Latest news with #Memorandumsof
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Defence ministry expands G2G MoUs to curb middlemen in asset procurement
KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is enhancing international cooperation through Government-to-Government (G2G) Memorandums of Understanding for defence procurement. Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin stated this approach eliminates intermediaries in acquiring national defence assets. 'The MADANI government remains consistent in its efforts to improve governance and ensure transparency, including in purchases of national defence assets,' he said. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, earlier warned against repeating past procurement errors during Rejimen Gerak Khas' 60th anniversary parade in Mersing. The monarch stressed evaluations must prioritise market prices and armed forces' needs over third-party recommendations. Mohamed Khaled affirmed the ministry's commitment to accountability and integrity in defence acquisitions. Internal policies are being tightened to enforce transparency and ethical compliance in procurement processes. New proposals will involve the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to assess suitability, safety, and technological relevance. 'Any procurement of defence assets is also made based on MAF requirements or user-driven,' he clarified. Market price assessments will precede purchases to ensure cost efficiency, he added. - Bernama
NDTV
07-06-2025
- NDTV
Probe Agency ED Summons Actor Dino Morea In Mithi River Scam Day After Raid
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino Morea for questioning in connection with an alleged multi-crore scam involving the desilting and cleaning of Mumbai's Mithi River. His name had reportedly surfaced in the call records of Ketan Kadam, one of the 13 accused in the scam. The model-turned-actor has been directed to appear before the ED officials next week to record his statement. The summons come a day after the agency conducted a nearly 14-hour-long search at Morea's Bandra residence on Friday, as part of a broader probe into the Rs 65 crore desilting case. In addition to Morea's home, ED officials carried out simultaneous search operations at 14 other locations across Mumbai and Kochi. The probe involves several senior officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), private contractors, and intermediaries allegedly involved in the scam. On June 6, ED officers searched Morea's villa in Bandra West, Mumbai, and questioned him extensively. Officials said the operation was linked to an alleged money laundering case tied to fake bills and fraudulent contracts for desilting operations. According to sources, ED teams arrived early in the morning on Friday and secured the premises, restricting movement and seizing mobile devices. The searches were part of a larger investigation that included raids at 15 locations in Mumbai and Kerala. Earlier, on May 26, Dino Morea had been questioned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police at the police headquarters. His name had reportedly surfaced in the call records of Ketan Kadam, one of the 13 accused in the scam. The EOW had summoned Morea to clarify his alleged connections with Kadam, a contractor under scrutiny. Investigators believe that Dino Morea's phone number appearing in call data records of a key accused prompted deeper scrutiny into his possible role or knowledge of the irregularities. The scam allegedly revolves around fake billing and fraudulent Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) submitted to the BMC to falsely claim completion of desilting work. Police say no physical desilting was conducted in several cases, leading to urban flooding during monsoons in areas near the river. According to DCP (EOW) Sangramsingh Nishandar, the FIR in the case was initially registered at the Azad Maidan Police Station. It followed preliminary findings suggesting the use of forged bills and documents to siphon off public funds allocated for river cleaning. 'The FIR covers multiple aspects of the scam, including the creation of fake contracts, fraudulent dumping of silt at non-existent locations, and manipulation of official records,' Nishandar said. Police investigations revealed that contractors submitted fake bills for transporting and dumping desilted material at nine locations. However, in several instances, landowners claimed they had never signed any agreements with the contractors. In fact, some landowners listed in the documents reportedly do not exist. 'There are major discrepancies in the MoUs submitted. Some documents mentioned landowners and dumping sites that were entirely fictitious,' Nishandar added. The accused have been booked under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code related to cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and conspiracy. If convicted, they could face up to seven years in prison. Some of the companies currently under investigation include Acute Design, Kailash Construction, N.A. Construction, Nikhil Construction, and J.R.S Infrastructure. These firms are accused of submitting fake MoUs and falsely claiming completion of desilting operations. Another significant revelation involves a company called Matprop, which conducted a field visit to the Mithi River in February 2020. Officials allege that, in collusion with BMC engineers, the company manipulated terms of the contract for personal and financial gain. Key BMC officials named in the FIR include Prashant Ramugade, Assistant Engineer and Designated Officer in the Rainwater Drainage Department; and Ganesh Bendre, Deputy Chief Engineer (East Suburbs), along with others. Private individuals and contractors named in the FIR include Jay Joshi of Virgo Specialities Pvt Ltd, Ketan Kadam of Vodar India LLP, Bhupendra Purohit, Deepak Mohan, and Kishore Menon. In total, five contractors, three middlemen, two company officials, and three BMC officials have been booked in connection with the case. Police say the scam caused significant financial loss to the BMC. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was formed after BJP leaders and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs), Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad, raised concerns about the desilting project during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly. The desilting initiative was part of a larger Rs 1,100 crore Mithi River beautification and flood mitigation project undertaken to improve the city's drainage infrastructure.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
VinFast collaborates with four Philippine partners for robust service network expansion
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 May 2025 - VinFast today announced the official signing of collaboration agreements with four reputable partners in the Philippines: Goodyear Philippines, Tire King and Rubber Products, Power Tread Services, and Marcjan Cavite. These partnerships are expected to play a key role in helping VinFast reach its goal of establishing over 100 authorized service workshops across the Philippines in 2025. Under the newly signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), VinFast will collaborate with four experienced partners operating service centers across the Philippines to provide maintenance, repair, and electric vehicle care services in accordance with the Company's global standards. Specifically, VinFast and Goodyear Philippines will work closely with the goal of establishing 50 authorized VinFast service workshops in 2025. Similarly, Marcjan Cavite is expected to open eight workshops, while Tire King and Power Tread will each establish seven. These authorized VinFast service workshops in the Philippines will adhere to stringent standards regarding facilities, machinery, equipment, and the professional qualifications of the technical teams. They will also prioritize the provision of genuine services and parts for VinFast vehicle owners. As part of this collaboration, VinFast is committed to supporting its partners through personnel training programs, technical consultation, and experience sharing, aiming to rapidly expand the network of authorized service workshops. These latest agreements - combined with previous MOUs signed with JIGA and Motech - will serve as a crucial stepping stone for VinFast to accelerate the development of its electric vehicle ecosystem in the Philippines, enhancing the after-sales experience for customers. Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, shared: 'The collaboration with experienced and insightful local players in the Philippines is a clear testament to VinFast's enduring commitment to developing a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem here. This marks the beginning of promising partnerships, laying a solid foundation for VinFast to better serve customers and promote a green lifestyle throughout the nation.' Nearly a year since its market entry in the Philippines, VinFast has steadily expanded its presence with its portfolio of smart EV models, attractive sales offerings, and a continuously refined after-sales support system. Across Southeast Asia, VinFast is actively pursuing the development of a comprehensive 'For a Green Future' ecosystem, placing a strong emphasis on collaborative growth of charging infrastructure and service networks. This framework, established successfully in Vietnam, is now being extended to promising markets such as the Philippines.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Abu Dhabi crown prince arrives in Islamabad on first official visit
Listen to article Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Islamabad for his first official visit to Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari welcomed the crown prince at the airport amid rainy weather on Thursday. This visit underscores the deep-rooted fraternal ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and reflects the shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral economic partnership," Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday. During the visit, the crown prince will engage in wide-ranging interactions with the leadership of Pakistan, to exchange views on matters of mutual interest, reinforce historical bonds and promote economic as well as investment cooperation. Several agreements and Memorandums of Understandings will be signed during the visit to bolster existing robust framework for long-term collaboration in multifaceted sectors. On Wednesday, Pakistan and Uzbekistan signed multiple agreements on Wednesday aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, technology, technical training, and youth empowerment. The agreements were signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's two-day visit to Uzbekistan, at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Both countries also agreed to work towards expanding bilateral trade to $2 billion. Following their bilateral meeting and delegation-level talks, PM Shehbaz and President Mirziyoyev witnessed the signing of several documents. These included agreements and MoUs in various sectors. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov exchanged documents related to visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders, military intelligence, internal affairs, professional and technical training, and the training of diplomats.
