Month: February 2021

By John Solomou

While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is supposed to be trying to mend ties with the United States, his Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu last week told Hurriyet newspaper that “it is blatantly clear that the US is behind the (failed coup in Turkey on) July 15 (2016). It was the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO) which carried it out upon their orders. Europe was enthusiastic about it.”

The US State Department flatly denied the accusation, saying it was “wholly false” and promptly condemned it, adding, “These remarks and other unfounded and irresponsible claims of US responsibility for events in Turkey are inconsistent with Turkey’s status as a NATO Ally and strategic partner of the United States.”

The question that needs to be asked is whether Erdogan, who is increasingly moving toward the orbit of US adversaries like Russia and China, really wants to restore ties with the US?

During the presidency of Donald Trump, many of potential conflict points between the US and Turkey were swept under the carpet by Trump who was Erdogan’s friend, but things will not be the same with Joe Biden. The new US President is expected to clash with Erdogan on several issues, but will not push Turkey too far, as he wants to keep it on the side of the West and in the bosom of the NATO Alliance.

One of the biggest issues about which the US and Turkey are at loggerheads is the purchase by Ankara of the Russian S-400 missile system. Ignoring concerns that the missiles undermined the operation security of NATO and repeated calls by the US Administration (to) not buy the system, Ankara took delivery of S-400 in July 2019 and later tested it. In December 2020 US sanctions were imposed on Turkey, banning all US export licenses and loan credits for Turkey’s military procurement agency, and the Presidency of the Defense Industries.

Last Friday, Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said that the new US President Joe Biden wants Ankara to renounce the Russian S-400 defence system and added, “Turkey is a longstanding and valued NATO ally, but their decision to purchase the S-400 is inconsistent with Turkey’s commitments as a US and NATO ally. We urge Turkey not to retain the S-400 system.”

Turkey threatened to retaliate against sanctions by severely limiting the use by US troops of the strategic Incirlik base, where a large number of US troops and aircraft are stationed and where about 40 nuclear warheads are stored.

Another big thorn between the two countries is the court case against the Turkish state-owned Turkiye Halk Bankasi. The bank was indicted last year for alleged fraud and money laundering in the course of helping Iran evade US sanctions to the tune of USD 20 billion. In June, Trump forced the resignation of the lead prosecutor in the case. Halkbank denies the charges about helping Iran skirt US sanctions. The case goes to trial next March.

There are also serious disagreements between the US and Turkey, due to the aggressively expansionist policies of Erdogan, mainly his intervention in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Azerbaijan, the occupation of northern Cyprus as well as about the establishment of Turkish military bases in Qatar and Somalia. Furthermore, Ankara has raised tensions in the Aegean Sea with fellow-NATO member state Greece and in the Eastern Mediterranean with Cyprus, Greece and France.

During the election campaign, Biden called Erdogan an “autocrat, who should pay a price” for his repression, clearly indicating that he will take a much harder line when he is elected.

Biden is a person who attaches great importance to human rights and will not turn a blind eye to Erdogan’s numerous human rights violations like Trump did in the past. Furthermore, he will not keep silent when Turkish politicians blame the US for Turkey’s economic woes. However, observers believe that he will be careful not to alienate Turkey from the West and, despite Turkey’s moves towards Russia and China, will not push it away from the West.

For his part, Erdogan appears to be paying lip service to the restoration of good relations with Washington, but so far has not made any credible gesture to improve ties with the US. Apparently, he wants to improve US-Turkey ties on his terms and contacts between the two sides seem to be a dialogue of the deaf.

Merve Tahiroglu, Turkey program coordinator for the Project on Middle East Democracy says that Washington has too often looked away when Erdogan has scapegoated the United States to deflect blame for Turkey’s political, economic and diplomatic crises.

Max Hoffman, Director for National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress says that that “overly punitive steps could cripple Turkey’s economy while doing little to strengthen its democracy and pushing Ankara toward Moscow.

The United States cannot, therefore, be hard-line on every front with Turkey. Nor can the US or European pressure save Turkey from Erdogan; the Turkish president is not going to change his stripes or significantly moderate his domestic repression under duress.

But Turkey will hold an election in 2023 or before and there is a real chance that Erdogan will lose. The United States and Europe can therefore seek to coordinate to signal clear red lines and credible responses to deter further Turkish escalation.” (ANI)

Amid the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Centre’s newly enacted farm laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday quoted his predecessor Manmohan Singh on the need for reforms in the farm sector and also cautioned the nation about a new form of “FDI” which he referred to as “foreign destructive ideology” as the agitation grabs global attention.

