Multicultural News Australia Feb 2023

earthquake rocks Turkey-Syria; toll likely to cross 10,000

of fatalities in rebel-held areas in northwest Syria stood at 1,220 and the number of injured

people rose to 2,600. Those figures are “expected

continued on pg. 12

Why was the quake so devastating?

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS)

Ankara/Damascus, Feb 8 (IANS)

As desperate searches continued to find more survivors under the rubble in both Turkey and Syria, the death toll from the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the two nations on 6 February has increased to 7,926, authorities have confirmed.

In an address to the nation early on 8 February, Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay said at least 5,894 people have been confirmed dead so far, while 34,810 others were injured, CNN reported.

A total 16,139 teams were currently continuing with the

FIFA Club World Cup 2022 final on 11 February

search and rescue operations, with additional international teams to be deployed in the coming days, he added.

In Syria, the death toll has increased to 2,032.

In its latest update, the Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, said the number

According to scientists, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria was so devastating due to a combination of factors, including the earthquake’s timing, location, relatively quiet fault line and the weak construction of the collapsed buildings, reports The Straits Times. The tremor caused such devastation because of its strength -- the strongest earthquake to strike Turkey since 1939 -- and

because it struck a populated area.

Turkey is in one of the world’s most active earthquake zones, said the report.

continued on pg.

Australian team visits Malaita Province in Solomon Islands

Canberra, Feb 7 (IANS) Through New Zealand and Australia’s single economic market, people-to-people links and shared interests in the region and the world, the two nations are strongest when working side by side, visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday. Meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra, which was their first bilateral meeting, Hipkins said, “New Zealand has no closer partner than Australia”, reports Xinhua news agency

MCNA desk

FIFA Club World Cup 2022 has begun in Rabat and Tangier, Morocco, from 1 February and will conclude on 11 February 2023. It will see the coming to the scene of a world club champion which features each continent’s top club.

The opening ceremony showcased Morocco’s openness globally, with various performances that echo the country’s rich heritage. A number of traditional performances were featured, including Amazigh, Jebala, Aissaoua and

It was Hipkins’ first overseas visit since he took office last month, reflecting the close relationship between New Zealand and Australia, according to a New Zealand government statement. The two leaders discussed the global economic challenges

of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Hipkins said.

facing both countries and affecting New Zealanders and Australians alike, including rising inflation, the cost of living and the wide-ranging impact continued on pg. 12 continued on pg. 4

Cooperation and engagement in the Pacific region was also on the agenda, in particular the

131 migrants rescued off Libyan coast in past week: IOM

Tripoli, Feb 7 (IANS) The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 131 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in the past week.

“In the period of 29 Jan-4 Feb 2023, 131 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya,” IOM said in a statement. The rescued migrants included 23 women and 10 children, Xinhua news agency quoted the

statement as saying.

So far this year, a total of 1,565 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, IOM said.

In 2022, a total of 24,684 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, the IOM revealed, adding 529 migrants died and 848 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route.

Because of the insecurity and chaos in the country since the

fall of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya. Rescued migrants usually end up inside overcrowded reception centres across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those facilities and release the migrants.

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Australian writers share their stories in Dhaka Lit Fest

Indigenous

Aussie HC in B’desh celebrates women’s sports feats

Indigenous Australian writers

Yvette Henry Holt and Graham

Akhurst shared their stories and culture during their visit to Dhaka recently, which was supported through the Australia Awards program. They were in town for Dhaka Lit Fest, and participated as speakers in a panel discussion, ‘The Dream Time’.

During their Bangladesh visit, Yvette and Graham made

connections with Bangladeshi writers and artists and Australia Awards alumni, strengthening understanding among indigenous Australians and Bangladeshis. The Australia Awards Program offers scholarships, fellowships, short courses and alumni grants, including to members of local indigenous communities in Bangladesh. Alumni have become leaders in development and are change makers in Bangladesh.

Noted Brazilian journalist Gloria Maria no more

MCNA Newsdesk

The Australian High Commission in Bangladesh celebrated the achievements of women in sports at an event to mark Australia Day held on 24 January 2023. High Commissioner Jeremy Bruer described Australia Day as an occasion on which Australians

celebrated modern, multicultural Australia, as they reflected upon their 60,000-year-old history.

He recognised the brilliant contributions of leading Bangladeshi sportswomen who attended the reception. He highlighted them as champions of women’s empowerment and role models for millions of women and girls

across Bangladesh.

The High Commission welcomed Bangladesh Minister for EducationDrDipuMoni MPas Chief Guest. DrMoni thanked Australia for remaining a reliable partner of Bangladesh over the past 50 years.

Philippine International Furniture Show from 9-11 March in Philippines

MCNA Newsdesk

23 January, Canberra (MCNA)

MCNA Newsdesk

Gloria Maria, one of the greatest journalists in the history of Brazil, passed away

recently. This was informed by the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra. Gloria was a pioneer in journalism, being the first reporter to enter live and in colour in the National Newspaper. She covered major events like the Olympics and World Cup; interviewed great personalities like Madonna and Michael Jackson; visited more than 160 countries; learned English, French and Latin. Gloria Maria is today an important reference for the black movement in Brazil, mainly for women.

National security expert Dr Paul Dibb gets Order of the Rising Sun

The best of Filipino craftsmanship will be on display at the Philippine International Furniture Show which will be held on 09-11 March 2023 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City, Philippines. The Philippine International Furniture Show reopens its doors to lifestyle and design enthusiasts and provides a networking hub for local and international furniture designers, manufacturers, and exporters to showcase their world-class craftsmanship. On its 31st edition of celebrating globally competitive furniture pieces, the Philippine International Furniture Show continues to assist businesses in extending their reach and

strengthening their connections with the industry’s rapidly growing market.

One can register till 08 March 2023 at https://pifs.vx-events.com to get a free access pass.

India’s Republic Day celebrations organized

MCNA Newsdesk

In a ceremony at his residence recently Ambassador Shingo Yamagamipresented the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon to renown national security expert and Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University, Dr Paul Dibb AM in recognition of his contributions in promoting cooperative relations in the field of defence between Japan and

Australia.

In his speech at the conferral ceremony Ambassador Yamagami lauded the efforts of DrDibb and said: “It is an award befitting such a great friend of Japan, who over many decades has tirelessly worked to strengthen our security relationship, championing the ties between our two great democracies and calling for increased cooperation and coordination between our respective defence and intelligence agencies.”

MCNA Newsdesk

India’s 74th Republic Day was observed at the High Commission of India, Canberra on 26 January. High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra unfurled India’s National tricolor. He congratulated the gathering on India’s Republic Day which

coincided with Australia Day.

Then he asked members of the Indian diaspora in Australia to remain united amidst its characteristic multi-lingual, multi-religious and multicultural nature and keep doing the good work they are already doing in Australia as everywhere else

in the world. He lamented the recent tragic events of vandalism in the country by some anti-social elements. He also read the Indian President’s message to the nation.

Members of the Indian diaspora and other community members participated on this occasion.

MCNA Newsdesk

2023 Bagong Bayani Awards to be organized on August23

MCNA Newsdesk

0 January, Canberra (MCNA)

3

The Philippine Embassy has invited the public to nominate outstanding and exemplary Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for the 2023 BagongBayani Awards organized by the BagongBayani Foundation Inc. (BBFI). The award ceremony will be held on 23 August 2023. Deadline for nominations is on 30 April 2023. The Awards seek to recognize and pay tribute to Filipino OFWs for their significant efforts in

fostering goodwill, enhancing and promoting the image of the Filipino as a competent, responsible and dignified worker, and for greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of their communities and the Philippines as a whole. The BBA aims at providing proper recognition to deserving nominees, thus setting up examples for others to emulate, and for the country to be proud of. An active OFW, whether land-based or sea-based maybe nominated on the following five

categories:

1. BagongBayani Award for Outstanding Employee

2. BagongBayani Award for Community and Social Service

3. BagongBayani Award for Culture and the Arts

4. Capt. Gregorio S. Oca Achievement Award

5. Blas F. Ople Award parasaNatatangingBagongBayani

The BBFI is a non-profit organization that works with the Department of Migrant Workers, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Overseas Worker recognition and appreciation of the role of OFWs in the Philippine society and economy.

Ambassador-designate of South Korea hosts FKSO delegates

January 2023. He highlighted the growing strategic importance of Australia in terms of economic security and global supply chains, and discussed the Indo-Pacific Strategy recently launched by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. He also thanked the Federation for its hard work to protect the rights and interests of Korean communities, and agreed to work closely together to advance their status in Australia.

The Federation of Korean Societies of Oceania consists of presidents of 29 Korean associations in nine countries in Oceania.

continued from pg. 1

FIFA Club World Cup 2022 final on 11 February

Welfare Administration and the private sector in promoting the welfare of OFWs as well as the

Indonesia Council Open Conference 2023 on 26–27 September 2023

Sahrawi music that reflected the 12 provinces of Morocco.

The first match of the tournament took place between the Egyptian “Al Ahly Sporting Club” and the New Zealand “Auckland City” club, which saw a 3-0 win for Egyptian club.

The match between Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca team and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal took place on 4 February with Wydad AC going down to Al-Hilal 3-5 after penalties.

The final will be played on 11 February to decide the winning club.

The Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney and Humanitarian and Development Studies at Western Sydney University will host the Indonesia Council Open Conference 2023 on 26–27 September 2023. The theme for ICOC 2023 is “Indonesia 25 Years On”.In particular, the conference looks forward to presentations addressing the broad themes related to Agrarian change and rural studies; arts and culture; cities and urban living; gender and sexuality; health and wellbeing; History; Identity; Indonesia in the world; Indonesia online; inequality and inclusion; marriage and family; migration; politics and political economy; religion; social and economic development; social movements; state and society; and the environment. The call for papers closes on February 15, 2023. The conferencewill be organizedonline via Zoom and in person at the University of Sydney, Camperdown campus. This conference provides an

opportunity to bring together academics and postgraduate researchers from across the disciplines with an interest in Indonesia.The conference is open to scholars, students and community members interested in engaging with cutting-edge research.

As a background to the conference it is pertinent to remember that this year marks a quarter-century of Indonesia’s abrupt rejection of authoritarianism following the resignation of Suharto in May 1998 after millions took to the streets in protest against the economic and social chaos that accompanied the Asian financial crisis of the previous year. And that brings to the rather interesting issue of what Indonesia look like now. The organizers of the conference have said that they invite abstract submissions from any disciplines for individual papers, panels and roundtable discussions that reflect on one or more of the myriad facets of life in today’s Indonesia, how Indonesia got there, and where it might go next.

MCNA Newsdesk

a luncheon with the executive members of the Federation of Korean Societies of Oceania (FKSO) at his residence on 30

MCNA Newsdesk

mbassador-designate of the Republic of Korea to Australia Kim Wan-joong hosted

Hindi Diwas celebated

Fun of kite festival in Australia

Also, the Indian High Commission along with FICQ organized World Hindi Day celebrations in Brisbane recently. Children of different age groups enthusiastically participated in poetry reading, essay competitions.

MCNA newsdesk

The Kite Festival, a festival that generates a lot of excitement in India, was organized at Patrick White Lawns in Canberra recently. The event saw a massive gathering of the local community. On the occasion, the High Commission of India, Canberra organized an exhibition on millets’ products, promoting National security expert Dr Paul

awareness of the health and other benefits of millets.

In Sydney, the Consulate General of India, Sydney along with the Indian cultural association organized a Kite flying festival at Castle Hill Showground on 15 January 2023 to celebrate Makar Sankranti. About 10,000 people participated at the festival. Consul General Manish Gupta

attended the celebrations. It was an occasion to celebrate community spirit and multicultural Australia.

Makar Sankranti is an Indian festival which is celebrated with social festivities such as colorful decorations, singing and asking for treats in some areas, fairs, dances, kite flying, bonfires and feasts.

Dibb gets Order of the Rising Sun

MCNA Newsdesk

In a ceremony at his residence recently Ambassador Shingo Yamagamipresented the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon to renown national security expert and Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University, Dr Paul Dibb AM in recognition of his contributions in promoting cooperative relations in the field of defence between Japan and Australia.

In his speech at the conferral ceremony Ambassador Yamagami lauded the efforts of DrDibb and said: “It is an award befitting such a great friend of Japan, who over many decades has tirelessly worked to strengthen

our security relationship, championing the ties between our two great democracies and calling for increased cooperation

and coordination between our respective defence and intelligence agencies.”

MCNA Newsdesk

The High Commission of India, Canberra, along with Canberra Hindi School celebratedVishwa Hindi Diwas2023 by organising a special event at Lecture Theatre Hall, Canberra College, Phillip ACT, 2606, on 4th February.

Shot in the arm for Australia-Netherlands relations

Deaf Women’s team thanks Australia’s initiative in Nigeria

MCNA Newsdesk

The AustraliaNetherlandsrelations got a shot in the arm withMinister for Climate Change and EnergyChris Bowen MP and Minister for Climate and Energy Policy of NetherlandsRob Jetten signing an MOU recently to facilitate cooperation on hydrogen sourced from renewables. The MOU will support Australia’s objectives to export renewable energy, develop clean energy supply chains, attract

foreign investment and access new technologies.

Minister Chris Bowen MP and Minister Rob Jettenalso visited the Port of Rotterdam in Netherlands to see key infrastructure and innovative technologies used in the renewable energy sector. The tour highlighted the potential for future energy and climate collaboration between Australia and the Netherlands.

Minister Chris Bowen MPdiscussed the

strategic implications of the energy transition over dinner at the Australian Ambassador’s Residence in The Hague. Industry representatives shared their views, including on what the transition means for Australia and the Netherlands. The conversation highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in addressing the challenges of Climate Change and Energy Security.

Dr Fiona Crockfordgets Human Rights Award

MCNA Newsdesk

F irst Secretary, Australian Development Assistance, Buka Office Dr Fiona Crockford received the Community First Development Bill Armstrong AO Human Rights Award recently for her efforts in creating pathways for First Nations peoples to contribute to strategic discussions initiated by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade both within Australia and in Papua New Guinea (PNG). A few instances of this include work to promote the Women’s Peace Movement in PNG, including setting up a healing dialogue between Bougainvillian and First Nations’ Australian women.

At the virtual award ceremony Australian High Commissioner Jon Philp said, “Fiona has worked tirelessly and selflessly to build people to people links between Australia and PNG. This includes her work in Australia’s representative office in the Torres Strait during the COVID-19 pandemic, at the Australian High Commission working on community development initiatives in her earlier posting to Port Moresby, and now as she establishes cultural linkages between First Nations peoples and communities in Bougainville.”

It is pertinent to highlight Australia’s commitment to ensuring First Nations perspectives are incorporated in Australia’s Foreign Policy.

MCNA Newsdesk

Hellen and the team from Deaf Women Aloud Initiativevisited Australian High Commission in Nigeria recently. The team met Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission in NigeriaMatthew Mechan. The Australian High Commission has partnered with the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria (DWAN) Headquarters in the past to so as to raise awareness on the issues faced by deaf women in Nigeria. The High Commissionhas also been associated with projects in Nigeria to enhance access to health servicesfor deaf women in

Nigeria.

In this regard Deputy High Commissioner Matthew Mechan said that the Australian High Commission would be pleased to continue advocating with DWAN to ensure deaf women have their voices heard.

Issuing a statement on Facebook the DWAN thanked the Australian High Commission’s initiative. The statement on Fcebook read: “Thank you Australia in Nigeria for having us doing great things. Our little beginning with you is what makes us what we are today. Your Excellency Matthew Mechan, thank you so much sir for the warmest welcome.”

Parade marks 50 years of PNG defence force headquarters

MCNA Newsdesk

On January 26, 2023, a parade was organized to celebrate 50 years of the establishment of the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF) headquarters at Murray Barracks Port, Moresby. Weeklong celebrations concluded with the parade.

In the months following the establishment of the headquarters in 1972, PNG defence powers were passed from Canberra to

Port Moresby. This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the evolution of the PNGDF into the independent defence force it has now become.

To mark the occasion and celebrate the ongoing defencecooperation between and Papua New Guinea and Australia, two Royal Australian Air Force F/A18F Super Hornets will take part in a flyover of Murray Barracks Port, Moresby.

Peru to participate in mining conference in Sydney

Didgeridoo player entertains students in a PNG school

TThe Head of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru

Oscar VeraGargurevichmet with the Ambassador of the

Australian Embassy in Peru and BoliviaMareeRingland recently. During the meeting the minister and his technical team were invited to participate

in the International Mining and Resources Conference

- IMARC2023, which will be held in Sydney to exchange experiences at one of the most important mining events in the world. IMARC 2023 will be held from 31 October to 2 November, 2023 at the Sydney International Convention Centre.

Minister Vera assured Peru’s presence at the event as one of the most important places for mining investment around the world. He also stressed that his management will devote efforts to disrupt mining projects that generate development for the regions.

Australia launches PIE in Papau New Guinea

education in Papua New Guinea supporting improved access, equity, and quality education for children in PNG.

PIE is an effort to build community partnerships that support the most disadvantaged children, both girls and boys and children living with a disability to thrive in classrooms. It works with school leadership to strengthen school management and supports elementary teachers upgrade their qualifications and strengthen teaching practices.

The PIE program operates at both the national and subnational level in Enga, Sandaun, Central and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

Australian Indigenous Didgeridoo player Nathan Scott enthralled the students at the Koro campus of KoroBoro International School in Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently. It was an enjoyable interactive session with Nathan explaining to the students the different sounds he would play on his didgeridoo.

He produced the sounds of native Australian animals such as the Kangaroo jumping and the Kookaburra laughing and the children created similar sounds with delighted screams themselves. Nathan explained to the students the circular breathing technique he used when he played longer tunes to the students.

Direct Aid Program for Solomon Islands

In celebrating International Day of Education 2023, the Australian Government

announced the launch of the Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) program. PIE is an eight-year investment in

Under the PNG-Australia partnership, PIE supports the National Department of Education’s vision ‘to build an education system that prepares literate, skilled and healthy citizens, each educated and trained to their fullest potential, to contribute to the economic and social development of the nation’.

40 years of Australia-Solomon Islands defence partnership

Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell was in Solomon Islands recently and marked the occasion with RSIPF Commissioner MostynMangau and junior members of the RSIPF and Australian Defence Force. The program supports Solomon Islands’ security priorities in the areas of maritime security, explosive ordnance disposal, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and education.

The Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands has initiatedthe Direct Aid Program which is a small grants program administered by it. The program has been designed to help community groups improve their living standards.

