Riyadh                                                                                                                                                                                                   18 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                          (Daily The News)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s public disappearance for three weeks, since heavy shooting and gunfire bursts in Riyadh, has raised speculation about his fate, international media reports said.

Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the 32-year-old crown prince of Saudi Arabia, has not been seen in public after reports of heavy gunfire in Riyadh’s al-Khozama neighborhood, where a palace belonging to King Salman is located.

The surprising absence of MBS from the media glare despite his overt enthusiasm has raised speculation that the April shooting may have occurred during a coup attempt by some Saudi princes.

The Saudi government claims that the heavy gunfire was only an operation to shoot down a recreational drone. “It was a small remote-controlled toy airplane that came into restricted airspace and was immediately shot down,” a Saudi official had announced after the incident.

Meanwhile, Saudi activists in the social media say the shooting had nothing to do with a drone, but it was an attack from vehicles carrying heavy machine guns and shooting randomly.

Some sources affiliated with Saudi opposition groups also suggest that the April shooting had frightened MBS, forcing him to ban the royal family members and top officials from leaving the country for fear that his cousin and former crown prince, Muhammad bin Nayef, would try to topple him.

The official Saudi websites have not released any new photo of bin Salman for the past three weeks. The latest stories covering news of MBS’s meetings and visits date back to April 24. He is even absent in the photo of a meeting of Saudi Arabia’s council of ministers, released on May 15.

MBs’s absence from the public eye has led several Iranian and Russian media outlets to speculate that he might have been killed. Mohammed bin Salman was reportedly hit by two bullets during the April 21 attack on the royal palace in Riyadh and may actually be dead as he has not appeared in public since the incident, Kayhan newspaper reports citing “a secret service report sent to the senior officials of an unnamed Arab state.”

He was not even seen on camera when new US Secretary of State Mike Popmeo paid his maiden visit to Riyadh in late April. Although reports said the crown prince had hosted a working dinner with the top American diplomat, only images of Pompeo’s meetings with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir were published.

Islamabad                                                                                                                                                                                             18 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (APP)

Acting President Sadiq Sanjrani Friday conferred Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) on Vice Chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia in an investiture ceremony held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Naval Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan Yao Jing and senior officials.

After the ceremony, General Zhang Youxia also called on the acting president. Sadiq Sanjrani congratulated General Zhang Youxia on the conferment of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and said Pakistan and China were close friends, neighbors and trusted partners because their relations were based on mutual respect and trust.

He emphasized that Pak-China friendship was the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and our defence relations were the guarantee of peace and stability in the region.

He said Pakistan deeply valued China’s support on the issues of national and regional security including Kashmir.

On this occasion, Vice Chairman of Chinese Central Military Commission General Zhang Youxia thanked the acting president, government and people of Pakistan and said Pakistan and China enjoyed a time-tested friendship which would further grow in the coming generations.

Sochi (Russia)                                                                                                                                                                                      18 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (TASS News)

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev have held a brief conversation in Russian with German Chancellor Angela Merkel while welcoming the German delegation that had arrived for talks to Putin’s Sochi residence. The footage was broadcast by the Rossiya 24 TV channel.

Putin met Merkel at the entrance to the residence and presented her with a bouquet of cream-colored roses, freesias and other flowers in pastel colors. Medvedev, who had earlier held a meeting with Putin on the composition of the country’s new cabinet, also welcomed the German chancellor.

The German chancellor shook hands with Medvedev and congratulated him on forming the cabinet. The Russian prime minister replied that "it is capable, ready to work." "So we are looking forward to contacting [the German government]," he added, addressing Merkel.

It is necessary to launch political process in Syria and Germany is ready to promote it, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday at a news conference after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Political process is badly needed and it must be launched," she said. "We are set to support these efforts."

"Generally, the situation in and around Syria is very tense and serious efforts are needed for political talks," she stressed.

The German chancellor said she was concerned over a decree saying that those Syrians who failed to claim their right to property in Syria in a certain timeframe would lose it.

 

Moscow                                                                                                                                                                                                 18 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                         (TASS News)

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decrees on Friday on appointing the new members of the Russian cabinet, the Kremlin press service said.

"Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decrees on the appointments to the Russian government," the statement said. The Russian president approved 10 deputy prime ministers and 22 ministers in separate decrees.

Earlier in the day, Putin met with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who presented the candidates for the new cabinet.

Putin said he would sign the decrees on Friday noting that the candidates are people who are "well-known, they have good work experience and they have proved themselves to be good in other areas of work."

The prime minister assured the president that everything will be fulfilled and the new ministers will be presented to their ministries soon.

The new Russian cabinet will have 10 deputy prime ministers and 22 ministries. Two new ministries - the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education - were established in accordance with the relevant decree issued by Putin instead of the former Ministry of Education and Science.

