme.
“The proposed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will be a source of a change in the region. It will help attract large-scale international investment, including the historic Chinese investment,” the minister maintained.
Supporting the economic corridor project, PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that it is a national project, which will benefit the entire region. He congratulated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the project.
Former president Asif Ali Zardari said that the national leadership should support the project for the future of the country.
PML-Q leader Mushahid Hussain said that Ahsan Iqbal’s briefing has removed all ambiguities.


In India, 5G is expected to account for 39% of mobile subscribers by 2027
(MENAFN) According to a forecast released on Tuesday, 5G will account for around 39% of mobile subscriptions by the end of 2027 in India, where 5G installations have yet to commence, with over 500 million connections.
As of the most recent edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, 4G subscriptions are expected to fall yearly to an anticipated 700 million in 2027 as users transition to 5G following the launch of 5G in India.
Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks, Ericsson, claimed in a statement, "The latest Ericsson Mobility Report confirms 5G as the fastest growing mobile technology generation ever, and Ericsson is playing a key role in making it happen."
"We work every day with our customers and ecosystem partners around the world to ensure that millions more people, enterprises, industries, and societies enjoy the benefits of 5G connectivity as soon as possible," Jejdling highlighted.
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Chennai: DMK president M K Stalin today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release the political leaders who are detained in Kashmir under the Public Safety Act. In a statement, he said the DMK strongly condemns the detention of former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehabooba Mufti.
”The move to arrest the leaders has questioned the democracy in the country. This is against the freedom of an individual and also violates the basic human rights. It is not right to impose such charges against the political leaders which will cause a strain in the relationship between the Centre and State,” Stalin said.
He further said by making such moves the BJP wants to keep Kashmir as a sensitive place. ‘The BJP government should stop finding new reasons to keep the leaders under detention,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Stalin said that more than 2 crore people have participated in the signature campaign organised by the DMK against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). He said that the photocopies of the signed documents will be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind within five days.
Stalin further said that BJP has introduced the CAA just to divert people from the unemployment problems in the country.


PM urges locals to help settle squatters at Sundarighat
KATHMANDU, July 16: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has urged the locals of Lalitpur to help settle the squatters at Sundarighat.
Talking to representatives of the local struggle committee at the Prime Minister´s official residence in Baluwatar on Monday, the Prime Minister said that the squatters are being rehabilitated at Sundarighat for a temporary period and urged the locals not to flare up the issue and obstruct the government´s move to settle the landless.
Leader of CPN-UML, Raghuji Pant, who was present at the meeting said that the Prime Minister urged the locals to resolve the issue instead of flaring it up.
The struggle committee comprising locals, including leaders of CPN-Maoist and CPN-UML has stood against the government´s plan to rehabilitate the squatters at Sundarighat.
Meanwhile, Chairman of All Nepal Squatters´ Association Dipak Rai said that some political parties were engaged in election-centered politics by protesting against the squatters´ resettlement.
Similarly, squatters have expressed their reluctance to shift to Sundarighat citing insecurity. They have said that leaders of some political parties and locals were issuing threats against them.


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Rising Kashmir NewsSrinagar
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday strongly condemned the grenade attack at Tral in which two civilians were killed and many were injured including an SE and Executive Engineer of R&B Department.
The Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that the attack took place when a Minister had gone to the town to assess the development needs of the area which has remained neglected for decades.
She said the vicious cycle of violence which unfortunately has engulfed the State for three decades now needs to be broken to stop the bloodshed and provide a breather to the people who have been choked by it.
“How long are we going to suffer like this on human, developmental, economic, educational and social fronts,” she said.


