MULTAN -- :Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday that the incumbent government would achieve all targets of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to get the country out of grey list.
Talking to journalists here at Iron Market, he said that India failed to push Pakistan into FATF black list and added that the country had been given various tasks till February 2020. He said that the incumbent government would achieve all the targets and bring the country out of grey list. He said that India was facing crises as the world had neglected their viewpoint and international civil society pointed out curfew and human rights violations in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ and K).
He said that the FATF recognized the steps taken by the incumbent government to control money laundering and terror financing. He urged the Opposition parties to avoid any steps which could strengthen the Indian point of view. He said that India had occupied Kashmir on Oct 27 and Pakistan would observe that date as the Black Day.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that all arrangements had been finalized to open Kartarpur Corridor and Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate the facility on Nov 9. He said that India was reluctant to open the Corridor, but agreed later on due to public pressure from Indian Punjab and India would arrange a ceremony regarding Kartarpur Corridor on Nov 8. He said that daily 5,000 Sikh pilgrims would visit Pakistan through Kartarpur Corridor. He said that Sikh pilgrims caravans were ready to visit their religious places in Pakistan and waiting for inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor.
He said that Pakistan had invited former prime minister of India Manmohan Singh as chief guest at the inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor, but he sent a letter in which he said that he would participate as a common man instead of a chief guest.
To a question, Qureshi said that the country's economy was strengthening day by day and export had increased to 5.9 per cent while a decrease of 11 to 13 per cent had been witnessed in import. He said that Pakistani currency was stable as the US dollar was being sold at Rs 155. He said that next phase is to speed up development and progress in the country.
The Foreign Minister maintained that the government was trying to control inflation.
He said that British royal couple went back to their...


(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Defending Gulf Conference champion Muscat Rugby Football Club (MRFC) launched its title defence in style as it steamrolled UAE Shaheen 53-0 in the opening match of the new season in Dubai, UAE, on Friday.
It was total domination of MRFC as it cantered to an easy win.
Forwards Macdara O'Ciardha and Jonathan Young and Gareth Osborne in the back stole the limelight in the lop-sided game.
Team captain Joey Maniel was happy with the result.
'We went to the UAE knowing that Shaheen would give 110 per cent and we weren't disappointed. They gave it their all but by the time the final whistle went Muscat had shown the resolve, commitment and the level of fitness we have trained for. I'm very happy to be defending the championship with such a strong start,' he said.
Maniel complemented the team's supporters for helping them organise a comprehensive pre-season training programme that paid dividends on the field.
MRFC will next take on Bahrain in its next fixture in two weeks' time and will hope to continue with its winning ways.
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(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 18. The Azerbaijan
National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) has published weekly
information on mine clearance operations carried out in the
territories liberated from occupation, the agency told Trend.
During mine clearance operations conducted from September 11
through September 17 in Tartar, Aghdam, Khojavend, Lachin, Fuzuli,
Shusha, Gubadli, Jabrail, and Zangilan, 11 anti-personnel, 8
anti-tank mines, and 34 unexploded ordnance were found and
In general, an area of 195.7 hectares was cleared of mines and
unexploded ordnance during this period.
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No fewer than six suspected hoodlums have reportedly attacked a poultry farm and kidnapped three workers in Atoyo town in the Itele area of Ogun State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suspects attacked the farm at about 5pm on Saturday with assorted weapons, including rifles and other dangerous arms.
Though the state police command said two persons had been arrested in connection with the crime, the three victims had yet to be rescued as of the time this report was filed.
A source in the area who did not want to be mentioned because of fear of attack told PUNCH Metro that the hoodlums had initially kidnapped about five persons found inside the farm, including the owner.
The source said after carrying out the attack unhindered, the hoodlums were said to have taken the six persons to a forest and seized their mobile phones.
The source added that a few hours later, the hoodlums were said to have allowed the owner of the farm and one other person to go free while holding on to the three other victims.
Confirming the attack to our correspondent via WhatsApp message on Monday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the incident was being treated as a kidnapping case.
She noted that the two suspects believed to have taken part in the crime had been arrested and that efforts were ongoing to rescue other victims.
She added that the men of the command in the police division and local hunters had begun to comb the forest to arrest the suspects and rescue the victims.
She said, “There were five of them who were kidnapped at the farm, but two were later released. They were the ones who identified them as the suspects. The driver who came to take some eggs, one female worker, and one other were believed to be victims.
“The two victims who were released have identified the two suspects we arrested after our men, in collaboration with local hunters and other security agencies, combed the bush.”


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ISLAMABAD: Chairperson of Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme, Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that the young people are fully capable to produce results and boost economy of the country.
She said that the youth will change the lives after utilizing the loan money of the Prime Minister’s Scheme in a viable business.
Talking to a private television channel, she said that as many as 55 business plans are available on the websites of SMEDA for initiating business in the country.
She said that youth cannot get the loan facility without a business plan.
The Chairperson said that some 35 lakh young people had downloaded the business proposals from the SMEDA website.
Maryam Nawaz said that youth are the future architects of the country. She said: “We must trust in youth abilities and they will bring progress and prosperity for their families.”
To a question, she said that some 100,000 young people can be able to start businesses in the country through this loan scheme.
Replying to another question, she said that the young people will establish their businesses and they will become independent after utilizing the loan facility in projects.
She said that applications can be submitted in any of the National Bank of Pakistan branch, First Women Bank and SMEDA.
She said: “We are fully confident that the youth after obtaining the loan facility would produce results and return the money to the banks with a specified interest.”
To a question, she said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had fulfilled the promises made with youth during the election campaign.


Beirut Stock Exchange Closed Lower, Losing 0.03%
(MENAFN - Saudi Press Agency)
Beirut, April 6, 2021, SPA -- Beirut Stock Exchange Index ended trading here today lower, losing 0.03 per cent or 0.5 point, to close at the level of 879.76 points.
The tally of all shares traded was 46,781, with a total value of $878.179, divided into 36 deals.
The value of listed companies' capital also plummeted to $8.997 million compared to $8.999 million in the previous trading.
22:33 LOCAL TIME 19:33 GMT
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Story | Aug 20, 2013Shipyard retirees received a shock in the form of a letter regarding their health care last week. Newport News Shipyard, now a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, informed Medicare-eligible retirees — those aged 65 and older — that they would no longer be part of the company's group plan, effective Jan. 1, 2014.


Uganda has confirmed seven cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng has announced.
According to Dr Aceng, the variant was detected in two travellers from South Africa and five others from Nigeria, who arrived in Uganda over a week ago.
The announcement has raised fears that the virus could have already spread to more people in the country.
Assuring Ugandans, the Minister said the travellers have been isolated and that they were not severely ill but required monitoring.
In a speech last week, Aceng had said they would carry out genomic sequencing on all samples.
On Tuesday she asserted that the variant could have spread all over the globe before it was detected, given that over 38 countries have already reported cases of the virus.
She said that the virus spread quickly, but does not seem to cause severe disease.
At the same time, Namibia has detected 18 cases of the Omicron coronavirus strain in the country according to President Hage Geingob during a Covid-19 public briefing.
“It is not time to panic,” he said.
He added, however, that the government could be forced to impose strict measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 Omicron variant.
Namibia’s Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula suggested that the virus spreads faster and they are seeing more re-infections with multiple mutations.


