Doha 20 Sept.2017
Nepal embassy in Qatar celebrated their national day coincided with 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between State of Qatar and Nepal. Present on the occasion were Dr Issa Saad Al-Jafali AlNuaim, Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs, Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf Fakhroo, Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, ambassador Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Qatar, ambassadors, dignitaries, members of Nepali community and guests.
In his address, Prof Ramesh Prasad Koirala invited investors from Qatar to look into possibilities of their investments in various areas. 'Nepal has a huge potential for investment in various sectors such as hydro-power, tourism, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors. One of the major tourist attractions,the highest peak of the world, Mount Everest and Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, are in Nepal,' he said.
Nepal envoy said that Nepal constitution has provided participatory, inclusive and equal opportunities and rights to each national and paved the way for the greater social, economic and cultural development.
“We know, we have a long way to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people of Nepal. At this moment, I believe that our friendly nations will be with us to carry out peace, prosperity and sustainable development of Nepal and Nepali people,” he said.
Recalling diplomatic relations between both the countries established on January 21, 1977, ambassador Prof Koirala pointed out that this year is the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations between the countries.
“Both Nepal and Qatar are moving forward to diversify our relations and exploring possible avenues of co-operation,“ he said.
The envoy appreciated and praised the rapid development of Qatar under the leadership of Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Prof Koirala lauded the contributions of his countrymen towards Qatar development, he told that more than 400,000 Nepali expatriates were serving in Qatar, constituting the second largest community in the country.
He said that Nepalese community has been playing a significant role in further widening and diversifying the relations between two countries.
Earlier, national anthems of both countries were played followed by cake cutting ceremony. The event was conducted by Gayatri Poudel, Second Secretary at Nepalese embassy.
New York 20 Sept 2017 (APP)
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday wooed the US companies to invest in Pakistan, a land of opportunities, that ensured secure environment and promised lucrative and safe returns.
Pakistani Prime Minister is in New York attending 72nd session of United Nations General Assembly. On the sidelines, he was addressing today at a luncheon attended by heads and representatives of leading US companies organized by the Pakistan-United States Business Council here at a hotel.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was slated to be the 20th largest economy by the year 2025, it would have its 60% population below the age of 30 and a huge 100 million middle class.
“The potential is all out there and it needs to be realized,” the Prime Minister said.
He recalled his meeting with President Donald Trump last night at the reception and also pointed to his “very
productive” meeting with the US Vice President Mike Pence and said the American leadership was very positive about Pakistan.
He said he too assured that his country was committed to fight and eliminate terrorism from its soil. He said the government of Pakistan was fully aware of the needs of the investors and would ensure that the needs of the foreign companies were fully catered to.
Shahid Khaqan dismissed the falsified perception regarding security concerns in Pakistan and said a number of
US companies were already working in Pakistan and doing a good business. He mentioned the General Electric that was working on several projects in Pakistan.
“When you come to Pakistan, you are in very safe hands,” he said.
He said the US companies could capitalize and benefit from the huge potential of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, in which China had already pledged to inject US 60 billion dollars.
He said the CPEC would open up new routes to the Central Asian Republics and pointed that new infrastructure, roads and power projects were being built at a fast pace.
The Prime Minister said the basic requirement of continuity for the business community was truly reflected in
the recent transition of power, following the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said only after a gap of four days, the government was fully operational again and serving the masses.
He said the country’s macro-economic indicators had improved, the growth rate had risen from 2.6 percent four
years back to 5.3 and would be a sustained 6 percent from next year.
He said the country’s stock exchange was the best performing in the region and the world, while the rates of
investment in the road projects had risen from a meager US 300 million to US 11 billion annually.
He said by the year 2018 an additional power of 10,000 MW would be added to the national grid, while other projects were underway to meet the needs of the future.
Similarly he said the demand for natural gas had also been met by the construction of a modern Liquified Natural Gas terminal, a 1000 km long transmission line that were feeding three gas powered electricity generation plants.
All completed in mere 20 months time, a record indeed, the Prime Minister said.
He said work was also going on at a fast pace for the construction of huge water reservoirs that would also generate electricity.
Prime Minister Abbasi said a “quantum change” had been ushered in Pakistan in the past four years. Allaying the fears and security concerns he said Pakistan was at the forefront in the fight against terrorism.
The country had rendered huge sacrifices, with over 6500 security personnel killed, besides 21000 civilian lives
lost, but it had eliminated a number of bases of terrorism and was moving to make Pakistan fully secure and safe.
He said the country also suffered a colossal US 120 billion economic loss in its fight to make the world a safer place to live.
He said Karachi was once amongst the six most dangerous cities in the world, but today it could not be found in such a top 50 list.
Chairman Pakistan-US Business Council Dr Mahmood Khan pointed to the seamless transition in the country and said the US companies were very optimistic about investment opportunities in the country.
He said the Pakistan was a vibrant, growing market which promised a growing job market and a booming economy. He said the council would continue to encourage the US companies to explore new avenues of cooperation and investment in the diverse sectors of Pakistan.
The event was also attended by the Foreign Affairs Secretary of Pakistan and ambassadors of Pakistan to the US and the UN.
New York 20 Sept 2017 (IRNA/AlJazeera)
'I declare before you that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first country to violate the agreement; but it will respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party,' he said while addressing the United Nations General Assembly.
'It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by 'rogue” newcomers to the world of politics: the world will have lost a great opportunity. But such unfortunate behavior will never impede Iran’s course of progress and advancement.'
The President said that 'By violating its international commitments, the new US administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it, or accepting its word or promise.'
Iranian President started delivering his speech at the 72nd UN General Assembly meeting in New York few minutes ago.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in New York on Sunday to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He has held several meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and made several interviews with the international media.
President Rouhani is attending the UN General Assembly meeting for the fifth time. He said that the call of moderation is from a nation that has been committed to it. We are not preaching moderation, but practicing it. The JCPOA is a case in point.
The deal is the outcome of two years of intensive multilateral negotiations, overwhelmingly applauded by the international community and endorsed by the Security Council as a part of Resolution 2231. As such, it belongs to the international community in its entirety, and not to only one or two countries.
US President Donald Trump said in his first address to UN General Assembly that he had made his decision on whether his country will remain in the nuclear pact, but declined to reveal it.
"I have decided," Trump told reporters when asked if he had made up his mind.
The prospect of Washington reneging on the agreement has worried some US partners that helped negotiate it.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it would be a mistake to pull out of the pact.
"According to me, we have to keep the 2015 agreement because it was a good one," Macron told reporters at the UN.
Russia is concerned by Trump questioning the Iran nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian reporters at the UN in comments published by his ministry on Wednesday.
"It's extremely worrying," Lavrov said. "We will defend this document, this consensus, which was met with relief by the entire international community and genuinely strengthened both regional and international security."
Nay Pyi Taw 19Sept. 2017 (Xinhua)
Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday called on the international community to cooperate for constructively tackling the issue of the northern Rakhine state.
Aung San Suu Kyi voiced government's pledge to implement the recommendations by the Advisory Commission, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, saying that those recommendations will help bring speedy improvement to the situation of the state within the shortest time frame.
Briefing government's efforts to restore the situation in Rakhine state at the convention center, attended by 700 participants, including 120 foreign diplomats, Suu Kyi stressed that there had been no armed clashes nor clearance operation since Sept. 5, but she was concerned about reports that numbers of Muslims are fleeing across border to Bangladesh.
She said she wants to determine the cause of the recent exodus of Muslims from Rakhine state by talking to those who have fled as well as those who stayed, while inviting the diplomatic community to join the investigation.
She warned that action would be taken against anyone regardless of race, religion and political stance who violated human rights in Myanmar.
Aung San Suu Kyi voiced the Myanmar government's readiness to start verification process of refugees in Bangladesh at any time as part of the refugee repatriation process in line with the 1993 Agreement between Bangladesh and Myanmar, saying that verified refugees, who were from Myanmar, will be accepted and provided with full assurance of security and other humanitarian aid and encouraging the Muslims to join the process.
She highlighted the government's social economic development in Rakhine, disclosing that the Rakhine state's socio-economic development plan 2017-2021 has been drafted to boost regional development in various sectors, including infrastructure and electrification as well as creation of new job opportunities for local people through private-public partnership.
She stressed that all people in Rakhine state have access to education and healthcare services without discrimination.
She also said the government is trying to promote inter-communal religious harmony by engaging interfaced groups.
With regard to relations with Bangladesh, Aung San Suu Kyi said the government is trying to enhance the existing relations, expecting the Bangladeshi home minister to visit Myanmar to jointly handle the security affairs of the border.
Terrorists launched fresh attacks on police outposts in Rakhine on Aug. 25, displacing residents from a number of areas in Maungtaw district.
New York 19 Sept. 2017 (AlJazeera News)
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of State of Qatar has said that a group of Arab countries imposing an "unjust blockade" on Qatar are seeking to destabilise a sovereign state.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, air and sea blockade against it, accusing Doha of supporting "terrorism". Qatar has strongly and repeatedly denied the allegation.
"I stand before you while my country and my people are subjected to an ongoing and unjust blockade imposed since June 5 by neighbouring countries," Sheikh Tamim said, addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
He asked if this what not a definition of "terrorism", saying that the moves by the blockading countries were an assault against a sovereign state and a violation against human rights.
"The countries who imposed the blockade on the state of Qatar interfere in the internal affairs of many countries, and accuse all those who oppose them domestically and abroad with terrorism. By doing they are inflicting damage on the war on terror," said the emir of Qatar, which is home to the largest US military base in the Middle East.
"We have refused to yield to dictations by pressure and siege."
Sheikh Tamim also renewed a call for dialogue to end the Gulf's worst diplomatic crisis, saying his country is open to resolving the dispute through talks without preconditions.
He said "an unconditional dialogue based on mutual respect for sovereignty" was needed.
On international matters, Sheikh Tamim called on Myanmar's government "to stop violence against Rohingya minority" and appealed to Palestinians to complete their "national reconciliation".
He also said Israel continues to impede a full and lasting peace by rejecting the Arab peace initiative of 2002 and by continuing its settlement policies in occupied territories.
Mexico 19 Sept 2017 (AlJazeera News)
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 93 people in central Mexico, according to officials.
The tremor on Tuesday struck eight kilometres southeast of Atencingo in the central state of Puebla, some 120km from the capital, Mexico City, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.
The state of Morelos, just south of Mexico City, saw the highest death toll, with officials reporting 54 deaths.
The governor of Puebla, where the epicentre of the earthquake struck, said at least 26 people died in his state.
At least four people were killed in the country's capital, while nine people were left dead in the state of Mexico, officials said.
Mexico City
The capital's international airport suspended operations and was checking facilities for any damage.
Clouds of dust rose from fallen pieces of facades in Mexico City, and local TV footage and social media purportedly showed some buildings with severe damage.
According to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, 27 buildings collapsed in Mexico City.
Rescue workers and residents dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings seeking survivors.
At one site in the Mexico City neighrbourhood of Roma, rescue workers cheered as they brought a woman alive from what remained of a toppled building.
Local media broadcast video of whitecap waves churning the city's normally placid canals of Xochimilco as boats bobbled up and down.
Al Jazeera journalist Ali Rae, who was in Mexico City when the earthquake struck, said: "The building I was in began to sway back and forth. As the waves got stronger, the shelves began to empty and a glass cabinet fell nearby.
"My friend and I were in a bit of shock. My legs felt like jelly as we left the building to join others outside. While it was a bit of a scare for us - we were completely fine compared to other parts of the city hit a lot worse."
Earlier this month, a powerful 8.1 quake hit southern Mexico, killing at least 98 people.
The worst earthquake in the history of Mexico occurred on September 19, 1985, killing nearly 10,000 people.
Mexico City was among the places that were seriously affected.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
Picture: Daily Independent
New York 19 Sept. 2017 (Daily New York Times)
Leaders from around the globe took the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday — a particularly big moment for President Trump, who addressed the gathering for the first time.
In his speech, Mr. Trump vowed to “totally destroy” North Korea if it threatened the United States or its allies. “If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” he said.
He also called Iran a “rogue nation” and said the United States was “prepared to take further action” on Venezuela.
President Emmanuel Macron of France countered those remarks in his own address, saying that the nuclear deal with Iran was “essential for peace” and that his country would “not close any door to dialogue” with North Korea.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel agreed with Mr. Trump’s assessment of Iran, however, saying, “Imagine the danger of hundreds of nuclear weapons in the reins of a vast Iranian empire, with the missiles to deliver them anywhere on Earth.”
If the United States is forced to defend itself or its allies, “we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” President Trump said in his address to the General Assembly.
