Latest news with #ExecutiveCouncil
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
MoU worth Dhs1 billion signed to develop and expand Ajman Port
Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Port & Customs Ajman (DPC), and Hutchison Ports, a global port investor, developer and operator, for the expansion and development of Ajman Port's infrastructure with a joint investment worth Dhs1 billion. Under the MoU, a development plan will be drawn up for Ajman Port in accordance with the best global practices. The goal is to enhance handling efficiency in terms of performance, safety, and operational speed; attract new shipping lines; align with digital transformation plans; and launch AI-powered programmess for port operations through an integrated 15-year plan aimed at managing, operating, and developing the port, solidifying its position as a vital logistics hub in the region. Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi stated: 'We welcome the signing of the MoU between the Department of Port & Customs Ajman and Hutchison Ports, which paves the way for a strategic, exceptional, and vital project that reflects the status of Ajman and supports its Vision 2030, enhancing its leadership and competitiveness on the global economic map.' Sheikh Ammar added, 'The Emirate of Ajman enjoys a developed and attractive investment environment, supported by a continuously evolving business ecosystem and the opening of new horizons for local and foreign investment. We believe that port development is an investment in the future of trade, food security, and economic growth.' The Crown Prince of Ajman emphasised that developing Ajman Port will play a key role in stimulating the local economy by supporting supply operations and facilitating export and import activities through the provision of sustainable, eco-friendly infrastructure, while focusing on developing national talents and equipping them with modern port management skills. The MoU was signed by Sheikh Dr Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Department of Port & Customs Ajman, and on behalf of Hutchison Ports by Andy Tsoi, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa Division at Hutchison Ports. Sheikh Dr Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi stated that the MoU reflects the aspirations of H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Chairman of the Executive Council, to establish strategic partnerships focused on technology transfer, expanding investment opportunities, and building an integrated operational system based on the highest international standards in maritime and logistics operations. He noted that the MoU marks an important step in reinforcing Ajman Port's position as a strategic hub in the UAE's and the region's maritime transport network, especially since this partnership has proven its effectiveness and success at Ajman Port since 2011. WAM
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New Hampshire governor rejects hearing for Pamela Smart, sentenced to life for husband's 1990 death
Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up On Wednesday, Smart wrote to Ayotte and the governor's Executive Council asking for a hearing on commuting her sentence. But Ayotte, a Republican elected in November, said she has reviewed the case and decided it is not deserving of a hearing before the five-member panel. Advertisement 'People who commit violent crimes must be held accountable to the law,' said Ayotte, a former state attorney general. 'I take very seriously the action of granting a pardon hearing and believe this process should only be used in exceptional circumstances.' In her letter, Smart said she has spent the last 35 years 'becoming a person who can and will be a contributing member of society.' Calling herself 'what rehabilitation looks like,' she noted that she has taken responsibility for her husband's death. Advertisement 'I have apologized to Gregg's family and my own for the life taken and for my life denied to my parents and family for all these long years,' she wrote. Smart's trial was a media circus and one of America's first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student. The student, William Flynn, testified that Smart told him she needed her husband killed because she feared she would lose everything if they divorced. Flynn and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors and all have since been released. The case inspired Joyce Maynard's 1992 book 'To Die For' and the 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nsikazi residents demand service delivery from Mpumalanga premier
The Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, was challenged to prioritise service delivery to communities of the City of Mbombela during his Executive Council (Exco) Outreach Programme (imbizo) last Friday. The KaBokweni Stadium was filled with frustrated residents of the Nsikazi region, most of whom said they feel neglected and failed by the local, and especially the provincial government. This while Ndlovu's office is situated less than 30km away from there. They had the chance to speak to Ndlovu directly. While he and members of his Exco noted the concerns raised, they could not account for some of the challenges. The plague of criminal activity, particularly sexual violence at schools and hijackings in the region, was a cause for concern. The residents said they are left to fend for themselves, as most police stations don't have enough vehicles to respond to crime scenes. This has resulted in the public losing faith in the police and the justice system in general. Ndlovu said the fight against crime requires communities to co-operate with the police and that the provincial government would support the crime-prevention systems put in place. The people also voiced complaints on the overcrowded primary schools in the area, such as Vutselani, Malekutu and Tsembaletfu. Thami Shabangu from Malekutu Trust said the schools are dilapidated and don't have enough classrooms to accommodate the number of pupils enrolled. ALSO READ: Hazyview Twin College teachers claim unfair dismissal by school's owner We asked the premier and his council to demolish and rebuild these schools, so that teachers and pupils have a conducive learning environment. We hope they heard our concerns and react quickly,' he said. In his