The Direct Aid Program can be availed under the condition that projects should be designed to benefit the whole community and include community contributions. Applicants may apply for projects that take up to one year

to complete

The Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands has said that it will favourably consider projects in the areas of community and/or rural development, education, gender equality, health and disability, sport, youth, human rights, the environment, economic empowerment, agriculture and ad hoc humanitarian relief. The first round of the Program for 2023 will close on 31st March, 2023, according to a Facebook post by the Australian High Commission.

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Australia-Solomon Islands Defence Cooperation Program.

How Australia is contributing to education in Papua New Guinea

Australia is contributing immensely to the lives of people in countries that are partnering with it in education. Australian scholarship awards are changing fundamentally the lives of people in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Australia-PNG partnership in education has given PNG many scholars, teachers, technology experts, engineers and many professionals. As the success continues in the partnership between Australia and PNG, here a few success stories that have paved the way for PNG’s education becoming more broad-based and world class. Dr Philemon Yalamu, now lecturer for Arts and Design at the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), believes obtaining a PhD is a rewarding journey requiring perseverance and commitment. He is one of the success stories of PNG’s partnership with Australia in education. He published four journals while studying and established a virtual creative space for Papua New Guineans, after receiving a PhD in Computer Science and Software Engineering through Australia Awards PNG. He further created a website and blog, to share tutorials and articles on various Communications Technology

fields.

After returning to PNG, Philemon and his peer network organised a group of artists from Australia and the UK to collaborate with the UPNG staff and students in a mini arts festival. He also established connections with organisers of TOM Melbourne, a tec-innovative organisationspecialising in developing assistive technologies for people with disabilities. Philemon asked TOM to replicate this technology in PNG and the organisation has offered to provide mentoring sessions to make this happen.

Dr Jack Khallahle is an Australia Awards scholarship awardee and the second Papua New Guinean to earn a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from an Australian University. Now Jack is a lecturer at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. Heis making an effort to develop skilled mechanical engineers at the university through his network with the UNSW and engineers in Australia. For this, he has developed a syllabus for engineering economics and is planning to create a new syllabus for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling simulation, knowledge he gained through his scholarship.

He believes introducing CFD

and aerospace engineering will help develop quality mechanical engineers. His advice for those considering a PhD is to study what you are passionate about. Despite not attending school, Chris Issack from Markham in Morobe Province still contributed to his community in other ways. Through participation in community activities, attending church, and being a youth leader, Chris eventually joined YWAM who supported his enrolment in a Level 1 Adult Literacy Course run by the Baptist Union PNG. Highlighting his progress, he said, “Now at YWAM I’m able to read the Bible and preach and lead devotion. I couldn’t do that before and I used to struggle. Chris’ experience has shown that there are other pathways to learning outside of formal education. Chris graduated with a Level 1 Certificate and is eager to continue to Level 2 to learn how to read in English and further expand his opportunities and receive recognition from the PNG Department of Education. The PNG-Australia partnership is instrumental in supporting PNG Churches to deliver adult literacy training courses across most provinces. Then there is the example of the first Papua New Guinean woman veterinary graduate Tania Areori.

Tania works as the Regional Veterinary Officer for the NAQIA - PNG Biosecurity.Tania wanted to be a vet from a young age. With limited veterinarian study opportunities in PNG, she applied for an Australia Awards scholarship to achieve her goal.

In 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) from Charles Sturt University

Tania now encourages other aspiring vets to consider applying for an Australia Award. About the benefits of this scholarship Tania says, “The scholarship has basically allowed me to achieve my aspirations, and we need a lot of veterinarians in this country. Take up the opportunity Australia Awards provides and apply for the scholarship”. The story of Gibson Seseru, a teacher is inspirational. He made a heartbreaking decision to leave teaching and other personal ambitions when he came to require a wheelchair for mobility. At that time, he decided to organise community outreach programs to increase representation of people with disabilities at all levels of government, advocating for improved support, and used data collected from a PNG-Australia partnership supported survey to form the Bulolo Disability Association

(BDA) - an organisation that serves as a voice for change. Through the PNG-Australia partnership, BDA has been instrumental in assisting the Morobe Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee to organise training for people with disabilities on leadership and financial literacy, as well as a separate workshop designed to equip people with disabilities, their families and carers with the skills and knowledge needed to enrich their lives.Gibson says the BDA is keen to enable people with disabilities to contribute to the development of their communities, the district, and the province under the National Government “no one left behind” vision.

It is pertinent to take note that Applications for Intake 2024 Australia Awards Scholarships opens on 1 February 2023. With the assistance of AustraliaAwardsscholarships, Australia helps develop the skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change, educate and contribute to development in their own countries. Since 2023, Australia has been supporting 773 individuals from 27 participating countries to participate in equitable, prestigious, and transformational AustraliaAwards scholarships.

MCNA Newsdesk

Workshop on management & oversight of political parties organized

Australian partnership leading to Solomon Islands’ progress

MCNA Newsdesk

After defence and education Australia is working with the UNDP Solomon Islands and other development partners in bringing together a range of experienced and influential participants to discuss trends and practices in the management and oversight of political parties. Over 50 dignitaries from the Solomon Islands , including parliament members and representatives from political parties, electoral management

bodies, government ministries, CSOs as well as women’s and youth leaders, together with peers from the Pacific Region attended a two-day political parties workshop recently to share experiences and discuss trends and practices in the management and oversight of political parties. During these two days, the participants had the opportunity to explore how transparency in political funding can play a key role in reducing corruption.

Over the years the UNDP across the Pacific has been supporting key political actors – the Parliaments, electoral management bodies, and regulatory bodies responsible for the management of political parties– to develop their capacities in order to uphold countries’ commitments to democracy. The two-day workshop was supported by various governance and peace-building projects funded by the Governments of Solomon Islands,Solomon Islands Prime Minister’s Press Secretariat Page, Australian High Commission in Solomon Islands, Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Embassy of Japan in Solomon Islands, and the UK in Solomon Islands and the UK in the South Pacific, and UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji, as part of United Nations Development Programme - UNDP’s work for promoting transparency, accountability, and electoral integrity in the Pacific.

Australia Awards Africa scholarships open from 1 Feb - 1 May 2023

MCNA Newsdesk

Australia is responsible for bringing a welcome change in the lives of people of Solomon Islands. Australia has partnered with the Sol2023 XVII Pacific Games Hosting Authority to usher in an era of progress in the education of students of Solomon Islands. The SBD100 million of funding support for the 2023 Pacific Games includes the refurbishment of dorms and classrooms in seven Honiara schools to be used as athlete accommodation. These rooms will then be used by Solomon Islands students. Besides education Australia’s

partnership with Solomon Islands also includes the construction of a water sports park; provision of athlete training equipment funding of expert advisory support; Australian Volunteers Program working with the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport - SINIS to develop Solomon Islands athletes.

Australian Federal Police and Defence Australia under the Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) is working with the RSIPF to ensure the Sol2023 XVII Pacific Games are held safely.

Iconic Australian monuments illuminated with SLcolours

MCNA desk

Applications for the Australia Awards Africa scholarships are now open for Masters Study in Australia in 2024. These Australian Government funded scholarships are open to

applicants from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These scholarships are an opportunity to become a leader in one’s field and join an inspiring network of change makers.

The scholarships will allow the awardee to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia, advance one’s career. Applications are open from 1 Feb - 1 May 2023.

MCNA desk

1

1 iconic Australian National monuments were illuminated in the colours of Sri Lankan (SL) National flag to mark the 75th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence and the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic relations between Australia and Sri Lanka.

The illumination of iconic monuments symbolises the enduring multifaceted, mutually respectful partnership between Australia and Sri Lanka. The role and contribution of Sri Lanka’s

expatriate community to the bilateral relations has been given importance through this gesture. In a Facebook statement, the Sri Lankan High Commission in Australia said that it sincerely appreciated Australia for this warm gesture. Moreover, the High Commission through the statement on Facebook invited fellow Sri Lankans living in Australia to preserve this historic moment with photography or videography and share it on social media for a chance to win a return trip to Sri Lanka.

New Australian HC meets PM of Solomon Islands

Tonga to benefit from joining Australia’s MDF

MCNA newsdesk

Tonga became the sixth country to join Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) recently.

MDF is instrumental in boosting

employment and income opportunities in priority sectors like agribusiness and tourism. It is currently active in Sri Lanka, Timor Leste, PNG, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu. At least AUD3

million in investments will be channelled to Tongan through MDF in its initial four year phase. MDF is also recruiting Business Advisers in Tonga.

Australia’s Head of the Office of the Pacific meets Tonga’s PM

Nuku’alofa, February 2 (MCNA)

MCNA Newsdesk

N

ew Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Rod Hilton met Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare to present his letter of introduction, accrediting him as High Commissioner to Solomon Islands.

The two leaders discussed bond between the two countries which is strong and growing, with

deep connections between the peoples, cultures and economies. About his appointment High Commissioner Hilton said he was deeply honoured to be appointed to and was thankful for the very warm welcome he has received. He further said that he looked forward to traveling across the Hapi Isles to explore this beautiful country and meet its wonderful people.

The inaugural Head of the Office of the Pacific within Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ewen McDonald called on Prime Minister of Tonga Hon Hu’akavameiliku recently. McDonald was accompanied by the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga Rachael Moore.

Tonga’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Fekitamoeloa

‘Utoikamanu and the Minister of Finance Hon TiofilusiTiueti received McDonald and Prime Minister Hon Hu’akavameiliku.

McDonald will be spearheading the coordination of the Australia government’s efforts with the

Pacific family to forge stronger relationships with Pacific leaders, governments, and

people, as well as with regional organisations and institutions.

Devastating earthquake rocks Turkey-Syria; toll nearing 8,000

near the Syrian border. “UNFPA is committed to support the people of Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquakes, including the pregnant women who are expected to give birth in the coming weeks under these difficult conditions,” said Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive

continued from pg. 1

Director on 7 February

“Their ability to access quality care before, during and after delivery must not be an afterthought.”

Thousands of buildings, including UNFPA-supported maternity facilities, youth centres and women’s and girls’ safe spaces,

to rise significantly due to the presence of hundreds of families under the rubble”, CNN quoted the group as saying.

“Our teams continue search and rescue operations amid difficult circumstances,” it said, describing a tally of more than 400 collapsed buildings, more than 1,300 partially collapsed buildings and thousands of others that were damaged by the early morning quake.

According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, at least 812 deaths were confirmed in government-controlled parts of the country.

Freezing weather conditions are further endangering survivors and complicating rescue efforts, as more than 100 aftershocks have struck the region since the initial tremor on Monday.

More than 60 countries have pledged support and sent humanitarian aid to the affected regions, while there are about 20 international government search and rescue teams on the ground presently.

The devastating 7.8 tremor struck Turkey’s southern province of

Kahramanmaras at 4.17 a.m. on Monday morning, which was followed by a 6.4-magnitude temblor a few minutes later in Gaziantep province.

The epicentre of the 7.8-magnitude quake was 23 km east of Nurdagi in Gaziantep, at a depth of 24.1 km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

At around 1.30 p.m, a third 7.5-magnitude tremor hit Kahramanmaras, which officials said was “not an aftershock”.

Turkey’s southern province of Hatay and Syria’s northern Aleppo city suffered the biggest loss of lives, while Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus also felt the tremor.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared a three-month state of emergency on 7 February in 10 of the country’s hard-hit provinces.

Meanwhile, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has said that it is working with national and local authorities to scale up emergency response to reach women and girls impacted by two powerful earthquakes that struck south-eastern Turkey

have collapsed or been severely damaged. UNFPA’s immediate priority is to re-establish services that are critical to the health, well-being and protection of women and girls, according to a statement.

UNFPA has offices and operations in the affected areas and

Why was the quake so devastating?

In 1999, an earthquake along the North Anatolian fault line in the northern Turkish region of Duzce killed over 17,000 people, but the 6th February earthquake occurred on the other side of the country, along the East Anatolian fault, the report added.

The East Anatolian fault has not experienced a magnitude-7 earthquake in over two centuries, which could indicate that people are “neglecting how dangerous” it is, Dr Roger Musson, an honorary research associate at the British Geological Survey, was quoted as saying. He further said that it had been

was immediately on the ground assessing the impacts and preparing to support the emergency response in coordination with the authorities and partners, with additional personnel on standby for deployment, Xinhua news agency reported. Despite logistical challenges, UNFPA has already started delivering reproductive health services to earthquake survivors through existing delivery points in Turkey and is also distributing dignity kits, containing basic

so long since the last big quake, “quite a lot of energy” may have built up. He added that the magnitude

hygiene items.

In Syria, according to the statement, blankets and warm clothes in addition to dignity kits are being provided to women and girls in need. Mobile health teams and field clinics have been deployed to provide reproductive health and protection services to affected people in the four worst-hit governorates, where women and girls’ safe spaces will also be established. The provision of cash payments, which ensure women and girls

of the aftershocks on Monday, including a massive 7.5-magnitude tremor, supported this theory.

can access health services and information, including for gender-based violence prevention and response, will be rapidly assessed and provided based on funding availability, according to the statement.

Prepositioned life-saving reproductive health supplies, including medicines to manage obstetric emergencies, will be distributed in affected areas this week, the statement added.

75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Aussie-SL celebrated

20 Lankans complete Australia Awards business sector course

MCNA Newsdesk

Australian High Commission (HC) in Sri Lanka (SL) celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Sri Lanka recently at Australia House in Colombo. The Australian High Commissioner to SL Paul Stephens was part of the celebrations. The event was an

opportunity to celebrate not only the enduring cooperation but also the community links at the heart of the relationship between the two countries. Besides SL and Australia being tied together by geography and history, the human bonds of family, education, business and cricket are even stronger.

MCNA Newsdesk

Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

Paul Stephens congratulated the 20 participants from the Value Chain, Trade and Agribusiness sector, who successfully completed the Australia Awards Short Course in ‘Promoting Value Chain Improvements, Market Integration and Trade in Agribusiness’ delivered by the University of Queensland. During the Short Course, participants developed their own Return-to-work Plan (RWP) which they are now implementing. The RWPs address a diverse

continued from pg. 1

importance of working together to support Pacific partners facing a complex and growing array of challenges, including climate change, he said. Hipkins said he is looking forward to hosting the AustraliaNew Zealand Leaders Meeting and Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum in July this year, which will provide further opportunities for trans-Tasman business and government leaders to connect.

range of topics, including value chain development and upgrading of cottage industries such as kithul treacle, pineapple and bees honey, improving farmers livelihoods and investigating potential export markets for palmyra wine. The final workshop which was in Colombo has built on these projects not only to further participants’ learning through practical application of the course but also to ensure the Short Course has a wider impact for sustainable and profitable value chains in Sri Lanka and its export markets.

Australian team visits Malaita Province in Solomon Islands

Five U.S. destinations that should be on your radar for 2023

-

From Rhode Island’s mesmer

ising Gilded Age mansions

Cincinnati, Ohio: a collection of charming neighbourhoods

Winding along the Ohio River, Cincinnati is a collection of charming neighbourhoods from Over-the-Rhine (OTR) to the Riverfront and from Downtown to Mount Adams which collectively have a rich architectural, cultural and culinary heritage. The eclectic OTR is a foodie’s paradise with a selection of local restaurants, bars, breweries and markets including Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest farmers’ market and one of the top 10 food markets in the world. Downtown is for art lovers and is home to some of the best cultural centres and galleries as well as

over 50 murals including one celebrating Neil Armstrong, an Ohio Native and the Cincinnati Toy Heritage Mural showcasing some of the most popular toys made by Kenner Toys including the Care Bears and C3PO. Sports enthusiasts should head straight to the regenerated Riverfront, home to the celebrated NFL team, the Cincinnati Bengals and the MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds. It is also worth checking out the Roebling Suspension Bridge (a forerunner to the famed Brooklyn Bridge, NYC) for the best sunsets over the Ohio River.

Charleston, South Carolina: enjoy the beautiful blooms in hidden gardens

Charleston’s greatest attraction is arguably Mother Nature’s annual show: breathtaking garden blooms. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is the oldest public garden in America and the only plantation on the Ashley River that survived both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Today, it is home to the last large-scale Romantic Gardens in the U.S., designed to transport you from the normality of everyday life to a tranquil escape. Each year, the Historic Charleston Foundation invites green-fingered enthusiasts

to some of Charleston’s most exclusive private gardens throughout March and April, showcasing intricately designed and well-manicured ‘secret gardens’ that are usually off-limits to visitors. From blooming dogwood to redbud and azalea, these gardens are a feast for the senses. Year-round, travellers can also enjoy the early 1700s plantation and mansion, Middleton Place, featuring a European-style garden blooming all season or visit Wadmalaw Island and ride the trolley through the tea fields.

Worth, GoUSA spotlights five

destinations that should be on to Charleston’s secret gardens, and cowboy charm in Fort

Fort Worth, Texas: saddle up for a true western experience

your radar for 2023.

Fort Worth blends cowboy charm and rich Western history with a dedication to urban renewal. Home to the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive, the world’s largest honky-tonk and year-round rodeo, the city serves as the backdrop for TV hits 1883 and Yellowstone, starring Oscar and Emmy winner, Kevin

Costner. There are plenty of familiar sights that will delight fans of the Wild West epic as they explore the famed Stockyards Historic District, the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, sip a cold brew in a saloon, and shop for a pair of personalised cowboy boots downtown in the charming 35-block Sundance Square. Just

Rhode Island: explore the stunning beauty of the U.S.’ smallest state

30 minutes south of Fort Worth, experience an authentic guest ranch at Beaumont. The ranch offers almost endless outdoor sports like horseback trail rides, clay shooting, archery, extreme ATV tours, zip-lining, and cattle drives. Make sure to keep an eye out for local longhorns, wild horses and llamas.

Rhode Island may be the smallest U.S. state but it certainly punches well above its weight. The vast golden beaches and grand historic mansions coupled with an abundance of fresh seafood and boutique wineries make Rhode Island a top pick for 2023. Just an hour from Boston via Amtrak, Newport is home to summer ‘cottages’ perched atop surf-soaked cliffs, once owned by famous families like the Astors, Rockerfellers and Vanderbilts.

Visitors can take the scenic Cliff Walk which combines the natural beauty of the shoreline with the architectural heritage of The Gilded Age for a glimpse of the mansions that have served as backdrops for films like The Great Gatsby and HBO Max’s new series The Gilded Age. Leaving Newport, head to South County for a tour of Rhode Island’s stunning coastline and explore the quaint, quintessential village of Watch Hill. Look out for Taylor

Swift’s coastal retreat with views over Little Narragansett Bay or stop for a champagne cocktail on the veranda of the historic beachfront hotel, Ocean House. A trip to Rhode Island isn’t complete without sampling the state’s legendary seafood and Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown is best known for its “pond-to-plate” dining where the restaurant’s oysters are grown directly off their waterfront patio.

