Aug 8, 2014, 10:16 AM
Speaking to Pointsports ahead of the final, NISA assistant public relations officer Sulayman Badgie alias ‘Uncle Saul’, explained that the final will be preceded by the third place game between GAF and the Police.
According to him, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Alieu K. Jammeh, is expected to take the official kick-off at the start of the final.
He also urged all teams that took part in the tournament to grace the final. “We are looking forward to a much more organised and better final this year,” he said.


New Delhi: A top government official has said that a stakeholder meeting to discuss stressed assets in the power sector is expected to take place later this month.
This comes after the meeting held between Finance Minister Piyush Goyal, Power Minister RK Singh and officials from the two ministries on Monday, the source told ANI.
Goyal, while addressing a press conference, said the Finance and Power ministries will work together to ensure adequate power supply, after meeting RK Singh earlier yesterday.
Meanwhile, the government source also said that public sector banks (PSBs) which are on the verge of coming under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) will see an improvement in health within the next quarter or two.
The official further stated that no more PSBs are expected to be recommended for corrective action in the near future, in response to media reports suggesting otherwise.


KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government (LG) Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the ethnic violence in Hyderabad and Karachi were plotted in an attempt to derail Local Government (LG) election. He alleged that the violent events were planned in Hyderabad and Karachi to incite people for ethnic violence deliberately. He claimed that the Sindh government had taken actions over the issue with better strategy and political maturity. He said that the people from different walks of life and communities were part of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and it was the beauty and power of the party. The minister assured that the provincial government would not spare any killer, adding that the government would conduct an inquiry into the matter that who were behind the conspiracy and where it was hatched. He alleged that some political people were using criminal elements for their gains. Nasir Shah said that the people of Karachi had rejected the politics of violence and hatred and they would also reject it in the future. He said that they value the election-coalition between MQM-Pakistan and Shahi Syed.


ZATCA meeting targeted at advancing taxation system starts with many deals
(MENAFN) Saudi Arabia is studying its tax, zakat as well as customs systems in the middle of a drive to utilizing higher technology as the nation studies to surge financial actions, as stated by Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan.
The minister was giving a speech at the Zakat, Tax and Customs Mating being hosted in Riyadh to talk about the international involvements and deliberate on the upcoming of the digitalization of such industries.
“We continue the development of the tax, zakat, and customs systems through the initiatives undertaken by the government, including the national program that will elevate economic activities and will improve economic conditions,” according to Al-Jadaan.
Al-Jadaan also noted that the force of higher technology is needed for the tax, zakat, as well as customs system for an improved result.
“Advanced technologies will enhance the tax, customs and zakat systems and will enrich the business community. It will also ensure that will also achieve qualitative leaps in this field. This conference will open new horizons of cooperation and to reach the best practices in combating the challenges,” he asserted.
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(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The leaders of the European Union supported the initiative to create a legal mechanism to prosecute the Russian political leadership for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.
“The European Union is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in connection with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, including through the establishment of an appropriate mechanism for the prosecution of the crime of aggression, which is of concern to the international community as a whole. In this context, the European Council welcomes the agreement to create the new International Centre for Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA) in The Hague, which will be linked to the existing Joint Investigation Team supported by Eurojust,” reads the European Council's conclusions published on its website .
At the same time, the European Council reiterates its support for the investigations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The European Council welcomes the upcoming negotiations on a new Convention on international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other international crimes.
As reported, European Union leaders are meeting for a two-day summit in Brussels. The situation in Ukraine was the first issue on agenda. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the EU heads of state and government via video link.
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DSP Shwetambari Sharma, who was the only woman police officer in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which was set- up by the state crime branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police to arrest the culprits in the Kathua case, said that during her investigation, she faced hostile crowds and was stopped from entereing the Rasana village by the people. She told the media in Srinagar that people stopped her from collecting evidence in the Kathua rape and murder case of an eight-year-old nomadic girl.
She said that initially she got no response from the village and people were told not to speak to her. Recently, the lawyer Ankur Sharma, who is defending the accused, has made a sexist remark that being a woman the investigating officer cannot have the intelligence to unearth the case. To this Shwetambari Sharma told the media that she was hurt. She said that they faced a lot of problems and were attacked by people when they were trying to collect evidence. She said that it took them 72 days to file the first charge-sheet as they were facing a daily hostile atmospheres.
She told the media that she was hurt when she saw people in hundreds waving the Tricolour while trying to shield and defend the alleged rapists.
She said that despite being a Dogra woman, she was being projected as against the people of Jammu and working against their interests. She said that as a police officer she had no religion and would see to it that the culprits were punished by the court.


Senate delegation discusses cooperation with Omani officials
(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Muscat, March 15 (Petra) -- A Senate delegation, headed by Senator Nayef Al-Hadid, held a series of meetings in Muscat with senior Omani officials on bilateral ties and means to benefit from both countries' expertise in various fields, mainly in economic, educational and health domains.
The Jordanian delegation, which compromised Senators Haider Mahmoud, Bassam Talhouni, Hamad Al Maaitah and Ghazi Al Tayeb, met with Chairmen of the Council of State of Oman Yahya bin Mahfoudh al-Mantheri and the Shura Council Khalid bin Hilal Al Ma'awali as well as Advisor to Sultan Qaboos for Cultural Affairs Abdulaziz bin Mohammed al Rawas.
Al-Hadid said that the strong relations between the two countries' leaderships, contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.
During the four-day visit, the delegation visited a number of national and private institutions, including Oman's Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
15/3/2018 - 01:49:29 PM
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New Delhi: Aiming to impress the people of the state with the education revolution in Delhi under the AAP government, Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will interact with the general public in Shimla over the conditions of government schools in the state.
While sharing the information on Twitter, Sisodia said, “I will interact with the public in Shimla tomorrow regarding the ‘anti-government school policies’ of the BJP. The BJP government has made a mockery of education in Himachal playing with the future of students.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) State’s Spokesperson ID Bhandari also confirmed the visit of Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister.
While addressing a press conference in Shimla, Bhandari said that the main focus of AAP is to improve the education system.
He said that there are many schools in the state where teachers are not available for the students.
“There are many schools which do not have any buildings and classes are taken in the open spaces,” said Bhandari.
He said that when AAP will come into power in the state, its main focus will be to improve education and provide quality education to the students.


Lockheed Martin [LMT] last Friday announced a number of initial steps it is taking to help the nation and its local communities in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including making advanced payments to its small and medium-size suppliers and offering technical help to government officials at all levels.
“At Lockheed Martin, we recognize that the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its wide-ranging impacts have caused severe disruption across society and tragic loss of life around the world,” Marillyn Hewson, the company’s chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. “We also recognize that the global pandemic has created a need for urgent action by government, business, communities and citizens.”
One of the company’s actions is advancing more than $50 million to its small and medium-size supply chain partners to help keep them keep their workforce and continue operating, she said. Lockheed Martin is also donating $10 million to non-profit groups, particularly veterans and military families, helping with COVID-19 relief.
Lockheed Martin has also activated a $6.5 million disaster relief fund it has for its employees and retirees that may be impacted by the virus.
Hewson highlighted three priorities that are guiding the company’s response, the first being protecting the health and safety of its employees and their families. Second is continuing to execute for its customers given their national security missions and critical infrastructure security.
Third is bringing the companies capabilities and resources to bear to help the country and the communities it operates in. Along these lines, Hewson said the company will offer “engineering and technical capabilities” to help solve challenges at the federal, state and local levels.
Other steps the company is taking include donating its corporate aircraft and vehicles to help with logistical support and the delivery of medical supplies during the crisis, donating the use of its facilities for virus testing and storage of medical supplies, and continuing to recruit and hire talent using virtual technology to maintain social distancing.
“Lockheed Martin understand that the shared effort to combat COVID-19 and recover from its effects will be a long-term one,” Hewson said. “We will continue to engage national, state, and local leaders to undertake additional measures as needed.”


BENGALURU: The state government will soon set up a special court to try and expedite cases related to public land encroachment as identified by the A T Ramaswamy and V Balasuramanian committees.
Speaking to reporters, Law Minister T B Jayachandra said that the court would have the jurisdiction over both the revenue and forest lands. “All cases related to encroachment of government lands identified by the two committees will be transferred to the special court,” he said.
The Minister said that care would be taken while appointing public prosecutors as the government was keen on recovering its lands.
Earlier, the minister met H S Doreswamy and Ramaswamy, who held a protest in front of his official chamber in the Vidhana Soudha. They were demanding the removal of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao.
Jayachandra said that the ball was in the Raj Bhavan’s court. “Once the governor gives his assent to the Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill 2015, the legislature can initiate the process to remove the Lokayukta,” he said.


