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DP World contributes AED10 million to Mothers’ Endowment

This contribution by DP World Foundation is part of a community wide response to the campaign by individuals, businesses and institutions…reports Asian Lite News

DP World’s charity and humanitarian arm, the DP World Foundation, has joined a growing list of contributors to the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to honour mothers by establishing a AED 1 billion endowment fund that supports the education of millions around the world. DP World Foundation announced a contribution of AED 10 million to the campaign.

This contribution by DP World Foundation is part of a community wide response to the campaign by individuals, businesses and institutions, racing to support its aims of honouring mothers by enabling contributions to be made in their name, and highlighting their role in nurturing families and supporting the education of their children.

The campaign, launched under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, aims to support underprivileged individuals through education, which offers them a chance to improve their lives in a sustainable way and prepares them for the job market. The campaign also promotes the values of honouring parents, kindness, compassion and solidarity.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, expressed the profound significance of the Mothers’ Endowment campaign launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “The campaign aligns with the vision of our wise leadership, fostering community engagement from individuals to institutions in charitable endeavours, thus ensuring their enduring impact on disadvantaged communities. These initiatives pave the way for a future marked by stability and sustainable development”, he said.

“We are deeply honoured to participate in a campaign celebrating the invaluable role of mothers and champions global education. Our contribution underscores our steadfast dedication to social responsibility and bolstering the UAE’s pivotal humanitarian efforts around the world,” bin Sulayem.

Aiming to revive the culture of endowment as a development tool, the Mothers’ Endowment campaign focuses on empowering underprivileged individuals and communities through education, thus contributing to the global effort towards realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Mothers’ Endowment campaign continues to welcome donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across six main channels including the campaign’s website (Mothersfund.ae), as well as a dedicated call center via the toll-free number (800 9999). Donations are also possible via bank transfers in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (AE790340003708472909201). Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word “Mother” to the following numbers (1034, 1035, 1036, 1038) for Etisalat by e& users. Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the “Donations” tab, and Dubai’s community contributions platform Jood. (ANI/WAM)

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance

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WHO chief says 9,000 Gaza patients in need of urgent evacuation

The WHO chief said more than 3,400 people have already been evacuated, and many more were awaiting Israeli approval to leave…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the continuing Israeli onslaught on Gaza in retaliation to the Hamas terror attacks on October 7, last year, and fears of a new front opening up in Rafah amid the ongoing war, World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday said approximately 9,000 patients trapped in the Strip were in urgent need of evacuation abroad, CNN reported.

With healthcare infrastructure ‘all but collapsed’ in Gaza, thousands need treatment for cancer and kidney dialysis, as well as for injuries sustained during the conflict, Tedros posted on X.

The WHO chief said more than 3,400 people have already been evacuated, and many more were awaiting Israeli approval to leave, according to CNN.

“We urge Israel to speed up approvals for evacuations, so that critical patients can be treated,” Tedros said, adding, “Every moment matters.”

According to CNN, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated on Friday that Gaza’s partially functional hospitals can only provide ‘limited services’ and are overwhelmed with patients. They are also facing “critical shortages of fuel, medicines, medical supplies, and health personnel.”

According to the UN, more than 400 attacks on healthcare infrastructure in the Gaza Strip had been documented by the WHO as of March 12, affecting some 100 ambulances and nearly 100 health facilities.

Israel has repeatedly blamed Hamas for hiding behind civilians in Gaza’s hospitals and other medical facilities, accusations the militant group denies.

Meanwhile, nearly 400 tonnes of food aid are expected to arrive in Gaza by ship in the coming days, according to the non-governmental organisation arranging the deliveries, CNN reported.

Juan Camilo, a community outreach manager with World Central Kitchen, stated that the aid would be distributed to residents in the northern part of the Strip.

He mentioned that The Open Arms, a rescue vessel that recently delivered aid to Gaza, was towing a barge, while another cargo vessel, ‘Jennifer’, was also transporting aid.

World Central Kitchen mentioned that the vessels are equipped with machinery to expedite the off-loading process. Additionally, they noted that the aid includes dates provided by the United Arab Emirates for Palestinians observing Ramadan.

Earlier this month, World Central Kitchen said almost 200 tons of aid were delivered by ship in an operation conducted with the Emirati government and Open Arms, with support from Cyprus.