Soak in Aotearoa’s Nature and Landscape

We all need a break to refuel after a busy year that was packed with both huge and modest victories and difficulties. We may require more than simply a soothing massage or a mindful yoga

Ohakune

session to restore our mind, body, and spirit, as demonstrated by centuries-old traditions. A break could mean practising mindfulness and introspection for many travellers, while for others it might mean exploring

the forest to engage in forest bathing to reenergize. Fortunately, New Zealand has attractions for all kinds of tourists who want to get in touch with their authentic selves. New Zealand is a wonderful utopia

for a great health and wellness retreat, with wide-open landscapes, still rivers crossing the country, off-grid areas to cuddle in, and more. Take some time out to unwind, relax, and enjoy nature, or treat yourself to a dip

in one of New Zealand’s many renowned spas and retreats. Listed below are a few wellness experiences one may enjoy across New Zealand:

You can experience wellness amongst the elements at the newly opened Ohakune Hot Tubs. Take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and immerse yourself in a hot, healing soak while breathing in that crisp alpine air.

The iconic Polynesian Spa in Rotorua is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. It is the perfect place to relax and unwind

- they have 28 geothermal hot pools, and their award-winning spa has a variety of packages and treatments to choose from.

Get out and explore as you delve deep into the heart of Central Otago as it winds its way through the vast rocky landscapes, spectacular gorges, railway tunnels, viaducts, and preserved gold mining settlements.

The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is an area of exceptional cultural, natural, and astrological importance. With more than 4,300 square kilometres of sky that is free from light pollution, it’s the perfect place to go stargazing.

Wellington Apothecary is an alchemist’s delight that was established in 2014. It is a botanical factory, herbal dispensary, and natural therapy clinic that offers

facials and massages using their house-blended oils. You can also create botanical perfumes, natural skincare, probiotic sodas, and more. They offer a range of

evening workshops throughout the year and one on one Bespoke Blending Consultations in-store, with their talented Apothecarians.

5 Tips for Women Starting Their Journey in Mountaineering

By Gayatri Mohanty

It is stated that experience is the best teacher, and travel is undoubtedly one of the few activities that brings us closer to nature. One of the best ways to reinvent yourself and your value systems is to explore the depths of the earth, nature, and its amazing wonders. We can develop this soul connection through amazing adventures like mountaineering.

Although mountaineering needs

extensive preparation and effort, it is nothing less than a spiritual experience. Mountaineering, one of the most demanding adventure sports, is difficult because it requires learning how to adapt to various climatic conditions while also surviving to reach the mountain summit.

“I like to believe that travel and adventure do not have to be gender stereotyped. There is nothing about mountaineering that a man can do and a woman

cannot. Yes, the fact is that we don’t see as much woman participation as we do from men but that is rapidly changing as more women are keen to explore new challenges,” shares ace mountaineer Gayatri Mohanty. For women, mountaineering may be a demanding and gratifying experience that has numerous physical and psychological advantages. Above all, it improves self-awareness and mental health. Here are 5 crucial suggestions that you must bear in mind if you are a lady eager to begin your climbing trip. Learn basic mountaineering skills

Before embarking on a mountaineering journey, it’s important to have a solid foundation of skills. This includes basic techniques like rope handling, ice axe use, and crampon usage. Moreover, ensure you research well about the location and its climatic conditions. This will

ensure you can plan efficiently. Find a mentor, take courses or join a club

Finding a mentor or joining a club can provide valuable guidance, support, and a sense of community. Experienced mountaineers can offer tips and advice on everything from training to equipment selection. Taking a course or attending a guided trip is a great way to gain experience and learn new skills while in a controlled and safe environment. This will be extremely helpful for beginners and help you gain education to avoid mistakes and stay safe.

Build a strong fitness base

Mountaineering requires a high level of physical fitness, so it’s important to focus on building strength and endurance. Ensure you build your physical strength with activities like running, cycling, and weight training.

Invest in good equipment Having the right equipment is

essential for a successful and safe mountaineering experience. Invest in quality gear such as boots, crampons, and an ice axe, and make sure to properly maintain and care for your equipment.

Be prepared for personal hygiene

Mountaineering dates could overlap with menstrual cycles for women hence it is important to be prepared for the same. Bathrooms and running water are a luxury when it comes to mountaineering hence ensure you carry all your medications along with packs of toilet paper, and anti-bacterial wet wipes. Although there is no harm in trekking while menstruating, ensure you avoid overlap on dates as your body is prone to be weak and needs extra care and attention.

(Gayatri Mohanty, fitness coach, mountaineer, certified Zumba trainer, and nutritionist)

Hot Tubs

Stargazing at the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve

Polynesian Spa Otago Central Rail Trail

Wellington Apothecary

Tucked away at the foothills of Mt Ruapehu in Ohakune, these open-air, wood-fired hot tubs are available for private bookings during the day or under the stars.

Visit the Dark Sky Project in Takapō (Tekapo) or Big Sky Stargazing at Aoraki / Mt Cook Village for the chance to gaze into space through powerful telescopes and learn more about the importance of New Zealand’s dark skies.

Govt report reveals Australian health system in crisis Kenya ramps up efforts to curb HIV infections among youth

between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders where they will discuss health system reforms.

The state premiers and health ministers have joined forces to lobby the federal government to overhaul Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare system, and increase hospital funding.

Mark Butler, the Minister for Health, has previously conceded the health system is in the worst state of Medicare’s 40-year history.

Canberra, Feb 2 (IANS) A growing number of Australians are delaying vital healthcare because of soaring costs, a government report published on Thursday revealed.

The Productivity Commission published its annual report on the health system, revealing soaring hospital waiting lists and major delays for ambulances, dental care, and doctor appointments, reports Xinhua news agency.

It found 3.5 per cent of

Australians postponed or skipped visits to their general practitioner (GP) in 2021-22 because of the cost -- up from 2.4 per cent the previous year. Almost a quarter of the population delayed seeing a mental health professional because they could not afford it. More than 23 per cent of people who visited their GP waited longer than they thought appropriate for an appointment. The report was released ahead of a key meeting on Friday

It has never been harder to see a doctor than it is right now, he said.

“It’s also never been more expensive. We’ve been working very cooperatively with doctors groups, patient groups, nurses groups, allied health groups, and many others to develop the Strengthening Medicare Task Force report and the Prime Minister has committed to presenting that at National Cabinet later this week,” Butler added.

Attracting foreign doctors key to fixing health system: Australia minister

workers to Australia and have their existing qualification recognised, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Federal, state and territory leaders agreed on Friday to the review of GP before they address widespread problems in the health system later this year.

A separate report on Medicare, Australia’s universal health care system, made recommendations to improve the accessibility and affordability of health care.

Canberra, Feb 5 (IANS)

Australian Health Minister Mark Butler has identified attracting more foreign doctors as key to fixing the country’s health system.

The minister said on Sunday that a review into general practice (GP) should investigate ways to attract more foreign health

Butler, who has said Medicare is in the worst condition in its 40year history, believed attracting more GPs would relieve pressure on the whole system.

“It’s about going overseas and recruiting as an Australian healthcare system doctors and nurses and other health care professionals to come to

Australia,” he told Sky News Australia.

“I think the premiers and chief ministers recognised that last week, they’re seeing the pressure on their hospital systems because of the problems in general practice. If we don’t turn that around, then the whole of our healthcare system is going to be under enormous pressure.” Additionally, the government has flagged giving pharmacists the ability to prescribe medications for common conditions rather than requiring a GP visit.

According to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA), the measure would circumvent 6.5 million GP visits every year.

Butler said it “doesn’t make sense” to have health workers not working to the full extent of their training.

Fizzy drinks, ready meals may be linked to increased risk of cancer: Study

breast cancers.

London, Feb 1 (IANS) Higher

consumption of ultra-processed foods such as fizzy drinks, mass-produced packaged bread, many ready meals and most breakfast cereals, may be linked to an increased risk of developing and dying from cancer, a new study has shown.

According to the study by the UK-based Imperial School of Public Health, the researchers found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with a greater risk of developing cancer overall, specifically with ovarian and brain cancers. It was also associated with an increased risk of dying from cancer, most notably ovarian and

The study states that every 10 per cent increase in ultra-processed food in a person’s diet resulted in a 2 per cent increase in cancer overall, and a 19 per cent increase in ovarian cancer specifically. Moreover, each 10 per cent increase in ultra-processed food consumption was associated with a 6 per cent increase in cancer mortality overall, as well as a 16 per cent increase in breast cancer and a 30 per cent increase in ovarian cancer.

“This study adds to the growing evidence that ultra-processed foods are likely to negatively impact our health including our risk for cancer. Given the high levels of consumption in UK adults and children, this has important implications for future health outcomes,” said Dr Eszter Vamos, lead senior author for the study, from the School of Public Health.

The researchers also discovered

that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was linked to an increased risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes in UK adults, as well as a greater weight gain in UK children from childhood to young adulthood.

“The average person in the UK consumes more than half of their daily energy intake from ultra-processed foods. This is exceptionally high and concerning as ultra-processed foods are produced with industrially derived ingredients and often use food additives to adjust colour, flavour, consistency, texture, or extend shelf life,” said Dr Kiara Chang, first author for the study, from School of Public Health.

The WHO and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation have previously recommended restricting ultra-processed foods as part of a healthy sustainable diet, said the study.

Nairobi, Feb 7 (IANS) Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that the government is ramping up efforts to contain the rising new HIV infections among adolescents and young adults.

Gachagua, who received Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) Executive Director Winnie Byanyima in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, said the government has roped in local administrators, lawmakers and other interest groups in fighting triple threats facing adolescents and teenagers, Xinhua news agency reported. The “triple threats” are HIV infections, adolescent pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among adolescents and young adults. According to the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (former National AIDS Control Council) report of 2022, at least 52 percent of the 29,380 new infections were among adolescents and young adults aged 15-29. A majority of these cases are girls and young women. Female genital mutilation (FGM), SGBV, and teenage pregnancies have been singled out as threats predisposing girls in Kenya and globally to HIV/AIDS, according to the report.

Gachagua attributed the high number of infections in 2021 to the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the closure of schools, he said, the children were at home, making them more vulnerable

to sexual exploitation, FGM, and forced marriage, which have been linked to the rise of infections.

“Primary education is free in Kenya. We have a challenge in slum areas, but we will ensure all children are in school,” he said in a statement issued after the meeting.

Gachagua said the government’s vision is to remove all barriers impeding access to education and economic empowerment through an integrated government approach.

Against the backdrop of reducing global funding to countries in various programs, Byanyima considered Kenya a priority in accessing more resources to curb the rising cases among adolescents, teenagers, and mother-to-child transmission. She called on the government to bring all the 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS under antiretroviral therapy (ART). Currently, 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS are under ARTs, while 200,000 others -- mostly children -- are not, according to government statistics.

Byanyima said the most cost-effective and sustainable way is to establish local pharmaceuticals to produce medical products, adding that “we need to manufacture the drugs here (locally). We will work with you on that.” Although new HIV infections remain high, they have significantly reduced over the years.

Covid-19 still int’l health emergency: WHO

Geneva, Jan 31 (IANS) The WHO has said that the Covid-19 pandemic still constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the WHO’s highest alert level. The announcement came amid the recent increase of weekly reported deaths worldwide. After its quarterly assessment meeting on the Covid-19 pandemic on Friday, the WHO’s International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee announced on Monday that Covid-19 continues to constitute a PHEIC, which has been concurred by WHO DirectorGeneral Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Covid-19 remains a dangerous infectious disease with the capacity to cause substantial damage to health systems, the committee said in a statement, while acknowledging that the Covid-19 pandemic may be approaching an inflection point,

Xinhua news agency reported. Although infection or vaccination may lead to higher levels of population immunity globally and limit the impact of morbidity and mortality, “there is little doubt that this virus will remain a permanently established pathogen in humans and animals for the foreseeable future,” the committee added.

It then called for long-term public health action that will prioritise the mitigation of Covid-19 impact on morbidity and mortality.

Meanwhile, the committee recommends that countries should achieve 100 per cent vaccination coverage of high-priority groups, improve reporting of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance data to the WHO, and ensure long-term availability of medical countermeasures, such as Covid-19 vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.

17 killed, 12 injured in road accident in Tanzania

between a truck and a mini-bus in Tanzania’s Korogwe district in Tanga region, an official said on Saturday.

Dodoma, Feb 4 (IANS) At least 17 people were killed and 12 others injured in a head-on collision

The Tanga regional commissioner, Omary Mgumba, said is a statement that the mini-bus was carrying 26 mourners and a body from Dar es Salaam to Moshi in Kilimanjaro region for burial when the accident occurred on Friday night, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The truck collided head on with the mini-bus after its driver failed to take precaution as he overtook another vehicle, Mgumba said. He noted 10 of the injured were rushed to Tanga regional government hospital for treatment, while two others were being treated at Korogwe district hospital. The identification of the dead was underway.

Tanzania embarks on programme to eliminate leprosy by 2030

eliminating leprosy in the country by 2030.

Deputy Minister for Health, Godwin Mollel said the programme entailed the identification of all leprosy patients in the East African nation, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dar Es Salaam, Jan 30 (IANS)

Tanzanian health authorities on Sunday marked the World Leprosy Day and announced a new programme aimed at

He said the identification of leprosy patients will help the government treat the patients in efforts aimed at controlling the disease that affects the nerves, skin, eyes and lining of the nose.

“The identification of leprosy patients will be done from village to regional level, and it will help to create a database for the patients,” Mollel added in the capital Dodoma.

He said the programme also entailed mass awareness of the disease by educating health workers and the public on how to control the disease.

“In Tanzania, we still have areas where leprosy is still prevalent,” he added.

Ethiopian PM meets Tigray leaders for first time since peace deal

Addis Ababa, Feb 4 (IANS)

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for the first time since the two-year conflict ended late

last year with a peace deal, state media reported on Saturday. The meeting was held three months after the government and the rebel group signed a permanent cessation of hostilities deal in November to end the conflict, restore law and order, and resume services and the delivery of humanitarian supplies, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the state-run Ethiopian News Agency, Ahmed met members of the peace agreement implementation coordination committee, which

includes senior TPLF leaders, in the country’s southwestern Dawuro Zone.

During the talks, the two sides evaluated the implementation of the peace agreement and discussed issues requiring further attention, it was reported.

The second most populous nation in Africa has seen a devastating conflict between government-allied troops and forces loyal to the TPLF since November 2020, which left thousands dead and millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

22.6 mn Ethiopians food insecure due to drought, conflict, rising prices

areas of Afar, Somali, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples (SNNP) regions, and Dire Dawa city administration, reports Xinhua news agency.

It also warned of the worsening food insecurity among internally displaced persons countrywide.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian response in Ethiopia has been scaled up with additional corridors opening and some hard-to-reach areas becoming more accessible.

Addis Ababa, Feb 4 (IANS) About 22.6 million people in Ethiopia are food insecure due to a combination of drought, conflict and increase in food prices, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has warned.

In its latest situation update, the UNOCHA said that an estimated 11.8 million people are food insecure in the drought-affected

The UNOCHA said since November 2022, the UN and international non-governmental organisations brought about 114,000 metric tonnes of food into the conflict-affected Tigray region as of January 24. And as of January 23, partners assisted 16.3 million people in targeted locations across the country, completing round 1 of food distribution.

An estimated 15.5 million people received food under round 2, and close to 8.1 million in round 3, which commenced in 2022.

It, however, said certain areas of the county face disease outbreaks, including cholera, malaria, and measles, where partners are taking preventative and remedial actions.

The UNOCHA said the drought situation has deprived many vulnerable people of their livelihoods, increasing health risks if not already affected by malnutrition, and putting hundreds of thousands of children out of school, while insecurity and conflict in western parts of the country continue to displace more people.

Somalia gets hospital to provide treatment, care for security forces

al-Shabab across the country.

Somalia’s Minister of Defense Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur said the 68-bed facility located in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, would go a long way in providing urgent medical attention to soldiers and other security officers wounded on the battlefield, Xinhua news agency reported.

and hailed the collaboration which enabled the successful implementation of the project. ATMIS built the facility as a Quick Impact Project, which is aimed at bringing basic services closer to the people and involves the construction of schools, health facilities, police stations, and the sinking of boreholes, among other necessities.

Mogadishu, Feb 3 (IANS) The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said that it has handed over a new hospital facility designed to provide quality treatment and care to Somali security forces involved in the fight against

“This facility is critical to the safety of our soldiers engaged in the fight against terrorism,” Nur said in a statement issued in Mogadishu on Thursday evening.

Chief of Defense Forces Odowaa

Yusuf Rageh said the opening of the facility was a significant step in the transition process

Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson for Somalia Mohammed El-Amine Souef said the facility will help improve treatment and care offered to Somali security forces as they continue their offensive against al-Shabab militants.

Conflict,

climate shocks force over 3.5mn kids out of school in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Feb 3 (IANS) More than 3.5 million children do not have access to school due to the impacts of conflict and climate shocks across Ethiopia, the Unicef said.

Unicef in its Ethiopia Education Cluster Quarterly Newsletter said that various man-made and natural shocks are continuing to have an impact in the East African country, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Based on the education cluster data from December 2022, more than 3.5 million children do not have access to school due to conflict and climate shocks

across the country,” it said. In the conflict-hit Tigray region, the sub-regional cluster reports indicate that out of an estimated 2.3 million school-aged children, some 1.7 million kids were denied the right to education for three academic years due to the conflict and Covid-19, with damage reported to have impacted 88 per cent of school infrastructure.

“There is an urgent need of rehabilitation and equipment of schools with furniture for children to have access to safe and protective learning environments,” it said.

151,256 S.Sudanese refugees returned home in 2022: UNHCR

Juba, Feb 4 (IANS) Some 151,256 South Sudanese refugees voluntarily returned home in 2022 amid the relative security situation in the country, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said. The UNHCR said 627,028 refugees have so far returned home since the signing of the revitalised peace deal in October 2018 to December 31, 2022, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Some 6,845 South Sudanese refugee returnees have been reported in December 2022. This is a significant increase compared to the returns recorded in the month of November 2022,” the UN agency said in its latest update on returns released in the South Sudanese capital of Juba.