list of concerns, Shabangu also highlighted the safety of public transport commuters, suggesting that load reduction should be scheduled during the day rather than in the evening when criminal activities are more likely to take place. The City of Mbombela has put in place a compulsory load reduction schedule of two hours daily – either from 05:00 to 07:00 or 19:00 to 21:00 – for all areas of Nsikazi. The dilapidated Mjejane Road between Malekutu and Mdlangoma was a recurring topic, brought up by many residents at the gathering. The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, promised residents that it would be attended to, along with other public infrastructure issues such as the neglected Elijah Mango College of Higher Education. The deputy chairperson of the Ehlanzeni community policing forum (CPF), Jacob Sibhoza, brought up the issue of financial support for CPFs. He highlighted security and safety concerns caused by neglected and overgrown bushes at various hospitals, referring to the recent case of a missing patient whose body was found in the bushes near Tonga Hospital. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga High Court orders DoE to pay costs after failed postponement hearing Other issues that were raised were unemployment, alleged incompetence of ward councillors, and a lack of internet access at public facilities. Residents like Florence Mathebula from Bhuga attended the imbizo to plead with Ndlovu to build her a house, as she struggles to make ends meet living with a disability. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
4 days ago
- Politics
New Hampshire governor rejects hearing for Pamela Smart, sentenced to life for husband's 1990 death
CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte rejected on Thursday the latest request for a sentence reduction hearing from Pamela Smart, who is serving life in prison for orchestrating the murder of her husband by her teenage student in 1990. Smart, 57, was a 22-year-old high school media coordinator when she began an affair with a 15-year-old boy who later fatally shot her husband, Gregory Smart, in Derry. The shooter was freed in 2015 after serving a 25-year sentence. Though Smart denied knowledge of the plot, she was convicted of being an accomplice to first-degree murder and other crimes and sentenced to life without parole. It took until last year for Smart to take full responsibility for her husband's death. In a video released in June, she said she spent years deflecting blame 'almost as if it was a coping mechanism.' On Wednesday, Smart wrote to Ayotte and the governor's Executive Council asking for a hearing on commuting her sentence. But Ayotte, a Republican elected in November, said she has reviewed the case and decided it is not deserving of a hearing before the five-member panel. 'People who commit violent crimes must be held accountable to the law,' said Ayotte, a former state attorney general. 'I take very seriously the action of granting a pardon hearing and believe this process should only be used in exceptional circumstances.' In her letter, Smart said she has spent the last 35 years 'becoming a person who can and will be a contributing member of society.' Calling herself 'what rehabilitation looks like,' she noted that she has taken responsibility for her husband's death. 'I have apologized to Gregg's family and my own for the life taken and for my life denied to my parents and family for all these long years,' she wrote. Smart's trial was a media circus and one of America's first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student. The student, William Flynn, testified that Smart told him she needed her husband killed because she feared she would lose everything if they divorced. Flynn and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors and all have since been released. The case inspired Joyce Maynard's 1992 book 'To Die For' and the 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
New Hampshire governor rejects hearing for Pamela Smart, sentenced to life for husband's 1990 death
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte rejected on Thursday the latest request for a sentence reduction hearing from Pamela Smart, who is serving life in prison for orchestrating the murder of her husband by her teenage student in 1990. Smart, 57, was a 22-year-old high school media coordinator when she began an affair with a 15-year-old boy who later fatally shot her husband, Gregory Smart, in Derry. The shooter was freed in 2015 after serving a 25-year sentence. Though Smart denied knowledge of the plot, she was convicted of being an accomplice to first-degree murder and other crimes and sentenced to life without parole. It took until last year for Smart to take full responsibility for her husband's death. In a video released in June, she said she spent years deflecting blame 'almost as if it was a coping mechanism.' On Wednesday, Smart wrote to Ayotte and the governor's Executive Council asking for a hearing on commuting her sentence. But Ayotte, a Republican elected in November, said she has reviewed the case and decided it is not deserving of a hearing before the five-member panel. 'People who commit violent crimes must be held accountable to the law,' said Ayotte, a former state attorney general. 'I take very seriously the action of granting a pardon hearing and believe this process should only be used in exceptional circumstances.' In her letter, Smart said she has spent the last 35 years 'becoming a person who can and will be a contributing member of society.' Calling herself 'what rehabilitation looks like,' she noted that she has taken responsibility for her husband's death. 'I have apologized to Gregg's family and my own for the life taken and for my life denied to my parents and family for all these long years,' she wrote. Smart's trial was a media circus and one of America's first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school staff member and a student. The student, William Flynn, testified that Smart told him she needed her husband killed because she feared she would lose everything if they divorced. Flynn and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors and all have since been released. The case inspired Joyce Maynard's 1992 book 'To Die For' and the 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.
