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UAE cabinet reshuffle: 3 women among 6 new ministers

News Network
October 20, 2017

Dubai, Oct 20: Six new ministers, including three women, have been named as members of the UAE cabinet by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

During a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, some of the major appointments announced in addition to the six new members was the creation of three new posts.

27-year-old Omar bin Sultan Al Olama was named the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, 30-year-old Sara Al Amiri was named Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, while Mariam Al Muhairi was named Minister of State for Food Security.

One of the youngest members to be introduced to the cabinet, Al Olama previously held the role of Director of the World Government Summit Organisation.

As two of the three new women introduced to the cabinet, Al Amiri has served as Chairperson for the UAE Council of Scientists and is associated with the Mohammad bin Rashid Space Centre. And throughout her career, Al Muhairi - who began her professional journey with the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water - has helped lead some major projects in the field of sustainability in the UAE.

The three additional new members taking on previously instated roles includes Nasser bin Thani Al Hameli, who was appointed as Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Zaki Nussaibah as Minister of State and Hessa bint Bu Humaid who will now take on the role of Minister of State for Community Development.

With the new additions, the 13th UAE Cabinet now has 31 members, an increase of two members from the 12th UAE Cabinet.

And with five of the six new members only in their twenties and thirties, it is yet another nod towards the UAE's shift in empowering the country's youth.

Following the Government's recent annual meetings and the launch of the UAE Centenial plan 2071, Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter to announce details of the new structural shake-up on Thursday afternoon. With a change in portfolio for two existing ministers, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan has now been appointed as the Minister of State for Tolerance (he was previously the Minister of State for Culture and Knowledge Development). He will be taking the reigns from Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who was the previous Minister of State for Tolerance in the UAE 12th Cabinet.

Noora Al Kaabi will take up the position of Minister of State for Culture and Knowledge Development. She previously held the position of Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

Two current ministers have also had additional portfolios added to their current post. Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education will now be Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, while Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of State for Health and Prevention will now hold the title: Minister of State for Health and Prevention, Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs.

New cabinet announced on October 19, 2017

1. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence

2. Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

3. Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs

4. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 
Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance 

5. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

6. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Tolerance  

7. Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi 
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future

8. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri 
Minister of Economy

9. Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais 
Minister of Health and Prevention
Minister of Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs 

10. Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

11. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer 
Minister of State for Financial Affairs

12. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi 
Minister of State for International Cooperation

13. Suhail Mohammad Faraj Al Mazroui
Minister of Energy and Industry 

14. Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi 
Minister of Education

15. Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi
Minister of Infrastructure Development

16. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Badi 
Minister of Justice

17. Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi
Minister of State for Defence Affairs

18. Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi 
Cultural and Knowledge Development

19. Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi
Minister of Climate Change and Environment

20. Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli
Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation

21. Hessa Bint Eisa Bu Humaid 
Minister of Community Development

22. Jameela Salem Al Muhairi
Minister of State for Public Education

23. Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Bel Houl Al Falasi
Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills

24. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber
Minister of State

25. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi 
Minister of State

26. Ohoud Khalfan Al Roumi
Minister of State for Happiness

27. Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui
Minister of State for Youth

28. Zaki Nussaibah
Minister of State

29. Mariam Al Muhairi
Minister of State for Food Security

30. Sara Al Amiri
Minister of State for Advanced Sciences

31. Omar Sultan Al Olama
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence

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News Network
November 21,2025

Bantwal: A domestic dispute appears to have led to a violent confrontation in BC Road area, where the owner of a textile shop was allegedly attacked with a knife by his wife on Wednesday evening.

Krishna Kumar Somayaji, the owner of Somayaji Textiles, sustained serious injuries in the incident and was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. He is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit and is reported to have survived the assault, according to police.

The Bantwal Town police have registered a case against Somayaji's wife, Jyothi KT, who has since been taken into custody.

Police stated that the complainant, Namita, an employee at the shop, reported the sequence of events. She stated that around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, the suspect entered the shop, wearing a burqa and disguised as a customer, before attacking Somayaji with a knife. The employee then transported the injured owner to a local hospital via an autorickshaw.

Superintendent of Police Arun K confirmed that an ongoing domestic dispute between Somayaji and his wife reportedly preceded the attack. Police noted that Jyothi KT had previously visited the shop and issued threats.

Based on the complaint, Bantwal Town police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Indian Arms Act-1959. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

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News Network
November 22,2025

The Karnataka government has announced a 50% rebate on pending traffic and transport fines. The discount is available from November 21 to December 12.

The rebate applies to all traffic e-challans and violation cases booked by the RTO between 1991–92 and 2019–20. Officials clarified that the offer is not applicable to pending tax dues and is restricted only to traffic-violation fines.

Across Karnataka, more than 4 lakh RTO cases remain pending, including those involving transport vehicles. While thousands of vehicle owners have already cleared their dues, the department expects to generate substantial revenue through this limited-period rebate.

How to Pay and Avail the Discount

There are three ways to check and pay your pending fines:

1. Through Mobile Apps
Available on both Play Store and App Store:
•    Karnataka State Police (KSP) app
•    KarnatakaOne app
•    ASTraM app

Steps:
•    Enter your vehicle number in any of the above apps
•    Verify the photo/details of your vehicle
•    Pay the fine with the 50% discount applied

2. Visit a Traffic Police Station

You can pay your pending fine at any nearby traffic police station.

3. Visit the Traffic Management Centre (TMC)

•    Location: First Floor, Infantry Road, near Indian Express, Bengaluru

Transport Commissioner Yogeesh A M said, “We don't issue e-challans, so there's no online payment system.”

The department estimates ₹52 crore in pending RTO fines up to March 2020. “With the 50% rebate, we expect to collect around ₹25 crore if all dues are cleared,” he added.

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News Network
November 27,2025

imrankhan.jpg

Authorities at Pakistan’s high-security Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Wednesday dismissed speculation about the condition of imprisoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, rejecting rumours that he had been moved out of the facility or was in danger. Officials said Khan was in “good health” and described the viral death claims as “baseless.”

“There is no truth to reports about his transfer from Adiala Jail,” the Rawalpindi prison administration said in a statement, according to Geo News. “He is fully healthy and receiving complete medical attention.”

Amid swirling rumours on social media, Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urged the federal government to issue an official clarification and demanded that authorities allow his family to meet him immediately, Dawn reported.

The frenzy began after Khan’s three sisters called for an impartial probe into what they described as a “brutal” police assault on them and other PTI supporters outside Adiala Jail last week. Soon after, several social media handles circulated unverified claims alleging that Khan had been “killed” inside the prison.

The rumours intensified when a handle named “Afghanistan Times” claimed that “credible sources” had confirmed Khan’s “murder” and that his body had been moved out of the jail — allegations that have not been verified by any credible agency.

Imran Khan, PTI’s patron-in-chief, has been lodged in the Rawalpindi prison since August 2023 in multiple cases. For over a month, an undeclared restriction has prevented family members and senior PTI leaders from meeting him. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has reportedly been denied access despite making seven attempts.

In a letter to Punjab Police Chief Usman Anwar, Khan’s sisters — Noreen Niazi, Aleema Khan, and Dr. Uzma Khan — said they were “peacefully protesting” outside the jail when police allegedly launched an unprovoked assault after streetlights were switched off.

“At 71, I was seized by my hair, thrown to the ground and dragged across the road,” Noreen Niazi said, alleging that other women present were also slapped and manhandled.

Adiala Jail officials reiterated that speculation over Imran Khan’s health was unfounded and insisted that his well-being was being ensured, Geo News reported.

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