HAVANA, Feb 28 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Cubans continued exercising their constitutional right to appoint candidates directly for elections, to be held in April.
Electoral district assemblies are taken place in the country at night. Attendants decide which neighbors have the best qualities to carry out the charge of People’s Power District Delegate.
The Cuban Constitution approved by national referendum on Feb 24, 1976, guarantees the right to every citizen to name for candidate in the electoral district assemblies the ones that can represent them in the different government levels.
They will face directly with the people, the needs and social problems in their territory.
Elections take place without the intervention of any political party or social organization. That’s what makes special Cuba’s electoral system which is based on people’s participation.
The appointed candidates after obtaining 50 percent of acceptance in the electoral district assemblies will take part in elections on April 25 without displaying a political campaign, but supported by their personal merits.
The present stage of the election process will be until March 24. Thousands of candidates will be submitted again to the judgment of the people, which will vote directly. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
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NEW DELHI, Feb. 28 (NNN-PTI) — The terror attack in Kabul was on the pattern of the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, with six to eight terrorists targeting two hotels and hunting for victims during the strike in which six Indians were killed and 10 others injured.
Investigators suspect involvement of the Taliban, particularly the Haqqani group, in league with elements of Lashkar-e Taiba in Friday’s assault, sources said.
The attack was carried out in a coordinated manner with the terrorists first exploding bombs and then launching the armed assault, hunting for the targets, particularly the members of the Indian medical mission, a pattern seen in Mumbai during the 26/11 attack, they said.
About six to eight terrorists are suspected to have been involved in the assault at around 6:30 a.m. at the Park Residence Hotel and adjacent Noor guest house, where Indians on transit usually stay, the sources said. ? NNN-PTI
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BEIJING, Feb. 28 (NNN-Xinhua) — China’s State Oceanic Administration (SOA) forecast that the tsunami wave triggered by 8.8-magnitude earthquake striking Chile on Saturday afternoon will arrive at the coast of China 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Sunday, but is unlikely to cause disasters.
The SOA warned that the wave could build up when it hit the Chinese coastline, thus suggesting that ships go ashore rapidly or keep away from the coastal waters, and people in low-lying areas to relocate as soon as possible.
A tsunami wave about 1.8 meters high has been detected along the Chilean coast, 85 kilometers from the epicenter at about 5 p.m. (Beijing time) Saturday, according to the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center.
The tsunami wave is spreading with a speed of 400 kilometers to 800 kilometers per hour, the SOA said.
The administration’s latest monitoring data showed that the wave is expected to hit Taiwan island at 2:00 p.m., one hour before it affects the Chinese mainland.
The western Pacific countries such as Japan, China, the Philippines and Indonesia would be slightly affected by or not subject to any influence, due to the small wave amplitude that has already weakened to less than one meter when it arrived at Tonga at 4:00 a.m., the SOA said. — NNN-Xinhua
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ADDIS ABABA, Feb 28 (NNN-ENA) — A spirited drive by Ethiopia to boost its tea output as competition for both regional and international markets intensifies, businessdailyafrica.com reported.
?Many countries in the region are looking up to expanding their tea industries, but our immediate attention would be on Ethiopia because we share almost similar types of soil and climate and the quality of their tea is largely similar with ours,? Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) managing director, Sicily Kariuki told the website.
Statistics showed that Ethiopia currently produces about seven million kg of tea from three privately run estates even though its Agriculture and Rural Development ministry projects this could swell substantively in the coming years now that it had identified some 50,000 hectares of land suitable for production of the beverage.
For instance in April last year an Ethiopian firm signed a 300 million USD joint venture deal with a Dubai-based firm to develop a 5,000 hectare tea plantation in Ililubabor of Oromia State.
According to the pact , East Africa Agri-business and Dubai World Trading Company planned to produce close to 423,000 kg of black tea by 2012.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in December predicted that the global tea market would witness some shake-up in terms of supply and demand as producing countries rush in to expand areas under the crop in a bid to cash-in on the record high prices witnessed over 2009.
The indicative world price for black tea reached a high of 3.18 USD a kg in Sept. 2009, compared to an average price of 2.38 USD per kg in 2008, according to the report. — NNN-ENA
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (NNN-APP) — The Nation on Saturday celebrated Eid Milad-un-Nabi with religious reverence, fervor and commitment to tread lives in light of the principles laid down by Holy Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The day began with special prayers for development, safety and peace in the country and for unity and brotherhood amongst the followers of Holy Prophet (PBUH).
It was public holiday and special security arrangements had been made to maintain law and order across the country.
All important buildings,residential plazas, markets, mosques and roundabouts were beautifully illuminated.
Mahafil-e-Milad and public meetings were held and people enthusiastically participated in the programs organised by different local, religious and social organizations.
On this occasion Naat and the Holy Quran reciting competitions were held as festivities continued till the evening, in almost every nook and corner of the country to revive the real spirit of Islam and offer respects to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Keeping in view the current situation, in the Federal Capital, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar and other cities and towns across the country, the security was been put on high alert to avoid any untoward incident and the attendant of Mahafil were properly verified and checked by security personnel.