KELLY NJOMBO, Lusaka
THE Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) has urged Government to maintain good policy strategies that will develop the agricultural value chain in the country.
Association chairperson Yusuf Dodia said there is need to create strategies that will create jobs for the local people and boost economic development.
Mr Dodia said in an interview recently that, Zambia has vast unexploited natural resources with the potential to create wealth and reduce poverty.
“As we begin the year 2018, Government and the private sector need to look at the challenges that we faced a country last year and learn from them…what we need now are good consistent policies that will further develop the agriculture in all stages of the sector to boost economic growth,” he said.
Mr Dodia said the country further needs to invest in ventures that will generate income and …..http://epaper.daily-mail.co.zm/


(MENAFN- Trend News Agency ) Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 20
By Azad Hasanli – Trend:
Azerbaijan is ready to export agricultural products, including hazelnuts, vegetables and fruits, to Italy, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev said.
Mustafayev made the remarks at a meeting with Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan Augusto Massari in Baku, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy said Nov. 20.
The minister said that both countries have great potential for expansion of cooperation in such areas as industry, trade, agriculture, textiles, winemaking, pharmaceutics, transit, tourism and others.
Mustafayev added that Italy could use the infrastructure and transit opportunities of Azerbaijan and create joint ventures in this sphere.
The minister also touched upon the cooperation in the energy sector, stressing that the South Gas Corridor project is being successfully implemented.
Mustafayev stressed the importance of the Italian government's support for the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline, which is part of the Southern Gas Corridor.
According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Italy exceeded $2.3 billion in January-October 2017, of which $2.07 billion accounted for the export to Italy.
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Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba/File Photo
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) has demanded timely election of the President.
A meeting of the party office-bearers held at the residence of NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba in Dhumbarahi drew the attention of the government and the Election Commission to remove the legal hurdles for the President’s election.
Spokesperson Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat said that they have decided to seek the support of other parties in the parliament regarding the President’s election.
He said that the presidential election should be held by February 12.
Dr. Mahat said, “We have heard that the government is trying to delay the election, which is unacceptable.”
NC leader Dr. Shashank Koirala said his party would register the candidacy for the President.
“Nepali Congress will nominate a candidate for the President’s election,” he said.


Speaking at an event in Kukuleganga today, Silva said that the army also did not stick to manuals when fighting the rebels but instead adopted new strategies which were successful.
Silva was part of the army during the final stages of the war against the LTTE which was led by former army commander Sarath Fonseka.
The Major General said that the army was now in a position to advice foreign troops including troops involved in peacekeeping operations overseas.
He also noted that Sri Lanka is still part of the UN system and can advice the UN when it wants. (Colombo Gazette)


(MENAFN - The Peninsula)
Some of Al Shaqab’s best bloodlines horses were auctioned at the Longines Indoor Arena at Al Shaqab yesterday.
Organised by Al Shaqab and Al Rayyan Farm, the overall auction yielded an excess of QR3.5m with many lots reaching well above QAR200,000.
The 35 mares were much in demand in foal auction, which saw some of Al Shaqab’s best bloodlines being offered to a captivated audience. The auction had both straight Egyptian and purebred Arabians.
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(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency) Rabat, Feb 9, 2023, SPA -- Saudi Al-Hilal FC will play against its Spanish counterpart, Real Madrid, in the match that will take place next Saturday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, in the final match of FIFA Club World Cup 2023, after the Spanish team defeated Wednesday Al-Ahly of Egypt in the semi-finals, with a score of 4-1.
Real Madrid's goals were scored by Vinicius Junior at the 42nd minute, and at the 47th minute Federico Valverde added the second goal, while the third goal was scored by the Brazilian Rodrygo at the 2nd minute of extra time of the second half before Sergio Arribas succeeded in scoring the 4th and last goal at the 8th minute of the extra time for Real Madrid, while the sole goal of Al-Ahly was scored by Ali Maaloul at the 65th minute.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Hilal had qualified for the final after winning the Brazilian Flamengo, 3-2, in the semi-finals of the tournament.
02:32 LOCAL TIME 23:32 GMT
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Morocco's jobless rate drop to 8.6 percent in Q2
(MENAFN) Morocco's jobless rate increased to 8.6 percent in the second quarter this year from 8.7 percent in the same period of 2015.
Furthermore, services, building activity and industry added 149.000 extra jobs to help offset 175.000 jobs lost in the agricultrural sector due to a severe drought.
However, the cereal harvest is predcited to fall this year, after last year's record crop of 11mn tons due to bad weather and farm job losses.
On the other hand, the industrial sector made 38.000 jobs, while construction and services added 70.000 and 41.000 jobs.
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( MENAFN ) Masdar"s Dudgeon offshore wind energy project is 60 percent finished and will start production in the first quarter of 2017.
Moreover, the project with a capacity of 402 MW is developed by Masdar in collaboration with Norwegian firms Statoil and Staktraft.
On the other hand, the whole investments of the project are almost Dh7.15bn and the plan will be built at 32 kilometers from the North Norfolk coast of East England.
In addition, the finishing of the Dudgeon wind farm will bring Masdar"s installed clean capacity in the UK to more than 1 gigawatt.
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Fiji police say they have sacked another officer for insubordination.
A police spokeswoman has told the Fijivillage website that the officer, who had been recalled from Liberia, was dismissed.
Meanwhile, two senior police officers remain in custody on allegations of insubordination and are awaiting to be charged while two other senior officers who were suspended last month have now been sacked.
Police say the two officers now in custody are alleged to have committed the same offence as the two other senior officers whose jobs have been terminated.
The police have declined to reveal details of the allegations against these four officers.
The police force has been run for nearly three years now by a former deputy military commander, Commodore Esala Teleni.


Qatar - Bangladesh embassy honours academic community, leaders
(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
Bangladeshi Academic Community in Qatar (BACQ) under the patronage of Bangladesh embassy in Doha organised an 'Academic Excellence Award Ceremony' recently.
Five distinguished faculty were presented with crests for their academic excellence. They are Dr Khaled Khan, Dr Anwarul Hasan, Dr Shahriar Saadullah and Dr Mizanur Rahman from Qatar University, and Dr Rubayet Hasan from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.
Bangladesh Community Qatar (BCQ) was presented with a crest for engagements contributing to the betterment of the community in Qatar and Bangladesh Forum Qatar (BFQ) for its active role in promoting business and investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The academics and BCQ president engineer Anwar Hossain Akon and BFQ president Mohamed Shafiqul Islam received the crests from Bangladesh ambassador Mohamed Jashim Uddin. The envoy thanked the Bangladeshi diaspora in Qatar for their contributions.
Other speakers at the ceremony highlighted the potential areas of collaboration between educational institutions in Bangladesh and Qatar. They also underlined the role of Bangladeshi diaspora in enhancing people-to-people contact. Around 100 members of the Bangladeshi academic community in Qatar attended the event.
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Kolkata, Jun 29 - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today sought to send an all-party delegation to the Centre to press the state's demand for a three-year moratorium on interest payments.
The chief minister said that she had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh more than seven times and then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee eight to ten times to apprise them about the state's financial health and asked for a three-year moratorium in interest payments to the Centre.
Making a statement in the Assembly, Banerjee said that nothing so far had happened and urged state industries minister Partha Chatterjee to take an all-party delegation to the Centre to press for the demand again.
The chief minister said that the burden of interest payments had now risen to Rs 25,000 crore from Rs 22,000 crore.
Banerjee said that the government was constrained to carry out development activity in the state due to paucity of funds.
She said that Centre was telling the state that the loans taken by the previous Left Front government were from outside.
Banerjee asked why the Centre allowed the state to do so and said that they could not shirk responsibility now. PTI


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Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged the opposition parties to rethink their protest strategy and postpone public gathering for two to three months for the sake of people’s lives as COVID-19 patients have already occupied 40 percent of the country’s hospital capacity.
“In Multan, 64 percent of hospital beds are full, 40 percent in Peshawar, 50 percent in Islamabad. At an average, 40 percent of the country’s hospitals are under occupancy,” the Prime Minister said in a media briefing after he had chaired meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on COVID-19.
He said the opposition parties could hold gatherings after two or three months for the sake of people’s lives. To this end the government had already closed down educational institutions, indoor wedding ceremonies and dining at restaurants.
The Prime Minister said amid the opposition’s public gatherings, it was difficult for the government to justify the enforcement of standard operating procedures (SOPs) like social distancing on other sectors like businesses and mosques.
The enforcement of SOPs during the second wave, he added, was already a challenge across the world as the people were resisting their governments’ decisions.
“Public gathering do not change governments. I have had the largest public gatherings,” Prime Minister said. He said the public gatherings will enhance the chances of spreading virus when the pressure at healthcare system including doctors and nurses was already on rise.
He said during the first wave, Pakistan had successfully navigated because the people had taken the precautions as a nation and observed discipline.


