Latest news with #Embassy
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Claims of leasing City Hall to the Iranian Embassy clarified
The Tshwane metro has clarified its affairs surrounding the alleged plans to lease the Pretoria CBD's City Hall to the Iranian Embassy. This after DA's Cilliers Brink raised concerns over the metro not being transparent regarding the rescue of the dilapidated City Hall. 'The DA will ask Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya to disclose the details of interactions between the City of Tshwane and the Embassy of Iran,' said Brink in a statement. He said this followed reports about the possible Iranian Embassy's involvement in the repair and leasing of the Pretoria City Hall. 'This is a matter which has never been discussed by the City Council,' he said. In response to the allegations, the metro confirmed that the representatives of the Iranian Embassy did visit the City Hall. However, it said, there were no discussions of any potential arrangement, such as lease terms. 'On May 9, the metro received a formal letter from the Cultural Consulate of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran proposing the establishment of a permanent Iranian Cultural Complex in Tshwane,' said Sthembiso Skosana, spokesperson for the office of the MMC for Corporate and Shared Services. In the letter supplied by the metro, the Iranian Embassy proposed that the metro consider contributing a parcel of municipal building or land to the Iranian Embassy. This would be for the establishment of a permanent Iranian Cultural Complex in the metro. The letter also outlined the Embassy's vision for the proposed facility, which would include a museum, library, restaurant, cinema, and handcraft shops. Skosana said in response to this and similar requests, the Bad Buildings Sub-Mayoral Committee has been actively exploring opportunities to repurpose assets that have long been dormant. The committee was established earlier this year to identify underutilised municipal properties. 'This work is guided by the urgent need to stimulate economic activity, attract investment for infrastructure upgrades, and address the metro's well-known budgetary constraints,' he said. He said as part of the process, officials from the Group Property Department developed a proposal of potential sites for the Embassy's consideration. 'This included, but was not limited to, Tshwane City Hall, which was clearly identified as a protected public asset that is unequivocally not for sale,' he said. He affirmed that the intention was to open exploratory discussions and assess possible alignments with the metro's revitalisation plans. He further acknowledged that the City Hall, a landmark of historic and civic significance, has not been operational for over a decade. 'City Hall is one of several heritage properties under consideration for appropriate reuse as part of the city's broader inner-city regeneration efforts,' he stated. He said its preservation and responsible revitalisation form part of the metro's broader strategy to restore key heritage assets for public benefit. He added that a site visit was conducted on May 28 with representatives of the Iranian Embassy, who were shown the City Hall building and its surrounding precinct. 'Following this inspection, a subsequent request was received from the Embassy to inspect additional potential sites, as only City Hall had been viewed during the initial engagement,' he said. Skosana emphasised that the interactions were entirely exploratory, and no commitments were made by either party. 'To be clear, no discussions have taken place regarding the mechanics of any potential arrangement, such as lease terms, funding models, or final site selection.' He said the metro has hosted similar engagements as part of its efforts to reclaim and revitalise neglected infrastructure through responsible public-private partnerships. 'Recent consultations have included Institutions of Higher Learning, the diplomatic community, property developers, and private sector stakeholders who share an interest in restoring Tshwane's civic assets for public benefit,' he said. Skosana emphasised the metro's commitment to transparent and responsible governance. 'We remain committed to transparency, responsible stewardship, and meaningful engagement with all stakeholders as we work to breathe new life into the Capital City while preserving its cultural heritage for generations to come,' he concluded. ALSO READ: City Hall scandal: officials face disciplinary enquiries Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Avoid Border Areas: India Issues Travel Warning as Clashes Escalate on Cambodia-Thailand Border
India has issued an urgent travel advisory for its citizens in Thailand and Cambodia. The Embassy of India in Cambodia has warned Indian nationals to stay away from border areas amid ongoing violent clashes. The situation has grown increasingly volatile, with reports of armed conflict and instability in nearby Thai provinces. The Indian Embassy in Thailand also issued a similar warning a day earlier, urging people to avoid seven conflict-hit regions. Indian citizens have been asked to remain in contact with the Embassy in Phnom Penh in case of emergency. As geopolitical flashpoints ignite across Asia, India's swift response signals rising concern for citizen safety abroad. #india #indiatraveladvisory #indiainthailand #indiaincambodia #thailand #cambodia #cambodiathailandborder #indianembassy #borderclash #travelalert #indiansabroad #thailandcambodia #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Africa's 4th busiest port gains U.S. backing for trade expansion
