Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he is pleased midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum's form has held up amid uncertainty over his future, expressing hope the Netherlands international will commit his future to the Premier League champions.

Dozens of rallies are planned on Saturday (Nov 28) against a new French law that would restrict sharing images of police, only days after the country was shaken by footage showing officers beating and racially abusing a black man.

According to the ISNA news agency, Iranian Army commander Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi claimed that Israel and the US are involved in the assassination

Permanent Representative of Iran in the UN Majid Takht-Ravanchi underscored that there are «serious signs pointing at Israel’s responsibility» in the Fahrizade’s assassination

Overall, the fines amounted to at least 1.7 billion rubles

Under a 'virtual lockdown' revealed on Thursday, 99 per cent of the population was put in the top two tiers, which ban household gatherings and cripple the hospitality trade.

Mogadishu (HOL) - At least seven people have been killed and ten others injured in a suicide bomb attack at a busy restaurant in Mogadishu on Friday.

UNSOM’s chief discusses if the conflict in Somalia is the United Nation’s biggest diplomatic failure.

Mogadishu (HOL) - A journalists trade union has called on the federal government and opposition candidates to respect the media's right to cover the elections independently.

The Irrawaddy explores whether the USDP’s repeated failures at the polls will move the Tatmadaw into a new era with the governing NLD.

Fri, 2020-11-27 23:35 JEDDAH: A design bootcamp to create the visual brand identity for the “Made in Saudi” program has been inaugurated by the Kingdom’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef. Nine Saudi designers are taking part in the bootcamp, after being selected by a panel from more than 400 applicants. The minister, who is also chairman of the Saudi Export Development Authority (SAUDI EXPORTS), said there was a need for the program to reflect the Kingdom’s global and regional position and for it to “serve the Kingdom’s cultural identity and its substantial industrial capacities.” He said the national industry capitalized on a heritage that spanned more than four decades and was widely acclaimed across all export markets. The program was a national project for all Saudis and its identity should be designed by nationals in order to indicate that it was fully homegrown, the minister added. “Launching the ‘Made in Saudi’ brand identity design camp aims at creating a unified brand identity for the national industry through local expertise, which will contribute to repositioning the Saudi product and advancing it toward new standards of reliability and excellence at all levels.” He highlighted the role of the nation’s youth in promoting the distinctive position of the national industry domestically and globally, saying that the Kingdom firmly believed in the potential of its renewable resources, represented by its youth, and relied on them to take it to a new stage of innovation and creativity for a better future. Nine Saudi designers, after being selected  from more than 400 applicants, are taking part in the bootcamp. (Supplied) “Our young talents are the real wealth, and their efforts and innovations will contribute to the fulfillment of our leadership’s goals in terms of driving the national economy, and enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global industrial power that contributes to empowering global production capabilities for a more sustainable future.” Saleh Al-Solami, secretary-general of SAUDI EXPORTS, said that substantial efforts and initiatives had been announced by the Saudi leadership to empower the national industry since the implementation of the Vision 2030 reform plan. “At the forefront of these endeavors is the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), in addition to several other initiatives that have been launched to raise local content elements in the national product, under the supervision of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority (LCGPA). “In this context, the LCGPA issued the price preference policy for local content and the mandatory list for national products aiming to increase the public sector’s demand for local products in all industries.” He said that the most prominent results of such initiatives were their contribution to the uninterrupted growth of non-oil gross domestic product and the volume of non-oil exports, which reached about SR318 billion ($84.8 billion) at end 2019. He said that, despite the decline in the volume of non-oil exports during the first and second quarters of this year as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak, this indicator had reclaimed its upward trend in June. Non-oil exports, driven by the industry and mining sector, recorded their highest rise since Jan. 2020 to reach SR16.6 billion in June, a monthly increase of 32 percent compared to May 2020. “This sends a strong message on the ability of industrial production to be the safety valve for the national economy and a buffer ready to absorb future shocks and challenges,” he said. The director of marketing and corporate communications at SAUDI EXPORTS and the head of the “Made in Saudi” program, Mazen Al-Jasser, said the design bootcamp was welcomed by the country’s young creatives and had attracted more applicants than expected. He hailed the creative capabilities and skills of Saudi youth who, he said, had made achievements in many fields. “These talents will have the honor to participate in designing an innovative brand identity for the national industry, which will be the unified emblem of the national product and a trusted verification of the excellence of Saudi products worldwide,” he added. Al-Jasser said that companies wishing to join the program must meet the conditions and standards specified for each sector. Member companies would benefit from competitive advantages including the promotional benefits of using the unified brand, which would provide their goods and services with easier access into local, regional, and global markets. SAUDI EXPORTS is set to launch the “Made in Saudi” program during the first quarter of 2021. The nine Saudi designers have been divided into three teams to create three different designs. The designs will be put forward for an online public vote, but the final identity design has to be endorsed by the minister of industry and mineral resources and also the minister of culture. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Made in SaudiCoroanvirus Teachers at Saudi school pay tribute to colleague who died during online classKSA reports increase in COVID-19 recovery rates

Fri, 2020-11-27 23:44 Qassim province is characterized by its numerous heritage sites, some of which have been transformed by citizens into private museums. These independent museums have contributed to preserving and showcasing the region’s history and culture, often with the support of the former Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH), now the Ministry of Tourism. Al-Rass governorate is home to the Judaya Fortress which has become a popular destination for history buffs. Covering an area of 70,000 square kilometers, the governorate is situated 350 km northwest of the capital Riyadh and for centuries the area has been a key trade corridor for convoys headed between the north and east of the Arabian Peninsula. Judaya Fortress was built from more than 13,000 mud bricks and a range of hard rocks, a construction method that was to become widely adopted. It contains a number of buildings, heritage rooms, a popular market, and residential houses. Its exhibits and antiquities reveal the way of life and customs of the citizens of Qassim and Al-Rass down through the ages with a particular emphasis on professions and clothes. The fortress covers an area of 6,250 square meters and houses more than 30,000 heritage objects gathered by Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Jedai, a resident of Al-Rass who since his childhood had dreamt of running a private museum. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: ThePlace ThePlace: Antarah’s rock, located in KSA’s Uyun Al-Jiwa governorateThePlace: Volcanic Harrats in Saudi Arabia’s Umluj

Author: Fri, 2020-11-27 23:58 RIYADH: The third edition of the King Abdul Aziz Falconry Festival will kick off on Saturday in Malham, north of Riyadh, gathering Saudi and international falconers. Organized by the Saudi Falcons Club (SFC,) the festival will run until Dec. 12. This year’s festival reflects the concern of the leadership to preserve and support the cultural heritage and legacy of the Kingdom within its plans to achieve Saudi Vision 2030, promote the Kingdom’s support for cultural activities and educate Saudis about their country’s history, customs and traditions, and encourage them to protect and preserve them. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: Saudi falconry festival Saudi falconry festival takes off in Hafr Al-BatinSaudi falconry festival adds another feather to its cap with new world record

Sat, 2020-11-28 00:24 RAMALLAH: The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) inaugurated Al-Sabra Health Center in Gaza City, with funding from Saudi Arabia. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said that UNRWA was able to build Al-Sabra Health Center with generous funding from the Kingdom through the Saudi Fund for Development as part of an agreement worth $31 million, which was signed in 2018. Lazzarini said that the Kingdom is one of the most important donors to UNRWA, and over the past five years, it has funded the construction of seven health centers in Gaza. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) KSrelief launches training programs for YemenisKSrelief launches medical campaign in Mukalla

Sat, 2020-11-28 02:30 MARIB: A Saudi-backed training program designed to help 500 orphans and family members in Yemen set up their own businesses has moved into its second phase. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center is implementing the Maharati Biyadi project which aims to improve the livelihoods of the scheme’s beneficiaries in Yemen’s Marib governorate. Under the latest edition of the initiative, 100 women will receive 60 hours of training in sewing and embroidery while 75 male and female trainees will take part in mobile maintenance courses over a period of 160 hours. Main category: Saudi ArabiaTags: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) KSrelief launches training programs for YemenisKSrelief launches medical campaign in Mukalla

Some employers in the private sector plan to not pay any bonuses to their staff this year. This is similar to the Government announcing there would be no bonus paid to civil servants at the year's end, given the weakened economic outlook caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Others, however, are still going ahead with plans to pay their staff a bonus on top of the annual wage supplement, or 13th month bonus. Mr Nick Lee, director of IT services firm AIT Technologies, said his firm has been making a loss this year as client projects were delayed amid the coronavirus outbreak. He will not be able to pay his staff an annual bonus or the 13th month bonus. «We already had to let go of two people earlier this year, but the majority of our staff have not had their salaries cut. Saving our company is the priority now,» he said. Dr Kevin Cheong, executive director of local attraction Sentosa 4D AdventureLand, also said it would not be possible for him to pay a bonus to staff. «With as good as half the year's income wiped out overnight, all of us are struggling, even after we have reopened our doors to visitors.»