A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defectors were formally received into the PDP fold at Keffi and Garaku, the headquarters of Keffi and Kokona local government areas, respectively by the state’s Chairman of the party, Mr Yunana Iliya.
Speaking while receiving the defectors, Iliya commended their decision to join the PDP and urged members of other political parties in the state to also join the party.
He commended their courage of the defectors and urged party loyalists to embrace the new entrants.
The PDP state chairman assured that the party would continue to initiate programmes aimed at bringing development to the people.
Iliya appealed to the electorate to vote for PDP candidates in the upcoming local government elections in the state as well as in subsequent elections.
He said that, if elected, the party would embark on massive construction of rural roads to open up the rural areas in the state.
Iliya said that the plight of women, children, persons with disabilities as well as other vulnerable groups would be also given top priority by the party.
While appreciating the people for sustaining peace in the two council areas, Iliya urged them to sustain the culture of tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
He also called on the public to support the efforts of security agencies in maintaining peace in the area.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, Mr Ibrahim Anfani, said that their decision to join the PDP was informed by the leadership style of those elected under the party’s platform across the state
Anfani said that most of the people elected under the platform of the PDP had carried everybody along irrespective of tribal, religious and political inclination in the state.
Also speaking, a member of the state assembly (PDP- Kokona West), Mr Danladi Jatau, assured 100 per cent victory of the party in the upcoming council poll.
NAN reports that the party is currently on a state-wide sensitisation of its supporters ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state. (NAN)


Shortage of labor is a problem that a number of companies are dealing with. Different strategies were implemented by entities to fill up the essential spaces, but the problems continue to persist. E-commerce and logistics giant FedEx has also blamed the drop in its quarterly profits by 7 percent due to the constrain in the labor market. The Chief operating officer Raj Subramaniam gave an instance of its distribution hub in Portland to narrate the challenges that they are facing.
The chief informed that the facility is currently operating at 65 percent which means that it is spending more to send the packages to the other hubs for delivery. Subramaniam also predicted that the problem is expected to continue through the peak of the holiday season. The chief officer also informed that nearly 6,00,000 packages are being rerouted on an everyday basis. Reports have said that the shortage of staff has added $450 million to the expenditure that also include overtime payments. It has also been reported that the supply chain has been affected and includes congested ports and lack of parts.
There are also chances that the company would make attempts to neutralize with the expenditure by increasing the shipping prices. FedEx chairman and CEO Frederick W. Smith said that they would continue to make changes in the strategies as the demand goes higher for their services. Smith added that the demand has gone up despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic over the availability of labor and global supply chains. The CEO also said that he is proud of the team members across the globe who continue to transport the coronavirus vaccines and deliver the urgently needed supplies to the people who are affected by the natural disasters.
The pandemic saw a shortage of labor as the initial lockdown had seen a number of people switching to better paying jobs or starting their own ventures.
Photo Credits: Pixabay


India’s biggest toy company is selling more than 100,000 toys to US consumers and the country’s biggest exporter of soft drinks is also making inroads with the US.
In its latest annual report, the National Toy Distributors Association (NTDA) said the Chinese company had surpassed the US to become the biggest global toy market with annual sales of about US$9 billion ($8.6 billion).
In a statement, NTDA said that the Chinese toy market has been growing in the past few years with a huge amount of toys entering the country from the US, which was one of the biggest buyers of Chinese toys in the world.
It also said the domestic market for Chinese toys was also growing, with the number of Chinese toy retailers increasing from 2,200 in 2010 to about 4,000 in 2014.NTDA said the biggest growth in China came from the global toy industry.
The US and Japan have grown in the market with the likes of Amazon and Walmart, as well as Alibaba and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, which are now the top two sellers in the US and third-largest seller in Japan.NTBA also said that there were over 1.4 million toys sold in the domestic Chinese market in 2014, up from over 1,200 last year.NTTA said that over 70 per cent of toys sold by Chinese toy makers were in the two largest markets, China and the US with the other 30 per cent sold in third- and fourth-largest markets.NTDI said that as China continues to grow its market, it is investing heavily in technology, including in the manufacture of its own toys.NTIBA also highlighted the importance of domestic toy sales to China’s economy, with its statement saying that the country is spending more than US$200 billion on toys annually.
The NTDA also said there are about 5,000,000 toy factories operating in China with more than 3 million factories across the country.


Media freedom being muzzled: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has strongly condemned terrorist attacks on different TV channels including ARY News. He demanded that those involved in the acts of arson should be arrested forthwith and meted out exemplary punishment. He said that the attacks on media houses are an attempt to gag the freedom of expression and an act of terrorism, which is not acceptable at all.
Dr Qadri said that it has been several years since the media houses have been subjected to terrorism. He said that PEMRA has also played the role of a handmaiden to suppress media freedom. He said that the Authority has been serving the interests of the rulers when it banned the independent and patriotic anchorpersons. He said that it was the Army Chief who took notice of the incidents of violence in Karachi and ordered arrests. He said that the silence of the PM and the Federal Information Minister have led to a number of questions. He said that all media channels should forge unity in their ranks and raise one voice. He said that the PAT stands with the independent media.


Islamabad: The Prime Minister will chair the joint parliamentary meeting of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies on Wednesday.
According to the details, the meeting will be held in the Islamabad Parliament House Committee meeting room.
Conference participants are discussing strategies for the upcoming Senate election.
Sources said that the Prime Minister will give members of Parliament full confidence in important decisions made by the government.
Members of Parliament will also brief Prime Minister Imran Khan on the issue of their constituency.


Jordan, Algeria to establish business council
(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Amman, Oct. 2 (Petra)--The Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed on the sidelines of the Arab-Afrcan Forum that was hosted by Jordan, an agreement to establish a joint Jordanian-Algerian business council to develop economic ties between the two countries.
Through the council, the two sides will seek to forge stronger ties among business owners and enhance cooperation to serve projects, institutions and business associations in both countries.
Under the deal, which was signed by President of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce Nael Kabariti and President of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohammed Al-Eid Bin Omer, the two sides will also work to expand communications, economic, trade, scientific and technical relations.
The two chambers also signed an agreement to boost economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation among business owners from both countries.
2/10/2017 - 12:24:45 PM
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The Grand National Coalition, consisting of political parties, has closed the offices of the Independent Election Commission (IEC) in three provinces.
Sources privy of the development in the Grand National Coalition have said the step was taken after the government and the election commission failed to positively respond to their demands.
The sources further added that the election offices in Helmand, Balkh, and Kandahar have been closed.
They also warned that the election offices in other provinces will also be closed if the government and election commission did not respond positively to their demands.
The Grand National Coalition demand the registration of the voters using biometrics system while monitoring of the elections process is also among the key demands of the political parties.
A key member of the Grand National Coalition Ata Mohammad Noor had earlier warned that the political parties would use all their force to stop the elections if authorities did not guarantee the transparency of the elections.
However, the election commission officials had earlier said that the political parties would granted the facility to monitor the elections process but the demand of the parties for the registration of the voters through biometrics system would be impossible considering the less time left for the elections.