He denounced North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un, saying the nation “threatens the entire world with unthinkable loss of life” as a result of its nuclear weapons program.
“If the righteous many don’t confront the wicked few, then evil will triumph,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump emphasized that it was against the interest of the entire world for North Korea — which he called a “band of criminals” — to obtain missiles and nuclear weapons.
“Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself,” he said of Mr. Kim.
Mr. Trump accused Mr. Kim of overseeing a regime that has starved its people, brutalized an imprisoned American college student who was returned home in a coma, and assassinated Mr. Kim’s older brother, a potential rival, with poison chemicals.
“If this is not twisted enough, now North Korea’s reckless pursuit of missiles and nuclear weapons threatens the entire world,” Mr. Trump said.
While he thanked Russia and China for supporting recent United Nations sanctions on North Korea, Mr. Trump also took an indirect swipe at them for continuing to do business with Mr. Kim.
“It is an outrage that some nations would not only trade with such a regime, but would arm, supply and financially support a country that imperils the world,” Mr. Trump said.
The president said that America would act alone if needed. He emphasized an “America first” agenda, and said that while the United States would “forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies,” his primary responsibility was to Americans.
“As president, I will always put America first, just like you as the leaders of your countries will always — and should always — put your countries first,” he said.
He called the Iran nuclear deal “an embarrassment” that is “one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.”
Mr. Trump has long portrayed Iran as a sponsor of terrorism and has suggested that the United States may abandon the 2015 deal negotiated by the Obama administration and five other major powers that limited Iran’s nuclear activities. So far Mr. Trump has grudgingly accepted the nuclear agreement despite having described it as a disgrace.
“It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction,” he said.
The world’s nuclear inspectors recently declared that they had found no evidence that Iran is breaching the agreement. A meeting of the parties that negotiated the deal with Iran — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — will take place on the sidelines of the General Assembly on Wednesday.
“The Iranian government masks a corrupt dictatorship behind the false guise of a democracy,” Mr. Trump told the United Nations on Tuesday. “It has turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos.”
Mr. Trump also called on the Iranian authorities to free the American citizens being held in Iranian prisons. At least four are incarcerated, and a fifth has been missing for a decade.
New York 19 Sept. 2017 (UN News Centre)
Addressing the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres today spotlighted several threats – including the nuclear peril, climate change, and ongoing conflicts – that must be overcome to create a better world for all.
“We are a world in pieces. We need to be a world at peace,” said Antoino Guterres as he presented his annual Report on the work of the Organization ahead of the general debate of the UN General Assembly, in which Heads of State and Government and other high-level representatives from around the world discuss key global issues.
He said that the world is seeing insecurity rising, inequality growing, conflict spreading, climate changing, societies fragmenting and political discourse polarizing.
The UN chief noted that global anxieties about nuclear weapons are at the highest level since the end of the Cold War due to provocative nuclear and missile tests by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
“The solution must be political. This is a time for statesmanship. We must not sleepwalk our way into war,” he warned, as fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings.
On terrorism, the Secretary-General stressed the need to address the roots of radicalization. “It is not enough to fight terrorists on the battlefield,” he said.
Stressing the need for “a surge in diplomacy today” and “a leap in conflict prevention for tomorrow,” he said that it is possible to move from war to peace, and from dictatorship to democracy. Only political solutions can bring peace to the unresolved conflicts in Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, the Sahel, Afghanistan and elsewhere. That was why he announced the creation of a high-level advisory board on mediation, he added.
On Myanmar, Guterres said the Asian country's authorities must end the military operations in Rakhine state, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and address the grievances of the Rohingya Muslims, whose status has been left unresolved for far too long.
He went on to take note of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's address today – and her intention to implement the recommendations of the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State that was chaired by Kofi Annan within the shortest time possible.
On the Israel-Palestine conflict, the two-state solution remains the only way forward, he said.
Turning to climate change, Guterres urged Governments to implement the historic Paris Agreement with greater ambition.
“We should not link any single weather event with climate change. But scientists are clear that such extreme weather is precisely what their models predict will be the new normal of a warming world,” he said, noting that mega-hurricanes, superstorms and rain bombs are added to the vocabulary to describe what is happening.
While explaining how globalization and technological advances have brought uneven benefits, he also highlighted the dark side of innovation, such as cybersecurity threats as well as the possible negative implications of artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.