Patrons who were hoping to have lunch at Seoul Garden in Tampines Mall on Friday (Nov 27) were met with closed doors and a sign that read: «We are closed. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.» The restaurant, which had been open until Thursday, will reopen on Saturday (Nov 28) after disinfection. Last Saturday, a family of 13 had dinner there. One of them, a 32-year-old service engineer, fell ill two days later and tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. He became Singapore's first locally transmitted and unlinked Covid-19 case in 16 days. Mr Garry Lam, Seoul Garden Group's general manager, said in a statement on Friday: «We were contacted by the Ministry of Health (MOH ) on Nov 25, requesting information as part of their contact tracing for a Covid-related case.» He added that the restaurant chain later learnt through the media on Thursday that a confirmed Covid-19 case had dined at their restaurant in Tampines Mall.

[Nation] KCB Group Plc has entered a deal to buy out two banks in Rwanda and Tanzania in what will cement its dominance in the East African region, weeks after its main rival Equity Bank pulled out of a similar deal.

[The Conversation Africa] The Democratic Republic of Congo is the major source of some of the minerals used to manufacture components in household appliances, mobile phones, electric vehicles and jewellery.

[The Herald] PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is expected to join other Heads of State and Governments in Botswana today for a one-day SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit that will focus on emerging terrorism threats in the region particularly in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations has called on Washington and Tel Aviv to avoid “adventuristic measures” after the assassination of a top Iranian scientist, while also alleging “serious indications” of Israeli involvement. Read Full Article at RT.com

Health officials in Los Angeles County have declared a new “safer-at-home” order, clamping down its Covid-19 restrictions to ban most gatherings for a three-week period, but created exemptions for religious services and protests. Read Full Article at RT.com

A US aircraft carrier and other warships are headed to the Persian Gulf to bolster troop withdrawals in the region, a defense source told CNN, insisting the deployment is unrelated to the recent murder of a top Iranian scientist. Read Full Article at RT.com

The US Department of Justice has expanded rules governing executions to permit a wider rage of methods, including firing squads and electrocution, as five federal inmates are set to face the death penalty before Inauguration Day. Read Full Article at RT.com

A ballot recount requested by President Donald Trump in Wisconsin’s largest county has given a slight bump to Democratic challenger Joe Biden, as local officials work through a second audit in another major district. Read Full Article at RT.com

Les magistrats ont pour l’essentiel traité des problèmes d’ordre foncier.  

Les élèves du lycée de Raiatea vendent des objets usagés pour sensibiliser les habitants de l’île aux dérives de la surconsommation.  

For the first time since 2017, a beauty pageant will be held in Seychelles, 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. The organization Beauty Empowerment Seychelles is hosting a new contest, Miss Seychelles National Pageant.   With days to go before the new Miss Seychelles is crowned on December 7, SNA is profiling the 11 contestants vying for the title. Today we look at Fatma Abdulrahim Ali Salim.   Born in the eastern African country of Kenya, Salim moved to Seychelles when she was 4. She is an only child and resides in the district of Anse Aux Pins with her single mother and grandmother.   Ali, 20, is multilingual and speaks Swahili, Creole, English and French, reflecting her rich and cultural background. Ali did her studies in both Kenya and in Seychelles, where she recently graduated from the Seychelles Business Studies Academy.   Reflecting on her childhood Ali said that she wished that at a very young age she could have been more active, doing more voluntary and social activities or even joining social clubs and other organisations. But, growing up with strict parents was not easy, and even her participation in the Miss Seychelles pageant was questioned.    Ali describes herself as honest, positive with a hard-working mentality who does not take things for granted. The contestant believes that with proper guidance and coaching she can take on the role and responsibilities of becoming the next Miss Seychelles.  (Miss Seychelles the National Pageant/ Facebook) Photo License: CC-BY “Being an ambitious and very self-driven individual didn't stop me from doing so, I wanted to gain experience on a platform which will help me to share my ideologies on how to improve our society,” explained Ali.    Ali describes herself as honest, positive with a hard-working mentality who does not take things for granted. The contestant believes that with proper guidance and coaching she can take on the role and responsibilities of becoming the next Miss Seychelles.   "No matter where you come from, whatever background you have, or whichever religion you believe in, you should always follow your dreams. I am following mine, so why shouldn't you?” concluded Ali.

[East African] Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Friday said the military crackdown on the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) was a necessary operation to protect the country from impunity.

[allAfrica] Can the future of Africa's cities be growing on trees?

[allAfrica] Cape Town -- Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and the University of Nairobi in Kenya have met in a webinar to discuss Africa's Covid-19 vaccine readiness.

Après l'arrivée du virus sur l'île il y a un peu plus de trois semaines, la psychose s'empare de la population et le collège de l'île a connu un fort taux d'absentéisme cette semaine. 

La gendarmerie et la police municipale de Punaauia étaient dans les quartiers cette après-midi pour faire de la prévention quant au respect des mesures barrières.