Singapore

6 men abduct minor in Pakistan’s Punjab, force her to marry 45-year-old man
7Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

6 men abduct minor in Pakistan’s Punjab, force her to marry 45-year-old man

In Pakistan’s Punjab province, a case has been registered against six men for allegedly abducting a 12-year-old girl and later forcing her to get married to a 45-year-old man.Though the girl was recovered by police officials, the accused managed to flee from the location. A local court had also chided the investigation offer for mentioning the wrong age of the victim as 17.Meanwhile, the father of the victim has appealed to higher authorities seeking action against the accused, and also complained of non-cooperation from the police department in this case.Earlier in November, a case of child marriage had surfaced in the Thul town of Sindh’s Sukkur despite a law outlawing such marriages put in place.Prior to that, a 13-year-old Christian girl named Arzoo Raja was forcibly abducted allegedly...
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NATO must devote more time, action to counter security challenges posed by China: Report
7Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, Singapore, World

NATO must devote more time, action to counter security challenges posed by China: Report

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in its latest report titled 'NATO 2030 - United for a New Era report' has said that it must devote more time, political resources, and action to counter the security challenges posed by China.The report has also recommended a special unit within the Joint Intelligence and Security Division (JISD) to monitor Russia-China cooperation impacting Euro-Atlantic security.The internal political differences are "dangerous" as they help the "external actors, and in particular Russia and China, to exploit intra-Alliance differences and take advantage of individual Allies in ways that endanger their collective interests and security", the report stated."This includes actions that are directly relevant to NATO's traditional geographic and functional mission but...
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Pakistan: Christian girl killed for rejecting Muslim man’s marriage proposal
7Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

Pakistan: Christian girl killed for rejecting Muslim man’s marriage proposal

In yet another incident of lawlessness, a Christian girl in Pakistan was brutally killed after her parents rejected a marriage proposal sent by a Muslim man.Officers from the Koral Police Station in Rawalpindi claimed to have arrested an accused named Faizan, whereas raids were being carried out to arrest the prime suspect, Shehzad.Shehzad's mother is also said to have sent her son's proposal for the victim Sonia, but her parents refused as she was to marry another man, identified as Faizan.According to police, on the day of the incident, the girl was travelling with Faizan on the highway, when Shehzad opened fire on her.The police said that, as per the preliminary investigation, the murder appears to have been carried out of personal resentment. However, the deputy inspector general (DIG)...
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Drugs worth Rs 2.5 billion from Gwadar seized in Sri Lanka
7Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

Drugs worth Rs 2.5 billion from Gwadar seized in Sri Lanka

On Sunday, four people from the Marawila Thoduwawa area of Sri Lanka were arrested for transporting drugs worth Rs 2.5 billion with origins in Chinese-controlled Gwadar.They were transporting heroin and crystal methamphetamine (ice) to the Sri Lankan boats from the Pak Dhow that originated from Gwadar.The involvement of the ISI officials in the drug smuggling network is established as such regular movement of Dhow from Gwadar is not possible without tacit support from the ISI and Chinese intelligence officials.The transfer happened in high seas between the Maldives and Sri Lanka.During a raid carried out by the Excise Department, 100 kilograms of heroin and 100 kilograms of ice were seized. It is suspected that a drug trafficker named 'Jude' who is hiding in Dubai, has sent the stock of dr...
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Ulta Beauty strikes deal to open hundreds of shops at Target stores
6Dec By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, Singapore, World

Ulta Beauty strikes deal to open hundreds of shops at Target stores

Target has struck a deal with Ulta Beauty to open shops with makeup, skincare, hair products and more inside of hundreds of its stores. Target and Ulta Beauty announced a deal Tuesday to open makeup and skincare shops inside of hundreds of Target stores across the country. Target CEO Brian Cornell said starting in the second half of next year, shoppers will find a smaller version of an Ulta store in more than 100 of Target's stores and on its website. Each "shop-in-shop" will be about 1,000 square feet with more than 40 beauty brands and a rotating assortment of products from hair care and fragrances to lip gloss. Customers can shop in person or use Target's same-day services, such as curbside pickup or home delivery by Shipt, to get their online beauty purchases. Ulta will train Targe...
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Irish PM hopes for outline of Brexit trade deal this week but differences remain
6Dec By Desk TeamNo Comments
Singapore, World