In Rawalpindi and Islamabad most of the mosques, buildings, markets and streets were decorated tastefully. Since, morning various processions were taken out from different areas of twin cities, reciting Naats and Darood o Salam for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him).
Major event of the day was the annual National Seerat Conference where Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are a foundation to achieve peace and security and lead Muslims to a new phase of progress and prosperity.
Gilani said, ?We should know that life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is like an open book whose no page is hidden from anybody and its every aspect is unblemished.?
Addressing the conference, Acting President Farooq H. Naek said teaching of Arabic language from class one to ten should be made compulsory so that students could be made familiar with the true teachings of Islam.
He said, ?I suggest to the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make efforts in collaboration with the Ministry of Education to include subject of Arabic language in syllabus of students of class one to 10.?
Naek said the students would be in a better position to understand Islamic teachings with proper learning of Arabic as the Holy Quran was in this language.
He said when our youth would be equipped with knowledge of the Quran and Hadith, nobody could misguide them and wrongly interpret the orders of Allah Almighty.
He assured his full cooperation in the endeavours of Ministry of Religious Affairs for promoting all aspects of Seerat-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) to spread peace, love and brotherhood in society.
In Lahore, important buildings like Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, Assembly Hall, WAPDA House and other buildings were beautifully illuminated. Besides, dongregations were organized where the preachers and scholars highlighted the teachings of the Holy Prophet and delivered lectures on His way of life.
Same arrangements were also made at important cities like Peshwar, Karachi, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad as well as other small cities and towns to celebrate the day.
Besides buildings, the bazaars, mosques, roundabouts and even houses were also decorated and illuminated.
In Peshawar, the central procession of the Eid-e-Milad was taken out from Milad Chowk that travelled through its traditional routes of Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Ghanta Ghar, People Mandi and ended at Qissakhwani Bazar.
In Karachi, sufficient number of security personnel were deployed to ensure security on the occasion while the main Eid Milad procession was taken out from Boulton Market to Nishtar Park under heavy deployment of security personnel.
Thousand of followers participated in the rallies, with large number boarding the vehicles and others moving on foot to reach the places of congregations to listen to their religious leaders.
In Azad Jammu Kashmir, Eid Milad-un-Nabi was also celebrated with religious reverence. Processions were taken out and ?Mahaafil-e-Milad? were held in all small and major towns and cities including Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Bhimbher, Palandri, Rawalakot and Neelam valley. — NNN-APP
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HAVANA, Feb 28 (NNN-ACN) — Cuba walked away with eight crowns and easily dominated the Pan American Youth Boxing Tournament hled in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Speaking over the phone from the venue of the event with the Cuban radio station Radio Rebelde, the head coach of the island?s team, Humberto Horta, said that the list of Cuban gold medalists includes Yosvani Vaitia (48 kg), Yunior Valdez (57 kg) and Arlen Lopez (60 kg).
Vaitia steamrolled Guatemalan Mycol Tello 18-3, Valdes beat local Luis Salazar 10-6 while Lopez defeated Mexican Daniel Echeverria 15-5.
Other Cuban champions were world bronze medalist Robeisis Ramirez (51 kg), Orosvani Duverger (75 kg) and Leinier Perot (91 kg). Ramirez dispatched Dominican Dagoberto Agüero 10-4, Duverger downed Mexican Alan Campa and Perot did the same with Ecuadorean Domingo Winer, in both cases before the end of the bout.
The two other Cuban titles were for Yunior Saul Castro ( 91 kg), who beat host Manuel de Jesus 15-4, and Hector Cleyder Boloy (69 kg), who defeated Ecuadorean Anderson Rojas 11-4.
Cuba only lost two championship bouts. Samuel Saul Rodriguez (64 kg) lost to Puerto Rican Richard Colon 1-4 and Frank Sanchez (81 kg) was ousted by Ecuadorean Italoy Perera 5-11. — NNN-ACN
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (NNN-APP) — Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are a foundation to achieve peace and security and lead Muslims to a new phase of progress and prosperity.
Addressing the inaugural session of annual National Seerat Conference here at the Convention Centre on Saturday, he said life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) will be a source of cure for the miseries of humans as they will make advances in science and technology and the world will achieve more progress.
The theme of this year?s conference was ?strategy for call and preaching in the light of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?.
Gilani said, ?We should know that life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) is like an open book whose no page is hidden from anybody and its every aspect is unblemished.?
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is faced with challenges and difficulties but it is still the centre of hopes for the Muslims of the world.
He assured that the government would accept every practicable suggestion for the promotion of teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Gilani said Islam teaches that everybody should be kind to each other without any discrimination and the basis of spreading of message of Islam is kindness and welfare of others and equality among all nations of the world.
He mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) showed that first teachings of the religion should be adopted by an individual in his home, then in his city and then it should be extended to the whole of humanity.
