Day: January 9, 2022

NUR-SULTAN – Karim Masimov, former chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, has been detained on suspicion of high treason, the committee announced yesterday.

 

Masimov and unnamed others were placed in a temporary detention centre on Thursday, and the committee has launched a pre-trial investigation, it said in a statement, on its website.

 

The former senior official was put into custody, when violent protests sparked by fuel price hikes were rocking Kazakhstan which led to multiple deaths and many injuries.

 

Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said on Friday that, the constitutional order had been largely restored, in the Central Asian country, after days of stormy riots.

 

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

MALE – Visiting Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said here yesterday that, China-Maldives relations, through 50 years of joint efforts, have become a model of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation.

 

Wang told a joint press conference with Maldivian Foreign Minister, Abdulla Shahid, that China, as an all-round friendly and cooperative partner, supports the Maldives in speeding up its socio-economic construction and enhancing the capability of independent development.

 

“This is our original aspiration and actual deeds, as well as, in mutual cooperation,” Wang said.

 

He said, China has pushed forward the expansion and upgrading project of the Velana International Airport, making it a modern international airport for the Maldivian people.

 

The construction of the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which has since witnessed more than 100 million travels, addressed one lasting traffic issue of the Maldivian people, said Wang.

 

China has built over 10,000 housing units for the Maldives, according to the Chinese state councillor, which helped thousands of Maldivian families improve their living conditions.

 

Wang also said China, within the framework of the Group of 20, spared no effort in facilitating debt reduction for the Maldives, accounting for three-quarters of Maldives’ total debt suspension.

 

During this visit, Wang said, both sides have decided to launch a new batch of assistance cooperation programmes, providing momentum for Maldives’ economic development.

 

“Facts have shown that the joint construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road by China and the Maldives, serves the common interests of the two peoples. We are embarking on a shared path to hope, prosperity and happiness,” he said.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Women have set the theme for International Women’s Day, as “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow,” which will be marked by a high-level virtual event on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly, the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, the Executive Director of UN Women as well as gender equality and climate change activists and celebrities will participate.

 

“Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future, remains beyond our reach,” the UN Women stated in a document.

 

According to the UN Women, the theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW66): “Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes”.

 

The day would be used to recognize the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all.

 

The UN Women document also acknowledges that advancing gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction is one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century.

 

According to the UN Women, the issues of climate change and sustainability have had and will continue to have severe and lasting impacts on the environment, economic, and social development.

 

The UN Women noted that women are increasingly being recognized as more vulnerable to climate change impacts than men, as they constitute the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on the natural resources which climate change threatens the most.

 

At the same time, women and girls are effective and powerful leaders and change-makers for climate adaptation and mitigation. They are involved in sustainability initiatives around the world, and their participation and leadership result in more effective climate action.

 

According to the UN Women, continuing to examine the opportunities, as well as the constraints, to empower women and girls to have a voice and be equal players in decision-making related to climate change and sustainability is essential for sustainable development and greater gender equality.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

YANGON– Myanmar’s military, planned to further extend its ceasefire with ethnic armed groups until the end of 2022, according to a joint statement, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs late Friday.

 

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council and commander-in-chief of Defence Services, announced the move during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.

 

Last year, the military announced the extension of a five-month suspension of military operations from Oct 1, 2021 to Feb. 28 this year, in order to enable effective efforts to combat COVID-19 nationwide and boost the peace process in the country.

 

So far, 10 ethnic armed groups have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with the government, since it was initiated in Oct, 2015.

 

Hun Sen, whose country this year holds the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, discussed with Min Aung Hlaing a number of bilateral and regional issues of common interest and concerns, during a two-day visit to Myanmar, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister, Prak Sokhonn, said.

 

Myanmar declared a state of emergency after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, along with other officials from the National League for Democracy, were detained by the military on Feb 1, 2021.

 

The state power was transferred to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, after the declaration of the state of emergency.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK