Re-Elected Uzbek President Unveils Priority Tasks For Country

TASHKENT– Uzbekistan’s re-elected President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was sworn-in at a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament here yesterday, and unveiled a new development strategy, prioritising seven directions to continue his reform agenda.

The development of a free civil society, and large-scale reforms, aimed at ensuring human dignity and its legitimate interests will be raised to a new level, Mirziyoyev said, after taking office for a second term.

He promised that, the rule of justice and the rule of law will be the most basic and necessary conditions for building a democratic state and ensuring human dignity.

Another priority will be the development of the national economy, its growth rates, at the level of modern requirements.

Fair social policy, reforms in the spiritual and enlightenment spheres will be of paramount importance, while finding solutions to global problems, such as climate change, environmental problems, radicalism, extremism and terrorism, human trafficking remain on the agenda.

Strengthening the national military forces will also remain a priority, as a reliable guarantee of peace and security in the country, the president said.

Mirziyoyev was nominated by the ruling Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party, and during the election campaign, he promised to continue reforms, to launch more industrial projects, provide jobs and raise living standards in the populous Central Asian nation.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Iranian Soldier Killed After Being Shot On Iran-Iraq Border

TEHRAN– One Iranian soldier was killed, in Iran’s north-western West Azerbaijan province, during a border patrol, a semi-official website reported yesterday.

Conscript serviceman, Reza Hedayati, was hit by a bullet fire on Friday morning, around Mount Bolfat, an area “used as a transit point by terrorists,” Jame Jam Online, which is affiliated with state TV, wrote.

Hedayati was transferred to a medical centre, but died of severe injuries, the outlet added.

Clashes between Iranian security forces and unidentified gunmen, have been frequent for years, in Iran’s western border areas.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Fire Kills 10, Injures Seven In West India’s Hospital

MUMBAI– At least 10 people were killed and seven others critically injured, after a major fire broke out at a ward, dedicated for COVID-19 patients, in a hospital in India’s western state of Maharashtra yesterday.

Rajendra Bhosale, district collector of Ahmednagar, 255 km from Mumbai in Maharashtra, confirmed that 10 people had died in the intensive care unit of the hospital, and preliminary enquiry indicated it could be a short circuit.

The fire has been brought under control by four fire tenders.

Expressing condolences on the deaths, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi tweeted, “Anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire in a hospital in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.”

Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, ordered a probe into the incident and announced a compensation of five lakh rupees (6,739 U.S. dollars) each, to the kin of the deceased.

“Deeply anguished by the heart-wrenching accident that took place in the Civil Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with the bereaved families and I pray to God for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Home Minister, Amit Shah, said on Twitter.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

25 Daesh Militants Surrender In E. Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan– A total of 25 militants, affiliated with the hardliner Daesh group, laid down their arms and surrendered to authorities in Jalalabad yesterday, head of the intelligence agency, in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, said.

The former militants were active in Spinghar, Pachiragam and Batikot districts, and the security forces would further stabilise the situation in Nangarhar and its vicinity, Mohammad Bashir, said.

Former militant, Ziaudin called upon all insurgents to give up fighting and support peace and security in Afghanistan, in his speech at the surrendering ceremony.

This is the second Daesh group that has surrendered to authorities in Nangarhar province.

On Friday 55 Daesh insurgents surrendered to security authorities in Jalalabad city.

The hardliner Daesh outfit, which is active in parts of the Nangarhar province with Jalalabad, 120 km east of Kabul, as its capital, has yet to comment on the development.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Indian Capital On Alert As Zika Virus Cases Rise In Neighbouring Uttar Pradesh

NEW DELHI– Authorities in the Indian capital region yesterday said, they were on alert in wake of a spike in Zika virus cases, in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh.

Yesterday, 13 new cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district, which took the case tally to 79 in the state, during the past two weeks.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, yesterday said, his government was alert and watchful of the developments.

