Month: March 2022

Categories
-Top News Dubai EXPO 2020

Sheikh Saif honoured for Expo 2020 Dubai work

The honour recognizes the contributions and unlimited support of Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan in presenting a remarkable edition of the global event…reports Asian Lite News

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, honoured H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to making Expo 2020 Dubai a success.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, attended the honouring ceremony.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed stressed that the efforts of Lt. General Sheikh Saif and his strong contributions to the success of events organised in the country, reflect his dedication to serving the nation and represent a great example to follow.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed his pride in the exceptional success of Expo 2020 Dubai, which reflects the civilisation, growth and development of the UAE.

The honour recognises the contributions and unlimited support of Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan in presenting a remarkable edition of the global event.

‘We are all proud of Expo 2020 Dubai’

Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait, said the UAE has created a convenient environment for overcoming the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, due to its leadership, it has proven its ability to host millions of people.

In an exclusive statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Sabah said hosting Expo 2020 Dubai and the World Government Summit gave everyone an opportunity for expression after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has changed the world.

Expo 2020 Dubai is showcasing international civilisations and cultures, he added, noting that the event is a model of excellent preparations and organisation.

All Arabs are proud of the major international event, which is taking place for the first time in the region.

On his participation in the World Government Summit, he stressed that the UAE has created a platform for communication and coordination on various issues, including science, health, innovation and technology.

Prime Minister of Kuwait then wished the UAE success and prosperity.

PCFC launches new corporate identity

The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) today announced its new corporate identity based on three basic principles; Globality, Sustainability and Communication.

Designed in the form of a globe, the new logo features three main colours representing the areas supervised by the Corporation – gold symbolising sand, blue representing water and white representing space.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, launched the new logo at an official ceremony held at the DP World pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, on the sidelines of the World Government Summit 2022. The launch event was attended by the Corporation’s Board of Directors; Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director-General of Dubai Customs and CEO of PCFC; and the executive directors of the various PCFC departments and sectors.

Speaking at the launch event, Bin Sulayem said, “Today we announce the launch of PCFC’s new corporate identity, which marks a new phase in our growth. The new logo represents our aspirations for the future and the next stage in our journey of excellence. Based on three elements: Global, Sustainability and Communication, the new corporate identity reflects the vision of our leadership and the strategic priorities of the Dubai government.”

ALSO READ: Power-packed performance on anvil

“The elements and components of our new logo are inspired by our leadership’s vision to strengthen Dubai’s position at the forefront of global efforts to enhance sustainable development. The Corporation provides services across the emirate, including in free zones and special development zones, as well as coastal areas and Dubai’s waters. Our customs services play a key role in enhancing security as well as economic and commercial growth,” he added.

The launch ceremony held today featured the screening of a film announcing the logo, followed by the launch of the corporation’s new website and corporate identity.

Categories
-Top News COVID-19 World News

A third of world remains unvaccinated: WHO

Besides continuing to respond to the pandemic, WHO is also putting in place new measures to help keep the world safe against future epidemics….reports Asian Lite News

 Even as some high-income countries have rolled out fourth and fifth Covid vaccine doses, one-third of the world’s population is yet to receive a single dose, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

This includes about 83 per cent of the population in Africa, while on the other hand many high- and middle-income countries have reached 70 per cent target of Covid vaccination.

“This is not acceptable to me, and it should not be acceptable to anyone,” Ghebreyesus said.

“If the world’s rich are enjoying the benefits of high vaccine coverage, why shouldn’t the world’s poor? Are some lives worth more than others?”

He also unveiled the updated Strategic Preparedness, Readiness and Response Plan for Covid-19.

“This is our third strategic plan for Covid-19, and it could and should be our last,” Ghebreyesus said, even as he laid out three possible scenarios for how the pandemic could evolve this year.

The most likely scenario is that the virus continues to evolve, but the severity of disease it causes reduces over time as immunity increases due to vaccination and infection.

Periodic spikes in cases and deaths may occur as immunity wanes, which may require periodic boosting for vulnerable populations, he noted.

“In the best-case scenario, we may see less severe variants emerge, and boosters or new formulations of vaccines won’t be necessary. In the worst-case scenario, a more virulent and highly transmissible variant emerges,” Ghebreyesus said.

