Month: February 2021

A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday defended the expulsion of three diplomats from Germany, Poland and Sweden for taking part in illegal protests, saying they forced Russia’s hand.

“Unfortunately, we had to take action — which was absolutely forced on us — and expel diplomats from three EU countries for taking part in unsanctioned events,” Maria Zakharova said on Russian television.

The diplomats were declared “personae non-gratae” on Friday and ordered to leave shortly, after the ministry accused them of participating in pro-opposition rallies on January 23.

Thousands took part in two straight weekends of protests following the arrest last month of opposition activist Alexey Navalny for violating probation terms. He was given a 3.5 prison sentence on Tuesday that stems from a prior embezzlement conviction.

The Russian presidential spokesman called organizers of demonstrations provocateurs, while Vladimir Putin said that everyone had the right to freedom of opinion but “anything that goes beyond the law is not just counterproductive but dangerous.” (ANI/Sputnik)

Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur borders remain closed for traffic on Sunday as farmers continue to protest against the central agricultural laws.

In a series of tweets, Delhi Traffic Police (DTP) informed about the diverted routes following the closure of these borders.

“Tikri Border is closed for traffic both carriageway, Jharoda Kalan border, Auchandi border and Harewali close for both carriageway for traffic,” it said.

As Singhu, piau Maniyari,Saboli, Mungeshpur borders are closed, police have asked commuters to follow the alternate route. Lampur, Safiabad, Singhu school and Palla toll tax borders are open for traffic movement.

“Gazipur border is closed both carriageway traffic going Ghaziabad through Murga mandi and Gazipur R/A, road no. 56, Vikas marg, Anand Vihar IP Extention, NH 24. Please commute from other borders,” the DTP said.

The police authorities advised people to adhere to COVID-19 protocols while travelling on roads such as wearing masks and frequently sanitise hands at proper time intervals.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

Despite the nationwide internet shutdown, people staged fresh protests in Myanmar’s commercial capital, Yangon, on Sunday, demanding the release of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Protestors were seen shouting for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and holding up the three finger salute that has come to symbolise a civil disobedience movement, Myanmar Times reported.

“In Yangon, police have blocked University Avenue Road leading to Hledan, where anti-coup protesters took to the streets,” The Irrawaddy wrote in a tweet.

Myanmar went into its second nationwide internet shutdown in a week’s time on Saturday after the military seized power and arrested the Southeast Asian country’s civilian leaders.

The military blocked Twitter, Instagram and Facebook until further notice after accusing social media of spreading fake news.

However, some in Myanmar have managed to bypass the blocks, footage, photos of the protests and other news have emerged on Facebook and other media sites like Twitter and Instagram, Myanmar Times reported.

Myanmar’s military launched the coup on Monday morning after days of escalating tensions between the government and the military in the aftermath of last November’s general elections.

The military announced a one-year state of emergency in the country, vowing to “take action” against alleged voter fraud during the November 8 general election, which saw Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party win resoundingly.

The military also said it was committed to the democratic system and vowed to hold new and fair elections after the state of emergency ends. (ANI)

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday said that they have given time to the central government till October 2 to resolve the ongoing farm laws issue, adding that farmers will not return to their homes unless their demands are heard and the three new farm laws are repealed.

Speaking at the Ghazipur protest site, Tikait said, “We have given time to the government till October 2 to repeal the laws. After this, we will do further planning. We won’t hold discussions with the government under pressure.”

He also demanded to make a law on the minimum support price (MSP) of crop procurement.

The farmers’ unions conducted a three-hour ‘chakka jam’ across the country today between 12 noon and 3 pm.

Police had intensified their security measures and deployed personnel at all important points in Delhi and other states to maintain law and order.

Eleven rounds of talks have been held between the government and the protesting farmer unions over their demand for repealing farm laws. The government had offered to put the new farm laws on hold for about 18 months.

Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 last year against the three newly enacted farm laws: Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

The Nepali traders have accused China of conducting an ‘undeclared trade blockade’ as their merchandise-laden container trucks have not been allowed to cross the border into Nepal for the past 16 months, reported The Kathmandu Post.

“Goods are still stuck at the border. We have discussed the matter multiple times with China, and have asked all key political leaders including the concerned ministries. We even requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the issue diplomatically. But no outcome has been forthcoming,” said Naresh Katuwal, President of the Nepal National Trader’s Federation.

