Category: Government

The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, arrived in Pakistan’s northeastern city of Rahim Yar Khan on a private visit on Wednesday.

 

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the UAE’s president at Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Airport, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

 

“During their meeting at the airport, both the leaders expressed their resolve to further enhance brotherly relations between the two countries,” the statement added.

 

Recalling his recent tour of the oil-rich Gulf state, Sharif emphasized that both countries would work on the understandings reached between the two leaders in various fields during his visit.

 

Al Nahyan, for his part, said that the “brotherly” relations between the two countries went back many decades and his father, who had immense love for Pakistan and its people, laid the foundation of their bilateral ties.

 

He further stated that he considered Pakistan as his second home and assured Sharif that the UAE would always stand by Pakistan, the statement concluded.

 

Although there was no official word explaining the purpose of Al Nahyan’s visit, wealthy Arab royals frequently visit Pakistan for hunting rare migratory birds, primarily in winter.

 

Every year, over one million birds migrate from Siberia covering a grueling distance of 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) in search of moderate waters. Although their ultimate destination is in India, they make stopovers at various lakes and water reservoirs in Pakistan.

 

These birds include houbara bustards, cranes, teals, pintails, mallards, geese, spoonbills, waders, and pelicans.

 

The sprawling deserts of Thar and Cholistan are the favorite hunting grounds for the Arab hunters.

 

Some argue the hunting safaris of wealthy Arab sheikhs create jobs and help improve the local infrastructure.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

The EU Council on Monday established a civilian mission in Armenia to contribute to stability along the country’s border and help normalization with its neighbor Azerbaijan.

 

“The objective of the Mission is to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, build confidence on the ground, and ensure an environment conducive to normalisation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan supported by the EU,” the council said in a statement.

 

In response to Armenia’s request, the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA) will conduct routine patrolling and report on the situation, as well as contribute to mediation efforts in the framework of a process led by European Council President Charles Michel.

 

The mission will have an initial mandate of two years and its operational headquarters will be in Armenia, according to the statement.

 

Armenia’s foreign minister welcomed the move, saying the mission “will contribute to the peace, stability and security of the region.”

 

“We will readily cooperate with the mission and support its activities,” Ararat Mirzoyan tweeted.

 

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Yerevan against the deployment of a “civil monitoring mission” on the border with Azerbaijan without Baku’s consent.

 

“The Armenian side prefers to negotiate with the EU so that a civilian observer mission can be stationed there (in Karabakh) on a long-term basis. This is the border with Azerbaijan, so if this mission unfolds without the consent of Azerbaijan, it may simply be counterproductive. Instead of building trust at the border, it can create additional irritants,” Lavrov said.

 

Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

 

In the fall of 2020, during 44 days of heavy fighting, Azerbaijan liberated a significant part of Karabakh and a Russian-brokered peace agreement was subsequently signed, considered a triumph in Baku.

 

The peace agreement has not, however, ended conflict along the border and other disputes between the two countries.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

 

President Joe Biden will veto legislation that would limit his ability to draw from the US’ Strategic Petroleum Reserve should it reach his desk, the White House said on Monday.

 

The legislation was introduced in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce on Jan. 9. If enacted, it would prohibit the president from tapping the reserves unless additional oil and gas drilling leases are approved.

 

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the bill is part of wider Republican “extreme policies” that would “subject working families to immense financial pain and balloon our deficit all just to benefit the wealthiest taxpayers and big corporations.”

 

It would further imperil US energy security, resulting in energy shortages and would “help Putin’s war aims by interfering with our ability to release oil,” she added, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ukraine war, now almost in its 12th month.

 

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm echoed the warning, saying the legislation would impede powers needed by a president to respond to dire emergencies.

 

“I don’t care whether it’s a Democratic president or a Republican president, why would you hamper the ability of the country to be able to respond to emergencies and hamper the ability of us to be able to lower costs as a result of those emergencies?” she asked.

 

“I think the Senate understands the importance of that and hopefully will act accordingly.”

 

Should the legislation clear the House, it would have to be approved in the Democratic-controlled Senate, which is unlikely.

 

Granholm further maintained that she believes Biden will be able to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after he drew on it to tamp down on gas prices that soared after the start of the Ukraine war last February.