Truce talks between Israel and Hamas to resume

Truce talks between Israel and Hamas will resume on Sunday in Cairo, the latest attempt to bring about a pause after nearly six months of war in the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV reported on Saturday, citing a security source.

An Israeli official told Reuters that Israel will send a delegation to Cairo on Sunday. A Hamas official however told Reuters the group would wait to hear from Cairo mediators on the outcome of their talks with Israel first.

The warring sides have stepped up negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, on a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in return for the proposed release of 40 of the 130 hostages still held by the Palestinian militant group in Gaza.

Hamas has sought to parlay any deal into an end to the fighting and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has ruled this out, saying it would eventually resume efforts to dismantle the governance and military capabilities of Hamas.

Hamas also wants hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled Gaza City and surrounding areas southward during the first stage of the war to be allowed back north. One Israeli official said his country was open to discussing allowing back only “some” of the displaced.

More than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, according to health authorities in the territory.

The war erupted after Hamas militants broke through the border and rampaged through communities in southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel kept up its aerial and ground bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Friday, killing 82 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, the territory’s health ministry said as fighting raged around Gaza City’s main Al Shifa hospital.

The ministry added that Israeli forces in control of the hospital had blockaded 107 patients in the human resources department without water, electricity, or medication for several days, refusing all calls to evacuate them.

Armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said their fighters continued to battle Israeli forces around the medical facility, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, which had been one of the few health care facilities even partially operational in north Gaza before the latest fighting.

The Israeli military said forces operating in Al Shifa killed three armed Hamas commanders inside two buildings of the medical facility. Forces located sniper rifles, AK-47s, magazines, and grenades during the activity, the military said.

Israel said it killed and detained hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad gunmen at Al Shifa during its raid there. Hamas and medical staffers deny any armed presence inside medical facilities, accusing Israel of killing and arresting civilians.

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance

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Kremlin reveals Putin’s inner turmoil post-Moscow terror attack

Law enforcement has apprehended all four assailants, with suspicions of assistance from five others, as per investigators….reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin puts up a tough exterior, but he’s deeply disturbed by recent events in the nation, including the deadly terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov disclosed to VGTRK, TASS reported.

“The head of state takes these tragedies to heart. And believe me, just because you don’t see tears on his face does not mean that he is not hurt. And I doubt if anyone, including you and me, knows about his inner turmoil,” the Russian presidential spokesman said.

On the fateful evening of March 22, terrorists struck the music venue in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region, just beyond the city’s borders. The latest figures report 144 fatalities.

Law enforcement has apprehended all four assailants, with suspicions of assistance from five others, as per investigators. The Russian Investigative Committee asserted that the attackers have ties to Ukrainian nationalists.

Furthermore, the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s department in the Moscow Region has updated the count of those injured in the terrorist onslaught on Crocus City Hall to 551.

“At the time of 6:00 a.m. Moscow time on March 30, 2024, the toll from the terrorist attack stood at 695 casualties, with 144 fatalities, including five children,” the ministry disclosed in an official statement.

Health officials informed TASS that the majority of those injured in the attack have been receiving outpatient care.

Last Sunday, Russia declared its first nationwide mourning since 2018.

A solemn minute of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the Crocus City Hall attack before the commencement of a charity concert near the makeshift memorial erected at the scene of the attack.

Candles, arranged to resemble cranes, adorned the stage; many attendees held candles in their hands. During the minute of silence, footage depicting cranes soaring into the sky was projected onto the facade of Crocus City Hall, followed by images of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

The minute of silence commenced at 19:52 Moscow time, approximately the time when the tragic events unfolded on March 22. Following the poignant tribute, a musical ensemble led by director Valery Gergiyev took the stage. Several survivors also joined the performance, sharing their harrowing experiences of surviving the attack.

Throughout the day, people continued to bring flowers in honour of the victims. Security measures were heightened, with the crowd being divided into multiple streams, and metal detectors were installed to ensure safety, TASS reported. (ANI)

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UN Relief Chief to Step Down For Health Reasons

UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths speaks at a Security Council meeting on Yemen at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 15, 2022. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua/IANS)

Griffiths, who heads the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), came to the role in July 2021 …reports Asian Lite News

The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, has informed the UN Secretary-General of his intention to step down for health reasons.

According to a statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, the Secretary-General extends his deep gratitude and appreciation to Griffiths for his tremendous leadership and service to the United Nations and the humanitarian community in advocating for people affected by crises and mobilising resources to address their needs.