Against this new threat, people’s protection against severe disease and death, either from prior vaccination or infection, will wane rapidly.

Addressing this situation would require significantly altering the current vaccines and making sure they get to the people who are most vulnerable to severe disease, Ghebreyesus said.

To combat these, Ghebreyesus emphasised on the need for surveillance, laboratories, and public health intelligence; vaccination, public health and social measures; clinical care for Covid-19, and resilient health systems; research and development, and equitable access to tools and supplies; and coordination, as the response transitions from an emergency mode to long-term respiratory disease management.

“We have all the tools we need to bring this pandemic under control: we can prevent transmission with masks, distancing, hand hygiene and ventilation,” the WHO chief noted, adding the importance of tests, treatments and equitable vaccines to save lives.AA

Besides continuing to respond to the pandemic, WHO is also putting in place new measures to help keep the world safe against future epidemics.

“Today we are launching a new strategy to scale up genomic surveillance globally for pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential,” the health agency chief said.

WHO will aso launch a new global strategy for arboviruses – the family of viruses spread by mosquitoes that includes Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya and Yellow fever, and which pose a threat to more than half the world’s population.

ALSO READ: Global Covid caseload tops 486.8 mn

Categories
-Top News Dubai EXPO 2020

Power-packed performance on anvil

Global artistes Christina Aguilera, Norah Jones and Yo-Yo Ma to mark the end of the six-month-long extravaganza

Global music icons Christina Aguilera, Norah Jones and Yo-Yo Ma will mark the end of the six-month-long cultural extravaganza at Al Wasl Plaza, the beating heart of the first World Expo to be held in the region and the same venue where the memorable opening ceremony took place in October.

Dubbed the world’s greatest show, Expo 2020 Dubai has become an integral part of the UAE community’s lives, leaving behind memories and inspiring innovations that will last a lifetime.

The closing ceremony, which will begin at 7pm, will gaze towards the future through the young girl from the opening ceremony taking the audience on another compelling journey. For 182 days, she has grown, learned and connected with people from around the world— what remains is the final step before she awakens to her full potential.

The celebration will continue into the night, with full headline concerts from each artist across Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre. Jaw-dropping fireworks displays will adorn the city at midnight and 3am.

With over 20 giant screens across the Expo 2020 Dubai site, including the main stages, Festival Garden and various country pavilions, everyone will have the opportunity to live the magic of the historic event that brought together 192 countries towards a great mission – creating a better future for generations to come.

While the curtain will come down on the world’s fair, UAE residents and citizens will still be able to enjoy some of Expo 2020’s landmarks, including the breathtaking light projections of Al Wasl Plaza, the splashing Water Feature and Garden in the Sky, alongside the cultural experiences of the UAE, India and Saudi Arabia pavilions.

ALSO READ: Saudi launches global campaign for Expo 2030 Riyadh

The Expo 2020 Dubai, which is the first to be hosted in a Gulf region, has fulfilled its commitment to draw between 22.9 million and 25.4 million visits. This is a commendable achievement indeed, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

An aerobatic performance by UAE Air Force’s Fursan Al Emarat aerobatics team would be the highlight of the closing ceremony. Before an unforgettable climax, the baton of the expo would be handed over to the next generation.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner General of Dubai Expo 2020, will hand the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) flag to Ambassador Jai – chul Choi, the President and Dimitri Kerkentzes, the Secretary.

Categories
-Top News Asia News

Fate of Imran to be decided today

Pic credits Twitter @ImranKhanPTI

. The Opposition is confident that its motion would be successful as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan…..reports Asian Lite News

The Pakistan National Assembly will discuss the no-confidence motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan during the Lower House Session at 4 pm.

The NA Secretariat issued the order on Wednesday night, with a discussion on the no-trust motion against the Pakistani PM on today’s (Thursday) session’s agenda, Geo TV reported.

Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif tabled the no-confidence motion against the Pakistani PM. With this move, Imran became the third Pakistani PM to face the no-confidence motion.

Following the tabling of the resolution, the deputy speaker announced that the debate on the resolution would begin on March 31. “The session is adjourned until 4 pm on March 31,” he said.