Defending Centre’s policies for farmers and referring to those taking a “U-Turn” from laws, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha said, “Manmohan Ji is here, I would read out his quote. Those taking a U-Turn (farm laws) will perhaps agree with him. ‘There are other rigidities because of marketing regime set up in the 1930s which prevent our farmers from selling their produce where they get the highest rate of return…”

“…It is our intention to remove all those handicaps, which come in the way of India realising its vast potential at one large common market,” he added.

“Manmohan Singh Ji had made his intentions clear to give farmers the freedom to sell their produce, and have just one market. And we are doing it now. You all should be proud. See, what Manmohan Singh Ji had said, Modi is having to do now. (woh Modi ji ko karna pad raha hai). Be proud!” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also assured, ‘MSP (Minimum Support Price) tha, MSP hai aur MSP rahega’ (MSP was there, MSP is there, MSP will remain in the future).

PM Modi also said that the need of the hour is to improve the lives of the country’s small farmers and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) initiated changes in the agriculture sector since 2014.

He further said, “This country is proud of every Sikh. What have they not done for this country? Whatever respect we give them will always be less. I have been fortunate to spend crucial years of my life in Punjab. The language used by some against them and the attempt to mislead them will never benefit the nation.”

On the other hand, while emphasising on the need for more FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) he cautioned the nation regarding a new form of FDI which he referred to as “foreign destructive ideology”.

“The nation is making progress and we are talking about FDI but I see that a new FDI has come to the fore. We have to protect the nation from this new FDI. We need Foreign Direct Investment but the new FDI is ‘foreign destructive ideology’. We have to protect ourselves from it,” said PM Modi.

His statement comes as farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s newly-enacted farm laws has got international attention with tweets by pop-star Rihanna and Swedish climate-activist Greta Thunberg backing the protesting farmers.

Many farmers, mainly from Punjab, have been protesting for over 70 days at the borders of Delhi against the three newly enacted farm laws. They demand repealing of laws as well as the assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the government.

The Prime Minister further took a jibe at the Congress party saying that Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had praised the recent elections held in Jammu and Kashmir, and hoped that Congress would take it in the right spirit

“Ghulam Nabiji always speaks decently, never uses foul language. We should learn this from him, I respect him for it. He praised elections held in Jammu and Kashmir…I believe your party will take it in the right spirit and not commit the mistake of doing the opposite by listening to suggestions of G-23,” said PM Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha.

PM Modi’s reference to G-23 was about the 23 senior Congress leaders who had written a letter to party chief Sonia Gandhi, asking her for changes in the party. (ANI)

Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday reiterated the Congress party’s demand to restore statehood status to the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.

He put forth this demand while addressing the Rajya Sabha on the issue of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2021, which aims to merge the Jammu and Kashmir cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers with that of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory (AGMUT).

He claimed that the UT status is doing more harm to Jammu and Kashmir than good.

Azad further said the habitable land is almost limited in Jammu and Kashmir as most of the areas are in the form of forests and mountains.

“Most areas in Jammu and Kashmir are forests and mountains. The habitable land is almost limited over there. When Jammu and Kashmir was made a UT, some Members of Parliament said that they will buy land over there. I replied by saying that I have myself not been able to do so. I asked them if they know the cost of land in Jammu and Srinagar. Price of land in these cities is Rs 40-50 crore per acre,” said Azad while addressing Rajya Sabha.

He also raised the issue of unemployment saying that it rose phenomenally in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. “There was a curfew and the state remained closed for a long time. After that COVID came and the tourism in the valley reduced to almost zero. Developmental works were stopped. Schools and colleges closed, due to which teachers were unable to get salaries even. People got unemployed,” he added.

Azad added that no new industries came in the UT and 60 per cent of already existing industries got shut down due to uncertainties.

Azad made these statements on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir post-abrogation of the Article 370 decision taken by the Union Government on August 5, 2019. This revoked the special status given to it. The Centre also declared Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory with the legislature. (ANI)

Amid deteriorating ties between Canberra and Beijing, Australian national Cheng Lei, who was detained last year by Chinese authorities, has been formally arrested on suspicion of espionage.

“The Australian Government has been advised that Australian citizen Ms Cheng Lei was formally arrested in China on 5 February, after 6 months of detention. Chinese authorities have advised that Ms Cheng was arrested on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets overseas,” the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.