Griffiths, who heads the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), came to the role in July 2021 at a time of mounting humanitarian needs and shrinking resources.

He advocated tirelessly for life-saving aid to reach those most in need and for the resources needed to do so.

A skilled diplomat and mediator, he has played a key role in leading the humanitarian response of the United Nations and its partners and negotiating solutions to some of the most intractable crises.

Griffiths will remain in his post until the end of June to allow for a smooth transition.

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G7 industry ministers commit to ‘safe and reliable’ AI

70 CEOs ask G7 leaders to support net-zero commitments

The group also warned that digital technologies, including AI, are posing many complex challenges…reports Asian Lite News

Industry ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) have said that artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial for achieving sustainable development, but needs to be implemented in a balanced and safe way.

After a two-day meeting in the Italian cities of Verona and Trento, the G7 on Friday committed to achieving an appropriate balance between fostering innovation and the need for appropriate guardrails in promoting a safe, secure and trustworthy AI, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We recognize that AI and other emerging technologies, if shaped to be safe… can be pivotal for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” representatives to the meeting said in a final declaration.

These tools can have a positive impact on many sectors, and a “vast potential” to boost productivity, efficiency, business opportunities, and scientific discoveries, they said.

Meanwhile, the group also warned that digital technologies, including AI, are posing many complex challenges, including those concerning the respect of privacy, personal data protection, security and safety of intellectual property.

They also noted that online platforms, along with AI-enabled products, could be used to facilitate hate speech and disinformation, and other forms of manipulation, potentially fuelling social divides.

“These challenges and risks reinforce the need to integrate ethical considerations in relation to the development and use of such technologies,” they said.

The G7 Ministerial Meeting on Industry, Technology and Digital was chaired by Italian Under Secretary of State for Technological Innovation Alessio Butti, as Italy is holding the G7 presidency this year.

The group comprises Canada, the US, France, Germany, Italy, the UK and Japan, plus representatives of the European Union.

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‘Phobias Extend Beyond Abrahamic Religions’: India at the UN

Indian ambassador said that while the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, one must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination.

Calling India “a proud champion of pluralism,” India’s Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj opposed the establishment of the post of “special envoy” on a special religion at the United Nations today.

This comes as the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution on “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” which, inter alia, calls for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia.

Explaining India’s position during the adoption of the resolution, Ambassador Kamboj said that while the issue of Islamophobia is undoubtedly significant, one must acknowledge that other religions are also facing discrimination.

“Crucial to acknowledge that phobias extend beyond Abrahamic religions…anti-Hindu, anti-Buddhist, anti-Sikh elements…increasing attacks on Gurudwaras, monasteries, temples..” the Indian envoy to the UN said.

“The destruction of Bamiyan Buddha, violation of Gurudwara premises, massacre of Sikh pilgrims, attacks on temples, glorification of breaking idols in temple contribute to rise of contemporary form of religio-phobia against non-abrahamic religions.”

Ambassador Kamboj added that it is crucial to recognise that Hinduism, with over 1.2 billion followers, Buddhism more than 535 million, and Sikhism, with over 30 million followers worldwide, are all subject to religion-based phobia.

“It is time we acknowledge the prevalence of religious phobia rather than just single out one,” she added.

Further, the envoy said: “Allocating resources solely to combat Islamophobia, while neglecting similar challenges faced by other kinds might inadvertently perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality.”

The resolution was reportedly facilitated by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The country’s chief diplomat at the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, had said that Muslims around the world face discrimination, and “bold and decisive actions are needed to counter and combat Islamophobia.”

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Hopes Up For 6-Week Ceasefire As Israel, Hamas Mull Easing Demands

A six-week ceasefire is on the cards in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel after both sides communicated to the mediators on stepping down from their earlier demands.

While Hamas has agreed to climb down from the demand for a permanent end of the war to a pause for six weeks, Israel has almost agreed to release 1000 Palestinian prisoners including 100 charged with grievous crimes including murder.

There were a series of meetings in Doha, Cairo, and Paris in the last two days with different negotiators brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas

Sources in Israeli intelligence agencies told IANS that Qatar has communicated to the Hamas leadership that it would “not hesitate to deport them from Qatar if they do not come down from unreasonable demands”.

According to sources, the strong position taken by Qatar and Egypt to prevent any Gazan refugees on its soil if Israel invades Rafah has acted as a trigger for Hamas to rework its earlier demands of a permanent ceasefire.