 

“I have no concerns that we will be able to refill and replenish the SPR and do it at a savings to taxpayers,” she said.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party announced on Sunday that Chris Hipkins will be the party’s new leader and the country’s 41st prime minister.

 

His election was confirmed by a vote in the party’s caucus meeting on Sunday, which lasted less than an hour.

 

The 44-year-old caucus member, minister for education, police, and public service, and leader of the house, was the sole nominee, following his predecessor Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation.

 

Ardern announced on Thursday that she will step down as prime minister and party leader in February and will not seek re-election in the 2023 general election slated to be held on Oct. 14.

 

Hipkins, 44, will take the oath of office as Prime Minister on Wednesday.

 

During a press conference following his election, he said a cabinet reshuffle would be announced in the coming week.

 

In addition to focusing on domestic issues, Hipkins said his government will prioritize rising inflation, high housing prices, and law and order.

 

Born in the Hutt Valley in 1978, Hipkins attended Waterloo Primary School, Hutt Intermediate and was Head Boy at Hutt Valley Memorial College (later called Petone College) in 1996.

 

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in politics and criminology from Victoria University of Wellington.

 

Hipkins entered parliament in 2008, and after the 2011 general election, he was named Labour Party spokesperson for internal affairs and chief whip.

 

He was also the spokesperson for State Services and Associate Education.

 

Hipkins was appointed minister for education in 2017 after being elected as a cabinet minister by the Labour Party caucus.

 

In early 2020, he was appointed as health minister, and a few months later, in Nov. 2020, Hipkins was minister of education, minister of public service, and COVID-19 response minister.

 

In June 2022, he was appointed police minister.

 

Sepuloni appointed his deputy

 

The Labour Party caucus elected Carmel Sepuloni as the country’s new deputy prime minister.

 

Sepuloni first entered parliament as a list member following the 2008 general election, becoming New Zealand’s first MP of Tongan descent.

 

Since 2017, she has served as New Zealand’s Minister for social development.

 

She is also the minister responsible for the accident compensation scheme (ACC) and the arts, culture, and heritage.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

English second-tier football club Hull City’s staff had to use a buzz saw to cut down the size of their goalposts after match officials determined that they were two inches too big.

 

“The match officials have informed the club that the goalposts need to be readjusted and HawkEye recalibrated before the match can start,” Hull City said on Twitter, referring to the game’s HawkEye technology, which officials use to judge whether the ball has gone over the line.

 

Hull City added that the match, which was set to kick off at 1500GMT, was delayed by 20 minutes.

 

The 15th-week match ended with a 2-0 result in favor of Birmingham City.

 

Hull City are in 21st spot with 14 points and Birmingham City are 12th with 19 points.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

Global developments have once again made the Turkic world the globe’s geopolitical hub, said Türkiye’s foreign minister on Monday.

 

“Today, the Turkic world has become the center of global geopolitics, just as it was in history. We have a critical position connecting the East and the West, the North and the South on energy, trade, and transportation routes,” said Mevlut Cavusoglu at an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of Organization of Turkic States member states.

 

Saying that the Turkic region’s importance for global stability and prosperity has risen even further amid ongoing global crises, Cavusoglu added that Turkic states must present a “strong vision for the future” while working to prevent crises.

 

Amid the war in Ukraine, Cavusoglu stressed that global stability and prosperity are under threat as rising energy and food prices continue to plague countries worldwide.

 

“The way to turn our region into an island of stability while increasing the welfare of our nations is by strengthening our unity. The way to strengthen our unity is to take the right steps at the right time with courage,” he argued.

 

Formed in 2009, the Organization of Turkic States promotes cooperation among Turkic-speaking states, including member states Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan as observers.

 

Next month Samarkand, Uzbekistan is due to host a summit of the Organization of Turkic States summit attended by member state leaders.

 

For his part, Binali Yildirim, chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States, stressed the importance of developing relations between the group’s member states.

 

Yildirim, a one-time Turkish prime minister, also expressed the need for the Middle Corridor to boost the integration of transport and communication infrastructures of member states.

 

Also called the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor Initiative, the network of railways and roads starts in Türkiye and covers Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, and Central Asia to reach China, making it an important effort to revive the ancient Silk Road.

 

Saying that the corridor is not only a historically important trade route, Yildirim said it is economically faster and more profitable than other such routes.

