Day: February 19, 2017

Sonia Gandhi condoles former CJI Altamas Kabir’s death

New Delhi , Feb. 19 : Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Sunday expressed condolence at the demise of former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir. Remembering him as an outstanding legal luminary, Sonia Gandhi said, “As a judge, Justice Kabir’s contribution to legal and justice system of India shall never be forgotten.

Takes a village: ‘Greek Freak’ got many assists growing up

He was just a scrawny, hungry kid, the son of migrants from Nigeria, trying to survive in Sepolia, a modest Athens neighborhood. The club coach who spotted 13-year-old Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brother kicking a soccer ball around a neighborhood field says the NBA All-Star grew up in constant fear of the police, and of being deported.

Gambia’s new president commits to end human rights abuses

Gambia President Adama Barrow, left, reads, during his inauguration ceremony in Banjul , Gambia, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. Gambia’s new president thanked his nation and promised greater freedom, an improved economy and better education as thousands attended a ceremony Saturday marking his inauguration after a tense political standoff with the country’s former longtime leader.

Fitness: These runners go the distance

Just shorts and shoes: Escaping the cold and the need for piling on the layers isn’t the only reason to plan a running vacation. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press FILE – In this file photo dated Sunday, July 10, 2016, Athletes leave the half marathon start line during the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Chancellor Merkel: Germany Always Has Good Respect Between Government and Media

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has told an audience including U.S. Vice President Mike Pence that she supports a “free, independent press” and that Germany has good experience with mutual respect between the government and the media. Merkel was asked Saturday at the Munich Security Conference whether she doubts the quality of American newspaper reporting on domestic politics.

Netanyahu Says Israel, US To Form Team To Tackle Settlements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he and US President Donald Trump agreed to set up a team to discuss settlements in the occupied West Bank, China’s Xinhua news agency reported. Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that during his recent visit to Washington, he and Trump agreed to establish teams on many areas, “even in areas we did not previously agree on.

At Least 30 Killed In Car Bomb Attack In Somalia

At least 30 people were killed in a huge car bomb blast at a busy market in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Sunday, officials said, China’s Xinhua news agency reported. Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency confirmed the incident at Kawo-Gudey in Wadajir district, saying the casualties were both soldiers and civilians.

Annuar Ready To Meet And Discuss Matters Related To Election With TMJ

Kelantan Football Association adviser Tan Sri Annuar Musa said he was ready to meet and discuss matters related to the election of Football Association of Malaysia president with the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. He said the meeting would pave the way for the election of the FAM president, which will be a straight fight between him and TMJ, to be a smooth and harmonious affair.

Pembrokeshire director nominated for Wales Theatre Award

A POWERFUL bilingual play aimed at dispelling the myths of dementia has earned a Milford Haven director a Wales Theatre Awards 2017 nomination. The Torch Theatre ‘s artistic director Peter Doran, has been nominated in the Best Director category for Belonging/Perthyn, in association with Chapter Arts.

Nine More SITF Service Centres To Be Set Up To Resolve Indian Community Issues

The government will set up nine more Special Implementation Task Force service centre branches across the country to resolve issues affecting the Indian community in this country in a faster and more efficient manner. MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the first branch had been opened in Ipoh, Perak and more branches would be established in other locations including in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Pahang, Perak, Penang and Kedah.

UMNO, BN Roadshow To Explain Forex Trade Loss – Annuar Musa

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 — UMNO and Barisan Nasional component parties will be going on a nationwide roadshow to inform the public about the special task force set up by the Cabinet to probe Bank Negara’s foreign exchange trading losses in the 1990s. UMNO Information Chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the roadshow, scheduled to start on Feb 25, was mooted following attempts by certain parties to question the need for task force and asking why the 1Malaysia Development Berhad issue was not given the same treatment.

Report: Israeli leader turned down regional peace initiative

An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned down a regional peace initiative last year that was brokered by then-American Secretary of State John Kerry , in apparent contradiction to his stated goal of involving regional powers in resolving Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. Haaretz reported that Netanyahu took part in a secret summit that Kerry organized in the southern Jordanian port city of Aqaba last February and included Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.