Cheng has been detained since 13 August 2020. She reportedly worked as a news anchor at the English-language broadcaster — China Global Television Network (CGTN) from 2012.

The statement by the Foreign Affairs Department said the Australian Government has raised its serious concerns about Cheng’s detention regularly at senior levels, including about her welfare.

Australian Embassy officials have visited Cheng six times since her detention, most recently on 27 January 2021, in accordance with our bilateral consular agreement with China. “We expect basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment to be met, in accordance with international norms,” the statement said.

Recently, two prominent Australian outlets withdrew their correspondents from China after they were questioned by Chinese authorities, Sputnik reported.

Since the beginning of the pandemic bilateral ties between China and Australia have been going downhill over an array of issues over the past year, prompting Beijing to stop the import of various Australian goods, including coal. Expatriates of either country have also been increasingly caught in the crosshairs of law enforcement as tensions between the two rise. (ANI)

Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut on Monday treated fans to an intriguing and fiery look from her upcoming action-thriller ‘Dhaakad.’

The ‘Queen’ star took to Instagram and shared a picture that sees her in a fiery look as she is dressed in an all-black ensemble.

The picture sees the ‘Panga’ actor in skin-tight black denim pants and a matching top while holding a rifle in her hands. Sporting a high ponytail, Kangana has a bleeding head and some scratches on her face as she is ready to fight it out on the battlefield.

The look shared by the ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ star has an uncanny resemblance to ‘Baroness’ essayed by actor Sienna Miller in the much-loved military science fiction action film series ‘G.I. Joe’.

Fiercely holding onto a gun, Kangana shared the latest pictures from the sets of ‘Dhaakad’ and wrote, “They call her Agni… the brave one #Dhaakad. I say she is my depiction of Bhairavi the goddess of death … #Dhaakad.”

Recently, Kangana had showered ‘Dhaakad’ director Razy Ghai with praise for his dedication. Sharing the BTS video, the actor wrote, “Never saw a director who gives so much time and importance to rehearsals, one of the biggest action sequences will be shot from tomorrow night but amazed with the amount of prep, getting to learn so much, more than 25 crores being spent on a single action sequence #Dhaakad”.

While she shoots for ‘Dhaakad’, Kangana will next be seen in ‘Thalaivi’, a biopic on actor-turned-politician Jayalalithaa.

Apart from this she also has ‘Tejas’ and ‘Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda’ in the pipeline. Kangana has also signed up to play the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an upcoming political drama. (ANI)

Two C-130J Super Hercules (military transport aircraft) with three companies of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 15 tonnes of other loads and equipment were sent from Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad for rescue operations following the glacier burst in Uttarakhand, said defence officials on Sunday.

The officials said that the first C-130J has landed at the Jolly Grant airport near Dehradun and the second one would be landing soon.

According to officials, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat is monitoring military efforts for rescue operations. An Air Commodore-rank officer has been deployed at Jolly Grant by the Air Force as Task Force commander to coordinate the aerial effort for rescue operations in view of the floods, they said.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced that state government will give financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to kin of the deceased.

At least nine bodies have been recovered from the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) site in the Tapovan area, said SS Deswal, Director General, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

“It is suspected that around 100 workers were at the site out of which, 9-10 dead bodies have been recovered from the river,” he said.

A DRDO team of snow and avalanche experts from its newly-created Defence Geo Informatics Research Establishment would be reaching the site where the flash flood occurred tomorrow to assess the situation. The team would also assess the situation in the glaciers around the site of the accident, DRDO officials said.

Seven Navy diving teams are on standby for the flash flood relief operations in the state, said the Navy officials.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is monitoring the situation after the water level in the Dhauli Ganga River increased following an avalanche near a power project at Raini village in the Tapovan area.The avalanche was triggered after a glacial burst in Chamoli district on Sunday. (ANI)

India has become the third topmost country in the world in terms of the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, the Government of India (GoI) informed on Sunday adding that only the United States and the United Kingdom remain ahead of India.

The government said in a press release that 12 States have vaccinated more than 2 lakh beneficiaries each. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 6,73,542 of all vaccinated beneficiaries.

In the last 24 hours, 3,58,473 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 8,875 sessions. As many as 1,15,178 sessions have been conducted so far. There has been a sustained increase in the number of beneficiaries being vaccinated every day.

A total of 84.83 per cent of the daily new cases are from six States and Union Territories, the GoI release said.

Kerala reports the highest daily new cases at 5,942. It is followed by Maharashtra with 2,768, while Karnataka reported 531 new cases. 78 fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours.