The UN agency said the increase in the number of refugees returning home is due to improved security in some parts of the country, enabling safe access to spontaneous refugee returns to South Sudan.

The UNHCR, which conducted an in-depth household-level survey

of returnees across the country on reasons for leaving their country of asylum, said 20 per cent of the returnees cited lack of access to basic services, 6 pe rcent cited lack of employment and livelihood opportunity, and 4 per cent cited insecurity.

According to the survey, 12 per cent of those who have returned cited an improved security situation in South Sudan and reunion with family members, while 1 per cent cited checking and attending to property as the reasons for their returning home.

UNHCR and partners, on a quarterly basis, collect information on refugee returns through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and partner monitoring reports.

There are more than two million refugees from South Sudan hosted in the East Africa region, and another 1.7 million displaced in the country, according to the UN agency.

China renews alert for snowstorms

regions of the country.

S.Korean Parliament votes to impeach Interior Minister over 2022 crowd crush

Beijing, Feb 8 (IANS) China’s national observatory renewed an alert on Wednesday, forecasting snowstorms in parts of the northwestern and central

From 2 p.m. Wednesday to 2 p.m. Thursday, heavy snow is expected in parts of several provincial-level regions, including Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan, Xinhua news agency quoted the National Meteorological Centre as saying. Blizzards have been forecast to hit some areas of Shaanxi and Shanxi and some places may see more than 10 cm of snow cover, the Centre said.

Local authorities in the affected regions have been advised to make preparations for snowstorms and frost damage. Transportation, power and communications departments should inspect roads, railways and lines and carry out road cleaning and de-icing. Drivers have been instructed to take caution and use anti-skid measures on their vehicles, according to the Centre.

Macao gears up for mainland tour groups, eyes int’l tourist market

Macao, Feb 3 (IANS) China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) said on Friday that it has been gearing up for tour groups from the mainland after three years of suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Macao is also making promotional arrangements in other tourist markets aiming to attract more international tourists and speed up its economic recovery, the Macao Government Tourism

Office said at a press conference, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Chinese central government announced earlier in the day to further lift travel restrictions between the mainland and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, starting Monday, which included the resumption of cross-border group tours.

Lei Wai Nong, secretary for economy and finance of the

Macao SAR government, said tour groups from the mainland will play a major role in promoting Macao’s economic recovery and restoring economic vigor. This year, the SAR government will be devoted to promoting Macao as a safe and attractive tourist destination in multiple markets, including the mainland, the Hong Kong SAR, and other countries, Lei added. Visitor arrivals in Macao surged 297.0 percent year-on-year during the Spring Festival holiday on Jan. 21-27, the first “Golden Week” holiday after Macao eased inbound travel restrictions in early January, dropping the requirement for those who enter Macao from the mainland, the Hong Kong SAR and China’s Taiwan region to present negative nucleic acid test results for Covid-19.

N.Korea adopts law to protect ‘state secrets’

construction” by establishing system and order, the KCNA said. Observers said the law appears aimed at tightening state control and discipline amid protracted economic challenges, reports Yonhap News Agency.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry regards the move as reflecting the Kim Jong-un regime’s efforts to “strengthen its overall social order”.

Seoul, Feb 3 (IANS) North Korea has adopted a new law aimed at protecting state secrets, amid apparent efforts to tighten internal discipline, Pyongayng’s state media said on Friday. The law was adopted at a plenary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Supreme

People’s Assembly (SPA) held in Pyongyang on Thursday, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The objective of the law on the “protection of state secret” is to contribute to guaranteeing national safety and the development of the “socialist

The SPA is the highest organ of power under the North’s constitution, although it rubber-stamps decisions by the ruling Workers’ Party. During the meeting, the North also adopted laws on loans and national symbols, and reviewed the execution of a law on improving living conditions for discharged officers.

Japan’s major snow festival kicks off in Hokkaido

new baseball stadium complex scheduled to open in March.

Sculptures created by citizens include those featuring shimaenaga, a subspecies of long-tailed tits found in Hokkaido, as well as rabbits as 2023 marks the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese zodiac.

Seoul, Feb 8 (IANS) South Korea’s Parliament on Wednesday voted to impeach Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to hold him responsible for the deadly crowd crush in Seoul’s Itaewon neighbourhood during Halloween celebrations last October that killed 159 people.

The National Assembly, dominated by the main liberal opposition Democratic Party (DP), voted 179 to 109 in favour of impeaching Lee, reports Xinhua news agency. Five other votes were counted invalid.

Lee will be suspended from duty until the constitutional court rules in favour of or against the impeachment motion, proposed by the DP and two minor liberal parties.

It marked the country’s first impeachment of a cabinet member in history of the unicameral parliament.

Liberal lawmakers criticized the

conservative government for its bungled response to the deadly incident.

After wrapping up a 74-day probe into the “man-made disaster” last month, the special police investigation team referred 23 government officials to the prosecution on professional negligence and other charges. The team, however, decided not to hold any officials from the Interior Ministry, the Seoul city government and the national police agency criminally liable for the disaster.

Tokyo, Feb 4 (IANS) A major annual snow festival kicked off in Sapporo in the northernmost Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido on Saturday, displaying snow sculptures at physical venues for the first time in three years.

The 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival, running through Feb. 11, features more than 160 snow

and ice sculptures. The winter celebration was held virtually for the previous two years due the COVID-19 pandemic, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Five gigantic snow sculptures over 10 meters tall are on display at the main Odori Park venue, including the one in the shape of Hokkaido Ballpark F Village, a

The famed snow festival first began in 1950 when local middle and high school students created six snow sculptures in Odori Park in central Sapporo. Since then, the event has developed into a large popular seasonal festival held every winter in Sapporo.

According to the organisers, the major Hokkaido tourist attraction usually attracts more than 2 million domestic and overseas tourists every year, with 2019 seeing a record 2.74 million visitors.

Seoul, Feb 4 (IANS) Bereaved families of the victims of the Itaewon crowd crush clashed with police in central Seoul on Saturday as they took to the streets one day before the 100th day of the tragedy and installed a memorial altar in a public square without approval from authorities. About 1,000 people, including about 150 family members, began to march from a memorial altar at Noksapyeong Station, near the site of the Oct. 29 accident that killed 159 people during Halloween festivities, at around 11 a.m., to Sejongno Street, where they were to hold a memorial rally for the victims, Yonhap News Agency reported. They had initially planned to hold the event at nearby Gwanghwamun Square and set up the memorial altar there. But the city government rejected the requests, and the police agency dispatched about 3,000 personnel near Gwanghwamun Square.

In the middle of the march, the families and participants abruptly set up a temporary memorial facility at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, located on Sejongno Street.

Police briefly clashed with them while trying to block the installation. After police officers stepped back in the face of their resistance, about 70 Seoul city officials attempted remove the facility but also failed.

During the confrontation, a bereaved family member lost consciousness and was taken to a nearby hospital, witnesses said. They finally set up the altar at around 2.10 p.m. and then began the memorial event, with about 5,000 participants occupying four of the six lanes of the road.

The families wore a red scarf symbolizing the grief of losing loved ones and a badge where four stars are carved to represent the victims, their families, survivors and rescuers.

A 51-year-old rallier, Lee Jeong-nyeo, said she joined the rally with her 11-year-old son over frustrations that the National Assembly has not done enough to uncover the truth of the accident.

Last month, the assembly wrapped up a 55-day parliamentary probe into the case amid criticism it fell short of expectations and was used as a tool for political fighting.

“We express deep regret toward the police and the Seoul metropolitan government for trying to block the voices of the bereaved families rather than remembering and commemorating the victims,” a local civic group, Lawyers for a Democratic Society, also known as Minbyun, said in a statement.

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, and other opposition lawmakers also joined the rally.

“The responsibility of the state is nowhere to be found before the tragedy, after the tragedy and now ... the Seoul city government even coldly turned down the bereaved families’ request asking for just a small space to commemorate the victims today,” Lee said.

Lee accused the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol of turning the “ordinary families of the victims” into “fighters,” saying his party will continue its efforts to uncover the truth of the disaster and hold those responsible to account.

Families of crowd crush victims clash with police over installation of memorial altar

With an eye on China, senior US official arrives in Nepal B’desh: Freedom fighters express displeasure over Sarah Hossain’s inclusion in UN panel

State Department.

In Nepal, Nuland will engage with the new government on the broad agenda of the US partnership with Nepal, the Department said in a statement.

Nuland is a seasoned American diplomat who has worked with three American Presidents, incumbent Joe Biden, and former Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

Kathmandu, Jan 30 (IANS)

With an eye on China as it has expanded its clout across South Asia, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland arrived in Kathmandu where she will meet members of Nepal’s new government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Nuland is the senior-most foreign dignitary to visit Nepal following the appointment of Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, as Prime Minister on December 25 last year.

During her seven-day travel itinerary, Nuland will be touring Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Qatar between January 28 and February 3, according to the US

With the formation of the government led by the former communist rebel leader and backed by the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist), the Americans want to stop th Himalayan nation from tilting towards China.

When the Nepal government had decided to accept $500 million US grant under the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Beijing tried to disturb it. Both Washington and Beijing exchanged heated words when Nepali political parties decided to ratify the American grant from the Parliament.

Despite strong reservations from Beijing, Nepal’s parliament in February last year ratified the MCC which is all set to come into operation from August this year.

The US Ambassador in Kathmandu Dean Thompson already said that Washington’s top priority in Nepal goes to the implementation of the MCC. Still some sections in Nepal have been opposing for MCC implementation.

During n interaction with journalists on January 12, Thompson said that his country attaches top priority to implementing the MCC Nepal compact, not least because he had received encouraging feedback from various stakeholders for its timely implementation.

The $500 million project is set to enter into force from August with the US government wanting to ensure it is executed without any further hindrances. Nepal government officials said that in addition to regular matters, top US priority is to ensure an unhindered implementation of the MCC in Nepal. The project should be completed within five years. Furthermore, the US has also extended another $659 million economic assistance through the USAID for another five years.

Sri Lanka celebrates 75 years of independence

Galle Face in Colombo, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The parade included armored vehicles of the military, and parades with the participation of troops, including retired officers and disabled officers. A two-minute silence was observed to commemorate all Sri Lankans who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

Colombo, Feb 4 (IANS) Sri Lanka celebrated 75 years of independence on Saturday by holding a military and cultural parade with the participation of a number of

foreign special invitees.

The President’s Media Division said that the event was organiSed with great pride and dignity ensuring minimal cost to showcase the pride and past glory of Sri Lanka to the world.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena participated in the events held at Architect of Kargil War, Musharraf was Pak’s longest-serving president

Pakistan from 2001 to 2008, The Express Tribune reported.

The former president’s family moved from New Delhi to Karachi in 1947. He joined the Pakistan Army in 1964 and was a graduate of the Army Staff and Command College, Quetta. The military ruler also took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars, Geo News reported.

He was promoted to the rank of general in 1998 and took over as the chief of army staff (COAS).

Islamabad, Feb 5 (IANS) Former Pakistan President and military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, who had been living in Dubai since 2016, breathed his last on Sunday, local media reported.

The 79-year-old former chief of army staff was suffering from amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by a build-up of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body, according to his family. The build-up of amyloid proteins (deposits) can make it difficult for the organs and tissues to work properly.

Musharraf assumed the post of Chief Executive after imposing martial law in the country in 1999 and served as the president of

A year later on October 12, 1999, Gen (retd) Musharraf usurped power in a coup d’etat.

Musharraf remained the longest-serving president of Pakistan as he took after taking over the country’s reins. He was elected as the president through a referendum in 2002 and remained in office till 2008, Geo News reported.

During his tenure, the military leader accepted the US proposal for Pakistan to become a frontline ally after the 9/11 incident. Later in 2004, he was elected as a president in uniform for five year via 17th Amendment in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Musharraf is also known for anti-constitutional measures to

Dhaka, Feb 3 (IANS) Freedom fighters in Bangladesh have expressed displeasure and are shocked with the recent appointment of Sarah Hossain, who “defended” the convicts of the 1971 war crimes, to the United Nations’ fact-finding mission on alleged human rights violations in Iran. Hossain, a Bangladeshi lawyer, will serve the mission as its chair with Shaheen Sardar Ali of Pakistan and Viviana Krsticevic of Argentina as two other members of the panel constituted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The three-member panel will inquire about the “state of repression” unleashed by the Iranian government to “suppress the movement against the Hijab”.

The freedom fighters are questioning “how the UN can select someone for the mission on alleged human rights violations who had a record of defending war criminals who slaughtered and raped tens of thousands for religious absolutism”.

They argue that Hossain with her British husband David Bergman “defended and lobbied hard to save local self-confessed and convicted war criminals from Jamaat-e-Islam, some of whom are accused of committing genocide, rape and arson during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war”. Former Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik has termed the inclusion of Hossain, “who defended the war criminals akin to the Iranian mullahs, in the UN committee on Iran a big blunder”.

“A classic case of a double standard practised by the UN and Western countries, driving their agenda, has become

evident with the inclusion of Hossain in the UN committee set up to investigate atrocities against women in Iran,” Justice Manik asserted.

Bergman and Hossain, whose father Kamal Hossain emerged as the Prime Ministerial face of the Islamist coalition before the 2018 parliament polls, have “stoutly defended the Jamaate-Islami and BNP leaders accused of heinous war crimes”. Self-confessed war criminals, mostly Jamaat members are said to have poured in millions in “lobbying focused on the US and the UK policymakers to cover up their horrendous war crimes and hired journalists as well”.

Bergman defended war criminals with his blog, peddling narratives that undermine harrowing crimes, that sparked a call for his boycott by the country’s popular movement which sought justice for millions of Bengali families who waited four long decades to see the trial. Even the country’s court warned Bergman not to repeat such “malicious and prejudicial” criticism of historically settled issues. Recently the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, a US-based institution, has recognised the brutal killings of Bangladeshis by the Pakistani forces in 1971 as a “genocide”.

Thousands rally as wave of terrorism hits Pakistan

depose the judges of Supreme Court in November 2007, which marked the beginning of Lawyers’ Movement - also known as the Movement for the Restoration of Judiciary, Geo News reported. Following a movement led by the political parties, Musharraf resigned as the president on August 18, 2008.

The former military ruler was sentenced to death by a special court on December 17, 2019, under Article 6 of the Constitution. A case of high treason was filed against him during Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tenure.

Musharraf was present in the court on March 31, 2016, when he was indicted on the charges. Later, he flew out of the country due to his illness, Geo News reported.

Reacting to the news, InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said that the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad, and tri-services chiefs expressed heartfelt condolences on the former army chief’s demise.

Peshawar, Feb 4 (IANS)

Thousands across KhyberPakhtunkhwa (K-P) took to the streets to record their protest against increasing lawlessness and terrorism in the region, demanding that the vulnerable police force be armed to the teeth, local media reported. They were holding white flags and demanding strict action against terrorism, The Express Tribune reported.

Civil society member, lawyers, political workers and the general public attended the protests held at Peshawar, Bajaur, Dir Upper, Dir Lower, Bannu, DI Khan and other key cities.

They said the police have been in the vanguard of terror fight and they should be protected and equipped properly to combat the menace effectively, The Express Tribune reported. The rallies come as Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorism, mostly in K-P, as also in Balochistan and the Punjab town of Mianwali,

which borders K-P. A terror attack also reached as far as the peripheries of Islamabad.

On January 30, a powerful explosion ripped through a mosque in Peshawar’s Red Zone area where between 300 and 400 people - mostly police officers - had gathered for prayers. The suicide blast blew away the wall of the prayer hall and caused the inner roof to collapse in which 101 people, mostly policemen, were killed. January was the deadliest month since 2018, in which 134 people lost their lives - a 139 per cent spike - and 254 received injuries in at least 44 terrorist attacks across the country, The Express Tribune reported.

On Friday, several rallies organised by local rights organisations were held in K-P’s Shangla district. The leadership of different political parties, including the PTI, PPP, Awami National Party (ANP) and others, had addressed the rallies.

Baltic PMs meet with focus on regional security

The three Prime Ministers also discussed the ongoing work on the Rail Baltica project and current EU affairs.

Half a million UK workers strike over pay amid high inflation

Talinn, Feb 4 (IANS) Regional security was high on the agenda during talks between the Prime Ministers of the three Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said at a news conference after the meeting here on Friday that all possible support should be provided to Ukraine in the long run, adding that Latvia’s donations to Ukraine have now reached 1 per cent of its GDP, reports Xinhua news agency.

Karins added that he expects the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, this summer to

produce decisions that will further boost Baltic security and defence.

Latvia has already taken significant action to end its dependency on Russian energy imports, but more investment and work is needed for the country to develop its own energy infrastructure.

In a tweet later, Karins said:

“Our strength is our unity. The Russia’s war is still ongoing and we will need our unity in the long run to help Ukraine, strengthen our economies and defence. In all areas we are closely working with our NATO and EU allies.”

On her part, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said: “Productive meeting in Talinn, focused on support for Ukraine, priorities for the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, energy security. Almost a year after a full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has endured heroically, though at tragic cost. Our increased and speedy help to Ukraine is crucial.”

Saying that she had a “good discussion” with her counterparts, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said: “Russia’s crime of aggression must be punished. There can be neither impunity nor immunity for this ultimate international crime. Russia’s crime of aggression needs to be tried before international court.

“We are committed to securing even better connections between each other and advancing cooperation in energy se urity. I look forward to continuing our discussions in May 2.”

Ukraine, EU agree to deepen ties, cooperation at joint summit

negotiations on Kiev’s membership in 2023.

“We spoke and are speaking now as members of the European community. And we are working to have this recognised legally. There is an understanding that it is possible to start negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU this year.

London, Feb 2 (IANS) Up to half a million teachers, university staff, train drivers and civil servants in the UK went on a strike in the largest coordinated action for years amid high inflation and lengthy disputes over pay.

On Wednesday, members of the National Education Union in England and Wales walked out in the first of several days, affecting 23,400 schools, reports Xinhua news agency.

The union said there is a crisis of recruitment and retention within the school system and that the government must address a decade of falling pay.

The consumer price index rose at an annual rate of 10.5 per cent in December, and the cost-of-living crisis continued as food inflation remained historically high, official figures showed.

Meanwhile, wages have failed to keep up. When adjusted for inflation, real growth in total and regular pay fell by 2.6 per cent on the year from September to November 2022, among the largest declines in growth since comparable records began in 2001, the Office for National Statistics revealed.

Kiev, Feb 4 (IANS) Amid Russia’s ongoing war against Kiev, Ukraine and the European Union (EU) have agreed to deepen bilateral relations and cooperation during a joint summit held here.