Thirteen ministers from the previous cabinet will retain their posts, including Olga Vasilyeva, who will serve as the Minister of Education.

Among the Russian ministers who also kept their jobs is Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who also became the First Deputy Prime Minister, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov, Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin (who was appointed in late 2016), Energy Minister Alexander Novak, Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova and Labor Minister Maxim Topilin.

New appointments

The new Russian ministers will be Emergencies Minister Yevgeny Zinichev, who replaced Vladimir Puchkov, Minister of Transport Evgeny Ditrikh, who replaced Maxim Sokolov, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Konstantin Noskov (instead of Nikolai Nikiforov), Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev (instead of Alexander Tkachev), Russia’s Far East Development Minister Alexander Kozlov (instead of Alexander Galushka), Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Vladimir Yakushev (instead of Mikhail Men), Minister of Natural Resources Dmitry Kobylkin (instead of Sergey Donskoy), and Minister of the North Caucasus Affairs Sergey Chebotarev (instead of Lev Kuznetsov). Mikhail Kotyukov will head the new Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Mikhail Abyzov, who served as the minister responsible for the Open Government Affairs in Russia, won’t be part of the new cabinet. There is no such position in the new government.

Vitaly Mutko, the former sports minister who was appointed in October 2016 as a deputy prime minister overseeing sports, tourism and youth affairs, will now be responsible for construction issues. Olga Golodets, the deputy prime minister for social affairs, will now oversee culture and sports.

 

Santa Fe, Texas (USA)                                                                                                                                                                       18 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                                        (Yahoo News)

There was another school shooting Friday, this time at Santa Fe High School near Houston, Texas. The shooter is said to be in custody, and early reports indicate that multiple people were killed.

What we know so far:
• Reports of at least 8 dead following a shooting at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas
• A police officer was also injured in the shooting
• A Houston police official says that the shooter is believed to be a student and is in custody. Another person of interest is also in custody.
• Police responded to reports of an active shooter at the school early Friday

Cairo                                                                                                                                                                                                      17 May 2018

The State of Qatar expressed its strong condemnation of the brutal massacre and systematic killing committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in commemoration of Nakba Day and their peaceful and legitimate protest against the decision of the United States to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem, stressing that the massacres committed against the defenseless Palestinian people is a disgrace to humanity.

The State of Qatar called on the international community and all international and regional forces to act immediately to put an end to the Israeli war machine and urged the Security Council and the international community to assume their full responsibility to immediately stop these atrocities, to hold accountable the perpetrators and to protect the defenseless Palestinian civilians. Qatar strongly supports the formation of an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate Israeli massacres and violations.

Addressing the extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Ministerial Council on Jerusalem, Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs  said that the United States unilateral decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the Israeli entity and to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem, Assembly resolution on the basis of the Union for Peace, which we affirm our total rejection of it, showed blatant bias to the occupation and violation of legitimate historical Palestinian rights and flagrant violations of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, including Security Council resolutions No. 476 and 478 of 1980, and the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the basis of the Union for Peace.

Al-Muraikhi added that “what we see as massacres committed against the defenseless Palestinian people is a disgrace to humanity. It also reflects the inability of the international community to stop the brutal Israeli killing machine and the failure of the collective security system entrusted with maintaining international peace and security to protect civilians against Israeli arrogance and blatant defiance of the international community without caring for the consequences. “

He also pointed out that such an uncalculated step would undermine international efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement through a two-state solution, reiterating Doha strong rejection of any violations of the rights of worship or prejudice to Islamic holy sites in Palestine.

He stressed Qatar’s condemnation of Israeli settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque as part of the so-called “Unification of Jerusalem Day” and stressing the special status of Jerusalem for all Muslims, calling on the international community to carry out its moral and legal responsibilities for the protection of Al Aqsa Mosque and religious shrines in Palestine.

Al-Muraikhi hailed the steadfastness of the heroic Palestinian people in facing the Israeli war machine, reiterating Qatar’s firm position in support of the Palestinian cause and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle for freedom, independence and self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi expressed sincere condolences of the State of Qatar to the brotherly Palestinian people on dozens of innocent martyrs, men, women and children who sacrificed their pure blood to uphold their right to return to their land, praying to Almighty Allah to grant them mercy and grant thousands of wounded a speedy recovery.

Doha                                                                                                                                                                                     16 May 2018

Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs received Wednesday a copy of the credentials of Kim Chang-Mo, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Qatar.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs wished the new Ambassador success on his mission, adding that they will provide all the support needed for promoting bilateral relations between the two friendly countries to a higher level in various fields.

Kyiv                                                                                                                                                                                       16 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                         (DW)

Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, on Tuesday raided the Kyiv offices of RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news outlet.

The SBU said the raids were part of its investigation into Russian media outlets being "used as tools of a hybrid war against Ukraine."

Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been tense since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and supported Ukrainian separatists in the region.