Lastly, Guterres said safe migration cannot be limited to the global elite and stressed the need to do more to face the challenges of migration. Refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants are not the problem; the problem lies in conflict, persecution and hopeless poverty.
To tackle these challenges, he said, the UN has launched initiatives to reform itself.
Looking over the packed General Assembly Hall, he said that the UN is needed, and “multilateralism is more important than ever” when there are competing interests and even open conflict.
“We call ourselves the international community; we must act as one,” he concluded.
Doha, Qatar, 18 Sept. 2017
The Qatari Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, hosted the WISE Prize for Education Jury for its final deliberations meeting at the Arab Culture House, Villa Cale, in Berlin recently.
The WISE Prize for Education Laureate will be publicly announced and introduced at the World Innovation Summit for Education 2017, which is taking place in Doha from November 14-16. The Prize is the premier recognition of an individual or team for outstanding, life-long achievement in any field of education. The Laureate(s) receive the specially designed WISE Prize for Education gold medal, and an award of US$500,000.
The WISE Prize for Education Jury deliberations in Berlin come within the context of the 2017 Germany-Qatar Year of Culture, which has featured a wide range of exchange programs focusing on the arts, education, culture, and sports. The goal of the initiative has been to strengthen ties between the two countries, providing opportunities for discussions on issues of concern to both countries.
Ambassador of Qatar, WISE Prize Jury, members of the WISE team, and guests were also honored at a high-level roundtable discussion on today’s global education challenges at the Bundestag – Germany’s federal parliament. Jürgen Klimke, a member of the Bundestag representing Hamburg, hosted the gathering.
At the Bundestag, Klimke welcomed the guests and spoke briefly of his involvement in exchanges with the MENA region, particularly within the context of the 2017 Germany-Qatar Year of Culture. He noted his interest in education challenges facing his country, and Germany’s role in supporting education causes globally.
Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also addressed the roundtable, welcoming the WISE Prize Jury and noting the strong ties between Qatar and Germany as indicated by the several high-level visits and meaningful exchanges over recent years.
Stavros N. Yiannouka, CEO, WISE, a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), outlined the work of WISE, including the WISE Prize for Education and other initiatives. He introduced the members of the WISE Prize for Education Jury, and launched the discussion on contemporary education priorities and challenges. The roundtable discussions ranged widely and included topics such as massive forced migration from conflict zones, uncertain labor markets, rapid technological change, and questions about the relevance of conventional education systems.
Commenting on the WISE Prize jury deliberations, Yiannouka remarked: “It’s a great honor to welcome the WISE Prize for Education Jury to Berlin for these important deliberations. Together they bring a deep understanding of education issues to the task of choosing the WISE Prize Laureate. Their collegiate spirit of collaboration and consensus reflects the best values of the WISE Prize and for education leadership. Each one of our WISE Prize for Education Laureates are an inspiration for all who dedicate themselves to education as the best investment any society can make in its people.”
The members of the 2017 WISE Prize for Education Jury are: Dr. Jörg Dräger, Member of the Executive Board, Bertelsmann Foundation (Germany); Sheikha Hanadi bint Nasser bin Khaled Al Thani, Founder and Chairperson, Amwal (Qatar); Dr. Madhav Chavan, President, Pratham Education Foundation (India); and Ms. Vicky Colbert, Founder and Director, Fundación Escuela Nueva (Colombia). Yiannouka chaired the WISE Prize Jury deliberations.
Dr. Chavan and Ms. Colbert are themselves WISE Prize for Education Laureates.
Geneva 16 Sept 2017 (NHRC/QNA)
Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, Chairman of the National Human Rights Committee of Qatar met at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva with Idris Jazairy , Special Rapporteur on the effects of unilateral coercive measures, in the framework of the massive unilateral violations of human rights.
Al-Marri said that the National Committee for Human Rights has documented a large number of violations of the blockade countries that led to the comfort of citizens of the State of Qatar to travel or follow-up their property in those countries, which led to the loss of their inquiries and suffered heavy losses.
Al-Marri called for activating the necessary mechanisms to strengthen accountability, whether through the United Nations or other competent organizations.
While the Special Rapporteur on the effects of unilateral coercive measures handed over all the reports and complaints monitored by the Committee during the siege crisis on Qatar.
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