South Asia

Beirut, Dec 10 (IANS) Oman hosted a high-level regional meeting on Monday to review progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, nearly 30 years after its adoption, the Lebanon-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) announced.

The meeting, attended by ministers, officials, civil society representatives, and UN agencies, concluded with the Muscat Declaration, reaffirming Arab countries' commitment to advancing women's rights under the Beijing framework, Xinhua news agency reported.

Omani Minister of Social Development Laila Al Najjar emphasised the progress witnessed in Oman in terms of laws and regulations that guarantee the protection of women's rights.

ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti highlighted over 100 legislative amendments issued across Arab states in the past two years to improve women's rights but acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the impact of armed conflicts on 15 million women in the region.

Discussions focused on combating violence against women, boosting women's economic participation, advancing their decision-making roles, and protecting women in conflicts. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed that sustainable development and peace require women's full empowerment and called for transforming commitments into impactful actions.

Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains a global framework for advancing women's rights and achieving gender equality.

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Istanbul, Dec 10 (IANS) Istanbul Airport, Turkey's largest aviation hub, will launch simultaneous takeoff and landing operations on all three runways to accommodate the growing passenger capacity, as announced by the transport and infrastructure minister.

"On April 17, 2025, we will begin simultaneous takeoff and landing operations on all three runways at Istanbul Airport," Abdulkadir Uraloglu said in a statement.

"This will allow us to minimise operational delays. Additionally, we will maximise fuel savings and flight efficiency," the minister added.

Under its expansion plan, the airport will have six runways by 2028. "With the commissioning of the new runways, the efficiency of air traffic operations will further improve," Uraloglu noted.

The airport served approximately 76 million passengers last year and aims to increase this number to 81 million by the end of this year.

Istanbul Airport officially opened in late October 2018 and became fully operational in early April 2019.

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Damascus, Dec 10 (IANS) Syria's militant forces that have taken control of Damascus announced a general amnesty for all army personnel conscripted into mandatory service.

In a statement, the militant forces' Military Operations Department declared, "We grant amnesty to all army conscripts under mandatory service. They are guaranteed safety, and any aggression against them is prohibited."

The amnesty is seen as part of broader reconciliation efforts to reintegrate military personnel who may have been captured or fled during the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the official news agency SANA.

Further details about the amnesty or its impact were not immediately clear.

In a stunning turn of events on Sunday, militant forces in Syria seized the capital Damascus and declared the end of Assad's rule, following a rapid offensive that saw major Syrian cities falling like dominos within less than two weeks.

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Jaipur, Dec 9 (IANS) A joint declaration was signed between the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Rajasthan's Water Resources Department to enhance international cooperation in the water sector on the inaugural day of the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024.

Additionally, a ‘Letter of Intent’ was also signed between the Government of Rajasthan and the Danish Embassy to collaborate on the revival of the Saraswati Paleochannel.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the session, emphasising the importance of water conservation. He stated that due to climate change, rainfall patterns have drastically changed, with some regions suffering from severe water scarcity while others face excess. To address these issues, he highlighted the need for efficient water management practices.

Shekhawat said that saving every drop of water is crucial for securing the future of upcoming generations. He further advocated for wastewater treatment, water recycling, and the reduction of irrigation water usage. The minister also praised Israel's successful water management technologies such as drip irrigation and sprinkler systems.

Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat noted that, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, Rajasthan is hosting this three-day conference to attract significant investments and contribute to the nation’s growth.

He assured that the state government is committed to ensuring water security for future generations, with ongoing initiatives such as the Revised PKC-Integrated ERCP, the Yamuna Water MoU, and the Dewas project.

Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, Abhay Kumar, called for a collective effort to conserve and sustainably manage water resources, ensuring that every drop counts.

The session featured discussions among industry leaders, water resource experts, and other guests on the urgent need for sustainable water management in the face of climate change, rapid urbanisation, and increasing water demand.

--IANS

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