 

“Russia’s war waged on Ukraine once again showed that this corridor continues to be the best-working and safest corridor,” he added.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday harshly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call on NATO to launch preemptive strikes against Russia.

 

Speaking at a meeting of the political party United Russia via video conference, Lavrov said Zelenskyy’s words are evidence that Kyiv poses a threat to the global community.

 

“Yesterday (Thursday), Zelenskyy called on his Western masters to launch a preemptive nuclear strike against Russia,” he noted, saying that the call is “another proof of threats by the Kyiv regime.”

 

He added that in January, the Ukrainian president voiced his ambition to get nuclear weapons for Ukraine,

 

Lavrov recalled that Russia’s military doctrine only allows the defensive use of nuclear weapons.

 

He also warned the West against further involvement in the conflict in Ukraine and twisting facts about Russia’s nuclear policy in an attempt to intimidate the world.

 

“We once again warn the United States and other sponsors of the Kyiv regime against becoming more deeply involved in the situation as parties to the conflict.

 

“Our military doctrine and policy of nuclear deterrence remain unchanged. The attempts of Washington and its vassals to distort this reality and our position are aimed at intimidating the international community, forcing its sane part to follow a failed course of reckless support for Kyiv in all its adventures,” the minister said.

 

In addition to “lies and threats” against Russia, NATO and the EU continue to vouch for Zelenskyy, who started to dictate his terms to both the alliance and the bloc, he said.

 

The US and its allies take “huge responsibility” for the dangerous growth of international tension, by “pumping weapons into the Ukrainian regime” despite Kyiv’s openly proclaimed nuclear ambitions, according to Lavrov.

 

On Thursday, speaking at a virtual address to the Australian Lowy Institute, Zelenskyy said: “(NATO) must rule out the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons (through) preemptive strikes so that they know what will happen to them if they use (nukes).”

 

Turning to climate change, Lavrov said Russia is against restrictions on fossil fuels, imposed by the West.

 

Russia continues to defend the need to maintain a balance between the work on countering climate change on the one hand and the tasks of socio-economic development on the other, he said.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

The seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions began in Kazakhstan’s capital Nur Sultan on Wednesday.

 

The congress convened under the chairmanship of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Independence Palace.

 

A total of 100 people from 50 countries, including Catholic spiritual leader Pope Francis, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayyeb, and Israel’s Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi David Lau, participated in the congress.

 

In the opening ceremony, Tokayev said the congress, which was launched in 2003 on the initiative of Kazakhstan, has become a forum for dialogue between civilizations at the global level.

 

Stressing that over 100 different ethnic groups live in harmony in Kazakhstan, he said that some 4,000 different religious organizations are also operating in the country.

 

“Kazakh lands have served as a bridge between the West and the East for centuries. It has witnessed various nomadic empires passing through the great steppe. The common point for all of them was religion and belief,” he said.

 

The pope said conflicts should not be resolved with arms and threats, but with dialogue and patient negotiations.

 

“Let us invest, I beg you, in this: not in more weapons, but in education!” he added.

 

El-Tayyeb, for his part, said: “We are not talking about the unification of all religions in a single religion here. This is a fantasy. We are talking about strengthening social ties between religions and respect between people.”

 

In the two-day congress, participants will focus on the role of religious leaders in a post-pandemic world. The congress convenes every three years in the Kazakh capital.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Doha on Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, according to his office.

 

The talks between the two leaders took up ways of enhancing bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, the Amiri Diwan said in a statement.

 

Sheikh Tamim voiced hope that the Egyptian leader’s visit “will contribute to boosting cooperation ties between the two countries to meet the aspirations of the two brotherly peoples,” the statement said.

 

Al-Sisi, for his part, expressed his hope “to strengthen relations between the two countries and push them to broader horizons,” it added.

 

An Egyptian presidential spokesman said the two leaders agreed to boost coordination to reach political settlements to regional crises.

 

The two leaders also discussed ways of expanding trade, economic ties and joint investments between the two sides, the spokesman added.

 

Al-Sisi arrived in Doha on Tuesday for his first official visit to Qatar since taking office in 2014.

 

Egypt and Qatar restored diplomatic ties in January 2021 following the signing of a reconciliation agreement in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, which brought down the curtain on the Gulf crisis that broke out in summer of 2017.

 

Source: Anadolu Agency