HARARE, Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe’s ruling party is set to begin impeachment proceedings against longtime President Robert Mugabe, while a party official says government ministers have been instructed to boycott a Cabinet meeting called by the president.
Ruling party chief whip Lovemore Matuke tells The Associated Press minutes before the Cabinet meeting is expected to start that ministers have been told to instead attend a meeting at party headquarters to work on the impeachment. Parliament resumes Tuesday.
Mugabe’s chief secretary on Monday summoned ministers to the Cabinet meeting at State House, the president’s official residence.
Mugabe is finding himself increasingly isolated.
The military on Monday night said the vice president he recently fired, sparking the political turmoil, will return to Zimbabwe “shortly” and has made contact with Mugabe.
Impeachment of Zimbabwe’s Mugabe set to begin
Impeachment of Zimbabwe’s Mugabe set to begin
Prince Sultan International Airport drives Tabuk’s growth with 25% surge in flights
JEDDAH: Prince Sultan International Airport in Tabuk is playing a key role in Saudi Arabia’s transportation expansion, with a 25 percent increase in flight operations.
This surge highlights the region’s alignment with Vision 2030, focusing on enhanced logistics, connectivity, and sustainability.
During a recent visit to the region, Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser affirmed that Tabuk is experiencing substantial growth, which supports the broader objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
The minister emphasized that the rise in airport operations — including both the number of flights and the diversity of domestic and international routes — signals further development in the coming years.
Launched in 2021, Saudi Arabia’s transport and logistics strategy aims to transform the country into a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
The strategy seeks to elevate all transport services and is a central element of Vision 2030. The plan includes an investment of over $266.7 billion by 2030, with $53.3 billion already deployed.
Al-Jasser also highlighted the region’s advanced road infrastructure, built to international standards, which is designed to accommodate the growing population and economic activity while ensuring safety and efficiency for travelers.
Noting the significant progress in Tabuk’s transport sector, the minister expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom’s leadership for its ongoing commitment to improving services across all sectors, particularly in transportation.
He emphasized that these initiatives not only address current demands but are also geared towards future goals, particularly in enhancing supply chain efficiency and supporting both domestic and international logistics networks.
The minister further underscored the importance of environmental sustainability in transportation, advocating for eco-friendly solutions and the integration of cutting-edge technologies into transport operations.
Al-Jasser also acknowledged the leadership of Tabuk Gov. Prince Fahd bin Sultan, praising his steadfast support for the region’s development projects and his role in enhancing transport services for residents and visitors alike.
He commended the strong partnership between regional authorities and the Ministry of Transport, which has been instrumental in achieving shared goals.
During his visit, the minister held discussions with members of the Tabuk Chamber of Commerce, exploring opportunities for further collaboration with the private sector to advance the goals of the NTLS. He also met with local residents to hear their insights, suggestions, and priorities regarding the region’s transport and logistics infrastructure.
inflation seen slowing to 5.8 percent-6.8 percent in November, ministry says
- Inflation may further slow to 5.6 percent-6.5 percent in December, says ministry
- Pakistan slashed interest rates by 250 basis points earlier in November
KARACHI: Inflation in Pakistan is expected to slow to 5.8 percent-6.8 percent in November, and then further to 5.6 percent-6.5 percent in December, the finance ministry said in its monthly economic report on Wednesday.
The South Asian country slashed interest rates by 250 basis points earlier in November in a bid to revive a sluggish economy amid a big drop in the rate of inflation.
Inflation clocked in at 7.2 percent in October, a sharp drop from a multi-decade high of nearly 40 percent in May 2023.
Why is Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan in jail?
- Khan first arrested in May 2023 over allegations he received a land bribe through a trust created when he was in office
- Khan, now in jail since August 2023, also faces charges of terrorism and is accused of revealing state secrets
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s capital Islamabad was gripped by violence on Tuesday as protesters demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces near the parliament.
Here is a look at some of the allegations against the 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician — named in dozens of cases since he left office in 2022 — that have kept him behind bars for more than a year.
GRAFT ALLEGATIONS
Khan was first arrested in May 2023 in relation to allegations that his wife, Bushra Bibi, and he received land worth up to 7 billion rupees ($25 million) as a bribe through a trust created in 2018, while he still held office.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has maintained the land was donated for charitable purposes.
Khan was released on bail after three days in prison, during which his supporters attacked and set fire to military and other state installations, with eight people killed in the violence.
ABETTING VIOLENCE
Khan is facing anti-terrorism charges in connection with the violence that followed his arrest in May last year, and in relation to which several of his supporters have already been sentenced.
PTI said in July that authorities had issued fresh arrest warrants for him in three different cases related to the clashes.
STATE SECRETS
Khan was accused of making public a classified cable sent to Islamabad by Pakistan’s ambassador in Washington in 2022, while he still held office.
He was acquitted in the case in June.
UNLAWFUL MARRIAGE
Khan and his wife were accused of breaking Islamic law by failing to observe the mandated waiting period between Bibi’s divorce from her previous husband and their marriage in 2018 .
Moody’s upgrades 6 Saudi GRIs to Aa3, citing strong sovereign support
RIYADH: Moody’s has upgraded the ratings of six major government-related institutions in Saudi Arabia, including the Public Investment Fund, to Aa3 from A1.
The move reflects strong sovereign backing and stable credit linkages to the government.
The agency also assigned the Aa3 rating to Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corp., and Saudi Electricity Co., as well as Saudi Power Procurement Co., and Saudi Telecom Co.
Moody’s assigns an Aa3 rating to companies with high quality, low credit risk, and strong ability to repay short-term debts, providing an assessment of the creditworthiness of borrowers, including governments, corporations, and other entities that issue debt.
“The rating action is a direct consequence of the sovereign rating action and reflects the credit linkages between the Government of Saudi Arabia and each of the six entities,” said Moody’s.
It added: “While several of these corporates benefit to varying degrees from international assets and cash flows, they all have significant credit linkages to the Saudi Arabia sovereign and are exposed to the domestic environment including political, economic, regulatory and social factors.”
The strong ratings received by these firms is an indication of Saudi Arabia’s robust economic stability, following Moody’s upgrade of the Kingdom’s credit rating to Aa3 with a stable outlook in November.
In May, Fitch Ratings upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to A+ with a stable outlook.
PIF
The upgrade of PIF’s long-term issuer rating to Aa3 from A1 aligns with the Saudi government’s rating action and reflects the strong credit linkage between the sovereign wealth fund and the Kingdom, according to Moody’s.
The report also noted that PIF is expected to receive strong and extraordinary support from the Saudi government whenever needed.
“PIF is closely interlinked with the Kingdom because it is one of the main vehicles of the Kingdom to execute its Vision 2030; PIF continues to receive contributions from the Kingdom via asset transfers; and given the fund’s investment focus and concentration in domestic markets,” added the US-based agency.
According to the analysis, PIF’s rating is in line with that of the Saudi government, meaning the fund’s rating could be downgraded if the sovereign rating declines.
In July, PIF’s consolidated financial statement revealed that the fund generated SR331 billion ($88.3 billion) in revenue in 2023 from its diverse investment portfolio, reflecting over 100 percent growth compared to 2022.
Saudi Aramco
The report indicated that Aramco’s rating upgrade reflects the high likelihood of extraordinary support from the government if needed.
The US-based agency also noted that the energy company has access to nearly all of Saudi Arabia’s vast hydrocarbon resources and significant petrochemical operations.
Earlier in November, Aramco reported a net profit of SR103.37 billion for the third quarter of 2024, surpassing analyst expectations, which had projected a median net income of SR101.06 billion.
SABIC
According to Moody’s, SABIC’s rating upgrade is due to its strong reliance on the government and the high probability of receiving government support in the event of financial distress.
The report also highlighted the company’s strong global position in the petrochemical and fertilizer markets as another key factor behind the credit rating upgrade.
In the third quarter of this year, SABIC reported a net profit of SR1 billion, a turnaround from the net loss of SR2.87 billion in the same period last year.
SEC
Describing SEC as the “dominant vertically integrated electricity utility in Saudi Arabia,” Moody’s stated that the company served over 11.23 million customers as of Sept. 30, 2024.
“SEC’s rating reflects the significant credit linkages between SEC and its ultimate shareholder, the Government of Saudi Arabia. All of SEC’s assets are in Saudi Arabia and the company benefits from supportive government policies,” said the US-based agency.
In the third quarter of this year, SEC reported a net profit of SR4.7 billion, a 19.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
SPPC
Moody’s stated that SPPC has a clear public policy mandate that aligns its interests and objectives with those of the government.