Following the 24th Ukraine-EU summit on Friday, a joint statement quoting President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursulavon der Leyen was published by the Ukrainian presidential press service, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the statement, Ukraine and the EU reiterated their commitment to further deepening their relationship and promoting Ukraine’s further integration with the bloc.

The parties also voiced their intention to fully exploit the potential of the Association Agreement, which entered into force on September 1, 2017, to establish conditions for enhanced economic and trade partnership.

Kiev and Brussels will cooperate in the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free

Trade Area to ease Ukraine’s access to the EU’s internal market, the statement said. Besides, the EU will consider Ukraine’s request to extend the temporary preferential trade regime, which abolishes tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian industrial goods and foods, and will expire on June 5.

The EU will support Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan and the idea of a peace formula summit aiming at launching its implementation, the statement said.

Ukraine welcomes the EU’s commitmentto continue providing political and military support as long as it takes, which includes military assistance of more than 3.6 billion euros under the European Peace Facility, and the launch of the EU Military Assistance Mission to train an initial 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers in 2023.

In June 2022, EU leaders accepted Ukraine as a candidate formembership in the bloc.

In his video address to the nation on Friday night, Zelensky said asserted that there was a consensus between Ukraine and its partners in regards to the beginning of

“The partners also understand that this year, as last year, we have to continuously strengthen the defence support of our country and the pressure on Russia, in particular the sanctions pressure,” he added. In a series of tweets after the meeting, the European Council President Michel said: “The Ukrainian people have made a clear choice forfreedom, democracy, and rule of law. And we in the EU have also made a clear decision.

“Your future is with us. Your destiny is our destiny. That’s why we are here today. Standing by your side.

“The European Union will support you in every way we can. For as long as it takes. We are family.” Also taking to Twitter, von der Leyen said: “While Ukrainians are fighting to defend our common values, we support your economic security. To date, our EU support amounts to 50 billion euros. We are with you on this for the long haul.

“We must continue to deprive Russia of the means to wage war against Ukraine. EU’s import ban on Russian petroleum products comes into force on Sunday.

“With the G7 we are putting price caps on these products, cutting Russia’s revenue while ensuring stable global energy markets.

“Ukraine is a true inspiration for Europe. We will support your fast recovery and your reconstruction. And we will make Russia pay for the brutal destruction it is causing.”

Around 70,000 staff at 150 universities across Britain were on strike in the first of 18 days in disputes over pay, working conditions and pensions. Their action will impact 2.5 million students through February and March, the University and College Union said.

“Staff aren’t asking for much. They want a decent pay rise, secure employment and for devastating pension cuts to be reversed,” said Jo Grady, general secretary of the college union.

Train drivers from the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) at 14 rail operators were also expected to strike on Friday over pay and conditions.

“Our negotiations will continue with the rail operators to create a package on jobs, conditions and pay that can be offered to our members,” RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said.

Also on Wednesday, around 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union, employed by over 100 different employers in the civil service, walked out as part of the union’s national campaign on pay, pensions and jobs.

The strike “will be the largest civil service strike for years and signals a significant escalation of industrial action after a month of strikes”, the services union said.

In response, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the strikes would disrupt people’slives, and negotiations ratherthan picket lines are the right approach.

Over the last year, the UK has witnessed record-high inflation.

Amid consistently high inflation, polling by market research companyIpsos revealed onTuesday that 67 per cent of Britons believe the worst of the cost-of-living crisis is still to come, while 27 per cent think its impacthas alreadyreached its peak.

Because of the pay disputes, Britain has been under a wave of strikes since last summer.

The government has locked horns with trade unions, saying the pay rises demanded are unaffordable, and higher pay would not help fight inflation.

To ensure public safety and access to public services, the government in January introduced new laws that would enable it to set minimum levels of service during strikes.

Meanwhile, public anger is also on the rise.

An Ipsos poll on Wednesday showed that just under a fifth think the government is doing a good job negotiating with trade unions to prevent public workers from going on strike, while half think it is doing a lousy job.

The large-scale strikes on Wednesday are also expected to take a huge economic toll.

Britain has plunged into an effective “mini lockdown” as half a million workers went on strike, and millions of others were forced to stay at home due to the mass walkouts, noted the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Modeling from the consultancy showed that the total direct cost of the single day’s strike action in rail, education and the civil service would be 94 million pounds ($116 million), making it the costliest day across the whole eight-month strike period.

‘Finland must triple immigration to maintain labour force’

Helsinki, Feb 4 (IANS) Finland needs net immigration of up to 44,000 people annually to stabilise the size of the country’s labour force, a report has said. The report published by the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (Etla) on Friday examined the economic effects ofwork-based immigration, andhowimmigration can compensate for the effects of Finland’s aging population, Xinhua

news agency reported.

Etla said that the level of immigration required to boost the workforce is almost three times the actual level predicted by Statistics Finland: around 15,000 people annually.

Finland’s working-age population began to decline at the turn of the 2010s, when the “baby boomer” generation moved into retirement.

If the current low birth rate and

the level of immigration forecast by Statistics Finland continue, the working-age population will drop by nearly 20 percent by 2070.

Such a decrease in the labour force would result in a slowdown in the growth of the national economy, and affect the sustainability of the welfare state, Etla warned.

“There is a lot of room for increasing the employment rate in Finland, but it is by no means enough to

cover the future need for labour,” said Tarmo Valkonen, research advisor at Etla.

According to Etla’s model calculations,with the requiredlevel of immigration the labour input would increase by almost 10 per cent by 2040, and approximately 40 per cent by 2070.

Although the report points out that the impact of immigrants with low levels of education on the

public economy is less positive than that of highly-educated people, low-skilled immigration is still beneficial to Finland’s economy since it enables services to function and the general population to target better jobs that match their education.

“As life expectancy rises, additional immigration would still not be enough to stop the population aging,” Etla added.

Italy to take stock on progress towards food system transformation

Systems Summit in Rome in July 2021, an inclusive substantial preparatory event that gathered leaders and numerous stakeholders.

“I am looking forward to Italy’s leadership in bringing together stakeholders to create the evidence that food systems transformation is a critical SDGs accelerator,” said Mohammed, stressing that “more sustainable, equitable, healthy and resilient food systems directly impact people’s lives and livelihoods as we strive for a better future for people and for the planet”.

The high-level meeting will serve as the first global follow-up to the 2021 Food Systems Summit, where more than 50,000 people,a-including 77 heads of state and government, froma-193 countries, committed to accelerate and deepen the transformative power of food systems, for the full realisation of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Italy hosted the Pre-Food

The UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment will be hosted by Italy, in collaboration with the Rome-based UN Agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system. The aim is to provide opportunities for countries to report on progress made at the national level since the UN Food Systems Summit in 2021 and their contributions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda -- despite a current global context that has substantially changed.

The number of people unable to afford a healthy diet increased by an additional 112 million between 2019 to 2020, to almost 3.1 billion, reflecting the impacts of rising consumer food prices during the pandemic.

“I strongly welcome the decision of the UN to accept Italy’s offer to host and co-organize in Rome the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment, together with the UN Rome-based agencies, the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system,” said minister Tajani.

“Italy, with the strategic involvement of its strong and innovative agrifood sector, is committed to play an increasingly active role in supporting the efforts of the international community to promote food security and transformative and innovative solutions for sustainable and efficient food systems throughout the world.

“As one of oldest and most influential food cultures of the world, we intend to play our part in addressing one of the key challenges for the achievement

of the 2030 Agenda,” he added. The three-day meeting will further highlight the central role of food systems transformations in overall SDG advancement ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023.

It will also be a conducive space for countries to share stories of success and early signs of transformation and maintain the momentum for bold acceleration and bold action to further the resilience of food systems. FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, expressed full support for the stocktaking meeting for transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for better production, nutrition, environment and a life leaving no one behind.

The UN and Italy called on all countries and food systems actors to “prepare and seize the opportunity” of the Stocktaking Moment to reaffirm the worlda�s commitment to act with urgency, at scale and in line with the promise of the SDGs.

Retired general Pavel wins Czech presidential election

Prague, Jan 29 (IANS) The second round of the Czech presidential election concluded on Saturday, with retired general Petr Pavel winning over former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, according to official results.

With 99.99 per cent of precincts counted, Pavel won with 58.32 per cent of the vote to Babis’ 41.67 per cent. Turnover for the election surpassed 70 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. Voters cast their ballots on Friday and Saturday, with Czechs abroad heading to the polls on Thursday. The first round, which took place on

January 13-14, featured eight candidates before going to a run-off between the two men after Pavel received 35.4 per cent of the vote and Babis received 34.99 per cent.

Pavel, 61, served as Head of the NATO Military Committee. He was endorsed by the current ruling government coalition. Babis, 68, the Head of the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) party, served as Prime Minister from 2017 to 2021.

In his victory speech, Pavel called on Czechs to work together to get through differences and solve the country’s various challenges.

“It is important that we are able to solve problems together, as one community,” Pavel said at an election watch party in Prague. He added that the Czech society was not only divided by the campaign but also by the hardships the country is currently facing.

The President of the Czech Republic is chosen in a direct election and serves a term of five years. The mandate can be held for a maximum of two consecutive terms. Incumbent President Milos Zeman’s term concludes in March.

Ancient marble statue of Hercules emerges after sewer work in Rome park

a World Heritage site, have led to the discovery of an ancient Roman-era marble statue of the mythical demigod Hercules. Repair crews were called in after sewer pipes in the national park at the Appian Way collapsed, causing ditches and minor landslides, reports Xinhua news agency.

The excavations, which reached a depth of 20 meters and as rules require in the Italian capital, were carried out with the presence of archaeologists. The life-size marble statue found at the site is reported to be of Hercules, an ancient Roman demigod known as the protector of the weak.

Rome,

The figure represented by the statue carried a club and had a lion’s coat over his head, part of the iconography representing Hercules.

According to reports, the statue likely dates back to Rome’s imperial period, which stretched from 27 BC to 476 AD. The find recalls last November’s discovery of two dozen well-preserved bronze statues beneath the foundations of thermal baths in Tuscany.

Those statues were 2,300 years old, even older than the Hercules statue.

The marble statue of Hercules was broken during excavations but was otherwise well preserved.

This is the second time this year that the Appian Way makes international headlines.

On January 11, the Culture Minister formally backed the inclusion of the Appian Way on Unesco’s World Heritage list.

It was the first time the Ministry ever backed a UNESCO

candidacy directly.

The Appian Way is an ancient road that spans 550 km between Rome and the southern Italian city of Brindisi.

It was designed in 312 BC by statesman Appio Claudio Cieco. His goal was to build a road that quickly connected Rome to Capua for the movement of troops southwards during the Second Samnite War (326-304 BC).

Later on, the route was extended to Brindisi to directly connect with Greece, the East, and Egypt, for military expeditions, travel and trade.

It was the most famous route in the Roman era

If he Appian Way becomes a Unesco site, the Appian Way will be the second longest such site after the Great Wall of China.

Jan 28 (IANS) Routine sewer repairs in an area in

Rome, which was seeking a recognition from the Unesco as

Rome, Feb 4 (IANS) On behalf of the Secretary-General of the UN, Deputy SecretaryGeneral Amina Mohammed and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Antonio Tajani, announced the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment, will take place in Rome from July 24-26 at the premises of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Thai economy continued to recover in Dec 2022: Central bank

increase over the previous year’s figure of less than half a million, BOT assistant governor Chayawadee Chai-Anant told a news conference.

Chairing ASEAN, Indonesia pushes for more concrete cooperation: FM

Bangkok, Feb 1 (IANS) The Bank of Thailand (BOT) said the country’s economy continued to recover in December 2022, driven by tourism, despite a global economic slowdown. As the economy maintained its traction, the service sector continued to be the key driver of growth in December, thanks

to rising foreign tourist arrivals, which boosted private consumption, Xinhua news agency quoted the bank as saying in a statement.

Thailand welcomed 2.24 million international travellers in December, beating its entire-year target of 11.15 million foreign visitors, a significant

According to the BOT, the country’s economy continued to improve in the final quarter of 2022 from the previous quarter due to increasing foreign tourist arrivals, which bolstered services and private consumption growth. However, exports, a key engine of growth, declined for the third month in a row in December 2022 due to lower demand from trading partners, which weighed on industrial production and private investment, Chayawadee said. She said that private investment indices fell in all categories last month from a month earlier, while lower investment in machinery and equipment was in line with the slowdown in manufacturing activity.

Laos Parliament approves cabinet reshuffle

Minister of Energy and Mines

Daovong Phonekeo is replaced by the former governor of Saravan province, Phoxay Sayasone. Daovong will take up a new post in Saravan province.

Ngampasong Muongmany, former Vice Minister of Public Works and Transport will become Minister of Public Works and Transport.

Vientiane, Jan 30 (IANS) The Standing Committee of the Laos National Assembly (NA) on Monday approved a three-minister cabinet reshuffle, following a proposal by the Prime Minister.

Former governor of Savannakhet province Santiphab Phomvihane was appointed as

the new minister of finance, reports Xinhua news agency. Bounchom Oubonpaseuth, former Minister of Finance will take up a new post in Savannakhet province, Vice President of the Laos NA, Sounthone Xayachack, told a press conference here on Monday.

Former Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone will take up a new post in Luang Namtha province. The reshuffle comes a month after the Fourth Ordinary Session of the National Assembly (Ninth Legislature) of Laos elected Sonexay Siphandone as Prime Minister to replace Phankham Viphavanh.

Myanmar declares martial law in 37 towns

Yangon, Feb 3 (IANS)

Myanmar’s State Administration Council has declared martial law in 37 towns

of four regions and four states in the Southeast Asian country. According to the council’s orders issued Thursday night, the 37 towns are 11 from Sagaing region, seven from Chin state, five each from Magway and Bago regions, four from Kayah state, two each from Taninthayi region and Kayin state and one from Mon state respectively, Xinhua news agency reported.

The council gave the administrative and judicial power to commanders of respective military commands to perform security, maintain the rule of law and tranquility, the council said in a statement.

The move came one day after the country extended the state of emergency for six more months.

Cambodia continues to pursue independent foreign policy:

International Cooperation, Information and Media on “Cambodia’s Foreign Policy in the New Context of World Order”.

“Over the last five years, the world has continued to evolve to an international system with a global, multipolar and complicated nature,” he added.

“This evolution has led to profound, rapid, uncertain and precarious transformations.”

FM

in 2022, active and sincere endeavours in the capacity of ASEAN Chair and Special Envoy to address the Myanmar issue. Sokhonn also underlined a set of foreign policies to which the kingdom will continue to adhere, in light of the fierce competition and uncertainties in the international relations.

Phnom Penh, Feb 2 (IANS)

Cambodia continued to pursue an independent foreign policy that upholds its core interests, guarantees sovereignty and peace, and boosts economic ties, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said.

Sokhonn, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, made the remarks on Wednesday while briefing the National Assembly’s Commission on Foreign Affairs,

On international and regional contexts, he highlighted the rivalry of superpowers with a myriad of security, economic and development alliance and initiatives across the regions, and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported.

On domestic front, he cited Cambodia’s successful control of Covid-19, great accomplishments of its ASEAN chairmanship

Jakarta, Jan 31 (IANS) As the 2023 ASEAN chair, Indonesia has aimed to push for more concrete and inclusive cooperation among countries in the region, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

“We want to show the world that ASEAN is relevant and important for all regions and countries across the globe. Besides, we should be confident because the economy in Southeast Asia will still be more stable and grow faster than the global economy,” Marsudi added in a hearing with the country’s parliament in Jakarta on Monday.

He said during its ASEAN chairmanship, Indonesia would hold a flagship event that would discuss the creative economy, digital economy for sustainable development goals, infrastructure development, as well as inclusive business and investment, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We want ASEAN to uphold the principle of development

inclusiveness so that no country would feel excluded or left behind, because such insecurity can trigger or maintain rivalry among countries in the region,” Marsudi added.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo kicked off on Sunday the country’s 2023 ASEAN chairmanship, with the theme of “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth”. Widodo suggested that Indonesia, as Southeast Asia’s largest economy, should foster initiatives and concrete steps to solve crucial regional issues and lead member states to contribute to the world amid the current challenging situation. ASEAN will continue to maintain economic growth, peace and stability in the region, he said.

Vietnam seeks to boost export, production

Hanoi, Feb 3 (IANS) Vietnam considers trade facilitation, technical barriers reduction and improving products’ quality among key tasks to diversify export markets amid multiple external challenges, as per local reports on Friday.

Vietnam’s scale of economy is still modest with limited resilience and competitiveness, therefore it is crucial to avoid the global recession, local newspaper Bao dau tu (Investment) reported, citing Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a meeting, quoted by Xinhua.

Noting that external factors have led to lowering demand and decreasing production in Vietnam, he said: “It is important to diversify exports and supply chains while developing a resilient and self-independent economy and increase demand for the domestic market of nearly 100 million people.”

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said that a range of measures are needed to facilitate production and exports, including diversifying export markets, taking advantage

of 15 free trade agreements that are in effect and updating new regulations from buyers. “Companies should further accelerate diversifying market and avoid overreliance on traditional markets,” he said at the meeting held on Friday. Though accounting for small share of Vietnam’s export, northern Europe and Latin American markets still have much room for growth. With proper approach, Vietnam’s products can increase their presence in these markets, he added.

The Vietnamese manufacturing sector continued to face challenging business conditions in January this year with declining production and new orders, according to a report by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Landslides in Indonesia kill 2

Among them are the upholding of Cambodia’s core interests in compliance with the constitution; a proactive diplomacy to guarantee sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, peace and socio-economic development; the implementation of an independent foreign policy in line with the objectives and principles of the charters of the UN and ASEAN; and the strengthening of economic ties with both existing and new partners.

Jakarta, Feb 3 (IANS) At least two people were reportedly killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon rain in the eastern Indonesian province of South Sulawesi, an official has said.

“Two were killed by landslides since Wednesday. Authorities have recovered their bodies,” provincial disaster agency chief Amson Padolo told local media, Xinhua news agency reported. The total number of locals

impacted by the disaster was still under calculation, he added. Indonesia has been facing extreme weather of heavy rains and strong winds since last December, which led to a series of disasters including floods and landslides.

According to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the peak of the rainy season is from January to February.

Peru’s Congress rejects bill to advance polls amid protests

The legislation proposed that the term of current President Dina Boluarte end on April 30, 2024, with her successor serving the rest of the 2021-2026 presidential term started by Castillo, reports Xinhua news agency.

