5. Zimbabwe bans Fruit, Vegetable imports as Forex Crunch Deepens.
Zimbabwe banned fruit and vegetable imports on Tuesday to preserve its dwindling reserves of hard currency, drawing immediate warnings of food shortages.
The order, which followed a ban on maize imports in June, alarmed retailers and street dealers in the capital Harare who get much of their produce from neighbouring South Africa.
The shutdown, which Agriculture Minister Joseph Made said was immediate, underlined the scale of the economic crisis in what was once one of southern Africa’s agricultural heartlands, in the build-up to next year’s national elections.
Made told the Herald newspaper that veteran President Robert Mugabe had made the order himself to stop the imports because “they waste much needed foreign currency”.
“This means that the importation of fruit and vegetables will be stopped immediately. We are finalising on the exact list of foreign-produced fruits that are occupying shelves in shops,” Made said.
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The order would let local farmers increase output, he added.
The minister declined to give further details when contacted by Reuters.
“It can’t be a blanket ban since we are not producing as much fruit and vegetables to adequately supply the local market,” said the head of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers, Denford Mutashu. “We would need to review this.”
GRAPES, MANGOES, PLUMS
Shopper Erica Juma said she doubted Zimbabwe would be able to satisfy local demand by itself.
“If we can produce enough there is no problem with the ban. But I doubt we are able to,” Juma said, while picking up South African grapes in Pick n Pay supermarket for her lunch in central Harare.
At a busy road intersection, street hawker Sam Nyandima said the ban would hit his supplies.
“We survive on selling fruits to motorists. If they go ahead with this ban it will badly affect our livelihoods,” he said, as he sold pawpaw, mangoes and plums in the blazing sun.
The country dumped its currency for the US dollar in 2009 because it was wrecked by hyperinflation but it is now running short of dollars as well as quasi-currency “bond note” introduced last year to ease cash shortages.
Zimbabwe’s latest currency crisis is blamed on low export earnings, increased government domestic borrowing that has increased money supply not matched by dollar inflows and high govermnment spending, 90% which goes to salaries.
Commercial agriculture has not recovered from the hit it took after 2000 from Mugabe’s seizures of land from white farmers.
Last year Zimbabwe spent more than $80 million on fruit and vegetables imports, according to national statistics agency Zimstat.
Many Zimbabweans keep stashes of US dollars at home, or resort to buying hard currency on the black market when they want to travel or pay for imports.
6. Pakistan elected among 15 nations to UN Human Rights Council.
Pakistan Monday won a key election by securing a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council when the General Assembly elected 15 countries to serve on the 47-member body.
“This victory is a ringing endorsement of Pakistan’s strong commitment to human rights,” an elated Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said in a post-election interview with APP.
“Pakistan’s entire leadership, parliament and judiciary have all proactively pushed the human rights agenda,” Ambassador Lodhi said.
The election in the 193-member Assembly was by secret ballot, with a simple majority required. Pakistan polled 151 votes, when 97 were needed.
There were five candidates contesting for four Asia-Pacific seats on the Council. Apart from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Qatar also won seats on the Council. Malaysia, with 129 votes, could not get elected.
The contest was only in the Asian-Pacific group. Other groups put up agreed candidates: (African States): Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Senegal; (Latin America/Caribbean States): Chile, Mexico and Peru; (Western European States): Australia and Spain, and (Eastern European States): Slovakia and Ukraine.
Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
The Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
The Geneva-based Council is mandated to promote and protect human rights and prevent human rights violations.
This is the fourth time Pakistan has been elected to the 47-member Council — the first success came in 2006 when the Council was created by the UN General Assembly.
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“Our victory is a manifestation of the international community’s trust in Pakistan,” Ambassador Lodhi said. “Pakistan”, she said, “is humbled by and grateful for the overwhelming support received from the world community.”
“Pakistan’s election gives the lie to those who claim that Pakistan is isolated.”
Asked what will be Pakistan’s objectives in the Council, Ambassador Lodhi said: “We will use our membership to protect our core national interests, uphold universal values, be a bridge builder between polarised positions and expose human rights abuses by India in occupied Kashmir.”
