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 "Russia Ukraine conflict")
Policemen stand guard at the site where a bombing damaged residential buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 18, 2022. Russian forces pressed their assault on Ukrainian cities Friday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Pakistan says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to attend OIC conference
Pakistan said on Sunday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would attend the conference of foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) here.
Pakistan is hosting the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC here on March 22-23, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
Foreign Ministers and high-level dignitaries from OIC Member and Observer States are attending the CFM. They will also witness the Pakistan Day Parade on March 23 as Guests of Honour.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi of the People's Republic of China will attend as a Special Guest, said the FO.
Senior officials from non-OIC countries, senior representatives from the United Nations system, regional and international organisations, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council will also participate in the conference.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will deliver the keynote address at the Inaugural Session on March 22.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair the CFM.
The FO said that the CFM assumes special significance given the backdrop of opportunities and challenges before the Muslim world in the political, security, social and economic spheres.
Apart from an appraisal of the global and regional landscapes, the CFM will inter alia reaffirm the long-standing solidarity and support of its membership with the people of Palestine; reiterate its resolve to combat rising Islamophobia; and discuss strategies to counter the effects of climate change, vaccine inequity and erosion in progress towards SDGs.
Pak, Canadian firm sign deal for gold, copper mining in Balochistan
Pakistan on Sunday signed an agreement with a Canadian company to develop one the world's largest gold and copper mining projects in the country's restive Balochistan province.
Popularly known as the Reko Diq project in Chagai area of the province, the project would be developed by the Barrick Gold Corporation of Canada.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Imran Khan witnessed the signing ceremony between the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Balochistan and the Canadian company.
The signing was made possible after successfully resolving the longstanding dispute with Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) concerning the development of copper and gold mines in Chagai, popularly known as the Reko Diq dispute.
A new agreement was signed today by representatives of the federal and Balochistan Governments with a delegation of Barrick Gold, led by Chief Executive Dr Mark Bristow, according to the statement.
The new project company shall be owned 50 per cent by Barrick Gold. The remaining 50 per cent shareholding shall be owned by Pakistan, divided equally between the federal and the provincial government of Balochistan.
SP to celebrate Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya's 112th birth anniversary in UP
Samajwadi Party (SP) is set to celebrate the 112th birth anniversary of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia on March 23, stated a letter by State President Naresh Uttam on Sunday.
The letter urged the SP leaders to organize programmes at all district level offices on March 23. The letter also stated, "the party workers and leaders should have a discussion on the principles and policies of Dr Lohiya and should take motivation to walk on his foot-steps.
PM Modi sleeps only 2 hours a day, trying to stay awake 24 hours for country: Maha BJP chief
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sleeps for only two hours every day and is doing an experiment so that he will not have to sleep and can work for the country for 24 hours, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil has claimed.
Patil made these remarks recently while addressing BJP workers in Kolhapur ahead of the Kolhapur north Assembly bypoll.
PM Modi sleeps for only two hours and works for 22 hours every day. He is experimenting now so that he need not have to sleep, Patil claimed, adding the prime minister works every minute for the country.
Patil said that Modi is trying to prevent sleep so that he can stay awake for 24 hours and work for the country. "He doesn't waste a single minute," he added.
The BJP leader said the prime minister works very efficiently and is aware of happenings in any party in the country.
13 million Afghan children in dire need of international assistance: Unicef
Nearly 13 million children in Afghanistan are in dire need of international assistance, said communications chief for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan, Sam Mort, according to a media report.
"Afghanistan is a tough place to be a child, there are huge challenges right now in being a child. There are 13 million in need of humanitarian aid, there are 4 million out of school. We know that 8 out of 10 people in Afghanistan are drinking water that is infected with bacteria. We need to do better for the children of Afghanistan," Tolo News quoted Mort as saying.
The UNICEF communications chief called on donors to provide USD 2 billion in aid as soon as possible for providing educational and health services for Afghan children. However, she added that it is only 15 per cent funded.
Meanwhile, Afghan brother-sister duo-- Ahmad and Zainab-- have expressed worries that they might have to leave school to be the breadwinners of their family.
"I do not have the money to buy pen and a notebook to go to school, I work to find bread for my family. My father has a disability and cannot work," the media outlet quoted Ahmad, a child labourer as saying.
"Some nights we sleep hungry, we do not have anything to eat," said Zainab, who is also a child labourer.
Notably, children's rights institutions have expressed concern regarding the challenges faced by Afghan children, which, according to UNICEF, have risen to unprecedented levels due to the recent developments in the country and the economic crisis in Afghanistan, according to Tolo News.
Mass poverty in Afghanistan that is triggered by people's displacement, unemployment, conflicts, and now political transformation have led millions of people to starve.
Children are the most affected among them as they are now suffering from the spread of measles in the country, Khaama Press reported.
If PM can contest from Varanasi, so can I from Bengal's Asansol: Shatrughan on 'outsider' remarks
TMC candidate for by-election to the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency Shatrughan Sinha on Sunday took a jibe at the BJP for labelling him as an outsider, wondering what the saffron party makes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi contesting from Varanasi.