Irish PM hopes for outline of Brexit trade deal this week but differences remain

BRUSSELS/DUBLIN: Ireland's prime minister said on Monday (Nov 23) he hoped the outline of a Brexit free-trade deal would emerge by the end of this week, despite what the European Union's negotiator called "fundamental divergences" at talks. Britain and the EU are trying to agree terms to keep annual bilateral trade worth nearly a trillion dollars free of tariffs and quotas from 2021, when a standstill transition period ends following Britain's departure from the EU last January. As talks resumed remotely on Monday, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said major gaps remained on divvying up fishing rights and ensuring economic fair play for companies, including on state aid. But Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, whose country is in the EU, said he had got a sense of progress from both ne...
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Bangladesh cannot forget Pakistan’s atrocities of 1971: PM Sheikh Hasina
4Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

Bangladesh cannot forget Pakistan’s atrocities of 1971: PM Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Bangladesh cannot forget atrocities committed by Pakistan in 1971.“Incidents of 1971 cannot be forgotten. The pain will remain forever,” she said while Pakistan High Commissioner in Dhaka Imran Ahmed Siddiqui called on the Prime Minister at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.Referring to the volumes of the book titled “Secret Documents of Intelligence Branch on Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman”, PM Hasina said all can learn many historical facts from 1948 to 1971 from the books.Noting that (the Urdu version) of the book “Unfinished Memoirs” written by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is one of the best seller books in Pakistan, she said it’s also well read in Pakistan apart from other countries.The PM e...
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J&K: Seminar on Disaster Management and Community Resilience held at Srinagar’s Amar Singh College
4Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

J&K: Seminar on Disaster Management and Community Resilience held at Srinagar’s Amar Singh College

In the back drop of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which emphasizes on the empowerment of local communities to mitigate and prevent loss of life and property, Amar Singh College in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar city organized a seminar on ‘Disaster Management and Community Resilience’.The seminar was organized by the Department of Geography in collaboration with the debates and seminars committee of the college.Prof Shujat Ahmad Banday, Head, Department of Geography laid emphasis on the preventive measures of disasters and natural calamities. He argued that use of planning and application of preventive technologies can be helpful in the prevention of life and property.Prof. Bashir Ahmad Rather, Principal of the college, who presided over the seminar, in his pres...
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J&K govt withdraws 30% fare hike on public transport
3Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Singapore

J&K govt withdraws 30% fare hike on public transport

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government has withdrawn 30 per cent fare hike on public transport in the union territory which was earlier imposed in view of the coronavirus pandemic.Government has accorded sanction to the withdrawal of “30 percent of fare hike on authorized fare” ordered vide government order no: 30 JK (TR) of 2020 dated 22-06-2020 in view of restrictions imposed on seat capacity of stage carriage passenger vehicles due to covid-19 pandemic, an order said.“Only authorized fare (charged prior to the issuance of government order number 31: JK (TR) of 2020 dated 22-06-2020) shall be charged from the passengers by the operators of stage carriage passenger vehicles in the Union Territory,” the order read.“Any violation of this order shall strictly be dealt with under the prov...
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12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week
2Dec By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Singapore, World

12 new imported COVID-19 cases in Singapore, largest increase in more than a week

SINGAPORE: Singapore reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (Nov 22), all of which were imported infections, said the Ministry of Health (MOH). This is the largest increase in infections since Nov 13, when 12 imported cases were reported as well. No locally transmitted cases were reported for the 12th consecutive day. All the imported COVID-19 cases were placed on stay-home notice upon arrival in Singapore, MOH said. They were asymptomatic, and detected from proactive screening and surveillance, the ministry added. Of the 12 cases, three are Singapore permanent residents who returned from India. Two other cases also arrived from India, a dependent's pass holder and a student's pass holder. Five are work permit holders currently employed in Singapore who arrived from the Philippi...
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