As the sole licensed principal buyer of electricity in Saudi Arabia, the company has significant credit linkages with the government, which played a crucial role in the latest rating action.
Moody’s also noted that the rating reflects SPPC’s low business risk profile, its monopoly position in the Kingdom, and its ability to maintain a strong liquidity profile despite high working capital seasonality.
stc
According to the report, the rating upgrade of stc – the leading integrated telecommunications and ICT operator in Saudi Arabia – reflects the company’s strategic importance to the government, as well as the state’s high level of control through PIF.
Moody’s added that stc generates over 90 percent of its revenue in the Kingdom and plays a key role in supporting the government’s technological and digital ambitions, a crucial goal outlined in Vision 2030.
Affirming stc’s dominance in the Saudi market, the company reported a net profit of SR11.23 billion in the first nine months of this year, a 2 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
1,000 Pakistan protesters arrested in pro-Khan capital march
- More than 10,000 protesters surged into Islamabad on weekend, defying a ban on public gatherings
- Government has called the protests “extremism,” vowing no mercy for the oncoming marchers
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan police said Wednesday they had arrested nearly 1,000 protesters who marched on the capital demanding the release of jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, after crowds were evicted from the city center in a sweeping security crackdown.
Khan has been jailed since August 2023, sidelined by dozens of legal cases he claims were confected to prevent his comeback in elections this year marred by rigging allegations.
Since the February vote, his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has defied a government crackdown with regular rallies, but Tuesday’s gathering was by far the largest to grip the capital since the poll.
More than 10,000 protesters surged into the city on the weekend, defying a ban on public gatherings and a lockdown to skirmish with 20,000 security forces enlisted to turn them back.
The government said at least one police officer was slain in unrest on Monday, while four state paramilitary personnel were also reported killed when protesters ran them over in a vehicle on Tuesday.
The crowds aimed to occupy a public square outside parliament and the prime minister’s house.
Overnight, security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters wielding sticks and slingshots, as roadblocks were set ablaze.
By early Wednesday, AFP staff saw the main thoroughfare toward Islamabad’s government enclave cleared of crowds, and security forces in riot gear being bussed away from the area.
Islamabad Police Inspector General Ali Nasir Rizvi said 954 protesters had been arrested between Sunday and Tuesday, when the crowds came within one mile (1.6 kilometers) of the government enclave.
“610 of those arrests were made only on Tuesday alone,” he said.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that security forces had “bravely repulsed the protesters.”
Khan had issued a call from his cell outside Islamabad on Tuesday evening, telling more people to join the crowds.
“All Pakistanis participating in the protest must remain peaceful, stay united, and stand firm until our demands are met,” he said in a social media statement released by his party, who often meet him in jail.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the protests “extremism.” Since Sunday, his ministers held regular press conferences in central Islamabad vowing no mercy for the oncoming marchers.
But as they retreated from the capital, there were growing calls for reconciliation to prevent future flare-ups impacting regular citizens in the country of 240 million.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in a statement that Khan and Sharif’s parties should “immediately enter a purposeful political dialogue.”
“It is high time that they agree on a peaceful way forward instead of whipping up the emotions of their respective political workers and bringing the country to a standstill,” the organization said.
Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute director at The Wilson Center, said on social media platform X that “Pakistan’s protests had no winners.”
Anger toward the establishment has increased over the crackdown, he said, while at the same time, PTI was forced to retreat.
“Pakistan on the whole is burdened by a worsening confrontation,” he said.
Khan, a charismatic 72-year-old former cricket star, served as premier from 2018 to 2022 and is the lodestar of PTI.
But in his absence, the protests were led partially by his wife, Bushra Bibi, who was also jailed this year but released last month.
Sharif’s government has come under increasing criticism for deploying heavy-handed measures to quash PTI rallies.
Mobile Internet was cut across Islamabad, schools shut on Monday remained closed on Wednesday, and roadblocks prevented thousands of workers from reaching their jobs.
Amnesty International said that “as protesters enter the capital, law enforcement officials have used unlawful and excessive force.”
Khan was ousted by a no-confidence vote after falling out with the kingmaking military establishment, which analysts say engineers the rise and fall of Pakistan’s politicians.
But as opposition leader, he led an unprecedented campaign of defiance, with street protests boiling over into unrest that the government cited as the reason for its crackdown.
PTI won more seats than any other party in this year’s election, but a coalition of parties considered more pliable to military influence shut them out of power.