This is a key development as the political fate of Imran Khan hangs in the balance amid the changing power equations. Deputy NA Speaker Qasim Suri, during the session, asked the members of the Parliament who are in favour of the motion, to stand up so that the total number of supporting members of the motion could be counted. After counting the members who stood in favour of the motion, the Deputy NA speaker approved the discussion on the no-confidence motion and also scheduled it for March 31, at 4 pm. However, the voting on the resolution will take place between April 1 – 4.

The no-confidence motion was submitted on March 8 after the PPP’s long march in Islamabad. The Opposition is confident that its motion would be successful as many PTI lawmakers have come out in the open against PM Imran Khan.

Earlier today, the second phase of polling of local government in the remaining 18 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) is underway.

In the first phase of the election, the ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a major setback as the opposition parties won the clear majority, especially Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

Meanwhile, Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) joined hands with the opposition to support them in the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the Pakistani government lost its majority in the lower house of the Pakistan parliament, Geo TV reported.

The Pakistani National Assembly has a total strength of 342 members, with the majority mark being 172. The PTI-led coalition was formed with the support of 179 members, but now, after MQM-P left the party, PTI is standing with 164 members in support and the Opposition has now 177 members of supporters in the national assembly and they don’t need the support of disgruntled PTI MNAs. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pak military, Imran in ‘backdoor talks’

Categories
-Top News Europe

Russia focus of Truss’ India visit

Foreign Secretary wants to counter Russia’s aggression and reduce global strategic dependence on the country and her agenda includes progressing talks to develop defence-related trade with India…reports Asian Lite News

Deepening security and defence ties with India and the importance of all countries reducing strategic dependency on Russia in light of the Ukraine conflict will be the focal points of discussions when Foreign Secretary Liz Truss arrives in New Delhi today.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the high-level ministerial visit was part of a wider diplomatic push and comes ahead of NATO and G7 meetings next week to tackle “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.

The minister wants to counter Russia’s aggression and reduce global strategic dependence on the country and her agenda includes progressing talks to develop defence-related trade with India, including innovative security technology, to strengthen defence ties with the world’s largest democracy.

“Deeper ties between Britain and India will boost security in the Indo-Pacific and globally, and create jobs and opportunities in both countries,” said Ms Truss, ahead of her visit – expected to be a short day-long tour.

“This matters even more in the context of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and underlines the need for free democracies to work closer together in areas like defence, trade and cyber security. India is an economic and tech powerhouse, the world’s largest democracy and a great friend of Britain, and I want to build an even closer relationship between our two nations,” she said.

In her meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the minister will say that Russia’s action in Ukraine underlines the importance of democracies working closer together to “deter aggressors, reduce vulnerability to coercion and strengthen global security”.

The ministers will go on to address the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum on Thursday to set out their vision for the long-term relationship between the two countries.

As part of the Enhanced Cyber Partnership agreed within the UK-India Roadmap 2030, the UK minister is set to announce a new joint cyber security programme with the aim of protecting online infrastructure in both countries from attacks. Under the initiative, India and the UK will work together to increase cyber security and carry out joint exercises to practise combatting threats from cybercriminals and ransomware, the FCDO said.

The UK will also confirm plans to hold the first Strategic Tech Dialogue, a ministerial-level summit on emerging technology, during her visit.

On the energy front, the visiting Foreign Secretary will confirm £70 million of British International Investment (BII) funding to support renewable energy use in India, aimed at helping India build renewable energy capacity and develop solar power in the region. Plans for a new platform to allow British investors to bid for green infrastructure, technology, and business opportunities in India is also set to be confirmed.

Current volatility in oil and gas prices and energy security concerns, as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, underscore the importance of India’s green transition and move towards energy self-sufficiency, the FCDO noted.

Closer maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, involving the UK joining India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and becoming a lead partner on maritime security issues and coordinating work with key partners in Southeast Asia, is also on the ministerial agenda.

“This stronger partnership on maritime security builds on the visit to India last year by HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) – a symbol of the UK’s world leading defence capability. The CSG took part in the most demanding exercise ever undertaken between the UK and India, involving all three military services,” the FCDO said.