The initiative on Wednesday received 54 in favour, 68 against and two abstentions.

Boluarte had previously urged lawmakers to adopt the bill and promised to move forward with constitutional reform to advance the election if the legislation fails.

Part of road in Canada to be named Komagata Maru Way

Lima, Feb 2 (IANS) Peru’s Congress has rejected a second bill to bring forward the presidential election to December 2023 amid the continued deadly protests following the removal of former President Pedro Castillo two months ago.

Within the deeply fragmented Congress, some lawmakers wish to complete their original term, while others want to go further and hold a referendum for a new constitution.

Political unrest in Peru had sparked on December 7, 2022, when Boluarte took office

following the ouster of her predecessor.

The Peruvian Congress impeached Castillo just hours after his failed attempt to dissolve the legislature.

Castillo was then detained by security forces. Among the protesters’ demands are early elections, Castillo’s release from custody and Boluarte’s resignation.

At least 56 people have died in the subsequent unrest. The government has been accused of using excessive force in its efforts to quell the protests, and Peru’s ombudsman said that, of the total victims, 46 were involved in clashes with the security forces.

The Governors of Puno, Cusco and Apurimac regions have also called for the President’s resignation.

Drought causes over $1bn production losses in Uruguay

A breakdown showed agriculture suffered losses of $490 million, livestock $440 million and dairy $100 million, reports Xinhua news agency.

The figure was a preliminary estimate up for review, agriculture minister Fernando Mattos said, adding that the government has taken steps to alleviate the situation.

He called for more structural measures regarding water use for production and consumption.

Montevideo, Feb 3 (IANS)

Drought in Uruguay has had a “direct impact” on farming production, causing about $1.17 billion in losses or 1.9 per cent of the country’s GDP, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Since 2018, Uruguay has been affected by drought across several agricultural areas, and since the beginning of this year, the situation is worsening following the lack of rainfall across most parts of the country.

Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies, 75,000 people have been affected by this emergency across the Departments of Tacuarembo, Cerro Largo, Florida, Lavalleja, and San Jose.

In addition, the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (INUMET), has forecase that the accumulated rainfall expected from December 2022 to February 2023 would be below normal.

In October 2022, the government declared a state of agricultural emergency until the end of April 2023 for the entire country.

According to official data, agro-industrial goods account for over 80 per cent of the South American country’s exports.

Toronto, Feb 5 (IANS) A portion of a road in Abbotsford, British Columbia, will be named Komagata Maru Way in the memory of 376 Indians who sailed to Canada from India in 1914, but were turned away by the country.

Abbotsford City Council voted unanimously last week to rename a portion of South Fraser Way - which extends from Ware Street to Fairlane Street - to Komagata Maru Way, the Surrey-Now Leader reported.

The decision comes after descendants of those trapped aboard the Komagata Maru ship in Vancouver, asked the council to commemorate the humanitarian role played by Abbotsford’s South Asian community at the time.

The project will cost $4,000 for the renaming. The council has also voted to fund a plaque at the Abbotsford Sikh temple at a cost of $10,000, and educational kits to inform future generations about the Komagata Maru incident.

“The gesture shows a commitment to promoting and understanding inclusiveness, and belonging to all residents regardless of their cultural background. It sends a strong

message to our future generations that we must look ... to make sure we have a just society for everybody,” Councillor Dave Sidhu told Surrey-Now Leader.

The Sikh residents of Abbotsford rallied together to assist passengers aboard the Komagata Maru... They provided food, housing, information, and community connection,” a committee that was created in 2021 to study the incident, said in its findings.

“This Abbotsford connection to the plight of the Komagata Maru passengers is not well-known locally, and should be recognised as an important point of community pride,” the report, which was submitted before the council, said.

The 376 Indians, including Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus, who sailed to Canada from India in 1914, were mostly from Punjab. They were kept from docking for several months in dire conditions, and eventually forced to return to India. They reached Budge Budge near Kolkata on September 23, 1914.

“There (Vancouver) the majority of the passengers were imprisoned, and 20 were killed by gunfire when the ship was fired upon,” the report told the council.

Mexico’s economy grew 3% in 2022: Report

Brazil’s Congress re-elects Senate, lower house leaders

According to the International National Congress elections.

Lira, 53, won in the biggest landslide in the country’s history of lower house elections by obtaining 464 ballots from 509 deputies who participated in the voting on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.

The speaker from the centrist Progressive Party gained support from 20 political parties.

The 46-year-old Pacheco from the Social Democratic Party held onto his Senate leadership job despite the challenge by his main rival, Rogerio Marinho, from former President Jair Bolsonaro’s camp.

He received 49 votes in the 81-member upper house, lower than the 57 ballots he gained in the 2021 election.

During their speeches following the victory, both Pacheco and Lira condemned Bolsonaro supporters’ intrusion into state power institutions in Brasilia on January 8.

Pacheco said “toxic polarization” needs to be eradicated in Brazil, while Lira said the South American country “has no more room for those who attack state power institutions”.

Pacheco and Lira were elected for a two-year term.

Mexico City, Feb 1 (IANS) The Mexican economy expanded by 3 per cent in 2022, thanks to its three major productive sectors, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography said in a preliminary report. The figure represented a deceleration compared to the 4.7 per cent growth in 2021, Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying. By sector, industrial activity grew by 3.2 per cent in 2022, followed by 3 per cent in the agricultural sector, and 2.7 per cent in the service sector which has the highest GDP contribution,

according to the statistics agency.

In a separate report, Alfredo Coutino, head of Latin America economic research at Moody’s Analytics, said Mexico continued to benefit from exports to the US market, as well as income from tourism and remittances, which reached an all-time high last year. However, the outlook for 2023 faces significant issues such as an economic slowdown in the US, which is expected to reduce demand for Mexican exports, he added.

Firefighters battle wildfire in Cuba

Havana, Feb 5 (IANS) Fire crews continued to battle a large-scale wildfire in Cuba’s eastern province of Holguin, local media has reported. The blaze raged across the mountainous region of El Prado on Saturday, some 800 km east of the capital Havana, burning over 1,000 hectares of forest, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by Granma daily newspaper. No casualties or injuries have been reported, yet an emergency

evacuation plan is underway in nearby mountainous rural communities. The fire comes as a severe and prolonged drought continues to affect eastern Cuba.

Brasilia, Feb 2 (IANS) Brazilian Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco and lower house speaker Arthur Lira were both re-elected with a majority of votes in the

Former Egyptian PM Sherif Ismail dies at 67

Ismail died at the age of 67, Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported.

Ismail had a disease in the digestive system, according to earlier official media reports, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Ismail served as the country’s prime minister between 2015 and 2018. He was minister of petroleum and mineral resources from 2013 to 2015.

His death on Saturday was mourned by Eyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and

Iraq keen to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia: President

other Egyptian officials.

“He was truly a great man, who undertook responsibility at one of the most difficult times and conditions and he was up to it,” a statement released by the presidency quoted Sisi as saying.

“I have known him as a selfless, dedicated, trustworthy and giving person, upholding his country’s and people’s interests above personal gains,” the Egyptian president added, expressing “deep sorrow” for Ismail’s passing.

Life gradually returns to Yemeni beach amid hopes of end of civil war

how much damage has been done here. Tourist facilities, chalets, swimming pools, restaurants, hotels, and roads are all destroyed. Rusted bullet casings and other wartime debris are still widely scattered along the beach,” he said. Despite the fact that locals were allowed to access the beach, the area is far from safe. In some areas of the region, demining operations are still underway.

Hajjah (Yemen) Feb 3 (IANS)

Almost four years after the Yemeni government forces recaptured the Red Sea coastal city of Midi in the northwestern province of Hajjah from the Houthi rebels in April 2018, local visitors began to return to the city’s beach.

Local authorities allowed visits to the beach in December of last year, after spending nearly four years to remove the landmines that had been planted in the beach and some parts of the city, which is a few miles to the east of the beach and has become an abandoned site as a result of the Yemeni civil war that broke out in 2014, Xinhua news agency reported.

“We are very happy today, because the authorities allowed us to walk on the beach and swim in the sea. Since the war broke out, we yearn to swim in the sea,” said Ali Abdu, a teacher who has joined more than 100 primary and preparatory school students to visit the beach.

“The war has affected all of us,

especially children, most of whom suffer from war trauma. Therefore, this trip to the beach for fun may help them a lot to forget the tragedies and pains of the war,” Abdu added.

The civil war in Yemen erupted in late 2014 when the Iranbacked Houthi rebels took over several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million, and pushed the country to the brink of starvation, causing what the United Nations says is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

Before the war, Midi’s beach, parks, hotels, and restaurants were bustling with visitors from all Yemeni provinces throughout the year, and hundreds of jobs were available, recalled Abdullah Mutanbek, a teacher and supervisor of the trip.

According to the statistics local government officials showed to Xinhua this week, the military demining teams have removed and destroyed more than 50,000 mines and explosive devices in and around Midi since 2018, including 52 naval mines. There aren’t many people around and there aren’t any services on the beach, however, the visitors are quite happy that life has returned to the deserted beach.

While the students played and swam in the Red Sea, some teachers set up a tent nearby and started preparing lunch for them. Their laughter could be heard constantly.

“We lit the fire to cook meat and rice to feed our students and make them feel happy,” school teacher Hasan Musbeh Jerbahi told Xinhua.

“It is an indescribable feeling that we are back to play and swim in the sea for the first time since the civil war broke out more than seven years ago. I’m very happy,” said Yahya Mousa, a student from the school.

“I wish the civil war ends very soon and the happy life comes back to all Yemenis,” the 17-yearold student added.

Yemen forms new reserve military units to confront Houthis

Baghdad, Feb 3 (IANS) Iraqi

President Abdul Latif Rashid said his country is keen to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia at various levels and continue its coordination and consultation with the kingdom on regional and international issues of common concern.

Rashid made the remarks during a meeting with visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Presidency.

It is the Saudi top diplomat’s first visit to Iraq since the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani took office in October last year, reports Xinhua news agency.

During Faisal’s meeting with al-Sudani on Thursday, the two officials “discussed bilateral relations, strengthening cooperation in various fields, and coordination on regional and international issues,” according to a statement released by the media office of the Prime Minister.

In a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein

shortly after Faisal’s arrival, they discussed bilateral relations and the latest development in the region, said a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry in Baghdad.

“The relations between the two countries are witnessing a great positive momentum” and the two sides “are working closely to continue the momentum to deepen coordination on the economic and development front and support Baghdad’s efforts to consolidate prosperity, stability, and growth,” Faisal told a joint press conference with Hussein after their meeting.

For his part, Hussein said Iraq was coordinating with Saudi Arabia regarding oil policy within the framework of OPEC and OPEC+, and carrying out intensive cooperation in bilateral trade and investment. Iraq has been cooperating with Saudi Arabia in the security field and the fight against drug gangs, the top diplomat said, adding the two countries are also strengthening cooperation to reduce the tension in the region.

Saudi Arabia introduces electronic visa for stop-over passengers

Riyadh, Jan 31 (IANS) Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry introduced an electronic visa service on Monday for passengers who are stopping over in the country. The transit visa for stop-over allows those in transit to enter the kingdom to perform Umrah, visit the Prophet’s Mosque, and attend tourism events. The visa is free of charge and will be issued immediately with the traveller’s plane tickets. It allows for a four-day stay in the kingdom and has a threemonth validity period, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ministry said that the new service is available as of Monday on the electronic platforms of Saudia Airlines and Flynas and passengers can apply on the platforms and receive the digital visas in their email.

Aden (Yemen), Jan 30 (IANS) Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad al-Alimi has issued a republican decree to form new reserve military units in the war-ravaged Arab country to fight the Houthi rebels. “President Rashad al-Alimi issued a decree to establish reserve military units called the

Nation Shield Forces, which will be under his personal supervision and leadership as the supreme commander of Yemen’s armed forces,” said a statement released by the state-run Saba news agency on Sunday.

According to the decree, al-Alimi “has the legitimate right to determine the number of these forces, their tasks, and the place of their military operations in an upcoming order issued only by him”.

Al-Alimi also issued a decree appointing Brigadier Bashir Saif Qaid al-Subaihi as Commander of the newly-formed Nation Shield Forces, Xinhua news agency reported.

Al-Subaihi is one of the prominent military leaders who participated in the previous military operation to liberate the

Law on Iran’s SCO membership submitted to Iranian Prez for final approval

southern port city of Aden and the southern provinces from the Houthis in 2015.

Earlier this month, local officials said Yemen’s warring parties were gearing up for new waves of conflict in 2023 amid a lack of decisive steps toward sustainable peace. Various regions in Yemen have witnessed sporadic armed confrontations between the local warring factions after a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations in April last year expired in last October.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia stormed several northern cities and forced the Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa.

Tehran, Feb 2 (IANS) Iranian Parliament Speaker has submitted the law for Iran’s membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to the country’s President for final approval and implementation.

The trip is Mutanbek’s first visit to the beach since the civil war broke out. “It’s terrifying to see news agency of the Iranian judiciary.

Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf handed over the law to Ebrahim Raisi in a letter for final approval and implementation on Wednesday, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency. The move follows Iranian Constitutional Council spokesman’s announcement on Saturday that the vetting body had approved the bill on the country’s membership in the SCO, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hadi Tahan Nazif noted that, after reviewing the bill, the council did not see it as being in contradiction with the country’s religious regulations and constitution, reported the Mizan

In November 2022, the Iranian Parliament approved the bill for Iran’s SCO membership by the overwhelming majority of the lawmakers.

In September 2021, the 21st summit of the SCO leaders held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan declared the decision to start admitting Iran as a full member of the SCO.

Cairo, Feb 5 (IANS) Fomer

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif

Syria rejects report on alleged chemical attack

“Now such countries are investing in this report ... to exert more political pressures, impose more sanctions and embargo on the Syrian people and to prevent Syria from moving on in the reconstruction process,” he said.

On January 27, the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team issued a report, claiming that there are reasonable grounds to believe the Syrian air forces were the perpetrators of the chemical weapons attack on April 7, 2018 in Douma.

Damascus, Feb 3 (IANS) Syria has rejected a recent report by an intergovernmental chemical watchdog that accuses the war-torn country’s forces of a chemical attack near Damascus in 2018 as “politicised” by the US and its Western allies.

The report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is used by the US and its Western allies to justify their attack against Syria launched just days after the

alleged chemical attack in the Douma suburb east of Damascus

five years ago, Xinhua news agency quoted Milad Atiyeh, the country’s permanent representative to OPCW, as saying at a press conference.

“On 14 April 2018, days after the alleged Douma incident, the US, Britain and France launched a barbaric attack on Syria under false pretexts and even without waiting for the results of investigations of this incident.

Lebanon, Cyprus sign deal to boost military cooperation

During the alleged attack, at least one helicopter of the Syrian “Tiger Forces” Elite Unit dropped two yellow cylinders containing toxic chlorine gas on two apartment buildings in a residential area in Douma, killing 43 and affecting dozens more, according to the report.

The Syrian government has repeatedly denied all reports that involve the Syrian military in the alleged attack

Palestine faces pressure to resume security coordination with Israel

reported.

On Friday night, Abbas chaired a meeting to discuss the results of his meetings with Arab officials and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during his Middle East tour.

Much pressure has been “exerted on the leadership to reverse its decision,” Bassam Al-Salihi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, told reporters.

Ramallah, Feb 5 (IANS)

Palestinian officials are facing international pressure to resume security coordination with Israel, which has been severed in response to Israeli aggression in the West Bank.

However, “the Palestinian leadership is steadfast in its

position, and there is no turning back from its clear stance that supports the Palestinian situation,” Sabri Seidam, deputy chairman of the central committee of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement, told “Voice of Palestine” on Saturday, Xinhua News Agency

“The meeting stressed that severing security coordination with Israel is still in place,” he added.

Last month, the Palestinian authorities announced the end of security coordination with Israel in response to the killing of Palestinians in the West Bank city of Jenin.

mummy

comprises a large cemetery. According to Hawass, a tomb that belonged to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of the officials, a supervisor of the nobles, and a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas, the last king of the fifth dynasty, is the most important one among the new discoveries.

Khnumdjedef’s tomb is decorated with inscriptions of daily life.

The second largest tomb belonged to Meri, who was a keeper of the secrets and assistant of the great leader of the palace.

Beirut, Feb 4 (IANS) Lebanon and Cyprus have signed a cooperation agreement for 2023 to exchange military expertise between the two countries, the military in Beirut announced. In a statement on Friday, the Lebanese Armed Forces said the Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning Youssef Haddad signed the agreement in Cyprus with Colonel Loukas Hadjikonstantas, who represented the Cypriot Army, reports Xinhua news

agency.

The agreement aims for stronger cooperation in military activities that include joint air and sea operations in search, rescue, and the protection of oil platforms, as well as joint operations in emergencies.

It is “a continuation” of the pact signed on August 18, 2021 between the two countries to facilitate military cooperation and expertise exchange, according to the statement.

Thousands of Israelis protest against govt judicial reform plan

Jerusalem, Feb 5 (IANS) Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in several cities to protest the government’s plan to reform the judicial system. The largest protest is being held in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, which was attended by thousands of people, Xinhua news agency reported.

Demonstrators have rallied for five weeks in a row to voice their discontent with the judicial reforms proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. They say the reforms will weaken the courts and give the ruling coalition more power.

“These people (protestors) came to save our country,” said former Prime Minister Yair Lapid at the demonstration in Haifa, northern Israel. “We will fight this in the parliament and the courts ... and we will save our country.”

Netanyahu and his partners say the changes are necessary in order to limit the judicial system’s power, which has become too powerful in recent decades. They also say the supreme court often intervenes in political issues that

should be determined by the parliament.

Netanyahu has vowed to push forward with the reforms despite the protests.

Netanyahu himself is facing a trial on corruption charges. While he denies any wrongdoing, his opponents say the reforms are personally motivated. The reforms include giving the parliament the ability to override supreme court rulings with a simple majority, greater influence for politicians in the appointment of supreme court judges. In addition, legal advisers to ministries will be political appointments instead of civil servants. All could enable Netanyahu to influence the outcome of his own case.

331 migrants rescued off Libyan coast in past week: IOM

Cairo, Jan 27 (IANS) Egypt’s renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass has announced the discovery of “important tombs hosting a 4300-year-old mummy” in the Saqqara necropolis near the Pyramids of Giza.

“The mummy is the oldest and most complete unroyal mummy found in Egypt to date,” Xinhua news agency quoted Hawass as saying in a press conference on Thursday.