As per the available information, Hamas would release all Israeli prisoners including soldiers in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli intelligence agencies have communicated to the government that of the 134 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, 32 have died.

Hamas, according to sources in the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, would release the remaining 102 hostages and send the bodies of 32 hostages in exchange for 1000 Palestinian prisoners. However, it is unclear whether all the hostages would be released in a single go or multiple slots.

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Spanish PM to propose recognition of Palestinian state

Sánchez added his voice to a chorus of other European leaders and government officials who have said that they could support a two-state solution…reports Asian Lite News

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Saturday that he will propose that Spain’s parliament recognizes a Palestinian state.

“I will propose granting Spain’s recognition to the Palestinian state,” Sánchez said. “I do this out of moral conviction, for a just cause and because it is the only way that the two states, Israel and Palestine, can live together in peace.”

Sánchez added his voice to a chorus of other European leaders and government officials who have said that they could support a two-state solution in the Middle East as international frustration grows with Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories.

Sanchez also posted his plan on the X platform.

French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that it’s not “taboo” for France to recognize a Palestinian state. British Foreign Minister David Cameron said that the United Kingdom could officially recognize a Palestinian state after a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Sánchez said that his position on the conflict in the Gaza Strip is much like his country’s support for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion more than two years ago.

He stressed that Spain demanded “respect for international law from Russia, and from Israel, for the violence to end, the recognition of two states, and for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.”

His comments at a rights conference in the city of Bilbao came as aid shipments were headed for Gaza amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a new international willingness to work around Israeli restrictions.

Five months after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage, Israel’s military has battered the territory, killing more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

ALSO READ: Cameron urges Israel to open more aid crossings  

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UN: Over 8,500 Migrant Deaths in 2023

886 illegal migrants rescued off Libyan coast in past week: UN migration agency.(Xinhua/IANS)

The overall death toll among migrants saw a concerning surge of nearly 20% compared to 2022…reports Asian Lite News

Last year marked a tragic milestone in global migration as 8,565 migrants lost their lives on land and sea routes, representing a record high since the inception of UN migration data collection a decade ago. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) highlighted the Mediterranean Sea as the deadliest route, witnessing a notable increase in deaths, with 3,129 recorded in 2023, up from 2,411 in the previous year. However, this figure pales in comparison to the peak of 5,136 deaths recorded in 2016 amid mass migrations from conflict-ridden nations like Syria and Afghanistan towards Europe.

The overall death toll among migrants saw a concerning surge of nearly 20% compared to 2022, with drowning accounting for the majority of fatalities, claiming approximately 3,700 lives. The Geneva-based migration agency cautioned that these figures likely underestimate the true toll due to challenges in data collection, despite advancements in methodologies.

Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s deputy director general, emphasized the profound human tragedy behind each statistic, acknowledging the lasting impact on families and communities worldwide. The most significant increase in migrant deaths occurred in Asia, where over 2,000 migrants perished, primarily driven by heightened fatalities among Afghans fleeing to neighboring Iran and Rohingya refugees navigating maritime routes.

In Africa, a record number of deaths were reported last year, totaling 1,866, predominantly in the Sahara Desert and along sea routes to the Canary Islands. Challenges persist in accurately documenting fatalities, particularly in remote areas like the perilous “Darien Gap” in Panama, a transit point for migrants from South America heading north.

Established in 2014 following a surge in Mediterranean deaths and migrant influx on Lampedusa, the IOM’s “Missing Migrants” project continues to track these fatalities, shedding light on the human cost of global migration and advocating for enhanced safety measures to mitigate future tragedies.

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Russia Rules Out Stationing Nukes in Space

Vladimir Putin flew on a modernised Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber
Vladimir Putin flew on a modernised Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber

Russian President Vladimir Putin called such allegations “unfounded” and “fake narratives,” designed by the West to draw Russia into negotiations on terms that only benefit the US

Russia does not plan to deploy nuclear weapons in space, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the country’s security council members.

“We have already discussed false allegations that are currently being made by some Western officials about our supposed plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space,” said the Kremlin on Friday, citing the President.

In his annual State of the Nation address on Thursday, Putin called such allegations “unfounded” and “fake narratives,” designed by the West to draw Russia into negotiations on terms that only benefit the US, Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement came after a wave of Western media reports claiming US intelligence data has revealed that Russia is working on the development of a nuclear space weapon.

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