President Obama promises to help unemployed veterans
MINNEAPOLIS -- President Barack Obama told 10,000 military veterans this morning that the country needs to take care of them "as well as you have taken care of us."
In a 34-minute speech, he outlined plans to help unemployed veterans find jobs.
Speaking to the national American Legion convention in Minneapolis, his second Minnesota visit in 15 days, Obama talked about the economy and continued to criticize Washington gridlock.
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(MENAFN) Israeli missiles struck military targets in the countryside of Quneitra and Daraa provinces in southern Syria after midnight Thursday, in response to missiles launched from multiple locations towards the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the strikes caused shells to land near the villages of Rafid and Tel Al-Faras in Quneitra, and Tel Al-Jabiya in Daraa. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far, although the attacks have undoubtedly heightened tensions in the region.
The SOHR's data reveals a pattern of Israeli aggression in Syria, with the organization documenting 32 such attacks since the beginning of the year. These attacks include both aerial and ground strikes, totaling 22 and 10, respectively. Targets of these assaults have ranged from weapons and ammunition depots to military headquarters, centers, and vehicles, resulting in significant damage.
Tragically, the consequences of these attacks extend beyond material destruction. The SOHR has documented the loss of 129 military personnel, including individuals from Iranian, Lebanese Hezbollah, and Iraqi factions. Furthermore, civilian casualties have also been reported, with 12 lives lost and approximately 20 others injured in Israeli strikes.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
The Director, Regional Office for Africa, World Health Organisation, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has advised the Federal Ministry of Health to mobilise the World Bank, African Development Bank and development agencies to the North-East to facilitate the rebuilding of region.
Moeti said this during a press conference in Abuja on Saturday.
She said the rescue operation in the region needed to be backed by infrastructural development.
The WHO director said, “We are going to be transitioning from an emergency phase to a rebuilding and development phase in the North-East. There has been a huge response to the outbreaks there. So, what we need to do is to bring together the partners, the donors, the development agencies.
“We must bring together the World Bank, African development Bank who are more concerned with the development rather than humanitarian response and ensure that they are engaged to understand the investment of the government and the development partners and prepare to transition to rebuilding the health system in the North-East.”
Moeti said the WHO would be helping the region to combat malaria which is the biggest disease.
She said the health organisation would assist the government by providing drugs, nets, insecticides and also promote various health initiatives.
The WHO director added, “As part of the humanitarian emergency, we in the WHO are pleased to have supported the government in providing basic healthcare services to the people of the North-East in Nigeria.
“I understand that we are targeting about 4.9 million people in need of basic health services and we have been able to mobilise 113 mobile teams who work hand in hand with the government to provide health services to the population there.
“We are aware that Malaria is the number one killer of children here and under the context of the lack of access, we observed that the number of deaths from malaria grows alarmingly and I am very pleased that the government accepted and worked with our colleagues to put in place interventions.”
She said the WHO would continue such anti-malaria programmes across Nigeria.
In his response, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, praised the WHO for its assistance.
Adewole clarified that the WHO’s programmes were being carried out simultaneously across the country.


Almost two million people in UK have not worked for at least six months due to the economic impact of the pandemic, according Resolution Foundation report.
Those people affected were either unemployed or fully furloughed, the Resolution Foundation think tank said.
It is calling for the furlough scheme to remain in place for several months after lockdown restrictions are eased.
The Treasury said the government would continue to invest in protecting and creating jobs.
The Resolution Foundation said that of the nearly two million people affected, the majority have been on full-time furlough or have gone from furlough to unemployment and back, while another 700,000 have been officially unemployed.
Among those workers currently employed, 8 percent either expect to lose their jobs in the next three months, or have been told that they will be made redundant, the think tank added.
Nye Cominetti, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “While the UK’s economic prospects are finally looking up, job insecurity remains high, particularly among those who have spent long periods not working, or who are currently furloughed.”
The furlough scheme, which partially covers the wages of people placed on leave, has already been extended through to April.
The Resolution Foundation called on the government to keep the scheme in place for several months after public health restrictions have been lifted, giving employers time to recover and bring staff back.
It said support should be tailored to sectors of the economy which have been the hardest hit, such as hospitality.


Dumka: JMM supremo and Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren has asked the people to remain aware of their rights.
Speaking at the 42nd foundation day of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha at the historic Gandhi Maidan he said that now a government that belongs to the common people is in power in Jharkhand.
He said that Jarkhand has been blessed with rich mineral resource which can be used for the development of the villages. He said that officials should work in a proper manner to ensure that the poor get their dues and they need not raise their voices for their rights.
He said that henceforth development is not happening the excuse will not be tolerated. He said that such a system should be developed that people should not be forced to run for their work. He also asked the people to remain aware and alert regarding the various problems and also the development works which are happening in their area.


Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Siliguri. Around 1.15 pm, the Prime Minister reached the venue and placed his statements on the forum.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that he could not work in this state at the pace that he has worked in other states. The poor have not been progressing here. Prime Minister Modi also spoke about the chitfund.
He alleged that the use of some central projects were put on a standstill by the state.
Modi said that the politics played by the Congress and Left Front have kept Bengal as a poor state still, but in spite of this, services like gas, electricity etc. are being given to the villagers.
At the same time, Modi quoted about the election manifesto of the Congress, and said that this manifesto has reduced the morale of the army. They are trying to tie up the hands of the army.
He said that during the UPA government, there were frequent terror attacks but the army was not free to retaliate. He also said that rumors are being spread about NRC.
Today the Prime Minister also requested the people to vote in the favor of their candidates at the Lok Sabha elections.


The Police said that the tennis balls were found in the Kandakadu treatment facility by the military and prison guards.
Police Spokesman, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ajith Rohana said that investigations revealed the tennis balls have been thrown into the premises from outside.
He said that on being inspected, the authorities found heroin, tobacco and cannabis hidden inside.
DIG Ajith Rohana said that the tennis balls were handed over to the Welikanda Police for further investigations.
The Police said that this is the first time that heroin and other items had been thrown inside the Kandakadu treatment facility.
DIG Ajith Rohana said that similar incidents had been reported in the past at the Welikada Prison and Negombo Prison.
He said that a special investigation has been launched into the Kandakadu treatment facility incident. (Colombo Gazette)


City police dispersed a crowd of more than 300 people who gathered at Sara Sims Park about 6:30 p.m. Thursday night.
Officers went to the park after receiving reports that several people were driving all-terrain vehicles recklessly in the area, the 200 block of Northwest Ninth Court.
Police reported the crowd included many people who were drinking alcohol in the park, which is against city rules.
Some of the people became "highly belligerent and unruly" when the officers tried to remove the ATVs, which also are banned in the park, police said.
The ATV drivers began racing through the crowd and almost hit several small children, officers said.
Officials said that instead of arresting a large number of people, officers decided to clear the park.
- Maria Herrera


Srinagar April 9: Police has started the investigation and identification of people who gathered at the funeral of militant in Sopore on Wednesday.
A police official said Sopore police has started the investigation and subsequent identification of those who participated in the funeral of militant in Saidpora yesterday.
“As per top police official the matter is being investigated on fast track basis and some of the participants who flayed govt. directions and took part in funeral procession have been identified through pictures/ videos circulated on social media and will be arrested shortly,” the official said.
The official said that the participation in funeral procession of the slain militant in such numbers not only “violates the set guidelines issued by the govt in wake of covid-19 but also exposes the entire population in the area to the pandemic”. The lockdown in the Sopore has also been intensified and people have been requested not to venture out in any circumstances barring medical exigencies, the police official added.


Fri 11-02-2022 08:22 AM
KUWAIT, 11th February, 2022 (WAM) — Kuwait announced 3,324 new COVID-19 cases and three related deaths on Thursday.
The state news agency KUNA quoted the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health as saying that the new figures took the total cases to 593,889, and deaths to 2,517.
The ministry added that 5,495 patients have recovered from the virus over the past day, taking the number of recoveries to 543,624.
WAM/Esraa Ismail/Rola Alghoul


POLICE re-inforcements look set to be sent to the Balearics as detectives can no longer cope with the massive workload caused by the recent cases of alleged political corruption.
Civil Governor Ramon Socias admitted yesterday that both the National Police and Civil Guard were having problems coping with their growing workload.
Both police services have appealed to their superiors for more officers, said Socias yesterday.
He went on to say that specialised detectives were working around the clock for judges and prosecutors who were investigating cases of alleged corruption which have seen a series of senior politicians from the Majorcan Unionist Party and the Partido Popular questioned and in some cases charged with the mis-use of public funds.
Socias said that at least 80 officers were still working on the so-called Andratx case where the former Mayor and town council planning officer, among others, were arrested for allegedly receiving bribes in return for building licences. Socias said that there were at least a dozen of cases, all relating to political corruption, which required a large number of officers.
The Civil Governor praised the work of the local police forces and said that apart from the political cases there was also their more normal work including the war on organised crime.
Socias said that the police also had a growing workload combating so-called juvenile gangs in Palma.