“We have taken this gesture of China as an unofficial blockade,” said Katuwal. “If this situation continues, there is no point in doing trade with China,” he added.

Almost 2,000 containers loaded with clothes, shoes, cosmetics, electronics and industrial raw materials were stopped at the border during the October-November festive season. Only a fraction of the goods have been released, said the traders.

“Around 300 containers have remained stranded at the Kerung and Tatopani border points for the last 16 months,” said Katuwal.

Krishana Prasain, in an opinion piece in The Kathmandu Post, wrote that shipments were held up at the northern border for over 16 months now on the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic, much to importers’ chagrin.

China permitted only a few trucks to enter Nepal for the festive season, and most importers rerouted their goods through Kolkata port in India, adding tremendously to their transportation costs, several traders told The Kathmandu Post.

Moreover, the cost of transporting goods over the 26-km distance from the Chinese border point to the Nepali border point has been raised from the Renminbi 15,000-16,000 to 60,000-65,000 per container.

“While the traders were waiting anxiously for their goods to be allowed to pass, Chinese transporters hiked the freight charges,” said Katuwal.

According to the Trade and Export Promotion Centre, imports from China dropped 18.5 per cent year-on-year in the first half of the current fiscal year. Nepal bought Rs 96.33 billion worth of Chinese goods in the first six months, down from Rs 118.25 billion in the same period in the last fiscal year.

Exports to China also fell by 50 per cent in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Shipments were valued at Nepali Rs 500 million, down from Nepali Rs 1.02 billion in the same period in the last fiscal year, reported Prasain.

Considering the ‘undeclared trade blockade’, Nepali traders have stopped ordering new goods from China.

Manish Lal Pradhan, president of the Export Promotion Committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that the trade points in China were almost closed, and they were unable to export handicraft items like metal statues, reported The Kathmandu Post.

The shipments use to come from Kerung and Tatopani borders, but now, Tatopani has been shut down for maintenance, while only three-four containers have been crossing the Kerung border, reported The Kathmandu Post.

Meanwhile, the goods that used to come directly from China are now being rerouted through Kolkata port in India, added Prasain. (ANI)

By Siddharth Sharma

New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): Congress said on Friday said it “fully supports” the nationwide ‘chakka jam’ protest by farmers from 12 noon to 3 pm on Saturday.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement that party workers will stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers in their protest against the new farm laws.

He said that protest by farmers on the borders of Delhi for the past 73 days for repeal of three farm laws was not only “aimed at protecting agriculture and farming but also saving the public distribution system”.

He alleged that Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had sought to mislead the Rajya Sabha and the nation during his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address.

“It is public knowledge that the farmers’ organizations have held 11 rounds of talks with the government in which they have provided a point-wise detail of the deficiencies and lacunae in the three laws, consequent to which even the Government has openly agreed to bring about as many as 18 amendments. In the light of this, whatever the Agriculture Minister said today in Parliament is not only bereft of facts but is grossly objectionable,” Venugopal said.

He said the government had not consulted opposition parties or farmers organisations before enacting the laws.

“The Indian National Congress fully supports farmers’ movement and protests. When the farmers’ organisations go on a three-hour nationwide ‘bandh’ from 12 noon to 3 pm in a non-violent and peaceful ‘chakka jam’ on the national and state highways, the Congress party will extend its full support to farmers’ organizations,” the statement said.

“The Congress Party workers in solidarity with the protesting farmers will stand shoulder to shoulder in this symbolic and Gandhian way of protest,” it added.

The statement said that in accordance with the spirit of the protest, Congress workers will take full care that the ambulance services, school bus, elderly, patients and women and children are not inconvenienced due to the protest call.

It said the government should not stand on “misplaced” prestige and repeal the three laws. (ANI)

The brother of a girl, whose exam was scheduled to be held at 12 noon but her train was delayed due to fog, tweeted to the Indian Railways that ran the train at full speed and she was able to take the exam.

After her brother’s tweet, the North Eastern Railway on Wednesday made efforts to ensure that she did not miss her basic teacher certificate (BTC) DLED examination.

Nazia Tabassum, a resident of Mau, had her centre for the examination in Varanasi. Tabassum had a reservation in Chhapra-Varanasi Intercity Special (05111).

On the examination day, the train, which was supposed to reach Mau Junction at 6:25 am was running late by more than 2.5 hours due to fog.

As the train had not reached Mau even after 8 am, Tabassum informed her brother Anwar Jamal that the exam would be missed due to the delay in the train.