Tamil Nadu: TV reporter stabbed by drug peddlers in Madurai

A 50-year-old Tamil TV channel reporter was allegedly stabbed and seriously injured by a gang of drug peddlers in Madurai, Tamil Nadu on Sunday, police said. Chandran, a reporter with Polimer TV, was attacked by four persons when he was buying milk at a grocery store near his house in P and T nagar this morning.

BMC polls 2017: Aaditya Thackeray urges voters to vote keeping Aarey in mind

Expressing concern over a part of the Aarey forest being turned into a car shed and labour camp by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday appealed to Mumbaikars to cast their vote in the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls in favour of those parties who support its conservation. Attacking the ruling BJP government in the state, Thackeray tweeted, “It remains a crucial issue for the election, I have raised it in election rallies as this election decides environment wins or ego of government.”

Graham: Trump must punish Russia for election interference

A senior U.S. Republican senator urged President Donald Trump Sunday to take action against Russia over allegations that Moscow interfered in the election that brought him to power. U.S. intelligence officials have told Trump that Moscow tried to influence voters by hacking Democratic emails and trolling social media sites, but Trump has sought to downplay Russia’s role in the election.

Winter Asian Games kick off with opening ceremony in Sapporo

The Asian Winter Games officially got underway Sunday with an opening ceremony that united winter athletes from the world’s most populous continent. With the Winter Olympics just a year and a short distance away in South Korea, the continent’s leading winter athletes will use the games to fine tune for Pyeongchang 2018.

Keighley’s self belief pays dividends in the end

WITH time ebbing away, Keighley had a straightforward penalty chance in front of the posts to haul themselves level at 17-17. With errors costing them attacking opportunities though and a try on the left by Joe Copperwaite being ruled out for a forward pass, the decision almost backfired on the hosts.

Iraq begins battle to reclaim Mosul’s west from IS

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operation on state TV, saying government forces were moving to “liberate the people of Mosul from Daesh oppression and terrorism forever”, using the Arabic acronym for IS. US-led coalition jets struck militant positions southwest of Mosul early Sunday morning and militarised police fired artillery toward the city.

Handicrafts exports from northeast poised for quantum jump

New Delhi, Feb 19 – India’s north-eastern states, one of the richest in terms of eco-friendly crafts, exported handicrafts and handloom products to the tune of Rs 1,121.75 crore during the year 2015-16. The eight north-eastern states – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura – are home to a large number of tribes and sub-tribes who bring into this region’s export basket, natural and handmade products from about 450 different communities.

14 die in snowfall, severe cold in Afghanistan

Kabul, Feb 19 – At least 14 persons have died in snowfall and freezing weather in Afghanistan, an official said on Sunday. Ten people died due to snowfall in Jawzjan and the neighbouring Saripul province on Sunday, while four others died in Badakhshan since early Saturday, Xinhua news agency quoted the official as saying.

Food processing can generate $33 bn in funds, 9 mn jobs by 2024: Study

New Delhi, Feb 19 – The Indian food processing sector has the potential to attract $33 billion of investment and generate nine million person-days of employment by 2024, industry chamber Assocham said on Sunday, citing its study. By 2024, food processing sector is expected to employ nine million people in India and expected to generate about 8,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs in the state, the Assocham-Grant Thornton joint study on ‘Food Retail: Investment: Infrastructure’ noted.

Islamic extremists denounce Somalia’s new president

A commander of Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels denounced said the country’s recent election of a new president and vowed to continue fighting the government, the first official comment from al-Shabab since the president’s election earlier this month. In an audio message released by al-Shabab’s radio arm Sunday, Sheikh Hassan Yaqub, a senior commander of the extremist group, called Somalia’s new president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed an “apostate” and warned Somalis against supporting him.

Europeans wonder if Trump will act on Pence’s reassurances

United States Vice President Mike Pence, left and Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, talk prior to their meeting during the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. America’s commitment to NATO is “unwavering,” Pence said Saturday, reassuring allies about the direction the Trump administration might take but leaving open questions about where Washington saw its relationship with the European Union and other international organizations.