The UK and Spain have had a social security agreement in place since 1976. This agreement has helped people who have spent time living in both countries by allowing them to receive social security benefits from both countries.
The agreement means that people who have paid social security taxes in both countries can count the time spent in each country towards their entitlement to benefits. It also means that people who move between the two countries will be able to continue to receive social security benefits, even if they haven`t paid social security taxes in the country they are moving to.
One of the most important aspects of the UK-Spain social security agreement is that it covers pensions. People who have paid into both the UK and Spanish social security systems can receive a pension from each country. This is particularly important for people who have spent a significant amount of time living and working in both countries.
The agreement also covers other social security benefits, such as disability benefits, sickness benefits, maternity and paternity benefits, and bereavement benefits. In most cases, people will only be entitled to benefits from one country at a time, but the agreement ensures that people won`t lose their entitlement to benefits just because they move between the two countries.
To take advantage of the UK-Spain social security agreement, people will need to make sure that they have paid social security taxes in both countries. They will also need to provide evidence of their contributions, such as payslips, to the authorities in each country.
Overall, the UK-Spain social security agreement is an important part of ensuring that people who move between the two countries are not penalized when it comes to receiving social security benefits. By allowing people to receive benefits from both countries, the agreement provides a safety net for those who have contributed to the social security systems in both the UK and Spain.


Iran Focuses On Interoperability
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Iran has intensified efforts to achieve interoperability
among its military forces.
Officials said the Teheran regime has ordered interoperability between
Iran's conventional military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They
said the effort was meant to take place in several stages over the next


Malaysian-flagged vessel confiscated by Indonesia in Malacca Strait
(MENAFN) On Wednesday, Sep. 29 the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries stated that it has confiscated an illicit Malaysian-flagged fishing vessel in Indonesia’s waters in the Malacca Strait.
It noted that the captain and all the four crew members involved are Indonesians.
The vessel was seized on Sunday while poaching with banned trawler, according to the ministry's Director-General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Supervision, Adin Nurawaluddin.
Figures demonstrated that since the first month of the year, Indonesia’s ministry has confiscated 48 foreign-flagged vessels unlawfully fishing in Indonesian waters.
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(MENAFN- Live Mint) "Rageshnath, a PhD student at Taiwan's National Dong Hwa University (NDHU), was in his college's Physics lab when the earthquake, most intense since 1999, shook the country. Recalling the moments of horror, Rageshnath said that he felt \"like it was my last day\".While talking to Hindustan Times (HT), he said that the building of his department \"was shaking like a boat\". \"Everything in the lab was collapsed. I couldn't see or do anything,\" he said earthquake, which had around 300 aftershocks, had the most impact on Hualien, where Rageshnath's NDHU is located. He recalled that all the research work of the students got destroyed in the earthquake.\"We lost almost everything,\" he said Indian-origin resident of Taipei, Nirzari Gupta, said that even though the physical damage of the earthquake was low, the experience was \"very scary\". She said that her parents were extremely worried about her after they came to know about the earthquake 7.4 magnitude earthquake, which hit Taiwan on Wednesday, left 10 people dead and over 1,000 injured. For many, it brought back the memories of the 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 1999 which killed over 2,400 people export firm owner in Taipei, Girish Hiranandani, was quoted in the report as saying that today, the infrastructure in the country has improved. So, the damage to life was not as severe as it was in 1999 Taiwanese authorities have reiterated that the rescue operations are underway in the country to rescue those who are missing to Anup Meena, communications affairs head at the India Taipei Association's (ITA), there are around 4,000 Indians in Taiwan and another 1,500 Indian-origin students. Just after the earthquake, ITA issued circulars to the Indians with advisory and the helpline numbers, two Indians had gone missing after the earthquake but according to Meena, they were found later. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also later said that the two were safe.\"We have been now able to get in touch with the two Indians. They are safe,\" said MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.


ISLAMABAD: Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information, said on Friday the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) was the country’s only political party which respected democratic traditions.
Speaking to the media, she said the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party had not only ignored the masses when they were in power but also deceived them politically.
Speaking about the PTI foreign funding case, she said the Election Commission should initiate hearing on applications filed by the PTI against the PML-N and the PPP regarding their foreign funding.
Ms Awan said the opposition’s Rehbar Committee “has become a Rehzan (dacoits) committee as its members are protecting one another’s political agenda”.
She expressed the hope that Nawaz Sharif would return home after his medical treatment in London, adding that the government had always respected the judiciary.
Ms Awan said the Indian government had deprived the oppressed people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir of their basic rights. “Under Indian state terrorism, large-scale human rights violations, custodial killings and genocide of innocent Kashmiri people are going on in the valley.”
She urged the world to press India to stop its brutalities and resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. “The people of India-held Kashmir will soon see the dawn of freedom.”
Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2019


The Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation scheme was submerged in the backwaters of the Srisailam reservoir on Friday, because of the heavy rains that Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana had witnessed in the past few days.
Congress leaders Revanth Reddy, along with former MP D Mallu Ravi and AICC secretary, S A Sampath Kumar tried to visit the pump house of the Kalwakurthy Project on Saturday, but were obstructed, and arrested by the Police personnel, and were sent to Uppununthala police station.
A lot of police personnel were deployed at Telkapally village, who obstructed the path of the Congress party members. Speaking to the media, Revanth Reddy said that the government was trying to cover up the facts, and that it was trying to hide the truth.
Furthermore, Revanth Reddy also said that the government went ahead with the Palamuru-RangaReddy Lift Irrigation Project, despite the fact that experts said that it was a bad idea. Reddy even said that the entire project has not benefited anyone but the contractors, as the stability of the project has been undermined after blasting took place to construct tunnels for the project.
On the other hand, BJP leaders were arrested as well, along with Congress leaders, when they too went to visit the project.


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Qatari Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Denounces Killing Of Embassy Security Guard In France
(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it had received with great sadness, sorrow, and denunciation the news of killing one of the guards of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the French Republic while he was performing his duties at the embassy headquarters Monday morning.
In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its full confidence in the justice procedures initiated by the competent French authorities after they arrested the suspect, and noted that it is awaiting the results of the investigations.
The Ministry expressed the State of Qatar's condolences to the family of the deceased, and reiterated its firm position rejecting criminal acts, regardless of the motives and reasons.
Last updated: May 23 2022 04:41 PM
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Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh chief minister, who inaugurated the first terminal of Gorakhpur airport, has announced that Gorakhpur will soon have air connectivity with Mumbai and Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
Yogi has underlined the importance of regional air connectivity and said that the state government will start flight services to places like Allahabad, Bareilly, Kanpur, Jhansi and Faizabad.
Focusing on the development in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi said that it is important for the districts in the state to have low-priced air connectivity to all parts of the country.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to provide cheap aviation services to the Indian people and his dream is that even a poor person should fly in an aeroplane.
Union aviation minister, Jayant Sinha, has also requested officials to start the construction of the Gorakhpur airport’s second terminal as soon as possible.
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Three persons were lucky to escape being lynched by an angry mob in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, after they were falsely accused of stealing male organs from unsuspecting victims.
The incident, which occurred at Tanke/Oke-Odo area of Ilorin metropolis, was one of the three cases of false alarm raised by some mischievous elements between Monday, July 17 and Thursday, July 20, 2023.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the Kwara State Police Command, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, the three persons who were accused of being organ snatchers were taken to the hospital for medical examination and were found to have their private organs intact.
He said that the police intervened swiftly and rescued them from the mob that was about to lynch them.
He also said that the police arrested seven suspects in connection with the false alarm and jungle justice.
He said that they included one person who raised the false alarm and six others who participated in the attack on the innocent persons. He said that they have been charged to court for their criminal acts.
The statement further said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi, warned the public to desist from such fake alarm and jungle justice, which are punishable by law. He also advised the people to be vigilant and report any suspicious incident to the police, rather than taking the law into their own hands.
He said that the police are committed to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property in the state, and urged the people to cooperate with them in maintaining law and order.