Five States/UTs account for 69.23 per cent of the daily deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (25). Kerala follows with 16daily deaths and Punjab reported 5 casualties.

As on February 7, 2021, till 8 am, a total of 57.75 lakh (57,75,322) beneficiaries have received the COVID-19 vaccine under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination exercise. The cumulative vaccination coverage includes 53,04,546 healthcare workers and 4,70,776 frontline workers.

In another significant development, the country has reported less than 80 daily deaths in the last 24 hours, the lowest in nine months.

The country’s active caseload is 1.48 lakh (1,48,766) today. The present active caseload consists of 1.37 per cent of India’s Total Positive Cases. India’s cumulative recoveries stand at 1.05cr (1,05,22,601) today. The recovery rate is 97.19 per cent.

A total of 12,059 new daily cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours whereas 11,805 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours. 81.07 per cent of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in six States/UTs.

Kerala has reported the maximum number of single-day recoveries with 6,178 newly recovered cases. 1,739 people recovered in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours followed by 503 in Tamil Nadu.

As many as 17 States/UTs have not reported any deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Haryana, Goa, J&K (UT), Jharkhand, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Lakshadweep, Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, A&N Islands, Ladakh (UT), Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura and D&D & D&N. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Mamata government for not passing on the benefits of the centre’s PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to the farmers saying that out of 25 lakh farmers who applied, only 6,000 farmers were chosen by the state government for benefits.

At a public meeting in the Haldia area of Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal, Prime Minister promised farmers of the state that the Centre would provide all the benefits.

“Farmers of West Bengal have decided to form the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. In the first cabinet meeting after the formation of BJP government in Bengal, a decision will be taken to implement the farmers’ plan of the Government of India at a fast pace,” he said.

PM Modi said that under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 10 crore small farmers across the country have received Rs 1.15 lakh crore in their accounts.

“I am sad to say that West Bengal farmers could also have received the support, but the government in the state did not allow the scheme to be implemented. Now that the farmers of West Bengal have made up their mind to teach Mamata Didi a lesson, just a few days ago the state government agreed to join the scheme helplessly. Over 25 lakh farmers in the state have applied for benefits from PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Out of 25 lakh farmers, just 6,000 farmers were chosen by the state government for benefits under these schemes,” he added.

Further attacking the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, PM Modi said that the state government has deprived the poor of availing free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme of the central government.

“The people of West Bengal are still awaiting the National Education Policy (NEP). The ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ could’ve benefited the Bengali people working in other states, but it is yet to be implemented by West Bengal. The 7th Pay Commission, too, hasn’t been implemented in West Bengal even today! The state government doesn’t even pay its employees on time,” he said.

Despite all the hurdles created by the state government, the central government is making all efforts for the development of the people of Bengal, PM Modi said.

“Be it highways, flyovers, rail networks, airports, ports, waterways, internet facilities, the central government is spending a huge amount on all these. More than 25 per cent will be spent on railways in West Bengal compared to last year. In this year’s budget, special attention has also been paid to millions of associates associated with tea gardens. A provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been made for them,” he said.

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated LPG import terminal built by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Dobhi-Durgapur Natural Gas Pipeline section of the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project and a Four-Lane ROB-cum-Flyover at Ranichak, in Haldia. (ANI)

Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra on Sunday shared a video with fans of her ‘Sunday Binge’ in which she could be seen gorging on piping hot ‘jalebis and rabdi’.

Sharing a glimpse of her ‘Sunday Binge’ on Instagram, Shetty said, “I haven’t done this for a long time but as it is Sunday today, it should be done. My friend has sent me this lachcha rabdi and gur (jaggery) rabdi. Don’t know what is the difference, but let’s taste”.

Drooling over the deliciousness of the sweet, “I wouldn’t feel guilty because its gur’s (jaggery) rabdi.”

The ‘Life in a Metro’ actor is often seen savouring on such lip-smacking snacks on her cheat-days during weekends.

With the latest post that accumulated more than five lakh views within a few hours of being posted, she captioned the post as, “SUNDAY BINGE !!Jalebi and gur ki Rabdi #sunday #sundaybinge”.

Shilpa, who is very active on her social media accounts, updates her fans regularly about her activities through her posts on Instagram.

She will soon be seen in ‘Hungama 2’ the sequel to the 2003 blockbuster comedy-drama ‘Hungama’ and has also recently finished shooting for the Sabbir Khan directorial ‘Nikamma’. (ANI)