Sinha, who would be filing his nomination on Monday, told reporters at Andal Airport in Paschim Bardhaman district that he was sure the electorate of Asansol would root for Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, who always stood for the development of Bengal.
If for national figures like the PM, contesting the Lok Sabha polls from anywhere is accepted, then the same holds true for me as well, the actor-turned-politician said.
Bengal BJP leaders like Sukanta Majumdar and Agnimitra Paul had recently labelled Sinha as an outsider in the state.
Sinha said he was touched by the love and warmth of the people of Asansol, pointing towards the cheering crowd at the airport.
The BJP would be trounced by the people of Asansol, who will vote for insaf' (justice), he asserted.
Sinha is pitted against BJP's Agnimitra Paul.
Mann took historic decisions in first few days, Kejriwal to Punjab MLAs
After the Cabinet expansion of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab government, party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the party's Punjab affairs co-in-charge Raghav Chadha on Sunday held a meeting with all their party MLAs in the states.
Kejriwal, attending the meeting through video conferencing, briefed the MLAs on the party's objectives and working methods.
He said that after winning elections in four states, BJP's new Chief Ministers haven't taken oath, let alone do any work of the people.
"Our Bhagwant Mann sahib became the Chief Minister and has also taken many historic decisions for the people. CM Mann has done tremendous work for the people of Punjab in the last three days. In his first cabinet meeting, 25,000 government jobs have been announced for the youth of Punjab, this has raised hope among the people.
"I am not congratulating all my MLAs and ministers of Punjab, I am wishing them all the best, so that they can serve the public with full dedication and can live up to the expectations of the people," he said.
On many senior MLAs not becoming ministers, Kejriwal said that those MLAs who are not given ministerial berths should not underestimate themselves.
J&K LG's advisor Farooq Khan resigns, likely to get key role in BJP
Farooq Khan, an advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, submitted his resignation on Sunday evening, officials said here.
Khan, a retired IPS officer who was instrumental in curbing terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s, is being given "important assignment" in the BJP, the officials said.
He is likely to be assigned the responsibility of preparing the party for assembly elections in the union territory.
He had earlier served as a national secretary of the BJP and held various posts in the party's minority cell.
Though the poll schedule has not been announced yet, the officials expect that the elections will be held after October following completion of the ongoing delimitation exercise by May.
All in Congress party responsible for poll debacle in 5 States: Narayanasamy
Senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy on Sunday said all those in the party were responsible for its debacle in the five States that went to Assembly polls recently.
In his virtual press meet, Narayanasamy said, "it is not correct to say that the poor showing of the party in the five States was attributable to the party leadership. All are responsible for the debacle of the Congress in one way or the other." He said, "Party men should not be demoralized by the defeat of the party in five States. Failures are stepping stones to success and hence Congress should evolve a strategy to emerge victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, although the verdict in the polls in the five States was a shock and disappointment." Narayanasamy also wanted the Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy to ensure that a full-fledged budget for the fiscal 2022-2023 was presented on the floor of the Assembly as there was likelihood of only interim budget (vote on account) for the next fiscal.
"When Rangasamy is heading an NDA government which includes BJP, he can procure sufficient funds from the NDA government at the Centre," he said. Narayanasamy also wanted the territorial government to ensure that there was fair selection of candidates to various posts in government departments.
Yemen rebels launch barrage of strikes on Saudi sites
Yemen's Houthi rebels unleashed a barrage of drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia that targeted key facilities including natural gas and desalination plants early Sunday, sparking a small fire at one site and temporarily cutting oil production at another.
The salvo marked the latest escalation in the rebels' attacks on the kingdom as the war in Yemen rages into its eighth year and peace talks stall.
The attacks did not cause casualties, the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen said, but damaged nearby civilian vehicles and homes.
In a separate incident, the coalition also said it destroyed a remotely piloted boat packed with explosives dispatched by the Houthis in the busy southern Red Sea.
Hours after oil giant Aramco's CEO told reporters the attacks had no impact on oil supplies, the energy ministry acknowledged that a drone strike targeting the Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company caused a temporary reduction in the refinery's production."
The disruption, coming as oil prices spike in an already-tight energy market, will be compensated for from the inventory," the ministry said in a statement, without elaborating.
Delegation from gulf arrives in JK to scout for investment opportunities
A 36-member delegation from the gulf countries has arrived in Jammu to explore investment opportunities
in the union territory, officials said on Sunday.
The delegation arrived following an invitation by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Dubai Expo in January this year, the officials said.
The delegation includes top businessmen from real estate, hospitality, telecom, import-export, and other sectors, and has also among it a member of the ruling family in Sharjah.
The delegation also includes one diplomat, a few educationists, and one journalist, they said.
As part of the four-day programme, the UT administration will apprise the party of investment opportunities in the region, with a focus on tourism and hospitality sector, the officials said.
