Strong wind & high sea warned

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16 Jul 2018 – 19:58

Strong wind & high sea warned

QNA

Doha:  Weather inshore tonight until 6 a.m. on Tuesday will be fine to relatively humid at places, the Department of Meteorology said in its daily weather report.

Offshore, it will be slightly dusty, the report added, warning of strong wind and high sea.

Wind inshore will be northwesterly at a speed of 4 to 14 knots.

Offshore, it will be northwesterly at a speed of 7 to 15 knots reaching 22 knots at places.

Visibility will be 4 to 8 kilometers.

Sea state inshore will be 2 to 4 feet. Offshore, it will be 2 to 4 feet surging to 7 feet at places.

 

Source :  The Peninsula Qatar

Deputies pass several draft laws

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Deputies pass several draft laws

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan considered draft laws aimed at deepening reforms implemented in various spheres of socio-economic life of the country.The deputies began their work by considering the draft law “On the state customs service” in new edition, in the first reading. It was noted that in order to further liberalize the customs legislation, increase the country’s investment attractiveness in recent years, as in all spheres and sectors of the country’s economy, the customs service is undergoing important structural changes in simplifying the customs clearance of foreign economic activity.

This draft law defines the norms of strict compliance by the customs authorities with their official duties – compliance with the law, openness and transparency while ensuring the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of individuals and legal entities. Development and practical implementation of priority areas of increasing the responsibility of customs officials for illegal interference in business activities, violation of the rights of private owners, ensuring transparency and openness of procedures related to implementation of foreign economic activity and development of customs are established on the legal basis.

According to deputies, the adoption of the draft law will serve to improvement of the legal framework of activities of customs bodies, introduction of additional legal mechanisms on effectively ensuring guarantees for reliable protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms, as well as participants of foreign economic activity.

Then, in the first reading, the draft law “On renewable energy sources”, developed and submitted for discussion by a group of deputies from among the members of the Committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on the Issues of Ecology and Environmental Protection was considered.

As it was noted, at present fossil fuels – coal, oil, natural gas and uranium are the basis of the world energy balance. However, their reserves decline year by year as they are extracted and used. In connection with accelerated rates of economic development, population growth and the traditional way of energy supply, the consumption of energy resources also increases. In developed foreign countries, the shortage of hydrocarbon raw materials and the change in prices for it have led to a trend of rapid growth in the use of renewable energy sources (RES).

Recently, a number of measures have been implemented in the country on implementation of practical work in this direction. Deputies emphasized that in Uzbekistan, where the economy and industry are developing at an accelerated pace, the very time demands the adoption of a law that will serve as a legal basis for the development of this sphere.

The purpose of development of the draft law is systemic consolidation of priority areas and a set of measures of the state policy in the use of renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency in economic sectors, social sphere, diversifying of fuel and energy balance, strengthening energy security of the country, reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the framework of implementation of tasks on sustainable development of the country.

The draft law provides for legal regulation of measures of state support and stimulation of the use of renewable energy sources, definition of the legal basis for public administration in the field of using renewable energy sources.

According to deputies, the adoption of the draft law will serve to implementation of priority areas of energy efficiency improvement in the economic and social spheres outlined in the Action Strategy, further development of renewable energy in 2017-2021.

The Social Democratic Party “Adolat” in its pre-election program identified the development of innovative technologies, in particular renewable energy, among the main goals. Therefore, members of the faction of this party criticized the issue, showed perseverance and pointed to the need for a serious revision of the project. Unlike the proposals forwarded by factions of other parties, they emphasized the need to finalize a number of norms and provisions of the document with participation of a wide range of specialists, while preserving the conceptual goals of the project and introducing it for the second reading.

In terms of work on this draft law, members of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan paid attention to the need for conducting scientifically sound research on tasks and problems that can arise with the adoption of the law. According to members of the faction, in the early years there will be a need to import from abroad technologies and equipment for construction of renewable energy sources.

With a decrease in the volume of natural resources, mankind uses various types of energy, including solar energy. Innovations in this direction require study on a deep scientific basis, while it should be provided not to exceed the cost of the final product – for the energy that people must pay. In this regard, the need for providing by initiators of the project of substantiated explanations on this issue before its discussion in subsequent readings was noted.

After active, lively disputes and discussions of factions of political parties, both draft laws were adopted in the first reading, responsible committees were tasked to prepare the draft law for the second reading, taking into account the opinions and proposals outlined in the discussions.

Other issues included in the mandate of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis were also considered at the meeting.

Source :  Uzbekistan National News Agency

Iran files complaint at ICJ over US sanctions

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Iran files complaint at ICJ over US sanctions

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that Tehran had filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the US reimposition of sanctions against Iran.

“Today Iran filed a complaint @CIJ_ICJ to hold US accountable for its unlawful reimposition of unilateral sanctions,” Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account on Monday, Press TV reported.

US President Donald Trump announced on May 8 that Washington was walking away from a nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.

The US president also said that he planned to reinstate US nuclear sanctions on Iran and impose “the highest level” of economic bans on the Islamic Republic.

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

Since the JCPOA implementation on January 16, 2016, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been monitoring Iran’s compliance with its nuclear-related commitments under the nuclear deal and has consistently verified the Islamic Republic’s compliance.

The head of the UN nuclear agency in June reaffirmed the IAEA’s accesses to all the required nuclear sites in Iran, calling on Tehran to ensure “timely and proactive cooperation” with inspections under the deal.

“As stated in my latest report to the Board [of Governors], the agency has conducted complementary accesses under the Additional Protocol to all the sites and locations in Iran which we needed to visit,” Amano said in his introductory statement to the Board of Governors on June 4.

As one of the architects of the JCPOA, Zarif once again reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s commitment to its legal obligations.

“Iran is committed to the rule of law in the face of US contempt for diplomacy and legal obligations. It’s imperative to counter its habit of violating int’l law,” the top Iranian diplomat said.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that European signatories to the nuclear deal with Iran must provide Tehran with the necessary guarantees about the continued implementation of the deal.

“Of course the European sides [to the JCPOA] are obligated to provide the necessary guarantees with regard to the JCPOA, but the country’s economy must not be tied to this issue,” the Leader emphasized.

Since the US president pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal, European countries have been scrambling to ensure that Iran gets enough economic benefits to persuade it to stay in the deal. The remaining parties have vowed to stay in the accord.

In a Twitter post on Saturday on the occasion of the third anniversary of the conclusion of the JCPOA, Zarif said that the historic nuclear agreement was still a “triumph of multilateral diplomacy” even after the US withdrawal from the agreement.

“While we knew the US couldn’t be trusted to keep its word – as its allies have now discovered – JCPOA proves that toxic unilateralism of Trump Admin means it can’t be relied on to honor any deal,” the top Iranian diplomat added.

 

Source :  Iran-Daily

Three killed in Bangkok in suspected love-triangle murder-suicide

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A man allegedly shot dead a couple before turning the gun on himself in Bangkok early on Monday in what police suspect to be a love-triangle double murder and suicide.

 

The Phetkasem police station was told of the shootings at 3.30am.

Police, rescuers from the Potektueng Foundation and a doctor from Siriraj Hospital found the bodies on the ground floor of a five-storey shophouse that sells car care products on Soi Bang Kae-Klong Nong Yai in the city’s Bang Kae district.

The couple were identified as Somporn Choedkwanjai, 31, and her husband, Sorasak Sukhanthapong, 41. The alleged gunman was identified Chayut Boonwongthanachai, 45.

When police arrived, they found Chayut’s body on top of Sorsak’s. Somporn’s body was found by the iron gate to the house.

Chayut was shot once through his right temple, while Somporn and Sorasak were shot through the left temple.