The National, Monday June 25th, 2012
THE Gazelle Restoration Authority in East New Britain will implement its last phase when the new government is in office, according to provincial administrator Akuila Tubal.
He said more than K200 billion remained for programmes to be implemented in the last phase.
He was making clarifications last week amid criticisms, made during the election campaign on how the authority was implementing projects.
The authority has three main phases – the immediate phase, restoration phase and consolidation phase.
“Some of these projects are on hold due to lack of funding from the national government in the last two years.
“But the projects are still with us and as soon as the new government is formed, the projects will continue,” he said.
He said the immediate phase focused on the first three to four months after the volcanic eruptions in 1994 where the government’s priority was to save lives.
This included resettling people from affected areas in Rabaul in care centres.
“We had surplus funds of more than K7 million which was used to buy Gelagela resettlement land area and plantations for people that were being resettled.”
He said the money was also used to introduce cash back into the local economy as NGIP Agmark could not trade after their bank accounts were put on hold by the Bank of PNG. So the provincial government lent them K200 million to start buying copra and cocoa.
The restorative phase involved consultation with people in the Rabaul LLGs and communities in Kokopo.
Tubal said the authority was one of best implementing organisations in the country and in Asia Pacific according to the World Bank.
Phase three invaolves consolidating the immediate and restoration activities to restore a sustainable and risk-averse manner, the social and economic well-being of the population of the northeast Gazelle Peninsula.


The Federal Minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari has said that the incumbent government is focusing on implementation of laws pertaining to the protection of human rights.
Accoring to media reports, the Human Rights Minister has made these remarks while addressing a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday.
Shireen Mazari has said that child domestic labor has been proscribed through a piece of legislation. She said the provincial governments will also be requested to follow the suit.
“We have one of the most progressive law regarding the rights of transgenders. Progress has been made to implement it. A transgender center is being established to extend help to this community,” she said.
The Human Rights Minister further stated that under Juvenile Justice System Act, juvenile courts have been established in the federal capital, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
Shireen Mazari has said that other laws such as those relating to the senior citizens, journalists, persons with disabilities and minorities are also on the cards.
“Campaigns have been launched to create awareness amongst the people about child abuse and women inheritance rights,” she added.


(MENAFN - Gulf Times) Qatar participated in the 50th meeting of the Technical Council of the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO), which was held through video conference technology, QNA reported. At the meeting, Qatar was represented by the Chairperson of Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation and Metrology (QGOSM), Engineer Mohamed bin Saud Mohamed al-Musallam. The meeting discussed topics on its agenda in the field of institutional services, including the memorandum of the presidency on the final account for the fiscal year 2020, and took appropriate measures.
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Women Express gratitude for implementing Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana
Hundreds of women from different parts of Shimla district today met Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at Oak-Over, Shimla and expressed their gratitude for providing Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has fulfilled its fifth election guarantee by implementing the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana. He said that the state government was committed to the welfare of every section of the society and many innovative initiatives and schemes were being implemented.
The government has fulfilled five of its guarantees in just 13 months of its regime, the first being providing OPS to benefit 1.36 lakh government employees he said adding further that Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme of Rs 680 crore was launched with the objective of providing self-employment opportunities to the unemployed youth so as to encourage entrepreneurship. He said that the government has also made a historic increase in the support price of cow and buffalo milk and in the support price of wheat and maize to promote natural farming.
The Chief Minister said that the state government faced various challenges arising due to the disaster last year with determination and was continuously making efforts to strengthen the economic condition of the state and has taken several initiatives to enhance its resources. The State Government has adopted a zero tolerance towards corruption, he reiterated.
Mayor Municipal Corporation Shimla Surinder Chauhan expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister and urged to set up Shimla Haat in the town.
Education Minister Rohit Thakur, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Sunder Singh Thakur and Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Vice Chairman State Planning Board Bhawani Singh Pathania, MLA Vinod Sultanpuri, Vice Chairman HIMUDA Yashwant Chhajta, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, OSD to the Chief Minister Ritesh Kapret and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.


Police in Zambia on Wednesday confirmed the death of two people when the police were attempting to disperse supporters of the country’s main opposition leader.
Inspector-General of the Zambia Police Kakoma Kanganja said the two were shot in the process of dispersing the unruly supporters who had converged near the police headquarters to give support to Hakainde Hichilema who was appearing for the question.
He however said in a release that investigations in the shooting incident have been launched to establish the circumstances in which the two victims were shot.
“We shall wait for forensic examinations so as to ascertain what type of firearm was used and the public shall be informed on the findings and the way forward,” he said.
He expressed regrets that the supporters failed to adhere to calls not to accompany their leader. Enditem


ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has called for building partnerships between the public and private sectors in order to take forward the country and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Addressing Pakistan Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Investment Report 2021 in Islamabad on Wednesday, he pointed out that country has achieved an encouraging growth of 5.37 per cent. He however said it is not enough and we have to go much higher.
He emphasized the need for innovative and out of box approaches in order to ensure sustainable growth.
The Foreign Minister said the government has launched a new national security policy which focuses on economic security. He said the policy is a multidimensional in scope as it also involved food and water security.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said we have also launched an innovative universal health insurance scheme which will encourage private sector to make investments in the rural areas for the construction of health facilities.
He said the government is also introducing a new local government system under which the people will directly elect Mayors in order to improve service delivery.


Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh is pleading with the population to be honest with health officials when giving information related to Covid-19.
He was speaking on Power 102’s Power Breakfast Show and said the data and information being collected by public health officials is critical in the decision making process. He said he is concerned about the new COVID-19 cases but asked the population not to panic.
He stressed the surgical shutdown of specific schools and businesses is aimed at minimizing infection and spread and protect lives. He also stressed it’s important to follow the safety protocols and act in a responsible manner.


Srinagar: A huge number of students in Kashmir have got new admissions in government schools in the past week, KNO reported, quoting an unnamed official of Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK).
The news agency reported that in the last week, more than 30,000 students have got admitted to various government schools across ten districts of the Valley.
Besides fresh admissions, the official said, some admissions were from those students who were previously studying in private schools and have now shifted to government schools.
“In the past week, we have received hundreds of such new enrolments that were already studying in private schools,” the official said.
“We are more focused on infrastructure and academics and in past years we have developed the school education in Kashmir,” the official said. “We hope we will get more admissions this year as compared to last year.” (KNO)
SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday issued...


Raipur: The infant mortality rate has marginally come down in Chhattisgarh in the last three years, according to the official statistics.
"The state government`s joint initiative with UNICEF to control infant mortality rate have started showing results and continuously the infant mortality rate is declining here," an official said on Wednesday.
"According to recent figures, the infant mortality rate has come down to 48 from 51 per 1,000 in 2010," the official said.
The official further said that the state government has been continuously working with UNICEF to tackle child malnutrition, child and maternal mortality rate and it is gradually showing positive results.
Under Nawa Jatan scheme to combat malnutrition, UNICEF has provided technical help through its consultants by conducting base line survey in around 340 village panchayats where malnutrition rate was reported to be high, the official said.
"UNICEF will also help the government in 2013-14," he added. According to government statistics, as many as 40 nutrition rehabilitation centres were being run across the state last year which have now increased to 75.


Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa underscored the importance of upcoming initiatives aim at supporting Bahrain’s recovery, stressing major priority development projects which were unveiled today.
He shed light on the economic recovery plan which followed directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and which were announced by the Government, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
In a press statement, he said that the recovery roadmap aims to support the economy and create job through partnership with the private sector and the legislative branch of government.
He pointed out that the announced projects will take place in different stages, adding that each project has its own time plan and economic feasibility.
He said that the planned towns which were announced today would be residential, logistic, tourist and industrial hubs, adding that the necessary standards were taken into account when planning them to preserve the environment and the wildlife and marine life.
“A large part of the economic recovery plan is related to facilitating the procedures and regulations for investment”, he said, stating that the required amendments will be done in cooperation with the legislative branch as an essential partner.
The minister said that the projects unveiled today reflect Bahrain’s resolve to move forward and achieve the goals of the economic recovery plan through teamwork.
Source: Bahrain News Agency


Meru County Government is constructing a Sh 60 million cultural conference facility.
The county Governor Kiraitu Murungi said that the facility at the Njuri Ncheke shrine in Tigania West is meant to preserve the Meru culture and revive tourism activities in the region.
The governor said that the centre will be key in promoting the Ameru history, language and culture for future generations.
He said that the facility will promote the region’s business activities and create job opportunities for the locals.
“The centre will also host recording studios and exhibition halls to enable artists in the region to earn a living from their artistic expressions, including artworks,” Kiraitu said.
He added that the 1, 500-capacity hall at the shrine will play host to local and national events, and enable locals to earn some money to run the facility.
“We said in the process of doing so, we are going to support the Njuri Ncheke system which has been here for many years, and we are also going to establish the Kimeru Cultural Institute,” Kiraitu said.
Kiraitu was speaking after he visited the centre with more than 3,000 elders from Meru and Tharaka Nithi counties.
Njuri Ncheke Chairman Linus Kathera and the two Secretary Generals, Josphat Murangiri (Operations) and Washington Muthamia (Programmes), welcomed the initiative saying that it will put the counties on the nations tourism circuit.


CM assures to pursue ILP demand
Shillong,Nov 21: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said the state government will continue to pursue with the Centre for implementation of ILP in Meghalaya.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said, “We have done our part in passing the resolution and will continue to press before the Government of India.”
He also refused to agree that the NGOs were accusing the state government over the delay to implement of ILP.
“Whenever I spoke to them, they told me that they have appreciated the fact that this government has at least taken the step to pass the resolution”, Conrad said.


PPP and government will continue talking: Zardari
LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party’s leader Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday admitted that the Pakistan People’s Party and the establishment had been in contact for the last eight years and said that the PPP would carry on with talks aimed at restoring democracy.
Zardari, accompanied by around three dozen PPP leaders, addressed a crowded press conference at Bilawal House.
Zardari, who had threatened to launch agitation against the government, softened his stand at the press conference, saying: “We don’t want to take to the streets, though we can do it and the government also knows about it. We will hold dialogue with the establishment and at the same time motivate people and intellectuals,” said Mr Zardari.
He said the way the government had treated PPP activists indicated a conspiracy against the federation. “Our army is patriotic and does not want to break the country but a couple of insane people are damaging the federation by staying in power,” he said. He said that the PPP’s only demand was free and fair elections in 2005.
He said the PPP wanted dialogue with power brokers, the army, intellectuals, lawyers and all stakeholders in order to protect people and the country. He went on to say that only the PPP and Benazir Bhutto could save the country from harm. “The government is too gutless to run the country. Its only agenda is to make money,” he said.
Condemning the arrest of party workers, he said that the PPP would raise the issue at every forum including court and parliament. He said the next parliament would determine President Musharraf’s role in the country’s affairs.


Craft market boosts first aid programs
TEACHING children first aid and CPR is at the forefront of Gladstone Local Ambulance Committee's community engagement.
The Gladstone Baptist Craft, Cuppa and Chat group has donated $2700 to the cause.
Group co-ordinator Helen Watson said it was a chance to give back to the hardworking ambulance service.
She said the group held a craft market in October.
“We worked on it all year,” Mrs Watson said.
“Everybody got involved in making various projects and items to sell.”
She said the group was astounded at the proceeds.
“We were absolutely over the moon,” she said.
Mrs Watson thanked the community for its wonderful support.
She said while the event was successful, they would wait two years before doing it again.
“It was a lot of work,” she said.
It’s not the first time the group has gotten behind local paramedics.
Many of the members have also been making teddies and heart pillows.
“They’re for the children who need the ambulance to come help them,” Mrs Watson said.
“It’s something to help comfort them.”
Local Ambulance Committee spokesman Paul Berube said the donation was extremely valuable.
“A lot of programs here really need the support,” Mr Berube said.
He said tough times and government cutbacks had made it more difficult to run programs.
Mr Berube said the money would help increase children and community engagement.
“It starts down at the lower level,” he said.
“We’ve got to teach the kids.
“That way they can recognise if a safety issue comes up and know what to do.”


Polls have consistently shown a significant majority of people will vote for the current flag rather than the alternative.
Polling companies haven’t been calling the people I’ve been asking.
We were with 10 New Zealanders in Tasmania three weeks ago, all but one were voting for the new flag.
A week later we were on a farm tour in the North Island with 41 people. Only two of those were voting for the status quo, one didn’t like the alternative but was planning to vote for it in preference to the old one and the others were definitely voting for change.
At a dinner last week, four of six were voting for change.
Does that mean the polls will be proved wrong?
Sadly, I don’t think so.
Between people who don’t want change, people who do but don’t like the alternative enough to vote for it and people voting against change for political reasons I think the polls will prove to be right.
But whatever the outcome of the referendum, we’ve got a new flag and we’ll continue to fly it.


Chivers sells business, but will stay on
Iconic Detroit Lakes real estate agent Jack Chivers has sold his business — but he will remain there as a sales agent and will lead the eight-person sales team.
Fargo businessman Dirk Ockhardt and two silent investors purchased Jack Chivers Realty on Jan. 1.
Ockhardt will serve as the new managing broker and president of Jack Chivers Realty.
He said he will focus on business quality, strategy, marketing and growth.
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(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
President of the Republic of El Salvador H E Nayib Armando Bukele met yesterday Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, who is currently visiting El Salvador. During the meeting, bilateral relations were reviewed, in addition to a number of issues of common interest.
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Not less than four people have lost their lives in Iseyin, Oyo State during a clash between some Customs officers and smugglers.
The incident happened on Thursday afternoon when come residents of the community were still celebrating the Eld-Fitri festival.
Sources claimed that the four people lost their lives due to gunshots they sustained when customs officers were engaging the smugglers.
There are claims that customs officers started shooting after intercepting smuggled goods coming through the borders.
According to Daily Post, the bullets hit some of the residents who were on the ground to enjoy Eld-Fitri celebrations.
The incident saw four people reportedly died as a result of the gunshots they sustained.
The fifth person was seriously injured.
At the time of filing this report, the state police command and custom are yet to react to the incident.


ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza announced Friday that there were 28 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, with the seven new cases emerging in Taftan.
“Twenty-eight persons have been infected with the novel coronavirus in Pakistan,” said Dr Zafar Mirza during a news conference. “All seven patients in Taftan have been kept in isolation. A mobile laboratory has been established in Taftan,” he added.
The prime minister’s special assistant said that a National Coordination Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss measures to tackle the virus. “There is a need to take decisions on a national level regarding the coronavirus,” he said.
He said that the government had decided to open only three airports for international flights. “International flights will be operated only through Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports,” he said.
Dr Mirza said that public gatherings have been banned throughout the country as “nothing was more important for the government than the public’s safety”.
He revealed that the government had decided to ban events at wedding halls for two weeks. Dr Mirza announced that cinema halls and theatres will also remain closed for two weeks as the government continues to grapple with the spread of the infection.
The senior government official said that all educational institutions, both public and private, were being closed from tomorrow throughout the country.
“The federal minister for religious affairs will decide on matters pertaining to religious gatherings,” he said.
He said that the government would contact the chief justice to decide on whether courts and kutcheris should keep on functioning or not. “We request the civil courts to postpone hearings for three weeks,” he said. “We will also request judicial magistrates and sessions court judges to go to jails and make decisions on remands and bails there.”


Conor Morris, Ideastream Public Media
Akron and Cincinnati school districts — like many across the state — have seen significant increases in the number of immigrant students they're serving. What are the schools doing to adapt?
Over the past two decades, the number of students in Ohio who are learning the English language has doubled.
School boards have become a battleground for the so-called 'culture wars.' Voters across the state will be shaping their communities' education landscape when they cast ballots today.


Louisville, KY – Fair Board President Harold Workman says officials were optimistic that attendance
would pick up this year, given the fact that more people were choosing to spend their
entertainment dollars closer to home amid the recession.
(just because we had kept up with the county fairs across the state and other
festivals and those attendance had been up through the summer, so we thought
that'd carry into the state fair, and it certainly did).
Workman says mild weather and a strong entertainment lineup also helped bring
in more people.


Gehlot also credited Gandhi for the party's good performance in all the five states, including Rajasthan.
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said Tuesday that he was confident that his party will form the government in Rajasthan and decision on the chief minister's post will be taken by Rahul Gandhi.
He also credited Gandhi for the party's good performance in all the five states, including Rajasthan.
"We are confident that the Congress will get a clear majority and will for its government in Rajasthan," Gehlot told PTI. Asked who will be CM, he said it will be decided by the party MLAs and the Congress president. Gehlot said Gandhi raised key issues concerning the people because of which Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "graph came down".
He also said that Gandhi first cornered Modi and Amit Shah in Gujarat and played issue-based politics.
The senior Congress leader said the Congress benefited as Gandhi raised issues concerning price rise, farmers, the Rafale issue on which Modi and the BJP did not have answers.


FATHER Project coming to Hubbard County
Area children, fathers and families will have even more resources available to them with the recent announcement that the Fostering Actions To Help Earnings and Responsibility (FATHER) Project expanded to include Hubbard County.
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Make these easy recipes for healthier diets
The following recipes were provided by Audra Gollenberch, assistant professor of public health at Shenandoah University.
Sautéed Collard Greens
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
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NEW DELHI: Amidst a controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on 1984 anti-Sikh riots, government today sought to control damage as it said the episode was “extremely sad and unfortunate” and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already apologized several times for it.
Refusing to say anything further on this, he said the cases filed in connection with the riots are sub-judice.
However, the Congress leader added that “UPA government has always been sympathetic towards the victims.”
His comments came amidst a raging controversy over Gandhi’s remarks that some Congressmen may have probably been involved in the riots that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Gandhi had also said that the then Rajiv Gandhi government had tried to stop the riots.–PTI


PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Oregon Health Authority will be discussing the cost of health care and how it impacts Oregonians during a public hearing on Friday.
In the virtual meeting, health officials will show the data of rising health care costs. Further, they’ll discuss what impacts COVID-19 had on health care costs and health plans.
Provider organizations and policymakers are expected to speak on their efforts to address health care costs.
The meeting will start at 9 a.m., but public comment begins around 12:40 p.m.


Schools closed until the end of the school year in New Brunswick
New Brunswick Minister of Education says unless province-wide COVID-19 situation improves, schools in province will remain closed for the rest of the school year due to pandemic.
Dominic Cardy said that the immediate concern remains public health and safety, while saying that his ministry is determined to help students continue their studies while the schools are closed.
He says students will be asked to spend one to two and a half hours a day learning at home, depending on their grade level. The Minister maintains that the school year will not be extended.
Information on home learning will be posted on a new family resource website.
Students are also encouraged to read for at least 30 minutes and to practice 30 minutes of physical activity each day.
Cardy says all of the students who were on track in January to advance to the next level will do so, and those who were expected to graduate.
In these times of isol


Chennai, Feb 15, 2020 –
Condemning the police action on late Friday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protesters here, DMK President on Saturday urged the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the cases against them.
He also said the state government should permit holding of democratic peaceful protests.
Stalin said the protests were held peacefully demanding the state government to pass a resolution against the CAA on Thursday evening.
The police had picked up some protesters as they had assembled in a locality to protest without permission.
According to the police, some protesters hurled stones and chappals injuring some policemen. This prompted the police to resort to mild baton charge.
In a statement MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah condemned the police action.
He said Tamil Nadu police has been denying permission to hold protests in Chennai, Madurai and other places similar to that of being held in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh.
Jawahirullah said the police had not kept their word of giving permission to hold anti-CAA protest when approached. The protesters decided to hold protest on Friday and the police took action against them.
He also demanded action against the police officials and release of those arrested. (Agency)


Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and his wife, Trudi, on Thursday urged people to forego gatherings and holiday travel plans as COVID-19 cases spike across the state, and the governor said further measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will be announced in the coming days.
The state set a record for newly confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday, with 1,777 additional cases announced. As of this week, more than 123,000 cases have been confirmed statewide and there have been 2,507 reported deaths.
The Inslees plan to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas virtually with their family, and urged the rest of the state to do the same.
Inslee said an announcement on further measures will be made in the coming days, and will affect what people do outside of the home, but he added that what’s most urgent right now, is what residents do at home.
The governor’s remarks came just two days after state and county health officials warned of an acceleration of coronavirus cases across the state, and pleaded with the public to take the pandemic more seriously heading into the winter holidays. (AP)


Calangute: Minister for ports Michael Lobo
said recently that it is the government’s duty to help self-employed Goans in the tourism sector who are going through a tough period during the pandemic. Citing the recent clashes between taxi
owners and GoaMiles
operators, Lobo said taxi owners are justified
in objecting to the app-based operators taking away their business. He said the state government should step in at the earliest to resolve the matter.
“Taxi owners who are attached to taxi stands outside hotels and resorts are bound to object to others coming and taking away their business,” said Lobo.
He said it is a misconception that taxi owners are overcharging. “In fact, for their survival they are now even charging less than the fixed rate. Installation of digital meters will help them and tourists will not feel cheated,” he said, adding that the government needs to find solutions to these problems. “This is our duty because the government also earns in taxes and GST,” he said.


Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Saturday said that a partnership between media and health professionals was essential to further improve the service delivery system in the health sector.
Addressing a day-long seminar on “Health care and media partnership in emergencies”, organized by Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), the minister said that this partnership between media and health professionals will be helpful to address the issues and ultimate the patients will have standard services at hospitals.
He said that the media was playing its role in a responsible manner and creating awareness in public on many important health and social issues which were uncommon to public.
He said that media was a good source of information for people and they could get best possible knowledge from media. He added both print and electronic media has its importance.
He said that in many disaster like situations and incidents like PIA plane crash incident, country’s people had got reliable information only through media at their homes.
Vice Chancellor Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, PIMS Prof Javed Akram said that their was a need to strengthen the coordination between media and medical practitioners for creating awareness in public on diseases. Administrator PIMS Dr Altaf Hussain said that such interaction between health reporters and medical professionals were essential to understand the grievances of patients and evolving a mechanism to resolve these grievances.
He said that the hospital administration will start a series of interactive sessions with health reporters for capacity building and for effective use of media tools to educate people on medical issues.


According to the 2022 credit suisse global wealth reportexternal link , the Swiss are comfortably the wealthiest population in the world when measuring the average (mean) level of wealth per person ($696,600, or CHF652,890 in 2021).
Looked at in median terms, one half of the population has less than $168,080 in wealth, while the better-off half has wealth in excess of this figure. Using this parameter, Switzerland is the sixth wealthiest nation by citizen.
The medium-sized economy also enjoys the second-highest per capita gross domestic productexternal link in the world ($86,850 in 2020 based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) statistics).
Why is Switzerland, a small country of 8.7 million inhabitants, so much wealthier than its neighbours?
This 2021 documentary by Swiss public television, SRF, goes beyond the well-known clichés to take a close look at Switzerland's economic and industrial development over the years and examines the various factors that helped the small and rural Alpine country become one of the richest in the world.
(Subtitles translated from German to English by SWISS TXT). Tags:
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Perham elementary principal to leave
Farmington Area Public Schools has announced the hiring of two new principals. including Kimberly Grengs, Pehram elementary school principal for the past three years.
Grengs returns to Farmington schools to be principal of the fifth elementary school.
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Mandy Hendrieks, who stays at the school, says when she went to the shop on Monday morning she heard people planning to petrol-bomb the school.
“I heard people talking that they wanted to petrol-bomb the school and I quickly warned everyone and then called the police, despite their [police’s] quick response they carried on with their plan,” she says.
She says the protesters want to occupy the open land surrounding the school.
Principal Terence Nefdt said: “It is unfortunate that we are being victimised for issues that we don’t have control over.”
He said they will have to work with the department to repair the damage caused.
Spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department Bronagh Hammond said the administration section of the school was petrol-bombed.
Two hostels and the dining room are also damaged, as well as the roof of the admin building and the fence.
“It is unnecessary and uncaring to damage a school. Acts such as this does nothing for their cause, but affects the learners of their community,” Hammond said.
She said the cost of the damage was still being calculated.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut said: “A case of public violence has been opened and no one has been arrested as yet, the circumstances are being investigated.”


Turkey- Negative rhetoric from Russia declining: Turkish foreign minister
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) The negative rhetoric in the war of words between Turkey andRussiais on the decline amid heightened tensions in the wake of Turkey’s downing of aRussianwarplane Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuolu said on Dec. 11.
“One should not sow discord among people. They make hate accusations. But there is a decrease in this rhetoric at the moment” the foreign minister said while speaking in a televised interview.
Çavuolu cited his meeting withRussianForeign Minister Sergei Lavrov inBelgradeon Dec. 3 where his counterpart also expressed Moscow’s willingness to not escalate tension with Ankara.
“We asked to keep dialogue channels open withRussiaand Lavrov did not object” he said.
Russian officials had “sentimental feelings” after the downing of their warplane by Turkey and they had been making accusations against Turkey Çavuolu said.
“Russia wants to utilize all opportunities against Turkey. But our patience is not endless” he said calling on Moscow to reexamine the decision to impose sanctions against Ankara.
No political leader is mediating withRussiaon behalf of Turkey but there are some leaders such as Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev who wanted to help diffuse the tension betweenAnkaraand Moscow he added.
Jarabulus operation still on agenda
Asked if a planned joint operation between Turkey and the U.S. on Jarabulus in Syria aimed to clear the region from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants was halted after Turkey shot down theRussianwarplane Çavuolu said the plan was still on the agenda.
“[The] Jarabulus [operation] has not been put aside. Talks continue” he said.
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Foreign Ministry receives credentials of UAE ambassador
(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Amman, Sep. 6 (Petra) -- Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs, Zaid Al-Lozi, Wednesday received a copy of the credentials of the newly-appointed resident ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Jordan, Matar Saif Suleiman Al-Shamsi.
At a ceremony, Al-Lozi and Al-Shamsi reviewed bilateral ties between the two countries and means to boost them.
6/9/2017 - 02:29:18 PM
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(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday received a delegation from the Emirati National Defence College.
During the meeting, Safadi stressed the strategic and“brotherly” ties between Jordan and the UAE, which witnessed constant developments with the support of both countries' leaderships, said a Foreign Ministry statement.
Safadi congratulated the Emirati people on the golden jubilee of establishing the Emirati state.
The Foreign minister acquainted the delegates with the Jordanian efforts, led by His Majesty King Abdullah, to solve regional crises, instill peace and security and enhance joint Arab action and cooperation to serve Arab issues and joint interests.
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Kishtwar: A 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Kishtwar even as the accused has been arrested, police said here on Thursday.
An official said that police received a complaint from a person alleging that her daughter was raped by one Kamran Najjar in Kishtwar.
He said that acting swiftly the accused was arrested and a case FIR 137/2021 has been filed in Police Station Kishtwar under Sections 376/IPC and 4 POCSO Act, while further investigation has been initiated.
Meanwhile, SSP Kishtwar, Shafqat Hussain urged the general public to work with the police in their respective neighbourhoods to reduce social crime.
“They have the ability to share information with the police about social crimes, and we assure the community members that our efforts to curb social crimes will continue,” he said—(KNO)


REM, Serbia’s electronic media regulator, recently got five new board members and a new rulebook public services have to apply during pre-election campaigns.
„Unfortunately, I’m afraid that only names were changed and that we can’t speak of essential changes,” said Milinkov, from the Philosophy Faculty of Novi Sad.
The atmosphere during the election of new board members leaves the impression that no real change will occur, she said, adding that the questions that were asked often sounded like those the ruling elite would ask.
„All this seems to be done so we can show the foreigners that we do have a special (pre-election) rulebook, that we have changed the board members, that we have done everything we were supposed to,” Milinkov said.
The changes serve as an excuse and are meant for external use, she said, predicting that the coming election will be “very problematic” regarding media coverage.
Serbia’s society is “rapidly heading towards the lowest level of democracy,” Milinkov concluded.


KARACHI: Traffic police vigilance team on Thursday claimed to have arrested a fake driving license agent at Korangi driving license office and filed a case against him. Spokesperson of traffic police said that case No 270-2014 has been registered against the agent, Zulfiqar Ali, under section 47, 420 and 468. He said that three fake driving licenses were also recovered from his possession.
He said that AIG traffic police warned all traffic officials that there was no place in traffic police department for those who were against the public interest.
AIG traffic police instructed traffic police vigilance team to send report in light of arrested agent statement with immediate effect.


Mirsad Djerlek, the state secretary of the Serbian Health Ministry, said on Aug. 12 that the fourth COVID-19 wave was “gathering momentum” and that its full force would be felt in the coming weeks. If the situation were to develop according to the predictions, he added, stricter measures would have to be reintroduced.
“The epidemiological situation has been getting worse in the past two-three weeks, especially these past few days,” Djerlek told the RTS public service.
When asked about the profiles of the current patients, he said that what they all had in common was the fact that they had not been vaccinated, adding that the majority of them had just returned from their summer vacations or they had attended parties.
“We are talking mostly about mild and severe symptoms,” Djerlek said and added that the government “will not be sitting idly,” waiting for autumn to change the measures.
According to him, if “this rapid infection trend” continues, the allowed number of people gathered in one place would have to be lowered. Speaking about the vaccination of the younger generations, Djerlek said that around 20 percent of the youth had received the shots, which marks a slight rise in numbers, but that it was not enough.


Arab businesswomen body praises Lebanon's LLWB
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BEIRUT, July 11 (KUBA) -- Chairperson of Council of Arab Businesswomen Sheikha Hessa Saad Al-Abdullah praised on Wednesday the efforts of the Lebanese League for Women in Business (LLWB) in supporting women.
Al-Abdullah made the remark during her sponsorship of the ceremony organized by (LLWB), in which two awards were given to Director of the Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) Laure Sleiman and General Director of the Ministry of Economy and Trade Alia Abbas.
"(LLWB) works under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Businesswomen headed by Sheikha Hessa Al-Abdullah and the International Federation of Business and Professional women (BPW)," said LLWB Chairperson Carmen Zaghib in a statement for KUNA.
"The LLWB sheds the light on various events which it organizes to indorse the projects done by business women in different fields and to support their small businesses as well," Zaghib continued.
"We thank Sheikha Hessa Al-Abdullah for supporting Lebanese women and businesswomen and for the huge impact she made as an ambassador of BPW in the Middle East which led to establishing the first Businesswomen Club in 2014 and transforming it to a federation in 2017," Zaghib added. (end) wsm.amm.bb
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Israeli fire kills Palestinian child, wounds hundreds others in Gaza
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) RAMALLAH, June 29 (KUNA) -- A Palestinian child was killed on Friday and hundreds others injured by the Israeli occupation forces' fire during the Great March of Return near the border fence in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Health Ministry said.
The 13-year-old unidentified child was martyred after he was shot at head in eastern Khan Younis, the ministry added in a statement.
Some 310 people were wounded, 133 of them were admitted to hospitals, the statement noted, revealing that three cases are in serious condition.
The Israeli forces fired live ammunition and tear gas bombs at peaceful gatherings of Palestinians to disperse them along the Gaza Strip borders.
The march started today under the slogan of "the Friday of Gaza and the West Bank is one blood and a common destiny." Palestinians have been staging the peaceful march since March 30 to stress that they have the right to come back to their homes they had to leave many years ago. (end) nq.hm
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The Police Public Relation Officer of Enugu State, in a statement released on Thursday, said the command has arrested one suspect who was allegedly involved in the murder of the traditional ruler of Ogbozinne community in Nkanu West Local Government of Enugu state.
Recall that the late traditional ruler, Igwe Stephen Nwatu, was allegedly murdered on June 11 in the community over a protracted town union leadership crisis.
It was also reported that over 200 houses were completely destroyed by some groups loyal to the monarch after he was murdered.
The PPRO of the state said the suspect was arrested by some police operatives in the state two days ago, saying that the arrested suspect is “believed to have participated actively in the act”.
He further added that the arrested suspect will assist them in arresting others were involved in the crime.
Amaraizu said, “The suspect is helping the police in its investigations and the command has intensified manhunt for other suspects,’’


The Police and military have insisted that the country is now safe and steps have been taken to implement a special security plan following the Easter Sunday bombings.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Senior DIG C.D. Wickramaratne said that all those directly linked to the bombings have been arrested or were killed.
He also said that all the explosives believed to be linked to the group involved in the Easter Sunday attacks have been found.
Wickramaratne also urged the public not to be misled by unverified reports.
Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said that the military has taken steps to ensure National security under the emergency regulations.
He said that over the past two weeks normalcy was returning to the country and the public must not be misled by false claims.
The Commander urged the public to return to their day to day activities.
The Navy said that security at all ports has also been strengthened.
Navy Commander Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva said that steps have been taken to prevent any attack in the ports in Sri Lanka.
The Air Force said that security has also been strengthened at the main airport in Sri Lanka.
Air Force Commander Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy said that the Air Force had also carried out search operations at schools in the country. (Colombo Gazette)


Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama Thursday said here that there should be no place for stigma against leprosy patients in the society.
Addressing the patients suffering from leprosy and their family members, he said: “It is very important for the people affected by leprosy to be accepted by the society as part of the human family”.
He said the stigma attached against the disease is worse than the disease itself.
“People suffering from the disease should never feel detached from the society”, said the spiritual leader adding the leprosy patients in every sense are better than the people who despite being healthy don’t have reasons to be happy in their lives.
There are more than ten thousand Leprosy patients in the national capital.
The Dalai Lama also urged the rich people in the country to contribute money for the welfare works of the Leprosy patients and people suffering from other diseases.
He said his trust will donate $1 million for the welfare of the Leprosy patients.
“There is a need for the organisations to come ahead and increase awareness in a bid to eliminate the stigma in the minds of the people against the leprosy disease,” he said.


Vietnam: Cloth import increases 18.2 percent
( MENAFN )According to the country's General Statistics Office on Wednesday, May 5th, Vietnam spent more than USD4.2 billion importing cloth in the first four months of 2021, seeing a year-on-year increase of 18.2 percent.
Between January and April, Vietnam imported over 571,000 tons of cotton value USD984 million, up 6.5 percent in volume and 11.7 percent in value.
Over the period, the country also added USD880 million into importing 414,000 tons of yarn, it augmented 23.9 percent and 19.8 percent correspondingly.
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The Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP), on Thursday in Abuja trained 50 school teachers and parents/guardians on strategies and approaches to end violence against children in the FCT.
NAN reports that the Executive Director of the foundation, Rev. Sister Agatha Chikelue, while addressing participants from various areas in the FCT, said that the training would reduce violence in the FCT.
Chikwelu said that the aim of the training was to educate the participants more on the importance of protecting the lives of the children from such violence and crimes.
She said that the participants were selected from various schools as well as some parents and guardians in Local Government Areas of the FCT.
Chikwelu also said that the effort was to ensure that the training extended to many people who were not privileged to participate, thereby, impacting more knowledge that would promote the lives of the children in the FCT.
She said that the teachers, parents, guardians and wards were not only made to take care of their biological children but supposed to take the responsibility to other children.
According to her, a lot of evil and various kinds of crimes are being committed by bad people. Many children are dying gradually, and they don’t know whom to tell their story to.
“These children are even afraid of their parents. They cannot express their feelings to their parents because of lack of trust from the parents.
“This is because the parents don’t show the children love, they are pushing them to housemaids, nannies, uncles, aunties, and other relatives.
“We have gathered to educate ourselves on strategies we can use to protect our children, to understand more the way to know the plight of these children who have fallen victim to a series of violence.
“We want to know how we can handle the situation, because some of these innocent children don’t even know whom to run to or tell the story of their lives,” she said.
The executive director said that the parents and guardians would always claim that they were practising culture, tradition and religion, while the children were facing trouble, molestation from people living around them.
She said that disorderliness, anomaly and corruption had increased in various areas in the community, adding that the situation was affecting the development of the society.
“If we do not train our children well, it will turn against us as well as our society, whatever we plant is what we will reap. As leaders, parents, teachers and guardians we have failed our children.
“Fathers raping their daughters, mothers seducing their sons, teachers raping their students. Making innocent children lose confidence in us. Violence against children is really on the increase and we must do something to address it.
“But, we can start today with the support from the foundation to bring back the glory. I believe we can make a great change to our society,” she said.
Chikelue said that the training was part of an intervention the foundation was offering to ensure there would be a great resolution and positive change in the society.
She said that the foundation`s objective was to organise exchange, internship and fellowship programmes that engaged in child welfare and protection.
She added that the foundation was also engaging on empowerment and climate change projects and building coalition, community resilience against violent extremism.
Mrs Ijeoma Amugo, Director, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Department, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said that sexual and gender based violence was on the increase in the country.
Amugo said that the violence was mainly among the children, adding that hundreds of cases especially rape and incest hardly report by the victims to relevant authority, due to stigmatisation.
She said that the agency collaborated with other relevant stakeholders on strong sensitisation to communities and traditional rulers, educating them on the dangers of violence and crime in the society.
“The agency also sponsors jingles, short videos, dramas, films as well as leveraging on the various social media platforms, adding that the effort was to end crimes and violence in the country.
According to her, the agency in collaboration with relevant stakeholders’ including NGO’s, CSO’s and Faith Based Organisations to ensure that we empathise with victims of violence.
“We must stop victims of violence, especially among the children and we will make sure we provide these victims access to support, care and justice.
“Together we break the culture of silence and encourage victims to speak up,” she said


The newly-appointed Minister of Homeland Security, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has assured Malawians that the Malawi Police Service will revert to serving the public in a professional manner and according to the law.
Chimwendo Banda was speaking in Lilongwe on Tuesday when he was asked to explain the same by the state broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation (MBC).
“I agree that there has been a sour relationship between the public and the Malawi Police Service. This time the Malawi Police will have to work according to the law.
“President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is talking about the rule of law. When you provide your services according to the law, I don’t think Malawians will be disturbed again.
“We are going to work with the chiefs across the country and community leaders and make sure that there is that common understanding that the Malawi Police and all security agencies are there to support and protect them,” Chimwendo Banda explained.
Malawians lost trust in the Malawi Police Service during the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government when the youth belonging to the party branding themselves as “Ana Adad” or Cadets were wild in breaking the law but the police was doing very little to contain the situation.
Before being appointed Minister of Homeland Security, Chimwendo Banda condemned two youths who labelled their vehicle number plates as “Ana Abusa” saying the new government will not copy unlawful tendencies from the previous regime of DPP and now allow the impunity which has fallen to rise again.Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :


Eleven National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) members undergoing orientation in Taraba have tested positive for COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Innocent Vakkai, the Chairman of the COVID-19 Technical Committee in Taraba, announced this on Monday at a news conference organised by the state Ministry of Information and Orientation in Jalingo.
He said that the victims were currently receiving treatments at various isolation centres in the state.
Vakkai, also the Commissioner for Health, urged residents of the state to be cautious of the pandemic.
He appealed to members of the public to always observe COVID-19 protocols to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Earlier, Mr Danjuma Adamu, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, said that the state would soon establish a model ranch and livestock training centre.
Adamu said that the plan to establish the centre was in line with the open grazing and ranches establishment law of the state.
He also said that the centre would promote modern techniques for animal husbandry.
The commissioner said that the centre would mitigate the herders/ farmers’ conflicts in the state.
Adamu said that the efforts made by the state government in restoring peace to southern Taraba had begun to yield positive results.
He said that resettlement of the displaced persons was ongoing as sensitisation and seminars on peaceful co-existence were regularly conducted among the communities affected by the crisis. (NAN)


(MENAFN- Jordan Times)
AMMAN — A Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) delegation on Wednesday called for establishing an anti-apartheid Arab and international parliamentary coalition during a meeting with the Senate's Palestine Committee.
The guest delegation is headed by PLO Executive Committee member Ramzi Rabah, and includes head of the Anti-Apartheid Committee at Palestine Legislative Council (PLC) Sinan Sheqadeh, and Director of the Anti-Apartheid Department Maher Amer.
Head of the Senate's Palestine Committee Senator Nayef Qadi reiterated that the Palestinian cause tops the Kingdom's domestic and foreign priorities.
He also expressed readiness to support any 'serious' action aimed at enabling Palestinians meet their legitimate rights, calling for enhancing their internal unity, as divisions would affect efforts serving the Palestinian cause.
Head of the guest delegation, Rabah, said the Palestinian move, which comes at a crucial stage, is meant to establish an Arab parliamentary coalition against Israeli apartheid, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
Also on Wednesday, Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi on Wednesday stressed Jordan's unaltered stance, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, in supporting the Palestinian cause.
Receiving the Palestinian delegation, Safadi reiterated the Kingdom's keenness to put the Palestinian issue at the top of Arab and international decisions until Palestinians achieve their legitimate rights on their national soil, mainly establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital on the pre-1967 lines, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Several MPs and members of the PLO attended the meeting.
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Colombo, Nov 27 (NewsWire) – Sri Lanka have announced travel restrictions on Southern Africa over the new Covid variant threat.
The travel ban will start from 28th, and include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini officials told reporters.
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Travellers who arrived from those countries on 26th and 27th will have to undergo mandatory 14 days qurantine.
Travellers will be banned from Sri Lanka if they have been to these six nations in the past 14 days.
Many countries have tightened border controls over the newly found Omicron variant.
READ: Covid: New variant classed 'of concern' and named Omicron
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coronavirus Covid-19 Sri Lanka Travel restrictions
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Armed police officers will still be seen across Scotland as the response is "gradually" reduced following the London Underground train bombing.
With the UK's terror threat level being lowered from critical to severe after two people were arrested in connection with the terror attack on Parsons Green, Police Scotland urged the public to remain vigilant.
Armed patrols were stepped up after Friday's attack which left 30 people injured.
Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Higgins said: "Although the UK Government has announced that the UK threat level is to be reduced to severe, the public should remain vigilant.
"Since the level was raised on Friday, we have had additional armed police officers on patrol across the country and the public should continue to expect to see these officers as we gradually scale back our policing response in keeping with the UK-wide operation.
"Ultimately, communities defeat terrorism, and we must maintain the strong relationship we have between the public and the police.
"Terrorists want to create discord, distrust and fear.
"The police stand together with all communities in the UK and we will take action against any criminal behaviour, which seeks to undermine society, especially where crimes are motivated by hate."


The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is starting a new community approach in three locations in the country.Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Police Commissioner, Peter Marshall, said police is re-establishing what some people might recall as the Area Constable model.
But Mr Marshall said they will now be called "Community Officers".
He said the officers will be the link between the community and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
Mr Marshall said the community policing will be trailed in Avuavu, South Guadalcanal, Malu'u, North Malaita and North Vella Lavella in the Western Province.
Police Commissioner Mr Marshall said the community police officers will negotiate relatively minor disputes, able to settle issues in relation to willful damage, thefts and minor assaults.
He said the desire by his office and executive is to have community officers in the 130 wards in Solomon Islands.


Lucknow: The BJP on Saturday demanded bills from the Uttar Pradesh government and Urban Development Minister Mohd Azam Khan for the extravagance and pompous shows during Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's birthday bash.
While the urban development minister organised a grand show to mark his birthday in Rampur, the state government organised the Saifai Mahotsav in Yadav's native village in Etawah.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state spokesman Manoj Mishra demanded that the state government and Khan should be asked to foot the bill as there was no rationale involved in public money being used in the shows.
"While Khan said that the funds for the SP chief's birthday bash came from Dawood Ibrahim and Taliban, there were media reports that the state labour department was asked to cough up funds for the celebrations in Rampur in November 2014," Mishra said here.
The BJP leader also alluded to media reports that several crores of rupees were spent in the Saifai Mahotsav which earned notoriety for its extravagance.
"There were reports that Bollywood actress Jacquiline Fernandes was paid Rs 75 lakh for five-minute performance...such issues cannot be brushed under the carpet and the BJP and people have the right to know how true are such reports," he said.
He said there were reports that the state labour department was coerced to foot the bills of stage payments for the Rampur event.
A state government spokesman, when asked about the issue regarding the payments of the programmes, refused to comment.


KUALA LUMPUR: The government has outlined five strategic cores to develop a robust and competitive hydrogen ecosystem, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that the cores would allow Malaysia to lead in the hydrogen economy by 2050.
“The Hydrogen Economy Technology Roadmap (HETR) that was discussed and agreed during the National Science Council would support the country’s Low Carbon Aspirations 2040 under the National Energy Policy (2022-2040).
“The green hydrogen global market is projected to reach US$189.19bil (RM869bil),” Anwar said in a statement read by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang at the National Science Centre here on Wednesday (June 7).
Anwar, who chaired the National Science Council meeting earlier, also said that the hydrogen economy in Malaysia would be valued at US$3.1bil (RM14.27bil).
Malaysia would also be expected to generate between RM49bil and RM61bil to the Gross Domestic Product in 2030 through the implementation of HETR, he added.
Anwar said that a total of 45,000 job opportunities would also be created under the proposed roadmap.
He said that the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) has also implemented several initiatives and projects related to the new energy.
The projects covered the generation and mobility of hydrogen through collaboration between agencies such as NanoMalaysia.
Chang, whose ministry was the council secretariat, said that the implementation of the roadmap would also involve almost half of the Cabinet.
Some ministers that were present at the council meeting include Plantations and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, among others.


The total number of containment zones in the national capital jumped to 102 on Friday with the highest 21 active in the North district.
So far, a total of 50 zones have been de-contained, as per the data shared by the Delhi government on Friday — highest 12 from the West district.
Followed by the north district, the South East has 16 containment zones while the South districts has 13 zones.
Among those having the least zones were — New Delhi and West, each having three active zones. The South West has 12 such zones while the North West district has 10 containment zones.
The Central district has seven zones and the North East district has four zones while Shahdara district has eight zones.
Five containment zones are in the East district.
Covid-19 cases in the national capital crossed 17,000 on Friday.


Sussex Giving EZ Fund Report
Posted on 18/09/2020
Together with Sussex Community Foundation, the Newhaven EZ Fund was established to support charities and not-for-profit organisations which benefit the Newhaven area, in particular those that help to encourage a sense of place and to build on the thriving community in the town.
Applications were welcomed from projects that foster innovation in the community. These groups were awarded grants to help develop their aspirations and develop opportunities for people to become more actively engaged in Newhaven.


Turkey: Central Bank to outlaw use of cryptos in expenses
( MENAFN )The Turkish Central Bank will forbid the expenditure of crypto assets in payments as they involve important dangers for the parties to the deals.
The Official Gazette stated on Friday, April 16, that payment and electronic money organizations will not be able to arbitrate platforms that provide trading, custody, transfer, or issuance services for crypto assets as well mediating finance transfers from them.
The guideline will come into force as of April 30, it added.
Unconnectedly, the bank advised of the dangers of crypto assets such as not being subject to any rule or supervision mechanisms or a central rigid authority, very volatilely, and possibly being used in unlawful actions because of their unidentified structures.
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Differences clear in Senate race
Minnesota's U.S. Senate race pits a former war protester against two candidates who protest continuing the Iraq war.
Pick a major issue and it is likely Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken disagree. Nowhere is that more evident than on the war.
Coleman, who as a college student protested the Vietnam War, supported the Iraq war effort early on but later raised concerns over the U.S. reconstruction effort.
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Legislator Eddie Chu says he and his family still don’t feel safe despite the arrest of six people linked to death threats against him.
RTHK is reporting that the suspects, some of whom are believed to have triad links, were picked up in Yuen Long.
Chu topped the recent Legislative Council elections, receiving more than 80,000 votes in New Territories West.
Several days later, Chu revealed that he had received death threats and was granted round-the-clock police protection.
The alleged threats were believed to be linked to the scaled-down Wang Chau public housing development in Yuen Long.
The government has denied bowing to rural leaders who have business interests there.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Chu said the controversial plan to build public housing flats in Wang Chau has shed light on collusion between the government and various stakeholders, including triads, businesses and rural leaders.
But Chu said the “dark powers” behind Hong Kong’s social development were still at large, according to RTHK.
He said he will continue to collaborate with the police regarding his security arrangements and keep striving for a more open and transparent democratic system.
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“As part of our work on the Ease of Doing Business, on making the environment friendly, not just for local businesses but also for those who want to come and do business in Nigeria, the airport obviously is one of the major places where we need to ensure that facilities are working and that things are being run properly,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying in a statement released by his spokesman, Laolu Akande.
“So we have looked around, we’ve seen some of the equipment. There are many many things that need to be done, many things that need to be corrected, and we have to work on them as quickly as possible,” he added.
While at the airport, Osinbajo inspected some of the facility’s toilets and carousels.
He was accompanied by Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika.


(MENAFN- IANS) >
Washington, Dec 9 (IANS) The US Senate has voted to overturn President Joe Biden's Covid-19 vaccine mandate for businesses.
Senators on late Wednesday voted 52-48 on the resolution, which needed a simple majority to be approved, reports Xinhua news agency.
Democratic Senators Jon Tester and Joe Manchin voted with Republicans, giving it enough support to be sent to the House.
The resolution faces an uphill path in the Democrat-controlled House and Biden is expected to veto the bill if it clears Congress.
The mandate, published through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, asks businesses with at least 100 employees to require their workers to get vaccinated or undergo regular testing by January 4, 2022.
Republicans believe that it constitutes federal government overreach and violates American workers' civil liberties.
Biden's vaccine mandate has recently run into legal challenges from several Republican states, as well as businesses and religious groups.
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(MENAFN) The Russian state-owned diamond miner Alrosa has been exempted from the EU's next wave of sanctions, according to EUobserver, citing European Commission materials.
The world's largest diamond mining enterprise by volume was first named in the bloc's seventh penalty package's draft proposal. The company reportedly supplied direct finance for a new Russian naval submarine and funneled billions of euros into the military budget each year.
Alrosa, on the other hand, was left off the final list, which included 29 persons and seven corporate companies. Belgium, which is home to Antwerp, the world's largest diamond trade centre, vetoed the EU ban.
Belgian diplomats and Antwerp Diamond Centre lobbyists have voiced concerns over the relocation, which might cost the city thousands of jobs.
On the announcement, Moscow-traded shares of the diamond miner, which accounts for about 90% of Russia's capacity, rose.
Alrosa, whose exports topped $4.5 billion last year alone, was placed on the US Treasury and State Department's sanction list in April, along with the United Shipbuilding Corporation.
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A collection of news and information related to International Star Incorporated published by this site and its partners.
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Story | Jan 8, 2012 | 4:36 AMA week before the Golden Globes and seven weeks before the Oscars, Hollywood began polishing its acceptance speeches Saturday night at the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s 23rd annual awards gala. The desert city film festival gala is often a bellwet


Kuwait- Al Azhar warns against racist rhetoric in US
(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) CAIRO Dec 9 (KUNA) -- The highest Muslim religious authority Al-Azhar on Wednesday warned against mounting provocative and racist calls against Muslims in the United States of America.Al-Azhar Al-Sherif said in a statement that such calls provoke sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide "and at the same time they contradict norms of heavenly religions international and humanitarian charters that call for peaceful co-existence and respect of others' beliefs." The authority called for abstention from acts or rhetoric that "may foment discords and hatred" praising some moderate American figures who condemned the fiery-language calls. (end) asm.rk
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Switzerland works hard to start solid oil trade with Iran
(MENAFN) Switzerland has been witnessing the increasing rush to seize opportunities and vital investment schemes from many top countries and emerging in oil/gas rich Iran.
In accordance, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and three Swiss companies, Glencore, Vitol Group and Trafigura have agreed on a contract to swap oil and gas with gasoline.
Moreover, Glencore was also one of the major firms that exported gasoline to Iran before it detached trade relations in the beginning of 2010 on the back of sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Iran's main energy consumption hit 4.428 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in the last fiscal year, with the latest reports showing a 4.7pct rise in the nation's energy intake y-o-y.
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Mr Eyitayo Jegede, a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, has noted that the party has a chance of winning in the forthcoming October 10 governorship election in the state.
He noted that the party will end the reign of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.
Jegede, who was the governorship candidate of the party in the 2016 election, noted that the ruling party has performed poorly and is losing its popularity in the state.
The PDP chieftain further stated that the performance of APC in the state has given PDP the chance to take over.
The former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, in a statement on Saturday, added that the internal crisis in the APC and the number of aspirants contesting against the sitting Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu is a clear indication that the party members have no confidence in the governor’s administration.
“Democracy is about choice; the people determine who will govern them. The populace will have to weigh their options, whether their lives have improved in the last three and a half years, whether the economy has improved, whether security has improved and whether the educational system has improved.”


PICC is undertaking 150 projects in South Africa, including projects in rail, electrification, road construction, dams, ports and irrigation systems.
The president of South Africa Jacob Zuma has said that the minister, municipal leaders, provincial administration and premiers who are part of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission should ensure that they jointly solve problems related to infrastructure in the country.
Zuma has also said that there have been concerns of limited construction activity although PICC has been monitoring construction in all areas in hundreds of infrastructure projects. “We must make sure that dams are built, new schools are occupied by learners and railway carriages are manufactured and used for public transport systems,” he said. He said that they recognized the need to generate more energy, have better transport systems and logistics.
He also added that they recognized the need to ensure that all communities has access to water and sanitation and that there was expansion of information and communication technologies. He also expressed the need to invest in broadband, health, education and rural infrastructure.
The president said PICC, which was established to ensure delivery in infrastructure projects to avoid delays brought about by stakeholders, should be “action oriented, flexible and focused.” He also said that the culture of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission should encourage partnerships.


By Jack Craver
When it comes to health insurance
, your own grass appears greener. According to a new survey, most people like their own coverage, but express little love for the system as a whole.
The poll, conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard Chan School, surveyed residents in seven states: Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Texas, Wisconsin, Oregon and Ohio. About 1,000 people were polled in each state.
A third of all of those polled rated their own health coverage as “excellent,” while an additional 46 percent rated it as “good.” Only 14 percent rated it as “fair,” and only 4 percent called it “poor.”
In contrast, more than 40 percent of those polled gave fair or poor reviews to the overall health care system in their states.
Those with incomes below $25,000 were more likely to give their coverage negative reviews, with 10 percent calling their care poor and 24 percent calling it fair. Still, that only amounts to just over a third of low-income people who give their coverage bad or mediocre reviews.
That doesn’t mean that people won’t concede that their medical costs are tough to cover. Just over a quarter of those polled reported having a serious financial problem as a result of health care costs, and 29 percent said that health care costs were “unreasonable,” although the majority (60 percent) said they were reasonable
The survey also sought to gauge perceptions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and what effect people believe the health law has had on their care and that of others.
35 percent of those polled said the law had helped people in their area. 27 percent said it had hurt people, while 14 percent said their care had gotten better in the past two years. 9 percent said it had gotten worse.
Surprisingly, however, 25 percent claimed that Obamacare had directly hurt them
, while 15 percent said it had directly helped them.
However, there are clearly far more people whose costs have gone up in the past two years than those whose costs have gone down. While 34 percent of respondents said their care has become less affordable, only 9 percent said that it had become more affordable.
Originally posted on BenefitsPro.com


Today's tough choices can aid education
April 3, 2011
Last year, we wrote about the coming budget tsunami that we thought would lead to $215 billion in shortfalls in state budgets and squeeze school districts and local governments across the nation....
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(Prensa Latina) 333,533 new cases of Covid-19 were registered in India, exceeding the 39 million people infected by the pandemic since January 2020, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
39,237,264 people have been infected in India, keeping the country as the second most affected by the infection after the United States.
India also reported 525 deaths from the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 489,409.
36,560,650 patients have recovered so far.
Up until now, more than 715.5 million diagnostic tests have been carried out in local laboratories throughout the country.
1,619 million doses of vaccines have been applied in the country as part of the national immunization campaign against Covid-19.
It was further reported that more than 50 percent of the population aged 15 to 18 received the first injection.


DETROIT- Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, dealing with a budget crunch, announced plans Monday to lay off 150 police officers and merge the city's 12 police precincts into six district stations.
In addition, the department's command staff will be downsized. Bully-Cummings said that meant that 35 to 40 police officers could keep their jobs.
Bully-Cummings said combining precincts will allow the department to halve the number of officers assigned to desk jobs, and add another 102 officers to its patrol force despite the layoffs.
"We took what we considered a crisis and tuned it into an opportunity," Bully-Cummings said. "In the end, even after the layoffs, we will have more officers deployed to work the streets of Detroit than we have today."
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said he expects the cuts to save the city $20 million.
City Council had requested that Kilpatrick cut $54 million from the police budget, and Kilpatrick said the rest of the cuts will come from other departments and through attrition.
Detroit currently faces a $300 million budget shortfall and a takeover of its finances by the state.