All of the Human Rights Council’s members are elected by the world body’s General Assembly, and it has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
The Council’s membership is based on equitable geographical distribution and seats are distributed as follows: 13 seats for African States, 13 seats for Asia Pacific States, 8 seats for Latin American and Caribbean States, 7 seats for Western European and other States, and 6 seats for Eastern European States.
7. Indian peacekeepers in South Sudan awarded UN medal.
Fifty Indian peacekeepers stationed in South Sudan have been awarded the UN Medal for their professionalism and service in protecting civilians and building durable peace in the conflict-ridden country.
The Indian peacekeepers are part of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
They are deployed with the Indian battalion stationed at Bor in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. They were presented with the award recently by UNMISS Force Commander General Frank Mushyo Kamanzi.
Presenting the award, General Kamanzi acknowledged their contribution in carrying out patrols across the region as well as providing a safe and secure environment for the 2,500 civilians who have sought sanctuary at the UN Protection of Civilians site at Bor, a media release said.
“I would like to thank the Indian battalion for their courage and professionalism in executing their mandate in Jonglei,” said General Kamanzi.
The local government in Jonglei also paid tribute to the Indian troops.
The Indian battalion had played an important role in keeping the community safe as well as encouraging local peace efforts, said Agot Alier, Jonglei Acting Governor.
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They had also provided much-needed services to the community outside of their core mandate, such as medical care for local residents and support for local farmers with veterinary treatment for their animals, he said in a media release issued by the UN.
The battalion has been intimately associated with peacekeeping efforts and the battalion has supported the mandate of the United Nations and the overall peace process, said Alier.
Indian Ambassador to South Sudan, Srikumar Menon, attended the medal ceremony and thanked the peacekeepers for their commitment and service.
“India is committed to the objectives of the UN Charter and therefore is ready to support the United Nations’ peacekeeping efforts globally,” he said.
8. Indian-American Attorney Ajay Raju Recognised With Philanthropy Award.
Noted Indian-American attorney Ajay Raju has been honoured with the third American Bazaar Philanthropy award in recognition of his philanthropic activities in the US.
“Raju was honoured for his commitment to revive Philadelphia through the Germination Project,” said Asif Ismail, publisher of The American Bazaar, an online ethnic news publication about Indian-Americans.
“The Germination project is a signature initiative of the Pamela and Ajay Raju Foundation that recruits talented teenagers and prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders,” Ismail said in a statement.
Previous recipients of the award include Indian-American philanthropist Frank Islam and Suri Sehgal, founder of the SM Sehgal Foundation.
In his remarks on the occasion, Islam underscored the need of philanthropy.
Raju, he said, has done a fabulous job in regenerating the city of brotherly love.
“We are living in an increasingly dangerous world and times. World peace is essential for the future of this planet. There is much deadly conflict now and threats of it around the globe which must be controlled,” he said.
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Recognising this, he has supported both the US Institute for Peace and the Woodrow Wilson Center, which bring scholars and practitioners to develop programmes to try to find peaceful means for conflict resolution, Islam said.
Navneet S Chugh, a California-based attorney, said the US had a rich tradition of charity and giving.
India and Indian-Americans still have a long way to go, as he citied some of the recent figures with regard to non-profits.
Last year, Americans gave USD 500 billion in donations to charities. As many as 70 per cent of this was given by individuals and only five per cent came from corporate sector.
One third of the donations went for religious purposes, 20 per cent went to education and 10 per cent to social services.
9. ACI ranks Hyderabad airport No. 1 in 5 to 15 million category.
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) today said its Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) here has ranked no. 1 in the Airports Council Internationals service quality in the category of 5 to 15 million passengers per annum.
According to a statement issued by the airport operator today, GHIALs CEO S G K Kishore yesterday received the trophy from ACIs Director General Angela Gittens and CEO of Airports Company South Africa, Bongani Maseko, during the 27th ACI Africa/world annual general assembly, conference and exhibition at Port Louis in Mauritius.
The trophy was formally handed over for the year 2016, ranking RGIA as the worlds number one airport in the category.
The ASQ survey statistics shows that Hyderabad Airport has steadily improved its score from 4.4 in 2009 to 4.9 in 2016 (measured on a scale of 1 to 5).
"It has been an absolute delight to receive the prestigious ACI ASQ award trophy on behalf of Hyderabad Airport for being adjudged as the worlds no. 1 airport in its category. This recognition certainly boosts Brand Hyderabad and positions the resurgent India onto the worlds canvas," Kishore said.
10. USA to provide EMALS technology to India for aircraft carriers.
The Indian Navy is set to get a new technology from the US which will help launch heavy combat planes from the short runway of an aircraft carrier using electromagnetic force, instead of the old steam-powered catapults, the Trump administration has said. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System or EMALS will be given to India to equip its future aircraft carriers, the Trump administration said.
EMALS is designed to replace the steam catapult systems currently used on US Navy aircraft carriers, its maker General Atomics said on its website. EMALS also weighs less, costs less and is likely to be easy on maintenance, but can launch even heavy aircraft.
The decision to give this naval technology to India comes ahead of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson`s visit to India. A formal date of the visit has not been announced. The Trump administration has informed India of its decision to give EMALS to India, people familiar with the matter said.
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India had expressed interest to the Obama administration to acquire the new technology developed by General Atomics for use in aircraft carriers planned by the Indian Navy. On Monday, the Trump administration replied it would allow India to use EMALS, people with knowledge of the matter said.
The flexibility of EMALS is such that it can launch a wide variety of aircraft of different weight. General Atomics is planning to open an office in Delhi to support the Indian government`s military requirements, Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive, US and International Strategic Development, General Atomics, had told news agency PTI earlier.
People familiar with the matter said the US` intention of releasing the advanced naval technology to India before Mr Tillerson`s visit is a sign that the Trump administration wants to enhance strategic ties with India. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis visited India last month.
After releasing a new US foreign policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Donald Trump had asked India to play a more active role in Afghanistan. "We appreciate India`s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development," the US President had said in August.
11. Sunny Verghese appointed as World Business Council for Sustainable Development Chairman from 2018.
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development yesterday announced that Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Olam, has been appointed as the new Chair of WBCSD. Sunny’s term begins on 1 January 2018 for a duration of two years.
The appointment was enacted by a vote from members at the 2017 Annual General Meeting of WBCSD, held during the organisation’s Council Meeting taking place in Mexico City.
Mr Verghese will succeed Mr Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, who has been Chairman of WBCSD since 2014. Mr Polman’s term ends on 31 December 2017. Sunny has the honour of being the first ever Asia-based CEO to be elected chair of the Council.
A leading voice of business for sustainability, the WBCSD is a global network of more than 200 CEOs who are responsible for a combined revenue of more than US$8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Member companies and their CEOs are collectively working through WBCSD to accelerate the transition towards sustainable business and a sustainable world.
Sunny co-founded Olam in 1989 and leads the company’s strategy, planning, business development and management. His external Directorships include the Human Capital Leadership Institute, and former Chair of International Enterprise Singapore. Sunny also serves as a commissioner of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC).
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A range of additional appointments to the Executive Committee (ExCo) of WBCSD were also made during the AGM:
- Ana Botín, Executive Chair, Banco Santander – reappointed as Vice Chair
- Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, Chairman of the Executive Committee and CEO, Solvay – appointed as Vice Chair
- Masami Yamamoto, CEO of Fujitsu – appointed as Vice Chair
- Bruno Lafont – appointed as ExCo member for ArcelorMittal
- Takeshi Uchiyamada, Chairman of the Board, Toyota Motor Corporation – reappointed as ExCo member
- Yaofeng Cao, Board Director of Sinopec Corp Vice President, China Petrochemical Corporation
- Amanda Sourry, President, Foods, Unilever – appointed as ExCo member
- Diogo Rodriguez da Silveira, CEO, The Navigator Company – appointed as ExCo member
The terms of these appointments begin on 1 January 2018.