News

Iran says new U.S. sanctions proof of “hostility, hypocrisy” toward Tehran, JCPOA

Published

1 year ago

10/02/2023

TEHRAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) — The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned new U.S. sanctions on Iran, saying Washington’s insistence on resorting to illegal and unilateral sanctions is proof of its “hostility and hypocrisy” toward Tehran and the 2015 nuclear deal.

Nasser Kanaani made the remarks in a statement published on the Foreign Ministry’s website on Thursday night, reacting to the fresh sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on a number of Iranian companies.

Kanaani said the move by U.S. President Joe Biden to resort to the same “failed” sanctions policy of his predecessor Donald Trump will only make Iran more determined to pursue its national development objectives and use its “legal and inalienable” rights.

The continuation of the U.S. insistence on resorting to the “illegal and unilateral” sanctions proves Washington’s hostility and hypocrisy toward Tehran and the nuclear deal, and is in contradiction with the international law principles and regulations, he stressed.

The spokesman emphasized that Iran definitely reserves all rights to take the necessary actions to counter such coercive measures.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that it has imposed sanctions on “9 entities across multiple jurisdictions that have played a critical role in the production, sale, and shipment of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum worth hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars to buyers in Asia.”

It said the sanctions are “targeting 6 Iran-based petrochemical manufacturers or their subsidiaries, and 3 firms in Malaysia and Singapore.”

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The sanctions have mainly targeted Iran’s oil exports and banking sector.

Source(s): Xinhua

News

Maldivian FM meets Qatari PM; both commit to stronger ties

Published

9 hours ago

12/05/2024

Maldives and Qatar reaffirm the commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two countries on Sunday, in a meeting between Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar.

Zameer, who is on an official visit to Qatar, met with Al Thani on Sunday morning.

At the meeting, Zameer reflected on the growing Maldives-Qatar partnership, and thanked Qatar for the generous assistance in Maldives’ socio-economic development.

According to a statement released by the Maldivian Foreign Ministry, both Zameer and Al Thani reiterated the commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Zameer also conveyed appreciation for Qatar’s role in the mediation process on the Gaza crisis.

Both reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the partnership in the multilateral fora on matters of global concern.

Zameer was accompanied at the meeting by Secretary, Bilateral, Dr. Hala Hameed, Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Fazeel Najeeb, and Assistant Director, Lamha Saleem.

This year will mark the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations between the Maldives and Qatar.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Zameer is also scheduled to meet with other senior officials from the Qatari government to explore opportunities to enhance cooperation in various sectors between the two countries.

Zameer’s latest trip comes at the heels of a similar visit to India last week.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

President recognises forefront services of nurses

Published

9 hours ago

12/05/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has praised the dedicated efforts of nurses, stating that they fulfil a national obligation by providing forefront services. He made the remarks on a social media post, commemorating International Nurses Day.

In the post shared on social media, President Dr. Muizzu recognised the unwavering commitment of nurses, characterising their contributions and services as a valuable, significant responsibility for humanity. The president additionally commended the dedication of nurses for ensuring the provision of cutting edge care.

The International Nurses Day is annually celebrated on May 12, aiming to acknowledge the pivotal role nurses play, as they are the backbone of the healthcare system. The theme for International Nurses Day 2024 is “Our Nurses. Our Future. The economic power of care.” The purpose of selecting the theme was to emphasise the significance of reshaping perceptions of the economic and societal advantages of the nursing field, such that nursing can be seen as an investment rather than a cost.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Government launches Hope Island for crime-exposed kids

Published

9 hours ago

12/05/2024

The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced the launch of Hope Island, a rehabilitation initiative aimed at children exposed to crime.

Speaking at a collaborative press briefing involving agencies under the homeland ministry, Minister Ali Ihusaan outlined the planning efforts for Hope Island. He emphasised the provision of fundamental education and religious guidance for the children residing there. He also highlighted the implementation of psychosocial intervention and sports programmes on the island.

Additionally, Minister Ihusaan disclosed that children would reside on Hope Island until they turn 18 years, and serve a designated term in either the Maldives Police Service (MPS) or the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). Subsequently, he said that they would be granted opportunities to pursue their chosen careers.

Furthermore, Minister Ihusaan announced a reduction in the age of criminal responsibility to 15 years, with previous advocacy for lowering it to 12 years. He cited instances of 12-year-olds engaging in criminal activities and revealed ongoing legal initiatives, in collaboration with the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), to effect the change.

Moreover, Minister Ihusaan revealed plans to direct 12-year-old offenders to Hope Island for rehabilitation, with a dedicated facility established to mitigate exposure to criminal influences. He also disclosed intentions to develop a separate island specifically for this rehabilitation facility.

Source(s): PsmNews