After this, Jamal tweeted to the Railways and informed that the examination would be missed if the train did not reach on time. The Railways took note of Jamal’s tweet and ran the 2.5-hour delayed train at full speed to reach Varanasi by 11 am.

Speaking to ANI, Nazia Tabassum said, “My examination was from 12 noon at Vallabh Vidyapeeth Balika Inter College in Varanasi. The train in which I had a reservation was running more than 2.5 hours late. Then, I called my brother and he tweeted to the Railways for help.”

Tabassum said after her brother’s tweet, Railways called her and assured her that she would reach on time. Finally, she reached the examination centre in Varanasi 45 minutes before the examination was to begin.

Anwar Jamal, Tabassum’s brother told ANI, “I sought help from the Railways through a tweet. After 10 minutes, railway authorities made a call on my sister’s phone and assured us that we would reach on time. The train arrived at Mau at 9:18 am and reached Varanasi by 10:57 am.”

Jamal thanked railways on Twitter after they reached the examination centre on time. (ANI)

Retaliating to the United Kingdom’s move to revoke the broadcasting license for China Global Television Network (CGTN), the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said that “BBC has made some false reports” on human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Speaking at the regular press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, “I want to say that this is not the first time that the BBC has made some false reports on Xinjiang, and each time we refuted the false claim and cleared out the situation.”

While calling the reports on Xinjiang as “baseless vilification of China”, he denied the presence of any “re-educational camps in the region”.

“The BBC report on alleged abuses of women’s rights in Xinjiang has no factual basis at all. There are simply no ‘re-education camps’. Some of the interviewees in previous reports turned out to be actors spreading false information,” he added.

In a later press conference, the Spokesperson criticised US researcher Adrian Zenz for saying that the recent reports have proved the ongoing human rights violation in Xinjiang.

There are too many lies and rumours that have defamed Xinjiang recently, and the names of the “BBC and Adrian Zenz” have frequently appeared, Wang added.

This comes following the UK regulators revoking the broadcasting license for CGTN. The regulators also rejected a proposal by CGTN to transfer the license to a new entity after finding that it would ultimately still be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, and therefore disqualified under UK law.

According to Sputnik’s report on Thursday, Ofcom said that it had conducted an investigation into the company’s ownership structure and that CGTN’s parent company was beholden to Beijing.

“Our investigation showed that the license for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes. We are unable to approve the application to transfer the license to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law,” Ofcom said.

“We now consider it appropriate to withdraw the license for CGTN to broadcast in the UK,” the agency said.

China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination.

Beijing, on the other hand, has vehemently denied that it is engaged in human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang while reports from journalists, NGOs and former detainees have surfaced, highlighting the Chinese Communist Party’s brutal crackdown on the ethnic community, according to a report.

On January 27, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had stated that his opinions on the genocide committed against the Uyghurs by China have not changed.

President Joe Biden’s nominee for UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the State Department was reviewing its designation of China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other minority groups in the Xinjiang as “genocide.”

Prior to this, during his confirmation hearings, Blinken had agreed with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s designation of the Chinese Communist Party as having participated in genocide against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, Sputnik reported. (ANI)

With the vaccination of 3,31,029 beneficiaries on Friday, India has completed 50 lakhs (5 million) COVID-19 vaccinations in 21 days and has become the fastest country to do so, said Union Health Ministry.

Addressing a press conference here, Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry said, “A total of 3,31,029 beneficiaries were vaccinated today. As of February 5, 2021, by 6 pm, a total of 52,90,474 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for COVID-19 and for which a total of 1,04,781 sessions have been held.”

“We completed 50 lakhs vaccinations in 21 days. In the US it took 24 days, 43 days in the UK and 45 days in Israel. Hence, India is the fastest to reach 5 million vaccinations in the world,” he added.

Commenting upon the adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), Agnani said, “A total of 27 hospitalisation till date has been reported, no new case of hospitalisation was recorded in 24 hours. With one death in the last 24 hours, the total death reported till date is 22. None of these deaths has been casually linked to COVID-19 vaccination. No case of serious/severe AEFI/Death attributable to vaccination till date.”

The COVID-19 vaccination has been rolled out in the country from January 16, 2021, in a phased manner starting with prioritised groups of Health Care Workers (HCWs) and frontline workers. The roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine is being done simultaneously across all States and UTs. (ANI)