Witnesses said Chayut had gone to talk to Somport at the restaurant where she worked at 1.30am. They had a quarrel and both went to the shop house.

The couple’s friends they heard a commotion and went to the house, where they saw Chayut hold Somporn by her neck and pull out his pistol. When Sorasak rushed in to try to help his wife, Chayut shot Somporn and then Sorsak before shooting himself, they said.

Police have still to establish the background to the incident.

 

Source :  The Nation Multimedia

Several countries divert, cancel flights to Iraq’s Najaf in wake of protests

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Najaf (IraqiNews.com) Three countries, including two Arab ones, have diverted or canceled its flights heading to the Najaf International Airport due to the security situations there, in the wake of protests staged against corruption, unemployment and poor services.

Each of Iran, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have announced canceling or diverting flights heading Najaf on Sunday.

Statements by FlyDubai, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Iran Air said the flights heading Najaf were canceled or diverted for ones heading to the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Four flights were operated weekly to Najaf airport by the Jordanian Airlines.

On Saturday, Kuwaiti airlines announced canceling flights heading to Najaf until further notice citing security reasons.

Hundreds of Iraqis stormed on Friday Najaf airport and halted the aviation to and from the airport within ongoing escalation for few days, before the airport authorities declare normal work there.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi ordered security forces to be on high alert and imposed curfew in several southern provinces.

Several civilians as well as security personnel were wounded in clashes with armed people, who attacked the protesters in Maysan province.

Two protesters were reportedly killed in Najaf on Saturday as members of the Shiite militia of Asaeb Ahl al-Haq were shot at the demonstrations.

Issues with internet services were reported across the protests-hit regions.

 

Source :  Iraqi News

Indian family to receive correct body after mix-up in UAE

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Anjana Sankar/Abu Dhabi
Filed on July 16, 2018 | Last updated on July 16, 2018 at 06.04 am

The body of Nidhin Othayoth Kottaron was released around 6:00pm on Sunday.

The mortal remains of an Indian expat that got stranded in an Abu Dhabi mortuary due to a mix-up with another body have finally been released, the Indian embassy has confirmed.

“The body of Nidhin Othayoth Kottaron was released around 6pm on Sunday,” Raja Murugan, counsellor (consular) at the embassy, told Khaleej Times.

Officials from the company where the deceased worked said the body was to be flown on Air India flight leaving from Abu Dhabi at 12.15am on Monday.

Keralite expat Nidhin, 29, was wrongly identified at a mortuary in Abu Dhabi, resulting in the repatriation of the human remains of Kamatchi Krishnan, 39, from Tamil Nadu, according to Sunil Kumar, Nidhin’s employer and relative. He said that the company PRO wrongly identified Krishnan as Nidhin and the error occurred because his face was swollen.

Nidhin was found hanging in his company’s accommodation in Ruwais on July 5. And Krishnan, who was working as an electrician, reportedly died of a cardiac arrest on July 7.

Krishnan’s body that was kept in a government hospital mortuary in Wayanad has already been collected by his relatives who came from Tamil Nadu, said the embassy official.

“It was a great team work in the right community spirit. Everyone – from the company staff to social workers, hospital staff and airport officials – extended their full cooperation to support the families in their worst time of grief. The embassy only played a small role in coordinating the efforts,” said Murugan.

However, social workers and company officials showered praises on the embassy’s efforts.

“We have to put on record that the Indian embassy officials worked tirelessly around the clock to get all the paperwork done,” said Kumar. “We have also understood the value of social workers like Nasser Kanhangad, without whose selfless efforts and experience it would not have been possible to repatriate the body.”

He said Air India officials were kind enough to waive off all the charges involved in the repatriation.

Relatives of both the deceased said they were relieved the formalities were over.

“The body will reach Kerala by 5.15am on Monday. The family members are desperate to receive the body, but they are relieved the painful wait is finally over,” said Sudhakaran, a close relative of Nidhin.

 

Source :  The Khaleej Times