Islam urges its followers that they should invite others to goodness and stop them from bad acts and keep on making the struggle to lighten their path and that of others, he added.
The Prime Minister said main objective of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was peace and security in the world and complete protection of the human race.
Through a comprehensive message, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ushered in a revolution which closed for forever the path of killings, violence and chaos, he added.
He said it is a matter of concern that despite the fact that mosques, seminaries, shrines and religious parties are propagating the message of Islam, still there is presence of extremism and chaos in society.
He invited the participants of the conference to ponder whether their efforts were moving in the right direction, mistakes were being made or not and how faults could be removed.
Islam did not spread through sword but with the zeal of sufis and pious men who took Islam to places like Indonesia, Malaysia and Central Africa, he added.
He said the light of Islam spread to the land of Arabs during the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) but in his life too followers of Christians and Judaism were living among them.
During the 1500 year rule of Muslims, no one tried to forcibly make these people Muslims and today more than 18 million Christians and Jews are living in the Arabian Peninsula, he observed adding Muslims ruled the Indian sub-continent for 1000 years but in the region, majority of the population is still non-Muslim and this was not due to lack of love of Muslim rulers for their religion.
But the real reason was that Islam did not spread through force but people accepted it due to the personal character, decency, humanity and love shown by the sufis and religious scholars who kept burning light of Islam in the face of all kinds of difficulties, he added.
The Prime Minister distributed cash prizes among scholars for their books on the life and teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the scholars who attained prizes for working on various aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would continue their good work.
He said the personality of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was everlasting fountain of guidance and efforts by religious scholars and researchers to shed light on life of the last Prophet will continue for all times to come.
Prime Minister Gilani announced that the government would arrange for marriages of 5000 women this year with the money provided by Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal Zumard Khan in his remarks told that his organisation provided funds for marriages of 2500 women last year on the directions of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Dr. Nisar Ahmed, Dr. Fazal Elahi, Dr. Abdur Rauf Zafar, Tazeen Ansari, Musrat Kalanchvi, Mushtaq Kalhora, Manzar Ali Syed, Irshad Hussain, Ghulam Rasool, Laiqzada Laiq, Maulana Muhammad Naqibullah, Muhammad Yaseen, Nadir Shahwani, Dr. Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Dr. Talat Siddiqui and Dr. Zainab Haroon were among the prize winners.
Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi and religious scholars coming from all parts of the country attended the conference. — NNN-APP
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ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (NNN-APP) — President Asif Ali Zardari expressing his deep grief over the loss of precious lives caused by a severe earthquake in Chile, has conveyed the complete solidarity of the people and government of Pakistan to the people and government of Chile.
?We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage to property caused by the severe earthquake that has hit your country,? the President said in his message to Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile.
President Zardari assured the complete solidarity of the people and Government of Pakistan with the Chilean President, the Government and people of Chile in overcoming the effects of this enormous calamity.
?Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration?, he added. — NNN-APP
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KHARTOUM, Feb 28 (NNN-SUNA) — Sudan Pres Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir has affirmed that there is no any trend for the postponement of the elections.
He said that the argument citing the war in Darfur is weak, explaining that a number of elections were held in Sudan despite the war that had been raging in the south since the independence of the country.
Al-Bashir was addressing a campaign organized by Kober Sports Club at Kober Quarter in Khartoum North Saturday organized by the sports men to support his nomination for the post of the President of the Republic in the coming elections.
Al-Bashir said the coming stage in sport in Sudan is the stage of supporting youth and their leagues.
He hailed the Sudanese athletics team participating in Doha games, who won three medals, all Sudanese sports men and the citizens of Kober Quarter, reiterating confidence in the Sudanese people and their options.
Meanwhile in the southern Sudanese town of WAU, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) launched its election campaign in West Bahr Al-Ghazal State.
Addressing the occasion, SPLM chairman in West Bahr Al-Ghazal State Mark Neopog said that the movement is working to win the elections at all levels.
The candidate of SPLM for the post of governor of West Bahr Al-Ghazal Rizik Zakaria, on his part, said they are pressing ahead with the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), adding that the SPLM welcomes realization of peace in Darfur. — NNN-SUNA
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BANGKOK, Feb. 28 (NNN-TNA) — Security has been tightened at the homes of the nine Supreme Court Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions judges who on Friday ordered the confiscation of a predominant portion of the frozen assets of fugitive, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and at sensitive locations in the capital, officials said Saturday.
Police agencies ordered additional security measures for the nine justices.
The added security measures include checkpoints at entrances of housing estates where the judges live, closed circuit television cameras and security guards on patrol round-the-clock.
Meanwhile, Pongsak Semsan, permanent secretary of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said security guards will patrol important areas in Bangkok including markets and shopping malls on a rotating basis from the current three-day Buddhist religious holiday which began Saturday until Songkran, Thailand?s traditional New Year, April 13-15.
Security in the capital has also been tightened as anti-government protesters plan a major protest from March 12 in a bid to oust the coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. — NNN-TNA
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