UAE ups profile at Indian Ocean group

[email protected] (Khaleej Times)
November 3, 2012

indianocean

New Delhi, November 3: The UAE is taking its green responsibility seriously and has offered to host the Indian Ocean Rim renewable energy forum next year. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, speaking at the 12th ministerial meeting of the association in Gurgaon on Friday, said UAE officials will discuss with the IOR-ARC secretariat on how to take the proposal forward.

The UAE is home to the International Energy Agency and much can be gained by the group in developing and promoting alternative forms of energy.

Dr Gargash also announced the UAE’s contribution of $500,000 to a special fund of the association. He said the country is committed to the group of 20 nations, with Comoros joining as a full member on Friday. “The IOR-ARC must show will and determination for tangible results,” said the minister. He said the organisation needs to be energised through improved coordination, and new projects in member countries.

He warned of the dangers of the eurozone financial crisis spreading to the region and said the group must shield itself with further investments and press ahead through sustainable growth. He mentioned the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Energy Week in January next year and said the UAE is taking the lead in tapping environment-friendly, sustainable sources of energy.

“We must promote cultural understanding and tolerance in this association with its diverse interests and rates of growth,” Dr Gargash said, and added the UAE’s efforts to host Expo 2020 will bring people and businesses together. He said the Indian Ocean Rim group of countries must interact more to grow and expand.

On maritime security, he said the UAE would continue to combat piracy and has been instrumental in bringing warring factions in Somalia together to tackle the problem at source. Pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia have fallen by 50 per cent since that meeting in June and with the formation of a new Somali government.

“There’s a lot more we can do. We must invest time and effort to further the interests of the group,’’ he said.

Growing together

Earlier, the meeting of ministers was inaugurated by Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who echoed Dr Gargash’s call for the 15-year-old grouping to show tangible benefits for the two billion people of these countries.

“There must be greater structure for people in the IOR-ARC countries to grow together,” said Khurshid. Job creation and security are important for the region to prosper, he said. He laid emphasis on economic cooperation, technology exchange, education and development of fisheries in the region. The minister even mooted a university for the Indian Ocean Rim.

India has contributed $1 million for projects being carried out by the association. China, which is a dialogue partner, chipped in with $100,000.

The Indian External Affairs minister said he is committed to maintaining the momentum of the grouping, but suggested a pragmatic approach for holistic development.

The IOR-ARC, which was formed in 1997, is an apolitical body with interests in maritime security, trade and investment, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, academics, science and tourism. It has three projects in Iran and Oman on fisheries, science and technology and maritime transport.


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Agencies
February 5,2020

New Delhi, Feb 5: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday expressed his suspicion over the government using force to clear the Shaheen Bagh stretch where an agitation has been ongoing for over 50 days against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

While speaking to ANI over the phone, Owaisi was asked that there are indications from the government that after February 8, Shaheen Bagh will be cleared.

In reply, he said, "Might be they will shoot them, they might turn Shaheen Bagh into Jallianwala Bagh. This might happen. BJP minister gave a statement to 'shoot a bullet'. The government must give an answer as (to) who is radicalising."

Further speaking about NPR and NRC, Owaisi said, "Government must give a clear cut answer that till 2024 NRC will not be implemented. Why are they spending Rs 3900 crore for NPR? I feel this way because I was a History student. Hitler during his reign conducted census twice and after that, he pushed the jews in a gas chamber. I don't want our country (to) go in that way."

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News Network
January 17,2020

Mumbai, Jan 17: A 68-year-old convict of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, Jalees Ansari, went missing on Thursday morning while being on parole, officials said.

Ansari, a resident of Mominpura in Agripada here who is serving a life term, is suspected to be involved in many bomb blast cases across the country, an official said.

He was on parole for 21 days from the Ajmer Central Prison, Rajasthan, and was expected to surrender before prison authorities on Friday, he said.

During the parole period, he was ordered to visit the Agripada Police Station everyday between 10.30 am and 12 pm to mark his attendance, he said.

However, Ansari did not visit the police station on Thursday during the designated time, the official said.

In the afternoon, his 35-year-old son Jaid Ansari approached the police station with a complaint about his “missing” father, he said.

According to the complaint, Jalees Ansari woke up in the early hoursand told family members he is going to offer namaz, but did not return home.

On his complaint, the Agripada Police registered a missing case, he said.

The Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police and the Maharashtra ATS have launched a massive manhunt to trace him, he said.

Jalees, who is known as Doctor Bomb, was allegedly connected with terror outfits like SIMI and Indian Mujahidin and taught terror groups how to make bombs, he said.

He was also questioned by the NIA in 2011 in connection with the 2008 bomb blast in Mumbai, he said.

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Agencies
May 17,2020

New Delhi, May 17: With the highest-ever spike of close to 5,000 cases in the past 24 hours, the COVID-19 count in India has crossed 90,000 on Sunday.

With an increase of 4,987 COVID-19 cases being reported in the last 24 hours, the count has reached 90,927, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The total number of active cases in the country stands at 53,946 today, while 2,872 deaths have been recorded due to the infection so far, with one patient having migrated. 120 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

However, on the positive side, close to 4,000 patients have also been cured and discharged in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of cured patients to 34,108.

With 30,706 confirmed cases, Maharashtra remains the worst-affected by the infection in the country.

It is followed by Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with 10,988 and 10,585 cases, respectively.
The national capital, with 9,333 cases, is also one of the regions which is badly affected by the infection.

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