This will mark the second trip to India by Truss as Foreign Secretary, following her visit in October 2021, having previously visited in her role as Trade Secretary.

The FCDO stressed that strengthening ties with India has been a “priority” for the Foreign Secretary, with a focus on the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two countries.

ALSO READ-Russia to fine Google over Ukraine war videos

Categories
-Top News USA

US denies ‘threat letter’ allegations

“Allegations of US involvement in the no-trust motion and ‘threat letter’ to PM Imran Khan are baseless,” said the US State Department…reports Asian Lite News

The US government has categorically rejected any kind of involvement in the no-trust motion against Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying the allegations of American involvement are baseless, Geo News reported.

The US government reacted strongly as Khan on Sunday brandished a letter during a power show saying that it contains evidence of a foreign plot hatched against him and the Opposition’s no-trust motion is also a part of this foreign conspiracy to topple his government.

On Wednesday, the premier’s gist of the ‘threat letter’ was also shared with senior journalists.

Responding to a question asked by Geo News regarding the letter, the US State Department categorically rejected any kind of involvement in the no-confidence motion against Khan.

“Allegations of US involvement in the no-trust motion and ‘threat letter’ to PM Imran Khan are baseless,” said the State Department.

The US government is monitoring the political situation of Pakistan, however and supports the rule of law in Pakistan, it aded.

Regarding the question of a no-trust motion against Khan, the State Department said that they respect the constitutional process in Pakistan.

On Sunday, the premier, during what the PTI labelled as one of its “biggest” rallies in its history at the Parade Ground in Islamabad, flashed a letter before the public, saying that he has “written evidence” that “money has been pouring in from abroad”, while “some of our people are being used to topple the government”.

He had said that for months, “plotting and planning is being carried out to influence the foreign policy of Pakistan from outside”.

Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said that state officials issuing such threats to diplomats is completely unheard of.

“Incidents where state officials tell diplomats that they would sever ties if a country’s government is not sent packing has never been heard before,” he said.

Basit said that “sensitive issues of foreign policies should not be discussed in public”.

He said that the memo the prime minister has been referring to most probably carries the minutes of the meeting between US officials and a Pakistani diplomat, adding that along with the minutes, the letter might also include the assessment of the diplomat regarding the future.

ALSO READ: Pak military, Imran in ‘backdoor talks’

Categories
-Top News Asia News

Pak military, Imran in ‘backdoor talks’

The huddle also discussed the holding of the next general elections and the duration of the interim government…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistans military called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and discussed “agreeable options” for the political parties as well as a “face-saving agreement” for the government and the opposition to get out of the current political crisis, Express Tribune reported.

According to sources in the Prime Minister’s House, the civil and military officials who attended the meeting on Wednesday mulled over “backdoor talks” for the next general elections.

It was said that the huddle considered giving such options to the government and opposition which would be acceptable to both.

It was reported that the meeting also discussed Khan’s remaining tenure and addressed the opposition’s reservations on the government’s electoral reforms.

The huddle also discussed the holding of the next general elections and the duration of the interim government, The Express Tribune reported.

Sources said, according to the possible “face-saving agreement”, general elections would be announced in the National Assembly as well as the four provincial assemblies.

The meeting also maintained that no plan would be finalised until the opposition agreed on it and that a “complete package” would be presented in Parliament after both the government and opposition settled on the deliberated matters.

In case an agreement is not reached, the process of no-trust would move forward.

ALSO READ: Ukraine confirms Russia’s partial pull back

Categories
-Top News Europe

Russia to fine Google over Ukraine war videos

According to Russian law, for failure to remove such illegal materials within the prescribed period, the site owner faces administrative liability….reports Asian Lite News

Russia’s communications regulator may fine Google over its failure to remove certain “illegal” videos related to Ukraine invasion on the YouTube platform.

In a post on Telegram, Roskomnadzor warned it may fine Google up to 8 million rubles (about $94,675) that will increase to 20 per cent of Google’s annual revenue in case of a repeat offence.

“YouTube video hosting, owned by the American IT company Google, has become one of the key platforms participating in the information war against Russia,” said the Russian regulator.

“The American platform promotes the dissemination of false content containing unreliable socially significant information about the course of a special military operation in Ukraine,” it posted.