“Our system is on alert,” Sisodia said. “If any case is reported, we will tackle it.”

Uttar Pradesh shares a border with Delhi and thousands of people commute to and back from the capital region.

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh deputed municipal corporation teams to the affected areas, to tackle the situation. The teams are carrying out inspections and taking required measures, like fogging, to destroy mosquito breeding spots.

All government hospitals in the state have also been put on high alert , and surveillance has been intensified, to control and identify the cases of Zika virus infection.

“Meanwhile, arrangements have been made in all hospitals for the treatment of virus-infected people,” a health official said. “Surveillance in hospitals has been improved and patients are being monitored strictly.”

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus, which was first identified in 1947. The virus was not considered a major health threat until a major outbreak in Brazil in 2015 revealed that, it can lead to severe birth defects, when pregnant women are infected.

In India, the first outbreak of Zika virus was reported in 2017.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

6.2-Magnitude Quake Hits Eastern Indonesia, No Casualty Reported

JAKARTA– A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck off North Sulawesi province, in the eastern part of Indonesia, yesterday, but no preliminary report on damages or casualty was issued, an agency and a disaster official said.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, did not issue any tsunami warning, as the quake did not potentially trigger giant waves.

The quake rocked at 9:37 p.m. Jakarta time (1437 GMT), with the epicentre at 71 km south-east of Bolaang Mongondow district, and at a depth of 20 km under the seabed, the agency reported.

The Provincial Disaster Management Agency’s head, Joi Oroh, said that, there were no preliminary reports on damages or people killed by the earthquake.

In the two hardest-hit areas, Bolaang Mongondow Timur district and Kotamobgu town, the official said that, he had not received any report on damage or casualty after the quake.

Indonesia, a vast archipelagic nation, is frequently stricken by earthquakes, as it lies on the Pacific ring of fire.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

Australian PM’s Gaffe In COP26 Speech Goes Viral

CANBERRA– A video clip of Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, making a mistake during a COP26 speech, has gone viral on social media, with Twitter users saying it was a “Freudian slip.”

Morrison, supposed to say “global momentum to tackle climate change,” mistakenly said “to tackle China,” during his address at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Krishani Dhanji, a political producer with Australia’s SBS News, shared the video footage on Twitter, saying, “A faux pas from the PM?”

Morrison, Dhanji added, appeared to say “global momentum to tackle ‘China’” instead of “climate change” before correcting himself.

The post attracted lots of comments.

“Poor fellow always switched on with anti-China mode,” said a Twitter user, who goes by the name Prasanna Shan.

“Well spotted. A classic Freudian slip of the tongue,” said another, who goes by the name, Leni Barid.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

China-Constructed Urban Railway In Vietnam Launches Commercial Operation

HANOI– Authorities of the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, inaugurated the China-built Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line project yesterday, making it the first metro line in the country to start commercial operation.

The project was handed over to Hanoi by its investor, the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport, on the same day. All passengers on the metro line can enjoy free rides during the first 15 days of the commercial run.

After taking a free two-way trip yesterday morning, Hoang Thi Huong, a 30-year-old passenger from Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan district, said, the metro line is as modern as those she had seen overseas.

“Taking these trains, I will no longer have to worry about congestion every morning, while going to work,” Huong said, hoping that more urban railway projects will be constructed to ease transportation in the city.

The elevated line is more than 13 km with 12 stations. Each train, with a designed speed of 80 km per hour, has four carriages capable of carrying up to 1,000 passengers.

The Cat Linh-Ha Dong elevated railway project, officially started construction in Oct, 2011. Its trial run was completed in Dec, 2020, with more than 70,000 km of tests on thousands of trips, enabling the system to operate commercially, according to its investors.

Tickets for passengers will be priced at 30,000 Vietnamese dong (1.33 U.S. dollars) for a day pass, and 200,000 Vietnamese dong (8.83 U.S. dollars) for a monthly one.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK