KABUL, DEC 20 (DNA) – Jamiat-i-Islami political party’s leadership council in a statement urged President Ashraf Ghani to reverse his decision to ‘oust’ Ata Noor as Balkh governor.On Monday, the presidency said that it accepted the resignation of Noor, who is also the executive chief of Jamiat-i-Islami. But Noor and his party condemned the move with Noor saying that his resignation was submitted months ago and was no longer valid.Jamiat council in the statement said that the party had offered reasonable and realistic conditions to the presidency over Noor, but it took ‘animosity’ approach instead of dealing with the issue through negotiation and reasonable solution.
Gwadar port to become formally operational next month: Hasil Bizenjo
KARACHI, DEC 19 (DNA) – Gwadar Port will be formally operational and open to the world by end of next month and the first international expo will be held at Gwadar on January 29-30 to project the potential of Gwadar mainly of Special Economic Zone. Gwadar Port is a deep-sea international port with a draught of more than 18 meters, where motherships can easily anchor at the port. Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo also revealed that his ministry in next couple of weeks would float a tender for the construction of much talked about and long-awaited mega project of Elevated Expressway – linking Keamari, West and East Wharf to Northern Bypass. This would be operative in next two years.
Tajik ambassador assumes charge of acting Dean of diplomatic corps
ISLAMABAD, DEC 18 (DNA) – Ambassador of Tajikistan Sherali Jononov has been nominated as Acting Dean of Diplomatic Corps. The announcement was made during a farewell reception held for the outgoing ambassadors of Turkey and Lebanon. The Dean of Diplomatic Corps Ambassador of Kazakhstan made this announcement. The Dean is leaving Pakistan after completing his tenure in Pakistan. Ambassador of Tajikistan being a senior ambassador shall assume the office and will continue to hold the office till the decision of the new Dean. It is mostly likely that Ambassador Sherali will become permanent Dean also.
EBRD ready to implement at least 15 projects in Uzbekistan in 2018
TASHKENT, DEC 17 (DNA) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) intends to implement at least 15 projects in various spheres in Uzbekistan in 2018, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti said.Chakrabarti made the remarks during the visit of the Uzbek delegation to the headquarters of the bank in London.The Uzbek delegation visited London within the participation in the meeting of the EBRD Board of Directors.
Rahul Gandhi extends family grip on India’s Congress party
NEW DELHI, DEC 16 (DNA) – India’s Rahul Gandhi took over Saturday as president of the main opposition Congress, becoming the sixth member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to head the party that has ruled the country for much of its independent history.Fireworks erupted over the party headquarters in New Delhi drowning out the voice of his mother Sonia Gandhi as she handed over the reins of power to her 47-year-old son.
Social media may help chronically ill connect to doctors, fellow patients
NEW YORK, DEC 15 (DNA) – Social media groups that bring together patients, family, friends and healthcare providers can improve patients’ outlook and reduce their anxiety and depression, a recent U.S. study suggests.In a nine-month experiment with liver-transplant patients, researchers found that participants came to rely heavily on a closed Facebook group, both for information about their condition and help in coping.“Ninety percent of Americans are on the internet and 80 percent are using platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to find healthcare information from a supportive online community,” said Dr. Sean Langenfeld, of the Department of Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, who wasn’t involved in the study.
6,700 Rohingya Muslims killed in one month in Myanmar: report
YANGON, DEC 15 (DNA) – International aid group Doctors Without Borders, known by its French name MSF, said its field survey has found at least 6,700 Rohingya Muslims were killed between August and September in a crackdown by Burma’s security forces. The MSF said in a statement that it had conducted the survey in refugee camps in Bangladesh, and estimated that at least 6,700 Rohingya died in Burma’s Rakhine state between 25 August and 24 September. About 630,000 Rohingya have fled Burma into Bangladesh to escape what the United Nations has called “ethnic cleansing”.
Hyundai Nishat Motor inks agreement with Pakistan Govt
ISLAMABAD, DEC 15 (DNA) – Hyundai Nishat Motor, a unit of Nishat Mills, enters investment agreement with the Government of Pakistan to assemble and sell passenger and 1-ton commercial vehicles in the country, the company said in stock exchange filing in Karach on Fridayi.The statement to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) said that the ground breaking ceremony of the plant has been planned next week on December 20 in Faisalabad.The company will manufacture one ton vehicles in the country and the project is expected to get tax concessions under auto policy.
France keenly following one belt one road initiative developments: MPs
By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti
ISLAMABAD, DEC 12 (DNA) – Mr. Jean-Bernard Sempastous the President of France-Pakistan Friendship Group of the National Assembly of the French Republic and Senator Pascal Allizard have acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. They also vowed to maintain regular contacts with their Pakistani counterparts. The French parliamentarians are also keeping a close eye on the progress of China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will submit a report to French Senate after conclusion of their Pakistan visit.
Masood Barkati, editor of children’s mag Naunehal, passes away
DEC 11 (DNA) – Masood Ahmed Barkati, who edited children’s magazine Hamdard Naunehal for around 65 years, passed away after a protracted illness on Sunday. He was 87.His friends and family members said Masood Ahmed Barkati, a prolific writer of children’s literature who wrote 20 books, was ill and died on Sunday evening.He had been editing the magazine for the past 65 years without missing a single issue.Most critics said such a long period for someone to edit a publication might be a record in itself in the world.