The mummy of a man, Hekashepes, covered with gold leaf, was found inside a large rectangular limestone sarcophagus in a room located

under a 15-metre-deep shaft, the archaeologist said.

He added that many stone vessels were seen around the sarcophagus, which was completely sealed when the mission discovered it.

“The oldest mummy is part of the important discovery of a group of tombs that date back to the fifth and sixth dynasties of the Old Kingdom,” said Hawass, the director of the Egyptian excavation team working with the Supreme Council of Antiquities at Gisr el-Mudir area in Saqqara. He explained that new discoveries indicated that the site

The mission also found a third tomb for Messi, who is a priest of King Pepi I Meryre, the third king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, and nine beautiful statues, which include one for the priest and his wife, several servant statues, and statues representing individuals.

Hawass added that the mission uncovered another 10-metre-deep shaft comprising a set of beautiful wooden statues, three stone statues representing a person named Fetek, an offering table, and a stone sarcophagus that contained his mummy.

The Egyptian mission also found many amulets, stone vessels, tools for daily life, and statues of the funerary deity Ptah-Sokar at the site, he added.

Tripoli, Jan 31 (IANS) The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has said that 331 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in the past week.

“In the period of January 22-28, 2023, 331 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya,” IOM added in a statement on Monday.

The rescued migrants included 20 women and 35 children, it added.

So far this year, a total of 1,103 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 17 died and 18 others went missing off the Libyan coast, IOM revealed.

In 2022, a total of 24,684 migrants

were rescued and returned to Libya, the IOM said, adding 529 migrants died and 848 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, Xinhua news agency reported.

Because of the insecurity and chaos in the country since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya. Rescued migrants usually end up inside overcrowded reception centres across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centres and release the migrants.

Egypt discovers oldest, most complete unroyal

Jordan closes livestock barns after foot-and-mouth disease detected

Jordan’s Ministry of Agriculture also decided on Sunday to temporarily suspend imports of rough fodder from Iraq after the spread of the disease, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the state-run Al Mamlaka TV.

The ministry said most registered cases of FMD in the Al Dhuleil area to the north of Zarqa governorate were infections of a new strain of the disease.

Amman, Feb 6 (IANS) Jordan has announced the closure of all livestock barns in the country for 14 days after detecting a new strain of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), local media reported.

The ministry said it took several precautionary measures and contacted the ministries and local administration to move ahead with veterinary quarantine, sanitization and immunization.

The ministry also launched a campaign to immunize

Firefighters battle wildfire in Cuba

livestock and establish veterinary hospitals.

Ali Ghabayen, president of the Al Dhuleil Dairy Cattle Association, said 90 percent of cows and calves on farms in the Al Dhuleil area are infected with the new strain of FMD, and 150 cows and calves have died of FMD in Al Dhuleil.

The ministry said that it is contacting companies that manufacture veterinary vaccines against the new strain.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Laith Al Hajj, head of the Cow Breeders Society, said the losses of the new strain have so far reached around 25 million Jordanian dinars ($35.24 million).

Avalanches kill 8 in Austria

Havana, Feb 5 (IANS) Fire crews continued to battle a large-scale wildfire in Cuba’s eastern province of Holguin, local media has reported. The blaze raged across the mountainous region of El Prado on Saturday, some 800 km east of the capital Havana, burning over 1,000 hectares of forest, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by Granma daily newspaper. No casualties or injuries have been reported, yet an emergency evacuation plan is underway

in nearby mountainous rural communities. The fire comes as a severe and prolonged drought continues to affect eastern Cuba.

70% of Mongolian territory covered by snow

Vienna, Feb 6 (IANS) Eight people, including a Chinese national, were killed in separate avalanches in western Austria since Friday, Austrian police have said.

The 32-year-old Chinese skier was buried and killed in an avalanche in Oetztal in the state of Tyrol, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by Austrian news agency APA. The other fatal avalanches took place over the weekend in other areas in Tyrol and the neighbouring state of Vorarlberg, both popular Alpine destinations for winter sports enthusiasts.

APA reported on Sunday that heavy winds and snowfall have increased the avalanche risk in the area over the past few days,

with local authorities raising the avalanche danger level to four in the five-tier warning system and urging winter sports enthusiasts to exercise caution.

In Tyrol, 30 avalanches, 11 of which involved missing persons, were reported on Saturday alone, and search and rescue efforts have been hampered by poor weather conditions, according to APA.

APA said according to weather forecasts, the avalanche danger in Tyrol and Vorarlberg would ease over the weekend.

Ulan Bator, Feb 6 (IANS) About 70 per cent of the Mongolian territory has been covered with snow of up to 60 cm in thickness, local media reported on Monday. The condition increases the risk of extreme wintry weather -known as “dzud”, said the report, citing the country’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.

Dzud is a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when a large number of livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered by snow, reports Xinhua news agency. Herders across the country have used 60 per cent of the total hay and fodder stored for the livestock, it said.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 233,000 heads of livestock have been killed in the country due to the harsh winter and other reasons, according to the Ministry.

Chilean writes history by swimming frozen waters of Antarctica

closely with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, she has been supporting the call to world leaders to act to ensure the conservation of the ocean and the continent at a meeting that will be happening in Santiago, Chile in June.

worth it if the message on the need for urgent action to protect these amazing waters reaches decision-makers,” Hernandez said on Monday when she made history.

have hampered progress, with China and Russia yet to come on board.

Antarctica, Feb 7 (IANS) To raise awareness for the need to protect its waters, Chilean ice-water swimmer, Barbara Hernandez, has made history by being the first person to swim 2.5 km in the frozen waters of Antarctica. Hernandez, an experienced open water swimmer with previous world records including the

Guinness World Record for completing the fastest ocean mile swim through the Drake Passage in southern Chile, is currently onboard a Chilean Navy ship in Antarctica. As a member of the Antarctica2020 group of leaders calling for greater marine protection in the region and working

In just a simple swimsuit, with no protective clothing or grease, Barbara made the 45 minutes and 50 seconds swim in a water temperature of 2.2 Celsius, pushing through the icy waves in Chile Bay, Greenwich Island in the Antarctic Peninsula.

“I’m so happy and so relieved that it all went well today. Swimming in Antarctica has been a dream I’ve had for years, and part of my longtime ambition to swim in parts of all seven of the world’s oceans. Physically it has been incredibly tough, but all

Currently, three large-scale marine protection proposals are on the table within the international body responsible for conserving Antarctica’s waters - the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in the East Antarctic, Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula, the same place where Hernandez undertook her extreme swimming challenge. These proposals, collectively covering almost 4 million square km (one per cent of the global ocean), have been up for agreement for years, but geopolitics

To help move through this impasse, a special CCAMLR meeting dedicated to MPAs has been called from June 19-23 in Santiago, Chile.

“The courage that Barbara has shown in undertaking this swim in the name of Antarctic ocean protection is truly inspirational. That someone put her life on the line to get greater awareness of the problems in the region, shows the urgency of the issue. We hope that leaders take notice and show political courage at the CCAMLR meeting in June to secure the protection of these three large areas,” said Claire Christian, Executive Director of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.

Ageing Dalai Lama attracts huge crowds to Buddhist sacred site

US weapons for Russia, courtesy Taliban

By Asad Mirza

By

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, recently concluded a three-day speaking engagement at Bodhgaya, known as the ‘land of enlightenment’ that has attracted over 100,000 mainly Tibetans from across the world.

The huge response surprised the organisers, as the event coincided with the Indian media talking about a new wave of Covid sweeping the country. Covid was far from the mind of pilgrims and devotees -- even though many wore face masks as requested by the local government authorities.

According to police estimates, about 100,000 people converged at a large open field next to the sacred Mahabodhi Temple, where the ‘Bo’ tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment is located.

Tibetan writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue, who has lived in Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama, for the past four decades, followed him to Bodhgaya. He thinks the main reason for the large crowds is that “Covid has suppressed people’s aspirations”, and this is an opportunity to get back to spiritual and family bonding.

“Not everybody can go to Dharmsala. But this space attracts you because you not only get to see the Dalai Lama and get his blessing; there is also the Bodhgaya temple. And it is surrounded by so many pilgrimage sites,” he said.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about half a million pilgrims were visiting Bodhgaya to pay homage to the scared �Bo’ tree that gave shelter for the Buddha to attain enlightenment.

The Mahabodhi temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, and it is the most sacred site of pilgrimage for Buddhists from across the world, like the Vatican is for Catholics or Mecca is for Muslims.

Around the Mahabodhi temple complex are many temples depicting the diverse culture and architecture of Buddhist countries and communities, such as those from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Mongolia, China, Tibet, Nepal, Japan and Laos. Without a local Buddhist

community in Bodhgaya (most of the population here are Hindus and Muslims), the monasteries here are dependent on foreign pilgrims for their upkeep.

The Dalai Lama’s visit has provided a much-needed fillip to pilgrim tourism here. Most of the monasteries were closed to visitors for almost two years, Nangzey Dorjee, secretary of the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), said.

The Bihar government constituted a committee to step in to help the monasteries.

“Main source of income (for monasteries) is a donation. Donation from the devotees this was their sole maintenance income. Other than now and then, there is no provision of funding from the government side,” he said.

“All temples function on the basis of the devotees’ offerings (so) there were deadly problems (and in addition) local people had no work. All other temples depend on this temple,” added Dorjee.

The large number of pilgrims visiting here does not mean the local temples get most of their donations. There are also rows of donation booths for monasteries and other Tibetan Buddhist institutions across India, Nepal, Bhutan, lining up the street opposite Mahabodhi Temple.

“Whenever there is any prayer gathering like this, donations are natural because people think this is a way to contribute from their hard-earned money, to contribute towards monasteries where young children who study Buddhism are being nurtured. So, you see, it’s always a generous effort by people to contribute to Buddhist education and nurturing of young monks,” explained Tsundue.

People were giving generously at many of the stalls, with volunteers issuing receipts for each donation. “Every family would make sure that they split 1000 or 10,000 or one lakh rupees into small changes,” Tsundue said. Hence, local vendors were doing brisk business selling bundles of 10-, -20-, or -50-rupee notes to devotees in exchange for those of larger denominations. This enabled pilgrims to make even smaller donations.

Built around the monasteries is

a typical pilgrim tourism town with hundreds of hotels, cafes, souvenirs and other shops, heaps of street vendors and a huge number of beggars who are attracted to Bodhgaya because of the compassionate mindset of the pilgrims visiting here. Souvenir shop owner Lolu, who was doing brisk business, said, “during the pandemic, my shop was closed (and) I even didn’t have enough money to eat”, and added with a smile “Dalai Lama has brought good karma for me”. “Dalai Lama has been coming here often (before Covid),” said Dorjee. “He is one of the rare figures and not only for Buddhism; he is also a world figure, he is exceptional.”

Dalai Lama, now 87, arrived at the grounds in a golf cart and had to be assisted by two monks to walk to the stage and be seated. However, his mind seems alert, and so is his thinking faculty. He delivered a lecture of more than an hour each day without any hesitancies or stammering.

At the back of the minds of many of the Tibetan devotees here seemed to be for how long they could hear his teachings and be in the vicinity of his charismatic personality.

Reflecting on the global attraction of Tibetan Buddhism and culture today and the fact that there were many non-Tibetans here, such as westerners, Vietnamese, Thais and many ethnic Chinese from Southeast Asia, Professor Geshe Ngawang Samten, vice chancellor of the Central Tibetan University in Sarnath in India, said that it is because of Tibetans not having a home of their own that its Buddhist traditions have spread far and wide.

Professor Samten also pointed to a special quality of Dalai Lama’s teachings that elicits worldwide appeal and admiration. “He attracts (attention) because he is very rational; his mind is very scientific,” he said.

“The way he addresses the issues either in individual life or in social life, (he does it) through understanding the situation and providing a tool or solution that can be implemented through the transformation of a person (or) the transformation of a social system (or) through the transformation of the education system.”

“That is what people appreciate. He is not in favour of propaganda and propagation of Buddhism,” said Professor Samten. “Always he advises that don’t propagate it, do not convert other communities and people who are already within a religious kind of system. So that is his kind of attitude.”

Indeed, war and political circumstances can make you sleep with your enemy, and despite different ideologies, they can also make opponents strange bedfellows.

As per reports in the British media, Russia is eyeing weapons left by the hastily-withdrawing US forces in Afghanistan in 2021. To secure these arms, Russian diplomats are reportedly wooing the Taliban elements of the caretaker government in Afghanistan.

British tabloid The Sun reported last week, citing a Telegram channel ‘Kremlin Insider’, that Russia is seeking weapons from Afghanistan, including those left behind by the US forces in 2021. Though Moscow has denied these claims, Ukrainian and Western officials said Russia is facing a shortage of arms. Reports claimed that amid planning for an expected spring offensive, Russia has reportedly turned to the Taliban government in Afghanistan for weapons. As per a US Department of Defence report, the American troops had left more than $7 billion worth of weapons and equipment when it pulled out of Afghanistan, CNN reported.

US arms for Russia

The Sun, citing a Telegram channel, ‘General SVR’, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Taliban for equipment left by the US. The General SVR channel claimed, citing the Kremlin Insider, that in exchange for arms, Putin will “recognise” the Taliban government. “Putin is overseeing negotiations with the Taliban to recognise the Taliban government. In return, the Russian leadership is offering a major arms and military equipment swap,” General SVR claimed, The Sun reported. General SVR further stated that those aware of the negotiations say that the Taliban are “extremely surprised” by such proposals, however, they are discussing them in “earnest”. This claim comes amid other conflicting reports claiming that Russia and Pakistan are stressing on the need for “practical engagement” with the Taliban. Some claim that Russia is considering recognising the Taliban government while others claim that it is not considering such a proposal for the time being.

If indeed these reports are true, then it may come as a shot in the arm for the Taliban, as finally they’ll be able to get at least one former super power to recognise them and additionally they also might get some financial package from the Russians, money which is desperately needed by the Taliban government to function properly.

Reportedly, the Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan - Zamir Kabulov - met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on January 25 and apprised them about his meetings with the Taliban in Kabul earlier this month.

Official Pakistani sources in the know of the meeting told Voice of America (VOA) that Kabulov said Russia will continue to engage with the Taliban, but it is not considering granting formal recognition to the rulers “for the time being”.

The Russian envoy “advised” the all-male Taliban to create a “politically inclusive” government and ease restrictions on women in order to move forward

on the issue of their legitimacy, VOA reported citing sources.

US weapons in Afghanistan

As the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan amid the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, 70 per cent of American weapons as well as $48 million worth of ammunition provided to the Afghan forces were left in the war-torn country, Foreign Policy had reported in April last year.

The military equipment included 23,825 Humvees and around 900 combat vehicles. As many as 42,000 pieces of night vision, surveillance, biometric and positioning equipment were also left behind in Afghanistan, as per the report.

The officials familiar with the defence department report had said that it was unlikely for the Taliban to use the US weapons, which require technical support and specialised maintenance. But they had also expressed concerns about the Taliban fighters using small arms, including automatic rifles.

The reality

The big question is whether Russia is actually short of weapons. No, claims former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, the newly-appointed head of the military-industrial commission that is monitoring weapons production for the war.

Hitting out at Western media reports that Russia is facing a paucity of missiles and artillery, Medvedev had said last week that Moscow’s weapons stocks are adequate to continue the fight in Ukraine.

A video posted on the former President’s Telegram channel showed him taking a stock of Kalashnikov rifles, artillery shells, missiles and drones. Russian troops have also deployed Iran-made ‘kamikaze’ drones for their attacks in Ukraine.

Despite Russia’s denial, Ukrainian and Western military officials have claimed that Russia is facing a crunch of arms.

In December last year, Britain’s armed forces chief - Admiral Sir Tony Radakin - had said that Russia had planned for a “30-day war” and is now facing a “critical shortage” of artillery shells.

The Guardian had reported him as saying that Russia faces a critical shortage of artillery munitions. This means that their ability to conduct successful offensive ground operations is rapidly diminishing.

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year, it was planned to be a blitzkrieg-like operation that would sweep the capital Kiev. However, the fierce resistance by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) pushed the Russian troops to the fringes and made it a war of attrition that will complete a year next month.

The war has essentially proved to be a double whammy for Russia. Not only has the country lost a massive number of men and materials, Moscow has also been unable to manufacture weapons at pre-war levels due to crippling sanctions.

Going by the daily estimates published by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, Russia has so far lost more than 3,100 tanks, over 6,300 armoured vehicles, more than 2,100 artillery, over 1,900 drones, and almost 300 military jets, to name a few.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He can be contacted at www.asadmirza.in. The views expressed are personal)

Lionel Messi considering playing on until 2026 World Cup: Report

Buenos Aires (Argentina) Feb 4

(IANS) Argentina captain Lionel Messi has left open the possibility of playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but says his participation will depend on ‘many things’. The Paris Saint-Germain forward previously declared the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would mark his last appearance in football’s showpiece event. But Argentina’s triumphant campaign -- in which Messi scored seven goals and won the best player award of the tournament -- has prompted him to reconsider the possibility of playing in a sixth World Cup. Messi will turn 39 during the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, reports

Xinhua.

“I don’t know, I always said that due to age it seems to me that it will be very difficult to make it to 2026,” the 35-year-old told Argentine sports daily Ole.

“I love playing football, I love what I do and as long as I’m good and feel fit and continue to enjoy it, I’m going to do it. But it seems like a lot to go until the next World Cup. I’m going to see where my career is going, what I am going to do and it depends on many things.”

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni told reporters in December last year that he would keep the No. 10 shirt for Messi for as long as he wants to play on. Meanwhile, Messi said he was

still on an emotional high after Argentina’s penalty shootout victory over France in the World Cup final in Lusail on December 18, 2022.

It came less than 18 months after the Albiceleste beat Brazil in the Copa America final - the team’s first major trophy since the 1993 Copa America.

“Achieving it at the end of my career was amazing,” Messi said. “If it had happened earlier, it would have been great too, obviously. But then you have your whole career ahead of you. My career has almost ended and I don’t think there’s a better way to finish than that.”

Women’s T20 World Cup: Lower-order batting helps Australia beat India in warm-up tie

the 16 over to post a modest 129/8 and then batted poorly to lose their first warm-up match ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Fine rearguard innings by Georgia Wareham (32 not out) and Jess Jonassen (22 not out) helped Australia recover from a difficult situation they had landed at the Newlands. Wareham and Jonassen raised 50 runs for the unfinished ninth wicket partnership as Australia reached 129/8 in 20 overs.

