Category: World News

Islamic Development Bank charts three-year plan for Arab-African trade

The Islamic Development Bank is developing a roadmap to strengthen Arab-African trade over the next three years, according to Hakim Elwaer, IDB’s official spokesman. The roadmap includes identifying business opportunities in the areas of finance, building logistics platform, supporting trade, credit and insurance, and developing the necessary infrastructure to facilitate trade .

BRIEF-Bahrain Flour Mills signs strategic partnership with MondelA”z International

BAGHDAD, March 5 Britain has agreed to arrange 10 billion pounds in loans to Iraq, to help the country to finance important infrastructure projects, an official from the Iraqi finance ministry told Reuters on Sunday. ABU DHABI, March 5 Abu Dhabi investment fund Mubadala Development Co sold nearly a third of its stake in Advanced Micro Devices, booking a tiny gain on its investments in the micro chip maker.

Islamic militants release 14 kidnapped Afghan civilians

Fourteen Afghan civilians kidnapped by the Islamic State militants in the country’s eastern province of Nangarhar were released Saturday, March 4, the Provincial Government said. “The 12 religious teachers and two education employees, who were kidnapped by Daesh militants in Haska Mina district about 40 days ago were released Saturday morning.

Rosmah Attends ‘Khatam Al-Quran’ Ceremony For Visually Impaired

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — The Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor today attended a ‘khatam’ Al-Quran ceremony held in conjunction with a ‘Selawat Perdana’ programme at the Muadz Bin Jabal Mosque here. The event attended by over 3,000 participants, among them 500 visually impaired people, entered the Malaysia Book of Records as the biggest gathering of Braille Quran reciters.

China finance ministry releases $151 billion defense budget

From front left, Wang Qishan, Yu Zhengsheng, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and Liu Yunshan stand during the start of the opening session of China’s annual National People’s Congress in Beijing’s Great H… . Bus ushers pose for photographs in front of the Great Hall of the People during the opening session of the annual National People’s Congress in Beijing, Sunday, March 5, 2017.

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At least five members of the Afghan security forces were killed early Sunday morning when their checkpoint came under an insurgent attack in northeastern Kunduz province, an Afghan official said. Gen. Abdul Hamid Hamid, provincial police chief in Kunduz, said a large group of Taliban fighters attacked the post near the city of Kunduz.

Report: Israeli leader briefly offered pro-peace government

An Israeli newspaper is reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered the country’s opposition leader a unity government late last year that would promote a regional peace initiative – before backing out. Haaretz reports Sunday that Netanyahu sent a document to Isaac Herzog detailing a willingness to make compromises for the creation of a Palestinian state and to rein in West Bank Jewish settlement construction.

Saltwater crocodiles on the rise in Western Australia

EXCLUSIVE: Beau Biden’s widow wears her wedding ring as she emerges for the first time after her relationship with his brother Hunter was revealed ‘Yes, he is our President’: Violent clashes break out between Trump supporters and left-wing activists as thousands join rallies supporting the President across America Nevada wife who poisoned her husband’s Lucky Charms to avoid having sex with him told cops ‘I just wanted to stop him having an erection’ Birth defect in boys ’caused by hairspray: Chemicals are linked to a condition that causes lifelong physical and emotional trauma Trump’s NEW travel ban: The President ‘will sign an executive order banning Middle Eastern and African migrants next week’ Florida man, 59, who ‘raped and killed 16-year-old girl 39 years ago when he was her building manager’ is charged after new DNA evidence cracks cold case The shocking moment a road rage … (more)

Indian, Malian ministers hold first ever joint commission meeting

New Delhi , Mar. 4 : Minister of State for External Affairs, M.J. Akbar visited Mali from March 2 to 3. During his visit, the minister co-chaired the first ever Joint Commission Meeting between India and Mali along with the Foreign Minister of Mali Abdoulaye Diop. The discussions reviewed the bilateral engagement between the countries in various sectors like agriculture, energy etc and laid out areas of future co-operation, particularly in security and technology, according to a statement.

Union Minister Kushwaha condemns PM Modi’s road show in Varanasi

New Delhi , Mar. 4 : Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s road show in Varanasi, Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha on Saturday asserted that the former did not do the right thing by taking out a road show. “Bharatiya Janata Party is already leading in Uttar Pradesh and I feel that Prime Minister shouldn’t have done a road show in Varanasi, it’s just an assembly election then why to make it so big,” Kushwaha told ANI.

NYC’s latest homeless strategy: Major work, modest goal

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: In this Jan. 11, 2017, file photo, a homeless person sleeps under a blanket on a New York sidewalk. Mayor Bill de Blasio has a plan for 90 more homeless shelters, in addition to the 200 the city already has.