(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Washington, April 01, 2023, SPA -- Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 and 2007 Nobel Peace laureate Dr. Mohan Munasinghe, praised the Kingdom's policy, which stands at an equal distance from all international countries and engages in fruitful talks that bring stability, peace, and economic growth to the Middle East as the most influential country.
Mohan, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on the sidelines of his participation in the Global Priority Summit in Miami, said that Saudi Arabia maintains an equal distance when dealing with all international countries such as the US, Russia, and China, as a key player in the Middle East, to achieve its interests and the interests of other parties, commending the Saudi leadership for its achievements, including the recently announced agreement with Iran, which is reflected in the interest of the Middle East region in terms of security, economy, and at various levels.
He added: "As everyone knows, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has an ambitious and large economic project, and for this to be achieved in any country, the basis is an effective political decision and social stability, which are what Saudi Arabia enjoys, in addition to its human capabilities and the great technical progress it has achieved".
22:27 LOCAL TIME 19:27 GMT
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“The course would produce half baked doctors”
Continuing its protest against the government's decision to introduce a three-and-a-half-year-long Bachelor of Rural Health Course (BRHC) in the country, the Indian Medical Association has now called upon medical students and young doctors from across the country to join their agitation. The Association has also threatened to intensify its agitation by wearing black bands and going on an hour-long token strike in case the government does not pay heed to their demand of withdrawing the proposed course.
“It is unfortunate that the government has decided to go ahead with its plan to start the BRHC despite strong opposition. We have now called upon young doctors from across the country to be a part of the protest movement to ensure that the government has a chance to listen to the grievances of those who are going to be adversely affected by the introduction of this new course,” said IMA joint secretary Dr. Narendra Saini.
He said it is not just young doctors who would be adversely hit but the course would also affect the health of rural India as the course would “produce half-baked doctors”.
“Next month, doctors across the country will protest by wearing black bands on one day and the next month we will participate in a token strike. This is to drive home the point that doctors are unhappy with the introduction of the course. There is also a general consensus among medical students and young doctors on the ill effects of such a move. These doctors have joined under the banner Young Doctors' Federation to highlight their problems and to ensure that there is sustained pressure on the government to take back the course,” added a senior IMA official.
In a statement, the Association noted that through the introduction of the course, the government will produce “semi-qualified quacks” which will further expose the patients to several problems.


The Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam has said that the international community hailed the steps taken by Pakistan against the environmental pollution.
According to details, the Special Assistant has made these remarks while talking to a private news channel on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Malik Amin Aslam has said that collective efforts were needed to address the environmental issues at global level. He also appreciated the role of youth, especially the students for successfully launching Green Pakistan project across the country.
While answering a question, the Special Assistant has said that Pakistan had launched the “Billion Tree Tsunami” project in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to restore its forests and to fight the global warming effects.


(MENAFN- Colombo Gazette) President Ranil Wickremesinghe assured a solution to the issues faced by the Tamils in the North and East.
He said the Government is diligently addressing challenges one by one and currently, discussions are underway to find solutions for the issues facing the people of the North East.
“Simultaneously, we must prepare to advance the nation's economy by addressing the concerns of the Tamils and Muslim communities residing in the Upcountry region,” the President said.
The President said this at the virtual launch of the 4th stage of the Indian Housing project, 'Bharat-Lanka,' aimed at constructing 10,000 houses for plantation sector workers.
President Wickremesinghe, along with Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman and Indian High Commissioner Santhosh Jha, virtually unveiled the foundation stone plaque for 1300 houses across 45 plantation estates in ten districts.
Speaking further, President Ranil Wickremesinghe underscored the Government's commitment to safeguarding the economic and social rights of the upcountry Tamil community.
He acknowledged their significant contribution to the nation's economy and expressed intentions to unite political representatives from the upcountry, transcending party lines, to present collaborative proposals within the upcoming month.
“While we faced hardships for a period, we have now overcome bankruptcy and resumed economic activities. Upon assuming office, the nation grappled with shortages of food and fuel. Today, however, we have successfully overcome these shortages. As we implement economic programs, challenges such as tax burdens arise. Nevertheless, this burden is not permanent and in a matter of months, relief will be provided to the people,” he said.
The President also said that it is crucial to acknowledge that Sri Lanka's progress from the recent economic crisis was significantly aided by the financial support provided by India.
“Furthermore, we are actively engaged in enhancing our economic ties with India, particularly during this period of India's rapid economic development. During our discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we extensively deliberated on bolstering the relationship between our two nations,” he said.
President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to the Government of India for their support, particularly on the 200th anniversary of the upcountry Tamil community's arrival in Sri Lanka. (Colombo Gazette)
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It will also organise lectures of water experts to enlighten people about the importance of water.
Mumbai: On its 20th anniversary, the NCP has planned to highlight the state government’s failure to tackle severe drought conditions in the state.
According to NCP sources, the party will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on June 10. On this occasion, the party will undertake various initiatives across the state under the tagline Dahak Dushkal, Bheeshan Panitanchai… Ya sankat deuya Balirajala Saath (In these severe drought and acute water shortage conditions, we should lend a helping hand to farmers.)
“Taking into account the severity of the drought, the party has decided to organise ‘Jandin Sankalp’ events across the city. Under this, we will create public awareness of the water crisis,” said Jayant Patil, NCP state unit chief.
In addition to this, the party will also hold ‘Jaldindi’ (water march) to the state government offices on district and taluka levels. It will also organise lectures of water experts to enlighten people about the importance of water.