The Kyiv government has long accused Russian state news agencies of stirring up conflict in the region. Ukraine has also accused Russia of supporting separatists with troops and sophisticated weaponry and launching cyber attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, allegations Moscow has denied.

The raids and arrest took place after Russia opened a bridge connecting the southern Krasnodar region and the Crimean city of Kerch.

Reporter arrested for treason

Kirill Vyshinski, the head of RIA Novosti's Ukrainian office, was also detained at his house in Kiev for suspected treason, a crime which can carry up to 15 years in prison.

Vyshinski is a Ukrainian national who received a Russian passport in 2015 by presidential decree. He has been accused of traveling to Crimea in 2014 to do "subversive" reporting to justify the peninsula's annexation and collaborating with separatist groups in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities have previously detained or deported several journalists for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda and supporting the separatists' cause. The SBU said he received ample funding to carry out his work in the region.

"Today we can say that he received €53,000 ($62,000) a month for such activities," SBU deputy chief Viktor Kononenko said. "The money was subsequently distributed to the groups and people involved. That was the reason for the searches."

Condemnation from the Kremlin

Russia angrily protested Tuesday's raid and Vyshinski's detention, with the Kremlin calling the actions "unacceptable" and accusing the Ukrainian government of repeatedly putting "pressure on freedom of speech."

"If it is the case that the actions of Ukrainian law enforcement bodies are somehow connected with the professional work of these media organizations, that would be outrageous and scandalous,"  said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"We will act aggressively and protect the interests of Russian media to the fullest extent."

 

Lahore                                                                                                                                                                                  16 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                         (The Nation Int'l)

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister has inaugurated the test run of Lahore Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT).

He boarded the train from Islam Park station which completed the test run from Islam Park to Chowk Laxmi successfully.

Chinese Consul General, ministers, parliamentarians, and a large number of people were present on the occasion. Talking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that orange line metro train in Lahore is a glowing and immortal example of Pakistan-China friendship.

Lahore has become the pioneering Metro Train City of Pakistan. Had PTI not created hurdles in this mega public welfare project, lakhs of people would have been using this metro train. This is the project of common man and has been much delayed due to PTI.

On the occasion, it was informed that the total length of orange line metro track is 27.12 kilometers. Out of it, 25.4 kilometers track is elevated while 1.72 kilometers track has been made underground to protect the historical places.

Orange line metro train (OLMT) has 26 stations. 24 stations are made at the height of 12 meters whereas two stations are constructed underground. The number of trains is 27 and each train has five bogies.

This train will complete 27 kilometers distance from Ali Town to Dera Gujran in just 45 minutes. It may be added that train will pass through the congested areas of the city where more than 2.5 lakh passengers daily travel. Within next few years, orange line metro train will facilitate five lakh passengers daily.

At the start of this project, tendering was done in spite of government-to-government agreement and Rs.69 billion were saved by Punjab government through post-bidding whereas around Rs.6 billion were also saved in local tendering in collaboration with the Chinese government.

The project was divided in four packages to expedite the construction work. Metro train track is being constructed under package-I and II while depot and stabling yard are being constructed under package-III and IV respectively.

The construction work started on October 25, 2015 and construction work started on January 22, 2016 for the depot at Dera Gujran and stabling yard in Ali Town. Up till now, more than 88 percent construction work has been completed. 94 percent work of package-I from Dera Gujran to Chauburji, 84 percent work of package-II from Chauburji to Ali Town, 89 percent work of package-III depot and 91 percent work of construction of package-IV stabling yard has been completed. The Chinese made metro train bogies are air-conditioned and comfortable.

Each train consists of five bogies and each bogie is 20 meters long with 60 seats. Separate seats are allocated for women, senior citizens and special persons. 200 passengers can travel in each bogie and public address system is also installed for the convenience of the passengers.

The doors of the electric train are fully automatic and doors are also installed at the platform to ensure double safety of the passengers.

Installation of electric accelerators is in full swing to help the needy to reach the platform easily. All the 27 train sets have been imported and 14 of them are placed at Dera Gujran while 13 are parked at stabling yard of Ali Town.

The second test run of Orange Line Metro Train in Lahore is being held today.

The Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif  on the occasion in his tweet message said the test run of Orange Line Metro Train is a milestone towards the completion of the project.

 

 

Rawalpindi                                                                                                                                                                          16 May 2018                                                                                                                                                                        (Daily The Nation Intl)

Chief of Nepalese Army General Rajendra Chhetri called on Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, reported Radio Pakistan'

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest including military to military relations, regional security situation and measures to improve bilateral ties came under discussion.

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release the visiting dignitary acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Army’s sincere efforts and sacrifices in the war against terrorism and for stability in the region.

Earlier, on arrival at the GHQ, the Nepalese army chief laid a wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada.

A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the Nepalese army chief.