Proposed charter amendment would require Willmar, Minn., council to appoint city attorney
WILLMAR — The Willmar City Council will hold a public hearing March 4 on a City Charter amendment that for the first time would require the council to appoint a city attorney. The amendment is recommended by the Charter Commission.
The city attorney amendment is one of many charter changes that the commission has been working on for more than three years and has asked the council to enact.
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Lohardaga: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that since the opposition has realised their defeat after the third phase of elections in the country which concluded yesterday, therefore, they have now started blaming the EVM.
Addressing an election rally in Lohardaga here he said that after the three phases of polling opposition does not have any option but to accept defeat. He said that the opposition has realized their defeat but still after the end of the second phase they were still putting up their smiling faces.
“However After the third face the opposition as realised that Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar,” he said adding that opposition has the habit of giving ‘Gaali (foul words) to Modi which they cannot leave therefore they have turned the mouth of the tanks towards the EVMs and are now holding the EVM responsible for their defeat. Taking swipe at the leaders of the opposition who were now blaming the EVMs he said that their acts were like similar to the student who makes a fuss of different issues including pen not working, not proper desk and chair, answer sheet given late for his poor exams results and creates such an atmosphere that even his parents believe him when
the results are out. “What can the EVM do when the people are showing so much love to their chowkidaar,” he said adding that the people of country do not want to waste their votes on the opposition and parties which are
part of Mahamilawat. He said that such people who see themselves as Prime Minister candidates in the coalition and those who are not capable to even save their seats in the Assembly are now blaming the EVM for the ensuing defeat.
The Prime Minister said that he was astonished by the turnout of the people in Ranchi who had lined up from the airport to the Birsa Chowk during the road show which was actually planned just two days before and even when he moved in his car from the Birsa Chowk to Raj Bhawan he saw people lined up all the way to the nine kilometres distance and not a single inch of space was left.
He said that seeing the response of the people it is clear as to where the wind was blowing and what is called a wave. Mr Modi said that as a Prime Minister he has visited Jharkhand on many occasions but has never seen such huge crowd turn outs and enthused by the crowd he coined the slogan of “Lehar Nahi Lalkar Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar,” he said adding that those who have eye on the throne of Delhi are now in panic. He said that people vote to make the nation strong and developed and take on the challenges which have been created by the Congress. Mr Modi said that a strong government is able to effectively tackle the problems of maoism and terrorism.
He said that in Jharkhand also people were scared to leave their homes after dusk however with a strong government in power the issue has been effectively dealt with and now the number of districts hit with Maoist menace is now decreasing. Even a large number of tribal youths are now giving up their arms and joining in large numbers in the development process, Mr Modi said. He said that experts on internal security making comments in New Delhi do not want to see the development taking place in the villages and forests. Those who were also present on the occasion included Chief Minister Raghubar Das, BJP candidate from Khunti Arjun Munda, Lohardaga nominee Sudarshan Bahgat, Chatra candidate Sunil Singh, AJSU supremo Sudesh Kumar Mahto, LJP president Birendra Pradhan, Lok Sabha polls incharge for Jharkhand BJP Mangal Pandey etc.


New Delhi:- Even as the crucial assembly elections are inching closer in Rajasthan, the Congress is mulling the idea of dropping several of the ministers and sitting MLAs in the polls, sources said.
Party source said that the Congress in its internal report has found anti-incumbency against many of the Ministers and the sitting MLAs.
The source said that the reporter prepared by the team of party strategist Sunil Kanugolu has found a number of issues and thus highlighted it to the party leadership.
The source said that the team of Kanugolu has identified at least 50 seats where the sitting MLAs and ministers have strong anti-incumbency against them and they would not be able to win the elections.
Following the startling revelation in its internal report, the party is mulling to drop many of its ministers as well as the MLAs in the coming elections.
However, the source further said that the final decision will be taken by the party’s central election committee (CEC) which will sit on deciding the candidates for Rajasthan.
The party had earlier said that it plans to release the list of candidates for Rajasthan in the month of September.
Rajasthan’s Screening Committee chairman Gaurav Gogoi had earlier also indicated that the candidates will be decided on the basis of the winnability.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had also launched several pro-people schemes ahead of the assembly election in the desert state. Meanwhile several senior leaders, including party Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi had been visiting the state for campaigning.
Even the BJP, which was voted out of power in the 2018 assembly elections is eyeing to make a comeback in the desert state and is leaving no stones unturned for the victory.
Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President Nadda on Wednesday night held meetings with the senior party leaders in the state to chalk out strategy for the assembly elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been visiting the state to campaign for the party.


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Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the Government will invest Rs. 8.5 lakh crores over the next five years to develop the nation's railway services.
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the government will invest Rs. 8.5 lakh crore over the next five years to develop the Indian Railways services.
Speaking at a programme in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Banaras Hindu University here on Monday, Prabhu said that the lack of funds will not come in the way for developing the railways, as it was a firm determination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the performance of the railways to global standards.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a joint research on material and engineering was also signed between IIT-BHU and Railways.
Prabhu further stressed on the need the recycle the waste in railways, saying that it would benefit the country in the long run.
He also said that a railways is going to be the biggest machinery behind the development of the country.


Burian re-elected to NDSA director post
Paige Burian of Manning has been re-elected as District 5 director of the North Dakota Stockman’s Association.
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(MENAFN- Daily Outlook Afghanistan) KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday said that the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was not the cause of the civil war; instead, he said, there wasn't a plan for the country in the Soviet exit plan. Afghan leaders, said Ghani, believe this lack of planning led the country into a civil war.
On the day of the 32nd anniversary of the Soviet troop's withdrawal, President Ashraf Ghani said that the civil war in Afghanistan was not because of the Soviet exit but due to an inappropriate exit plan.
President Ghani in a video message he indicated that Afghanistan entered into a multi-dimensional civil war as Soviet withdrawal did not have any measure for the future of the country.
He indicated that we should learn from the past and that Afghanistan has the opportunity to end the war and achieve prolonged peace.
The peace preserved by the Afghan security and civil institutions will benefit children, women, youth, and all the deprived layers of Afghanistan.
According to Ghani Afghanistan is in need of peace that preserves Afghan Dignity.
Many Afghans were killed, murdered, and were displaced during the civil war, following the fall of the soviet backed government and Russian withdrawal from the region.
Meanwhile, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, leader of Hizb-e-Islami says the US has no option but to leave Afghanistan, and if the Afghan government failed to abide by conditions laid out in the US-Taliban agreement, there would be a revolt against the government.
He claimed that the 'Afghan government is planning for the battle by providing arms to militias and those warlords who previously had fought against the Taliban.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, once an ally of Al-Qaeda and famous for shelling Kabul city with other jihadist groups were all involved in the civil war, in which Afghanistan and its people suffered heavily. (Khaama Press)
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Mali: French soldiers killed in maintenance accident
(MENAFN) On Wednesday, Oct. 13 the French military announced that a French soldier taking part in Operation Barkhane was killed in a maintenance accident in Mali.
Adrien Quelin, 29, passed away after the truck cabin collapsed while he was fixing the vehicle’s engine, Gen. Thierry Burkhard, chief of staff of French military, noted in a declaration.
The military stated that the accident took place in Mali’s Timbuktu locale on Tuesday.
The declaration added: “he was seriously injured. Despite the immediate care by the emergency services on the spot, he could not be saved. He died as a result of his injuries.”
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A meeting on Yemen that was held in London and that was attended by representatives from the United States, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE ended yesterday evening. The foreign ministers of these countries came together in support of international efforts to reach a political solution to the Yemeni issue.
The meeting coincided with the increasing complexities facing the peace consultations held under the auspices of the United Nations in Kuwait. The meeting was attended by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir, the US Secretary of State John Kerry, the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and the Foreign Minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash said that the meeting was “positive” and that the foreign ministers of the countries who participated in the meeting agreed that the current stage is critical and that they supported international efforts.
In tweets that he posted on Twitter, Gargash said that those who participated in the meeting reviewed current peace efforts and agreed that the success of the political solution lies in the withdrawal of Houthi militias from the capital and key civilian centres.
He added that the level of coordination and agreement between the regional and international powers concerned could be seen at the meeting in London, and that they will support political efforts in the next phase.


ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday issued a clarification about lockdown imposed in Sindh by the provincial government in order to stem the spread of coronavirus cases, ARY News reported.
The NCOC, which supervises the government’s strategy against the pandemic spread, in a statement said that the Sindh government had introduced several new Covid-19 restrictions amid the fourth Covid-19 wave
“The Sindh govt had imposed new restrictions in an effort to stem the spread of the virus in the province,” the forum said in a statement and further clarified that several sectors will remain operational during the Sindh lockdown.
Flight operation will continue under standard operating procedures (SOPs), Pakistan Railways to run passenger trains with 70 per cent occupancy, Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) will remain open, sectors which come under federal government will continue to operate with strict SOPs, it added.
The NCOC further said that federal government offices in Sindh will operate with a limited staff under the new restrictions.
Earlier in the day, the Sindh government has announced to ease lockdown restrictions notified yesterday, lifting the pillion riding ban and allowing sectors that are fully vaccinated to operate.
Addressing a press conference, Spokesman for the Sindh government Murtaza Wahab said that it was owing to the decisions including the blocking of mobile SIMs taken by the Sindh government that had led to a manifold increase in the vaccination process.
“185,406 people have received COVID jabs in last 24 hours,” he said adding that still, people are standing in long queues to get themselves vaccinated
We are also lifting a ban on pillion riding,” Murtaza Wahab said and added that restaurants, bakeries, and milk shops are also exempted from following restricted timings.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh government yesterday impose lockdown till August 8 as the province continues to battle the dangerous surge in COVID-19 infections.


Finland-based maker of Nokia-branded phones, HMD Global, has raised $230 million from its strategic investors such as Google, Qualcomm and Nokia. The company said that the investment will help their plans of making the transition to 5G technology affordable for the world. The company will also focus on key growth markets such as Brazil, Africa, and India.
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QUETTA: Caretaker Health Minister Faiz Kakar on Thursday announced that the provincial government has decided to establish a task force to help counter the health mafia.
Addressing a news conference in Quetta, he said that 700 new doctors will be appointed and posted across Balochistan. He added that the health department has established a complaint centre where people can register their complaints on 080034567 while 200 new appointments were made to monitor the biometric system.
“There are various mafias active in the health department, therefore we have decided to establish a task force which will bring positive changes in the department within six months,” he added.
With regards to the shortage of doctors in the remote areas of the province, he said that 700 new doctors would be hired on contract basis and they will be posted in the interior of Balochistan, which would be helpful in providing health relief to people at their doorstep.
He said that the WHO and international donors pledged to build a new laboratory in Quetta, which is fully equipped with modern machinery. “The modern laboratory would be capable of testing all kinds of viruses, which will provide relief to the poor people,” he added.
The minister said, “We have computerised receipt system in all government hospitals in Quetta which increased daily revenue from one lakh to one and a half lakh, adding “The staff member who was heading the receipt system attacked patients and was arrested by the police because he was against the computerization of receipts.”
Talking on the recent delivery case of Muslim Bagh, he said that Balochistan Chief Minister Alauddin Marri had taken notice of the incident and “I have met the parents and the provincial government will take action against the lady surgeon.”


(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The foreign ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary will discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine at an informal meeting of the Visegrad Group in Bratislava on December 6.
That's according to radio prague international , Ukrinform reports.
Among the topics to be discussed are Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and the Visegrad Group's role in relation to the European Union, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday.
According to the report, the session follows up on a meeting of Visegrad Group prime ministers that took place two weeks ago at which the heads of government agreed on a joint approach in regards to helping Ukraine.
The Visegrad Group is composed of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, with Slovakia currently holding the year-long presidency.
The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary met on November 24 in Kosice, Slovakia.
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PESHAWAR: Awami National Party has criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for announcing to hire communication/social media influencer internees and warned to raise voice against the initiative.
Party’s provincial spokesperson Samar Haroon Bilour in a statement here on Tuesday alleged that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government had planned to spend a big amount of Rs1 billion public funds on training of social media activists to work for its publicity in the province.
The government, she said, wanted to target the opposition parties through social media. She added that the rulers failed to come up to the expectations of people and it had therefore announced hiring over 1,200 social media activists to work for moulding the public opinion.
The ANP leader said that results of the first phase of local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had baffled the PTI leadership which was making all-out efforts to change public opinion in its favour and thus it was taking all possible measures to restore public confidence.
“The government is unable to dodge the people through false social media propaganda tools because the voters are well aware about the incompetence of the rulers. PTI candidates will face historical defeat in the next elections,” she claimed.
She said that such tactics on part of the government were meant to pave the way for winning local government elections in the second phase. The ANP, she said, would raise voice against such initiatives at all available forums.
Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2021


UAE Leaders Congratulate President Of Congo On Independence Day
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
ABU DHABI, 30th June, 2022 (WAM) -- President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message of congratulations to President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the occasion of his country's Independence Day, observed on 30th June.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai also sent similar message to President Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde on the occasion.
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Police in Mangochi have refuted reports that a villager at Mponda has claimed ownership of crocodiles which were shot dead for killing two people.
The two crocodiles caused havoc around Mpondasi dock between October and early November this year in which two people were killed.
This forced police and wild officers to hunt and kill these fierce crocodiles.
Following the killing of the crocodiles, the social media was awash with reports that Mangochi police station has received a complaint from one of the community members claiming he was the owner of the two crocodiles.
Social media reports further indicated that the person demanded his two crocodiles back with promise that he will as well return two people who got killed by these two dangerous animals.
However, Mangochi police public relations officer, Inspector Rodrick Maida has vehemently denied the reports.
Inspector Maida has urged the general public not to panic with the social media reports saying the police have not received such a complaint.
“It is therefore fake news and abuse of social media that the two shot dead crocodiles belonged to a person as there is nobody who lodged a complaint of that nature at Mangochi Police Station,” said Maida.


(MENAFN- Newsroom Panama)
A dozen machines provided by banking entities and over 50 officials at the National Police headquarters In Ancón were needed to count the $10,91,873 seized in 'Operation Fisher' on Thursday, December 2.
Attorney General Javier Caraballo said: 'without a doubt, it is the largest seizure of money from drug trafficking that has been made in the entire history of the country.'
The seizure is part of the investigations carried out by the Public Ministry for about two years, and which resulted in the apprehension of 57 people, including security services personnel and 10 women.
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We will have to move forward after forgetting past mistakes: Shibli Faraz
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Minister for Information Shibli Faraz has said that they will have to move forward after forgetting the past mistakes.
Addressing a ceremony held to confer awards on prominent personalities on Friday, he said that the first two years of the government were very difficult. “We inherited some difficulties. Our country is like our home and we will have to care for all its things,” he said.
The minister said that the government had controlled the coronavirus epidemic. “We achieved brilliant successes at the international level,” he added.
He said that conditions are improving in the country. “We will have to work for the progress of the country by ignoring our political ideas,” he added.
He said that the country was achieved after innumerable sacrifices of the elders. “Pakistan faced several ups and downs during the last 73 years.
Shibli Faraz said that the Kashmiri brothers are facing difficulties in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K). “We can feel the difficulties of our elders by watching the current situation in Occupied Kashmir,” he added.
He paid glowing tributes to the figures who achieved prominent status.


PESHAWAR, 14 December: Peshawar Police have arrested a 14-member gang involved in robberies and theft in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country.
SSP Operations Dr Mian Saeed told media persons on Sunday that snatched vehicles and motorcycles have also been recovered from the arrested criminals. He said the incidents of vehicle lifting and mobile snatching were increasing in Peshawar after which a committee headed by SP City Haji Imtiaz was formed to nab the group. He said the police team successfully nabbed the gang.
Mr Saeed said the gang was formed in the jail and its members started their criminal activities after release from the jail.
Meanwhile, Thall Police in Hangu have recovered a person who was kidnapped from Peshawar. Police have also arrested the kidnappers and the lifted vehicle.


Cookeville Leisure Services wants feedback on ideas for the upcoming aquatics facility project.
Director Rick Woods said that the department will host a public meeting on Tuesday, January 25th. He said that it will be an opportunity for the community to see what’s possible for the facility and rank their favorites.
“For example do we want fitness rooms, do we want splash pads, do we want a zero-depth entry, do we want slides,” Woods said. “What are the things the public is most interested in seeing.”
Woods said that community members can drop in from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Cane Creek Recreation Center. He said that there will be representatives from architectural firm Lose Designs to discuss the presented ideas.
Woods said that nothing has been narrowed down or decided for the facility thus far. He said that it’s important that the city make those decisions based on what the locals want to see.
“You want to build something that the public is anxious to use and can get excited about,” Wood said. “You know if you’re building something that the public is not interested in utilizing then you’ve wasted a lot of time and money. So it’s very vital that we do that and we hear from the public to know what their desires are.”


Peter Szijjarto said the action formed part of the government’s national consultation project but that the costs of sending the 1.7 million letters would be borne by the Fidesz party rather than the government.
He said that the government wanted to devote greater attention to the concerns of pensioners and to solving their problems than its governing predecessor did.
Szijjarto said that Orban’s government is committed to maintaining the real value of pension payments.
He said that it was hoped that replies would be forthcoming by October 1, which is designated as International Day of Older Persons. The government will take into consideration responses when forming its policies which have an impact on social security and the lives of pensioners.
Hungary holds local elections on October 3.


Srinagar: Six Kashmiri students have been detained by Punjab police from a train in Pathankot on Sunday night, reports said.
All were detained from a Pooja Express train after police search. “The train was Delhi bound from Jammu and was stopped by the police after some inputs by Jammu police,” reported Amar Ujala.
A police official was quoted saying that the six youth have been detained as suspects and are being questioned by the police officials in Pathankot.
As per several reports all six are students.


ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Thursday said that Pakistan Muslim League-N, was presenting their leaders found involved in the corruption cases as heroes of the country.
Talking to a private news channel, she expressed strangeness about the behavior of PML-N leaders who were trying to present the criminals of the country as heroes.
She said that Mian Nawaz Sharif had spent a luxurious life on the expense of national exchequer and the money of the poor masses. She further stated that they had been traveling by expensive cars during their ruling periods.
She said that the people of the country were facing crunch and finding hardships due their lavish spending and luxurious life.
Voicing serious concerns over the attitude of the PML-N leaders, she said that the leaders could not make the people fool.
To a question she said that ANF holds evidences regarding possession of drugs recovered from Rana Sanaullah.


World Bank official praises Saudi fight against corruption
(MENAFN)A senior World Bank official welcomed the number of reforms underway in the Kingdom saying that fighting corruption is what the kingdom seeks for.Fighting corruption is very important if the country is thinking of the kingdom's future development, said Hafez ghanem, vice president of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa."Fighting corruption is important for development, it is an important part of the Vision 2030," he stated, referring to the promising reform plan initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.The World Bank has worked with Saudi Arabia in terms of the transparency of procurement systems..
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik claimed on Monday that Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) had lost its patronage following Osama bin Laden’s death, DawnNews reported.
Speaking at the National Assembly, Malik denied opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar’s claim that the government was sleeping while the US operation was carried out.
Terming Nisar’s claim ‘baseless’, Malik said that he had informed DIG Abbottabad and the prime minister about the Abbottabad incident. He added that orders had been issued for the investigation of the Abbottabad operation.
Malik went on to allege that PML-N had received funding from bin Laden and had provided treatment to the ailing al Qaeda chief, adding that the party was responsible for bringing bin laden to Pakistan from Egypt.
He further said that those talking against the ISI and Pakistan Army were accomplices of bin Laden.


According to the sources of Daily Notable, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “disgusting” smear campaign against Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the behest of Imran Niazi deserved the strongest condemnation.
The Prime Minister said on Twitter that Imran Niazi, in his desperation for power, is sinking to unprecedented lows and going to the extent of damaging the country and undermining its armed forces and its leadership.
The campaign against the COAS was intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against national institutions, according to a PM Office press release.
The prime minister urged overseas Pakistanis to raise their voices against the “foreign-funded” campaign. He said that when a dirty political game is being played through expatriates, they should not become part of the conspiracy.
He said Imran Khan was violating the constitution by involving institutions and their leadership in his “dirty” politics.
The Prime Minister also directed the Home Secretary to deal strictly with those who are running such smear campaign against the institutions.
He also warned of strict legal action against those fomenting chaos and disruption in the country. The campaign against the army chief, who was appointed purely on merit for the first time in the country’s history, could only be the agenda of anti-Pakistan elements, he added.
“The whole nation stands behind its institutions and is united against evildoers,” the prime minister noted. – PUNA
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A curfew has been declared in the Kuliyapitiya, Narammala, Dummalasuriya, Pannala and Giriulla Police divisions.
DIG Ajith Rohana said that the curfew has been declared on the advise of health authorities.
He said that the curfew has been declared after coronavirus patients were detected in the area.
DIG Ajith Rohana said the curfew has been declared with immediate effect until further notice.
The public in these areas have been advised to remain indoors while anyone who has gone outside will be allowed to return home.
He also said that vehicles will be allowed to travel through these areas but cannot pick anyone or drop any outsider. (Colombo Gazette)


MADRID (MarketWatch) -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigo Zapatero on Friday said he "absolutely" ruled out the need for a rescue package for Spain, in an interview with a Catalan radio station. "We have a deficit reduction plan that we are scrupulously carrying out," he said in a transcript of the interview. Zapatero also said that the economy in Spain has touched bottom. "Growth is weak, that is true, but we continue to make reforms and take the initiative and improvements to boost growth to contribute to this growth sooner." Zapatero also said that he was against further new fiscal measures.


Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:06:43 +0000
LACK of experts in the aquaculture sector in Zambia has negatively affected the growth of the fish industry, says Tangaza Africa Media in South Africa chief executive officer Nixon Kariithi.
Professor Kariithi observed that the sector had the potential to contribute to economic growth of the country.
He said at a workshop hosted by First National Bank (FNB) in Lusaka that fish farming had the potential to grow the economy of Zambia but that it was lagging behind due to lack of experts.
He noted that aquaculture was spreading across the region and that many countries had realised its potential to sustain an economy and uplift the lives of people.
Prof. Kariithi, who was one of Africa’s leading scholars in journalism, stressed the need for experts to carry out actual studies on aquaculture to find ways in which the sector could be improved.
“Aquaculture has the potential to contribute to economic growth of the country. It is being restricted by the lack of experts to give guidance on how it can be improved,” he said.
Meanwhile, FNB senior manager agribusiness Cheyo Mwenechanya also said that fish farming had the potential to grow Zambia’s economy.
Mr Mwenechanya noted that the fish industry in Zambia was growing at a slow pace because the young were not venturing into agriculture related activities.
He called on the youth to venture into agriculture related businesses like fish farming, as there were no businesses only for the elderly people.
Mr Mwenechanya also disclosed that less than two percent of the companies registered with the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) were agriculture related.
And Mr Mwenechanya said that FNB was committed to support farmers and small businesses across Zambia.
He said that the bank had already made available over $100 million to the agriculture sector in the last four years.


The number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana has increased to 9,910 with 272 more cases confirmed, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said on Monday.
It said nine more persons under treatment recovered, increasing the number of recoveries to 3,645, while four more people died, bringing the number of COVID-19-related deaths to 48.
The number of active cases in the West African country has also increased to 6,217, said the GHS.
Ghana’s entry points shall remain closed to external traffic until further notice, said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his last nationwide COVID-19 broadcast. Enditem


Mental health activists have urged parents to create a safe environment for their children to feel comfortable enough to speak up when they have problems.
Mental health activist Immagine Shikomba calls on parents to be more open-minded by accepting that mental health is real.
This advice comes in light of Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to educate the public about mental health and stigma.
AB Pieters, a mental health advocate, emphasised the importance of reminding those who are suffering from mental health that they are not alone and that there is hope.
Pieters noted that there are a lot of people in society who are battling with mental illness without even knowing it.
He encouraged those suffering from psychological issues to speak out and seek help.