Kim Jong-nam murder: Malaysia expels North Korean ambassador

Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia], Mar. 4 : Malaysia on Saturday expelled North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol and issued a notice asking him to leave the country within 48 hours. The envoy was expelled after his continuous criticism of the local investigations into the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Famous Australian artist suspected of war-time treachery

Sir Hans Heysen is an acknowledged master of Australian landscape painting, with one wag quipping his iconic works did for the gum tree what Norman Lindsay did for the nude: made them famous! “Heysen made his home in the Adelaide Hills, amongst its gums from 1908 and, even though he trained in a traditional European set of painting values, he nevertheless was an important innovator of Australian landscape painting.” But in the course of his PhD, Mr Body uncovered a cache of letters showing not everyone was enamoured with Heysen – instead seeing the artist as a potential war-time traitor.

Opening bowlers lead Spiders to upset win

HOWLONG finished the season on a high note with an upset 61-run victory over Barnawartha-Chiltern at Howlong on Saturday HOWLONG finished the season on a high note with an upset 61-run victory over Barnawartha-Chiltern at Howlong on Saturday. ON THE DEFENSIVE: Wodonga’s Harry Kitching topscored for the Bulldogs with 57 in their loss to Yackandandah on Saturday.

Aunt demands answers; mother misses court appearance

The 27-year-old mother who allegedly admitted to trying to drown her children in the Murray River on Thursday is likely to be charged with more offences, a court hearing was told on Saturday. The woman, who has so far been charged with attempted murder, did not appear for the brief hearing on Saturday.

South Korea to retaliate against China – discrimination’, says minister

Trade minister says China is taking unfair measures against Chinese firms in protest over Seoul’s decision to deploy an anti-missile shield South Korea’s trade minister said on Sunday the government’s responses against discriminating action by China towards South Korean companies will be strengthened and he feels “deep concern” over recent measures taken by Beijing.

Tonga PM: The Leader has the Final Say

Tonga’s Prime Minister Hon. ‘Akilisi Pohiva disputed parliament’s right to process the motion for a Vote of No Confidence in him, and he reminded the Tongan Media on Friday, 3 March, at the Epworth Hall, that the “Leader ( When we were invited to the Press Conference with the Prime Minister, no specific topic was mentioned, but in his opening remark he said that the Press Conference was to talk about some very important issues, and he had four other Cabinet Ministers to help him.

What’s he on about? Li Keqiang’s annual report explained

It takes China’s premier 90 minutes to deliver his government work report, but you can cut to the chase in far less time Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is likely to put stability above all policy goals when he presents his annual report on Sunday, ahead of the once-every-five-years reshuffle of the Communist Party leadership late this year. Li’s government work report will give the outside world Beijing’s assessment of the country’s economy and its foreign and defence priorities – which are particularly uncertain this year with the new US administration of Donald Trump, European national elections and Britain’s looming exit from the EU.

UK Foreign Secretary Johnson to Come to Moscow for High-Level Talks

Britain’s foreign secretary will soon travel to Russian Federation on a visit his office says will be consistent with the country’s “engage but beware” policy toward Moscow. U.K.’s Foreign Secretary will visit Moscow in a few weeks to hold talks on UK-Russia relationship, Syria and Ukraine, a foreign office statement said Saturday.

Person seriously injured after coming into contact with Bloor Station train

Yonge-Bloor station Police are investigating after a man was hit by a train while standing on the platform Friday night A man in his 20s is in life-threatening condition after he came into contact with a southbound TTC subway train while standing on the platform at Bloor-Yonge Station on Saturday night. The man, who police said had been drinking, apparently leaned too close to the track as a train passed through the station.

Turkey plans more pro-Erdogan rallies, German concerns mount

Turkey said on Saturday it would keep holding rallies in Germany and the Netherlands to urge Turks living there to back a vote to boost President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers, despite opposition from authorities in both countries. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised German and Dutch restrictions on such gatherings as undemocratic, and said Turkey would press on with them in the run-up to the April 16 referendum.

Canada minister addresses influx of asylum-seekers from US

EMERSON, Manitoba – Canada’s federal public safety minister is insisting resources are in place and laws are being enforced when it comes to the influx of asylum-seekers from the United States. Ralph Goodale on Saturday visited Emerson, Manitoba, a small border town that has seen some 200 illicit crossings so far this year.

Boy dies after collapsing at school following suspected allergic reaction

Brigid Jones, Birmingham City Council’s cabinet member for children, families and schools, said on Twitter: “My thoughts are with the family of the young man who tragically died following an incident at school yesterday.” A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place and police are working with the school and council to establish the circumstances of the boy’s death.