In reply, India Women were bowled out for 85 in 15 overs with only three batters reaching double figures. Darcie Brown claimed 4-17 for Australia as they proved their strength and lived up to the tag as favourites to lift the title.

comfortable margin.

Australia were reduced to 79 for eight, batting first, Shikha Pandey miserly on her way to figures of two for nine including Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath.

Chasing a target of 130, India quickly slumped to 22 for four, Darcie Brown the destroyer in chief with four for 17. India’s innings never really got going, with Deepti Sharma their best performer, making an unbeaten 19 as they were bowled out for 86.

Brief scores:

escape from a precarious 79/8 in

As so often, Australia’s depth came to the fore as they got out of a hole to beat India by a

Australia 129/8 in 20 overs (Georgia Wareham 32 not out, Beth Mooney 28; Shikha Pandey 2-9, Pooja Vastrakar 2-16) beat India 86 all out in 15 overs (Deepti Sharma 19 not out, Harleen Deol 12; Darcie Brown 4-17, Ash Gardner 2-16) by 43 runs.

makes bold prediction ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia and India are currently on hold top two spots on the ICC Men’s Test Rankings. Also, the two fierce rivals also sit on top of the ICC World Test Championship standings and are in the box seat to qualify for the final.

The Australian team has not managed to triumph on Indian soil since 2004, but Jayawardene is hoping that Pat Cummins’ side could go all the way this time.

New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is expecting a fascinating series between India

and Australia and predicted that the Baggy Greens can break the deadlock during the battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“I think it’s always going to be a great series. I think Indian conditions and how the Australian batsmen tackle that, they do have a really good bowling unit and how do the Indian batsmen tackle that... It depends on how

each team starts the series and who’s got that momentum. But it will be fascinating,” Jayawardene said in the latest episode of The ICC Review.

“It’s difficult to predict, but being a Sri Lankan, I’m hoping that Australia can go all the way. Probably a 2-1 win for Australia, but it’s going to be a tough one,” he added.

Shubhman Gill’s stunning form in white-ball cricket has been a huge fillip to India in the shorter formats and Jayawardene believed that the youngster could make a similar level of impact in the red-ball game.

“He’s been very good, he’s technically very sound and he’s

a good player of pace,” he said. “That’ll keep him in good stead against that Australian attack, but it’s always going to be tough and it will be a very good series.

“He is in great form at the moment and if he converts that into red-ball cricket and have that tempo, maturity, understanding of the situations and conditions, he’d be a great asset at the top of the line-up for India. He does give them those good starts at a good tempo to put opposition bowling attacks under pressure,” the Sri Lankan added.

Australia’s four-Test tour of India begins on February 9 with the first Test slated to take place in Nagpur.

Ghana forward Christian Atsu missing after Turkey earthquakes

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Ghana international winger and former Chelsea player Christian Atsu has been missing and is reportedly left under the rubble caused by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey.

Both Atsu, 31, and his Hatayspor Sporting Director Taner Savut were left under rubble after the quake, according to Turkish media reports.

“We pray for Ghana International Christian Atsu and victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. We continue with our efforts to establish contact with officials of Hataspor and the Turkish

Football Federation, considering the difficult situation,” Ghana Football Association tweeted.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Atsu and our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria. We remain hopeful for positive news,” it added.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the survivors, and we pray that our fellow Ghanaian, Christian Atsu, is found safe and sound,” Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The 31-year-old Atsu, who has 65 caps for Ghana, represented the Black Stars at the 2014 World Cup and four Africa Cup of Nations

tournaments.

The Ghana international is now playing with Turkish Super Lig side Hatayspor, the main club in Hatay, which was one of the most affected Turkish cities during the earthquakes.

Atsu has spent the majority of his club career in England where he signed for Chelsea in September 2013. Then, he was loaned to a host of clubs including Everton, Bournemouth and Newcastle United FC, for whom he signed permanently in 2017.

Newcastle have also tweeted to add their prayers for: “Some positive news.”

‘Hoping that Australia can go all the way’: Jayawardene

Cape Town, Feb 7 (IANS) India Women allowed Australia to

Brendan Fraser disses Golden Globes as ‘hood ornaments’ that ‘mean nothing’

reports Variety.

During his interview with Howard Stern, Fraser said that Butler’s Globes win for ‘Elvis’ was “well deserved” and a “big win for him.” He added that he had no interest in winning the prize himself.

“I found myself wondering is this a cynical nomination,” Fraser said.

Rekha to inaugurate 14th Bengaluru International Film Festival on March 23

Maybe. But, you know, it would be a leap of faith for whoever that would be. It would be a calculated risk and it could also be trivialised very easily by the cynical view of this all.”

Actor Brendan Fraser joined Howard Stern’s talk show and continued to sound off on the Golden Globes, which he did not attend this year despite being nominated for best actor in a motion picture drama thanks to his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Whale’.

Austin Butler won the category for ‘Elvis’. Fraser has accused Philip Berk, former president and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, of groping him at a 2003 luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Fraser revealed the alleged assault in a 2018 GQ interview. Berk later disputed Fraser’s allegations,

“I couldn’t really tell because of my history with them and that I still have yet to see the results from their reformation. We all are still awaiting that, to tell you the truth. What does matter is that it would mean nothing to me. I don’t want it. I didn’t ask to be considered even, that was presumed.”

Fraser continued: “They needed me, I didn’t need them. Because it wouldn’t be meaningful to me. Where am I gonna put that hood ornament? What would I do with that?”

When asked if he felt other actors should have joined him in not going to the Globes, Fraser responded: “It’s my fight, no one else’s. I don’t need everyone to stand in solidarity with me.

“I honestly don’t even wanna think about it that much because it’s not that important to me,” Fraser continued about the Globes. “And the good news is, they did something important in that broadcast and it changed my thinking about them: they put Zelenskyy front and centre. They let him have the stage, and that’s a powerful statement and something I can get behind and support.”

Fraser confirmed to GQ magazine in November that he would be skipping the Globes, saying at the time: “No, I will not participate. It’s because of the history that I have with them. And my mother didn’t raise a hypocrite. You can call me a lot of things, but not that.”

For his performance in ‘The Whale’, Fraser is nominated for the Academy Award for best actor.

at the packed party.

After photos of Leo and Eden made their way online, some Twitter critics called him out.

“Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend is so young her high school experience was interrupted by COVID-19,” one person wrote. Someone else commented: “Stop making jokes about Leonardo DiCaprio being almost 50 dating literal teenagers and start calling him what he is - a predator.”

IT capital of the country Bengaluru is all set to host the 14th Edition of Bengaluru International Film Festival from March 23 to 30. The logo of the festival is out already and cine lovers are eagerly awaiting for the mega event.

The festival would be inaugurated by veteran Bollywood actress Rekha. The seven-day event has been sanctioned Rs 4 crore by the government. The festival was planned to be held in the month of February but got postponed to

March.

The 13th Bengaluru International Film Festival was hosted amid Covid scare in 2022, when about 200 films from 55 countries were exhibited during the festival. About 300 films under various categories will be screened at the festival. The Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy (KCA) has already begun selecting the best of the best movies from across the world. The members will also start selecting films for competition categories.

Madonna says ‘ageism, misogyny’ are behind criticism of her Grammys look

Madonna has written a lengthy social media post saying that “ageism and misogyny” are behind the commentary about her look at the Grammys. Unbowed and far from bloody after being the talk of Twitter for two days, Madonna ended her missive with a command: “Bow down, b****es!”

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, according to a new report, is “not dating” 19-yearold Israeli model Eden Polani, despite being recently spotted together at a party.

Sources close to the Oscarwinning actor confirmed to Daily Mail that the pair are not in a relationship.

“They were seated next to each other at a music-listening party. There were a number of people at that event,” the insiders said.

However, they did not comment on whether there had ever been any romantic connection between the two, reports showbiz.com.

Dating rumours emerged after Leo was photographed getting close to Eden at Ebony Riley’s release party for her new EP on January 31 in Los Angeles. In some pictures, the ‘Don’t Look Up’ actor could be seen showing off a soft smile next to the model as he appeared to enjoy himself

The sighting arrived after Leo sparked romance rumours with Victoria Lamas. It is unclear if he is still with the 23-year-old beauty as he was apparently last seen in public with her back in December, when they celebrated New Year’s Eve together.

She also borrowed the words of the ceremony’s leading winner, Beyonce, writing: “You won’t break my soul,” reports Variety. The pop superstar said that she believes criticism of her look is rooted far less in her appearance than longstanding historical resistance to her brazen attitude - combined with a desire to push back at women just for refusing to step outside of the limelight as they age.

“A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous,” she wrote. She wrote on Instagram: “It was an honour for me to Introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at

Sam Smith, Kim Petras put up an ‘Unholy’ performance at the Grammys

English singer-songwriter Sam Smith outdid the recent ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance with ‘Unholy’ collaborator Kim Petras in a horror movie-inspired performance of the smash hit.

Smith started the song in red

leather, surrounding a fleet of dancers that evoked Samara from ‘The Ring’ before cutting to Petras dancing in a cage, flanked by some dominatrices wearing satanic headgear. Smith also donned a satanic top hat, as huge flames heated up the stage,

Leo was rumoured to be dating Victoria, the daughter of Lorenzo Lamas, after they were caught leaving a Los Angeles social club in December 2022. However, Lorenzo himself clarified that the two are “not in a serious relationship” though Victoria “likes him very much” and is “very smitten.” reports Variety.

Smith and Petras won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance and Petras gave an emotional speech.

“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she said, to cheers and many musicians in the crowd giving her a standing ovation.

She further mentioned, quoted by Variety: “I just want to thank all of the incredible transgender legends who kicked these doors open before me so I could be here tonight. Sophie, my friend who passed away two years ago, who told me this would happen and always believed in me.”

“Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music,” she added.

the Grammys. I wanted to give the last award which was Album of the Year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys - a history-making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! “Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech, which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim, many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face!! “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in.”

Chris Brown throws a temper tantrum after Robert Glasper’s Grammy win

American jazz pianist and producer Robert Glasper, clinched the Best R&B Album honour at the recent Grammy. He was feted for his ninth studio album, ‘Black Radio III’. However, his Grammy win has irked the singer-songwriter, Chris Brown. Brown took to his social media after Glasper’s win to put out a post which projects Brown as a sore loser.

Sharing a screenshot of his Google search of Glasper, which described the 44-year-old Houston native as “an American pianist, record producer, songwriter and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres,” Brown captioned the picture: “BRO WHO THE F-K IS THIS?”

The post received widespread flak on social media by the users, who dissed Brown for being a domestic abuser and praised Glasper for his spotless reputation.

‘Black Radio III’ features a diverse range of artists including Herbie Hancock, Yebba and Terrace Martin. With its

incorporation of various musical genres and Glasper’s innovative approach to jazz, ‘Black Radio III’, which was released in 2021 and features a mix of jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and soul influences, continues the legacy of the Black Radio series.

The 65th annual Grammy Awards, which recognises the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, running from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, were held at the Crypto.com Arena at Los Angeles.

Leonardo DiCaprio

is ‘not dating’ 19-year-old Israeli model Eden Polani

JLo posts clip defending Ben Affleck at Grammys after ‘snapping’

Angeles on Sunday night. She took to her social media on Tuesday to share a highlight reel of her star-studded night out with her husband and included a picture of her smooching Ben backstage.

“Always the best time with my love, my husband,” she captioned the clip.

As per ‘Mirror.co.uk’, the Instagram reel came after clips shared all over social seemed to show the moment JLo and Ben seemed to be involved in a tense exchange while host Trevor Noah filmed a segment right next to them.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez has shared a snap of kissing her husband Ben Affleck backstage at the Grammy Awards following claims that the actor looked “miserable”. Fans were convinced they saw the ‘Hustlers’ star “snapping” at

her new hubby while they “didn’t know the cameras were rolling” during an awkward exchange at Sunday night’s ceremony, reports ‘Mirror.co.uk’.

The ‘Jenny from the Block’ songstress, 53, and Ben, 50, attended the glitzy bash in Los

Tom Cruise will pauses film production to attend King Charles’ coronation

Ben was spotted saying something into Jennifer’s ear before she quickly moves away from him, pulling a somewhat uncomfortable face at the star. Her expressions quickly change after clocking that live TV cameras are pointed right in her direction as she sits up straight and laughs at Trevor’s jokes.

Pam Anderson now has her own vegan cooking show

Studios is proud to collaborate with Pamela Anderson on these two series as we work together to share her passion for food and entertaining with both a Canadian and international audience.”

“Pamela’s Cooking With Love is the perfect companion series to Pamela’s Garden of Eden, and services our commitment to authentic story-telling and building a premium library of content for the global market.”

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is reportedly putting his film projects on hold to attend the coronation of King Charles. The British monarch will be coronated in London on May 6, and Cruise will pause filming for the new ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie in order to attend the historic event, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

A source explained: “Tom has been invited to King Charles’ coronation and there is no way he would have ever turned it down.

“It is a hugely prestigious event and Tom is a real royalist - plus he is now close with Prince William and Kate. Tom has told film bosses to shut down the production on ‘Mission:

Impossible’ over the coronation weekend to make sure he can attend.”

Cruise’s decision has shocked the production staff working on the new ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie.

But the film star is determined to attend the event.

The insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre: “It shocked some people on the film, as Tom is so dedicated to his craft and would never normally deviate from his intense production schedules.”

“But something as important - and grand - as King Charles’s coronation is something he would not want to miss out on.” “It is a huge thing for Tom to be invited and he is honoured.”

Michael Jackson estate nearing music catalog sale worth $800-$900 m

Hollywood star Pamela Anderson is set to front a plant-based cooking show on Food Network Canada. The 55-year-old star has landed a new series ‘Pamela’s Cooking With Love,’ a working title, which has been commissioned by Corus Studios and will see her team up with top level chefs at her home in Canada, as they work on a variety of plant-based meals and menus, reports showbiz.com. “Creating elegant and inviting

spaces that inspire a compassionate, calm and healthy environment has always been important to me and comes naturally. Corus Studios and I have set mutual goals with good intentions. It’s been a learning curve - and I am confident they will be a positive partner in helping bring my true vision to life,” she said in a statement.

Lisa Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios added: “Corus

According to a press release, the new cooking show is focused on the ‘Baywatch’ legend being “fuelled by a craving to learn more about cooking and how she can use food to take entertaining to the next level.”

The preview teases: “She works with a variety of influential chefs to develop delicious plant-based menus, gather the diverse ingredients, and prepare incredible meals and moments for her friends and family.”

“Whether it is a casual afternoon cocktail party in the garden, an intimate dinner with family, or breakfast following a night around the campfire - Pamela shines as a host and sous-chef.”

David Gilmour’s wife calls Roger Waters ‘Putin apologist’, ‘misogynist’, ‘thief’

husband Gilmour, 76, shared her message on Twitter along with the statement “every word demonstrably true”.

The author-and-lyricist - who worked with her husband on songs for Pink Floyd’s 1994 album ‘The Division Bell’ - appeared to be responding to an interview Waters gave to a German newspaper, in which he defended some of Russia’s actions in the war with Ukraine, reports ‘Female First UK’.

Waters has previously referred to Putin as a gangster, and said in the new interview that the country had been provoked into invading Ukraine by the actions of Nato and the US.

NEVER WILL BE (sic).”

Samson - whose father was a Jew who fled Nazi Germany - later alleged on Twitter: “Sadly @ rogerwaters you are antisemitic to your rotten core.”

“Also a Putin apologist and a lying, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy, megalomaniac. Enough of your nonsense,” she added.

‘Female First UK’ further states that in response, a statement on Waters’ Twitter page says he is “aware of the incendiary and wildly inaccurate comments made about him on Twitter by Polly Samson which he refutes entirely.”

The Michael Jackson estate is in the process of selling half of its interests in the King Of Pop’s music catalog in a deal in the $800 million-$900 million range.

Three sources confirmed this to Variety.

While details are unclear, sources say that Sony and a possible financial partner are negotiating to acquire 50 per cent of the estate’s interests in Jackson’s publishing, recorded-music revenues, the ‘MJ: The Musical’ Broadway show and the upcoming biopic ‘Michael’, and possibly more assets, reports Variety.

The package would be the biggest deal to date in the still-booming music catalog market.

A financial source tells Variety that Primary Wave Music already owns a stake in Jackson’s publishing catalog, although details are unclear.

Representatives for the Jackson estate, co-executors John Branca and John McClain, Sony and Primary Wave declined Variety’s multiple requests for comment.

Sony has been involved in some of the biggest previous known catalog deals: It acquired Bruce Springsteen’s publishing and recorded-music catalogs for a combined price sources said was around $600 million.

date by far.

Sources would not confirm the financial partner in the deal, and it remains unclear whether one is definitely involved, but likely suspects would include Eldridge Industries, which partnered with Sony on the Springsteen catalog deal and also acquired the Killers’ pre-2020 publishing catalog, and Shamrock, which recently partnered with Universal on a $200 million-plus catalog acquisition from Dr Dre and in 2020 acquired the rights to Taylor Swift’s first six albums from a consortium led by Scooter Braun.

Sony and its predecessor CBS were the sole home for Jackson’s recorded-music catalog for his entire solo career and the latter years of his career with the Jackson 5.

Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s wife has accused his former bandmate Roger Waters of being an anti-Semite. Polly Samson claims that bassist Waters, 79, holds anti-Semitic views and is a ‘Vladimir Putin apologist’, and her guitarist

Sharing a link to the article, he claimed over the weekend that it had been published “against the backdrop of the outrageous and despicable smear campaign by the Israel Lobby to denounce me as an anti-Semite, WHICH I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN and

The statement added: “He is currently taking advice as to his position.”

In 2022, Pink Floyd released their first new single in more than 25 years in support of the people of Ukraine.

Sources say the company also paid $150 million-$200 million for Bob Dylan’s rights to his recorded-music catalog, after seeing the legendary songwriter sell the rights to his publishing to Universal Music for nearly $400 million. Such blockbuster deals have become routine in recent years - the three core members of Genesis sold a catalog package to Concord for $300 million - but if the information is accurate, the Jackson deal is the biggest to

The singer died in 2009 at the age of 50; the formidable entertainment interests of his estate have been handled with a firm hand by Branca, his longtime attorney, and co-executor John McClain.

Jackson’s recorded-music catalog is one of most lucrative in history - his 1982 ‘Thriller’ album alone is one of the two biggest sellers of all time and was the first album to be certified 30-times platinum, although such figures have become muddled in the streaming age.