The delegation will also visit the famous tourist spots of Pahalgam and Gulmarg to explore investment opportunities there, they said.
Consequences for China if it offers big military or financial support to Russia: US envoy to UN
There will be consequences for China if it decides to provide substantial military or financial support to the Russians that allow them to escape sanctions, a top American diplomat warned on Sunday.
In a call with China's President Xi Jinping on Saturday, US President Joe Biden detailed the implications and consequences if Beijing were to provide material support to Russia in its attacks against Ukraine, the White House has said.
Biden spoke at length with China's leader to dissuade Beijing from providing aid to Moscow.
US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told CNN in an interview that Biden was clear about his discussion with Xi, in which he made our position very well-known that there will be consequences if China decides to provide substantial military or financial support to the Russians that allow them to avoid the sanctions.
The conversation was two hours long, but it was extraordinarily frank, it was detailed and substantive. And we made our position clear to the Chinese, she said.
They're in an uncomfortable position. They have been put in a position of defending Russia against our principles of sovereignty and integrity of borders. So, they have to decide where they will go from this point, and not sit on the fence, and call out the Russian aggression for what it is, and not put themselves in the position of defending what is indefensible, Thomas-Greenfield said about Beijing.
Accusing Russia of invading Ukraine in violation of all international norms, she said it is unconscionable for Russia to force Ukrainian citizens into Russia, and put them in what will basically be concentration and prisoner camps.
Scores of Ukrainians from the besieged port city of Mariupol, who were forcibly deported to Russia are "disturbing" and "unconscionable" if true, Thomas-Greenfield asserted.
So, this is something that we need to verify. Russia should not be moving Ukrainian citizens against their will into Russia, she said.
Ukraine now seen as a war of attrition amid new bombings
Ukrainian authorities said Sunday that Russia's military bombed an art school sheltering some 400 people in the port city of Mariupol, where heavy street fighting was underway weeks into a devastating Russian siege.
The fall of Mariupol would allow Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine to link up. But Western military analysts say that even if the surrounded city is taken, the troops battling for control there a block at a time may be too depleted to help secure Russian breakthroughs on other fronts.
Three weeks into the invasion, Western governments and analysts see the conflict shifting to a war of attrition, with bogged down Russian forces launching long-range missiles at cities and military bases as Ukrainian forces carry out hit-and-run attacks and seek to sever their supply lines.
Ukrainians have not greeted Russian soldiers with a bunch of flowers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN, but with weapons in their hand.
Moscow cannot hope to rule the country, he added, given Ukrainians' enmity toward the Russian forces.
LG Sinha thanks J&K people for positive suggestions in radio programme for UT's growth
J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday thanked people for their participation in the year-old radio programme Awaam Ki Awaaz and making their positive suggestions for the multilateral growth of the Union Territory.
Awaam Ki Awaaz completes one year. This radio programme for public participation is committed to strengthen Jan Bhagidari at the grass-root level and establish accountable, transparent, responsive, effective, efficient, equitable and inclusive governance, Sinha said.
Through Awaam Ki Awaaz, which is aired on all local and primary channels of All India Radio (AIR) and broadcast on Doordarshan Kashir, he said we have received numerous suggestions for reforms in health, education, rural-urban development, cultural rejuvenation and balanced regional development.
Sinha said the administration has taken concrete steps on suggestions received from the listeners to meet the needs of the community and make the system accountable to the public.
I also thank Jammu and Kashmir All India Radio and Doordarshan for their continuous support, he said.
During this month's episode, Lt Governor Sinha highlighted the transformation taking place on the ground as a result of good administrative practices.
The ambitious plan to develop Budgam's Kanihama village, famous for its Kani shawls, into a Craft Tourism Village is now in its final stage. Also, the scheme to provide affordable accommodation at Doodhpathri that was pending for many years have been completed, he said.
Sinha also praised the Bandipora district administration for innovative digital intervention to track developments in Panchayats and said every district must replicate the good practices of other districts and make concerted efforts to bring about a positive change in the lives of people.
Every Indian must watch 'The Kashmir Files', says Aamir Khan
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on Sunday said he would definitely watch "The Kashmir Files" as it is a part of Indian history that breaks the hearts of all.
He was speaking at a fan event for the S.S. Rajamouli film "RRR" here in the national capital.
"Jo Kashmir main hua Kashmiri panditon ke saath woh yakeenan bahut dukh ki baat hai," he noted. "Aesi ek film jo bani hai us topic main woh yakeenan har Hindustani ko dekhna chahiye aur har hindustani ko yaad karna chahjye (What happened to Kashmiri Pandits is a matter of great sorrow. Such a film must be watched by all Indians so that they can remember what occurred)."
"This film has touched the emotions of all people who believe in humanity and that is what is so beautiful about it," Aamir said. "I will definitely watch the film and I am happy to see that the film is successful," he added.
"The Kashmir Files", helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, and starring Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi, has been breaking one box office record after another since its March 11 release.
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First Published: Mar 20 2022 | 6:26 AM IST