The Port of Lomé, Togo's thriving maritime hub and Africa's fourth busiest container port, has drawn renewed attention from the United States as it positions itself as a strategic gateway for American businesses seeking entry into African markets. The Port of Lomé is Africa's fourth busiest container port, offering deep-water access and modern infrastructure. The United States is increasing its focus on the port as a strategic gateway for expanding business opportunities in African markets. Embassy representatives highlighted the port's potential for fostering U.S. trade, noting its advanced logistics and geographic advantages. According to the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, the country now boasts the fourth busiest container port in Africa, offering deep-water access and modern infrastructure that could significantly boost trade opportunities for American businesses. Chargé d'Affaires Joann Lockard Michaels led a tour of the Lomé Port and the Lomé Container Terminal on Sunday, July 21, engaging with local port authorities and stakeholders to explore viable areas for U.S. private sector investment. The embassy noted that the port's cutting-edge equipment and location make it an ideal entry point for U.S. goods into African markets. 'With advanced deep-water capabilities and modern logistics infrastructure, the Port of Lomé presents unmatched access for U.S. companies looking to expand their footprint across Africa, ' the Embassy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The outreach forms part of a broader U.S. effort to deepen economic ties in the region, leveraging strategic infrastructure to enhance bilateral trade. The Embassy is also encouraging interested American firms to connect for tailored business advice and opportunities. Port of Lomé sees growth The Port of Lomé has steadily gained traction in recent years, benefiting from its tax-free logistics zone, political stability, and central location along West Africa's Atlantic coast. Beyond its standout performance in Africa, the Port of Lomé has maintained its position among the world's top 100 container ports for the fourth consecutive year, rising to 93rd in 2024 from 94th in 2023. As Togo's principal maritime gateway, the port plays a vital role in the national economy, with approximately 70 percent of the country's economic activity linked to maritime trade. The sector contributes over 75 percent of national tax revenue. Regionally, the port serves as a strategic transshipment hub for West Africa, facilitating trade for several landlocked countries, including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. In 2024, the Port of Lomé recorded modest growth in total cargo throughput, handling 30.64 million tonnes—an increase from 30.09 million tonnes in 2023.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Indian attacked in Ireland: 'In touch with victim,' says embassy; 'requisite assistances offered'
NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Ireland has taken note of the brutal attack on a national in Tallaght, saying that the embassy was in touch with the relevant Irish authorities and all the "requisite assistances" were being offered to the victim and the family. "Regarding the recent incident of physical attack on an Indian national happened in Tallaght, Dublin, Embassy is in touch with the victim and his family. All the requisite assistances are being offered. Embassy is also in touch with the relevant Irish authorities in this regard," the embassy informed in a post on X on Wednesday. — IndiainIreland (@IndiainIreland) The man, in his 40s, was brutally attacked and partially stripped in a suspected racist assault in Tallaght, Dublin, on Saturday evening. Having arrived in Ireland just three weeks earlier, he sustained injuries to his face, arms, and legs, and was hospitalized before being discharged on Sunday morning. Calling out the incident as "horrible", Indian ambassador to Ireland, Akhilesh Mishra, had said, "How can an 'ALLEGED' assault cause such horrible injury & bleeding? Aghast at the insensitivity & obfuscation of @rte @rtenews!"
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
India, Japan explore maritime, regional ties in Indo-Pacific region
India and Japan continued to deepen their partnership on maritime connectivity and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region during a seminar titled "IPOI Ambassador of India to Japan, Sibi George, delivered the inaugural remarks at the event, which featured special addresses by Japan's former Defence Minister and MP H.E. Mr. Minoru Kihara, India's Secretary (East) H.E. Mr. P. Kumaran, and H.E. Mr. Shingo Miyamoto, Director General at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The discussions focused on strengthening India-Japan cooperation on maritime linkages across the Indo-Pacific region. The Indian Embassy later shared highlights of the event in a post on social media platform X, "Glimpses of a seminar on "IPOI: India-Japan Partnership in Maritime Connectivity" held at the Embassy. Ambassador @AmbSibiGeorge delivered the inaugural remarks at the event, which also featured special remarks by H.E. Mr. Minoru Kihara, Hon'ble MP & former Defence Minister, H.E. Mr. P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), and H.E. Mr. Shingo Miyamoto, DG, MOFA. Discussions focused on deepening India-Japan cooperation in enhancing maritime connectivity in Indo-Pacific." On the sidelines of the seminar, Ambassador Sibi George held talks with top Japanese lawmakers. He met H.E. Yasutoshi Nishimura, Member of the House of Representatives, and discussed ways to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. He also received H.E. Minoru Kihara, former Defence Minister of Japan and current MP, for a similar discussion on bilateral cooperation. Last month, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, met Terada Yoshimichi, Japan's Vice Minister for International Affairs (MLITT), in Oslo. The meeting aimed to expand maritime ties between the two countries, including Japanese investment in Indian shipyards, cooperation in port digitisation, green initiatives, R & D, seafarer employment, and upskilling. The two sides also discussed Japan's possible collaboration in developing the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands into smart, sustainable, and disaster-resilient islands. Sonowal said Japan's expertise in this area could help in deploying renewable energy, smart mobility, and digital infrastructure. In April 2025, following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also called Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express condolences. Prior to the call, both PM Ishiba and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya had issued public messages of sympathy. The India-Japan partnership has seen regular high-level interactions. In October 2024, PM Modi met with Prime Minister Ishiba in Vientiane, Laos, during the ASEAN summit. Both leaders discussed enhanced cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, defence, and other key areas. India and Japan continue to maintain strategic engagement through structured dialogues. The 17th Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue was held in New Delhi in August 2024, along with the 3rd round of the 2+2 Ministerial Meeting on the same day, reflecting the countries' commitment to regional peace, maritime security, and shared prosperity.
