Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Germany’s Merkel to be quizzed over Wirecard lobbying in public inquiry
BERLIN – Chancellor Angela Merkel will be asked by German lawmakers on Friday why she lobbied for payments company Wirecard just months before it collapsed in the country’s biggest post-war fraud. Merkel‘s appearance will mark the climax of a public inquiry into an affair that has tainted Germany‘s reputation for rectitude, exposed ties between politics and business and prompted resignations and criminal investigations. The government has said that Merkel did not know at the time of the irregularities at Wirecard, which has since been dismantled after its disclosure of a 1.9 billion euro ($2.3 billion) financial hole triggered its insolvency.Read More
Russia expels 5 Polish diplomats in retaliatory move
MOSCOW – The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday it declared five employees of the Polish Embassy in Russia “persona non grata.” In a statement published on its website, the ministry said the move is a retaliation for the expulsion of three Russian diplomats from Poland on April 23 “in solidarity with the US.” Last week Moscow and Washington exchanged a new round of sanctions, both expelling 10 of the other’s diplomats and blacklisting more officials. Washington tightened economic sanctions against Russia, while Moscow toughened the rules of work forRead More
Sherry Rehman submits a resolution of disapproval against HEC ordinances
ISLAMABAD, APR 23 (DNA) – Submitting a resolution in the Senate for the disapproval of The Higher Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (No. IX of 2021) and the Higher Commission (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (No. X of 2021), PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said, “I have moved a resolution under sub rule (2) of rule 145 of the Rules of Procedure & Conduct of Business in the Senate 2021, read with sub paragraph (iii) of paragraph (a) of clause (2) of the Article 89 of the ConstitutionRead More
TCF, IDEAS come together to use Research for Education Delivery and Reform
Islamabad, APR 23 /DNA/ – The Citizens Foundation (TCF) and the Institute of Development and Economic Alternatives (IDEAS) signed an MoU to collaborate to expand research in education delivery and service in Pakistan. Under the agreement, IDEAS will offer its expertise for multi-disciplinary empirical research and evidence-based programme design; and an international network of research fellows, to help TCF achieve goals of improving the quality of and access to education in over 1600 schools across Pakistan, with a particular focus on early childhood development, teacher pedagogy and mother-tongue based multilingualRead More
Turkey marks National Sovereignty and Children’s Day
ANKARA – Turkey marked April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day with restricted celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the country where a curfew was imposed on April 23, only a few children and state officials attended the ceremonies in person. Some events turned to online platforms and a wider segment of people was contented with decorating the windows of their homes with flags. April 23, 1920, is the date of the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the first Parliament of the Republic of Turkey. However, in 1929, the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,Read More
Third border crossing point with Iran to boost trade: Iftikhar Ali Malik
LAHORE, APR 23 (DNA) – SAARC Chamber President Iftikhar Ali Malik Friday said opening of third border crossing point with Iran is poised to boost trade between the two Muslim neighbouring countries. Talking to a delegation of exporters from Balouchistan led by former President FPCCI Eng Daroo Khan Achakzai he said launching of new Pashin-Mand point would not only increase the volume of trade manifolds but also generate ample job opportunities for the people of the area. The increase in bilateral and barter trade through the new gateway would benefitRead More