News

Putin: Russia moving away from “untrustworthy” U.S. dollar, euro and pound

Published

2 years ago

08/09/2022

MNN

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the world is losing confidence in the U.S. dollar, euro and pound and that Russia is gradually cutting down its usage of these currencies.

“In an attempt to resist the course of history, Western countries have undermined the key pillars of the world economic system, which has been built over centuries,” Russian news agency TASS quoted Putin as he was addressing the seventh Eastern Economic Forum held in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok.

“Before our eyes, confidence in the dollar, euro, and pound sterling as currencies for payments, storing reserves, nominate assets has been lost. We are gradually moving away from the use of such untrustworthy, compromised currencies,” he said.

Putin also reportedly accused Western countries of trying to maintain a world order that is beneficial only to them.

He said that the “sanctions fever” of the West is a threat to the whole world, and these policies were catalyzed by the “elusive dominance” of the U.S. in the world.

Putin noted that although the Russian economy was coping with what he termed “financial and technological aggression of the West,” he acknowledged that some industries and regions have faced difficulties.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February, Russia has been moving away from the U.S.-dollar payment system in the face of Western sanctions.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, China’s state-owned energy company China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced it has signed a supplementary agreement, on China-Russian eastern route natural gas purchase and sale, with Russia’s state-run energy giant Gazprom.

CNPC Chairman Dai Houliang and Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller discussed extensive cooperation in the natural gas sector, according to an announcement on CNPC’s website.

Payments for Russian gas by China will be made in rubles and yuan instead of U.S. dollars, TASS reported Gazprom as saying in a statement.

Miller said the new payment mechanism was “mutually beneficial, timely, reliable and practical solution,” saying he believes it would “simplify payments, become an excellent example for other countries, and jump-start our economies.”

The eastern route of the China-Russia natural gas pipeline began operations in 2019.

Since March, major Russian banks, including the country’s second-largest lender VTB, have been banned from using SWIFT, a global financial artery that allows cross-border payments, as part of Western-led sanctions.

VTB announced on Tuesday that it will launch money transfers to China in yuan, bypassing the SWIFT system.

Source: CGTN

News

Maldivian FM meets Qatari PM; both commit to stronger ties

Published

16 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

17 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

17 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