This “discredits the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, as well as extremist information calling for violent actions against Russian military personnel,” the regulator added.

According to Russian law, for failure to remove such illegal materials within the prescribed period, the site owner faces administrative liability.

“The amount of the fine can be up to 8 million rubles, and in the event of a repeated administrative offence, the amount of the fine can be increased to 20 per cent of the company’s annual revenue,” Roskomnadzor added.

YouTube has already acted against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Google-owned platform has demonetised the channels belonging to RT and other Russian state-backed media outlets and is barring access to videos posted by these channels.

Facebook and Instagram have taken similar actions to de-platform media outlets run by the Russian government.

ALSO READ: Ukraine confirms Russia’s partial pull back

Categories
Arab News News Saudi Arabia

Hyundai, Saudi Aramco join to develop environment-friendly vehicle engine

Hyundai, Saudi Aramco join to develop environment-friendly vehicle engine

Hyundai Motor Group said on Wednesday it will collaborate with Saudi Aramco and a Saudi Arabian university to jointly develop an environment-friendly fuel and engine for vehicles…reports Asian Lite News

Hyundai, Aramco, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) plan to develop an advanced fuel for ultra-lean burn, spark-ignition engines to lower a vehicle’s overall carbon dioxide emissions, Hyundai said in a statement.

The two-year joint project aims to verify by how much greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced when e-fuel is used in hybrid electric vehicles instead of conventional fuel, it said.

ALSO READ: Hyundai brand value rises in Interbrand’s Global ranking

“As hybrid EVs are rolled out, the real challenge now lies in making strides with optimal fuels and exceptional combustion systems. The Aramco team provides fuel design and blending know-how to improve Hyundai Motor Group engine combustion performance and the outcome could lead to the application of synthetic e-fuels,” Aramco’s Chief Technology Officer Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter said in the statement.

Hyundai plans to cut its carbon emissions by 75 per cent compared with 2019 levels by 2040 and targets to reach carbon neutrality, or net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, in 2045, reports Yonhap news agency.

Carbon neutrality can be achieved by either balancing carbon emissions with carbon removal or by cutting carbon emissions entirely.To achieve the aim, Hyundai plans to raise the ratio of EVs to 30 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2040 in global sales from the current 1.5 per cent.

Categories
Arab News News Saudi Arabia

Saudi-led coalition refutes allegations on human rights violations in Yemen

The outcomes of the investigations were announced on the same day as the launch of the Yemeni talks in Riyadh…reports Asian Lite News

The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) in Yemen has said that it has investigated allegations of human rights violations against the Saudi-led coalition fighting a war in Yemen and found out that the coalition is not responsible for most of them, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The JIAT is an investigation mechanism created by the coalition to investigate possible human rights violations in its military operations in Yemen, a country that has been locked in a brutal civil war since 2014.

The JIAT said allegations of an attack targeting a house in Taiz Governorate in Yemen in 2015 are wrong as the team found that the coalition did not carry any airstrikes in the area, Xinhua news agency reported.

The closest military target the coalition struck at the time was 18.5 km away from the house in question, said JIAT spokesperson Mansour Al-Mansour.

The JIAT also denied the coalition’s accountability for an attack on a health center in Yemen’s Saada Governorate in 2015.

Moreover, the team refuted a statement by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator that the coalition conducted an airstrike in Al-Jawf city in 2020, killing a number of civilians.

The forces of the coalition were “correct” in procedures to attack a vehicle and two buildings of the Houthi militia during the airstrike as local intelligence indicated that no civilians were inside, which turned out to be otherwise.

The JIAT recommended prosecuting the field commander who provided the inaccurate information, adding the coalition would provide assistance for the civilian victims.

ALSO READ: Yemen’s Houthi rebels announce 3-day ceasefire with Saudi-led coalition

The outcomes of the investigations were announced on the same day as the launch of the Yemeni talks in Riyadh. The talks, supported by the Gulf Cooperation Council, will continue until April 7 to find a political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 in the Yemeni civil war in an attempt to reinstate the Hadi government. The coalition has carried out thousands of airstrikes, killing tens of thousands of people, according to the United Nations.