Month: May 2021

Iranian FM apologises for leaked audio

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Post date 3 May 2021
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly slammed Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for his comments….reports Asian Lite News

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has apologised for critical remarks he was heard saying about the country’s political system in a leaked audio recording.

“I would like to apologise to everyone,” dpa nws agency quoted Zarif, one of Iran’s most high-profile figures and who has been Foreign Minister since 2013, as saying in a social media post on Sunday.

Zarif said he regretted comments he made in which he complained about the interference of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the armed forces, in diplomatic affairs.

The remarks came in an interview conducted by one of President Hassan Rouhani’s advisers.

The audio tape was allegedly stolen by “inner circles” and then published by Persian-language news outlets abroad.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Later on Sunday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Zarif for his comments.

“We have heard statements in recent days that were very regrettable,” Khamenei said in a televised speech.

He said the remarks resembled US criticism of the IRGC.

UK considers abolishing quarantine for Covid contact

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 3 May 2021
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A man wearing a face mask cycles past the Francis Crick Institute Vaccination Centre in London,UK , Britain, March 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Han Yan/IANS)

Currently, these people are required to quarantine at home for 10 days but the measure could be scrapped if a trial in England, which gives daily lateral flow tests to as many as 40,000 people, is successful…reports Asian Lite News

Daily lateral flow tests could be used as a way to prevent home-isolation in the UK for those who have been in contact with someone tested positive for coronavirus, British media reported.

“This new pilot could help shift the dial in our favour by offering a viable alternative to self-isolation for people who are contacts of positive Covid-19 cases, and one that would allow people to carry on going to work and living their lives,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

The trial will begin on May 9 and close contacts of people with coronavirus will be contacted by phone and sent seven days of the tests if they decide to participate in the study.

Also read:Quarter of UK adults receive both jab doses

They will have to test themselves every morning for seven days and will be exempt from the home isolation rule every day they test negative, as long as they do not show any symptoms of coronavirus.

Lateral flow tests give results in about 30 minutes but are considered less sensitive than PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, whose results usually return in 24 hours or so, according to the BBC.

More than 34.3 million people have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Experts have warned that despite progress in vaccine rollout, the UK is “still not out of the woods” amid concerns over new variants, particularly those first emerged in South Africa, Brazil and India, and the third wave of pandemic on the European continent.

Also read:Covid infections in UK drop to late Summer levels

Tags Covid-19, quarantine, UK

-Top News China India News

China’s new maritime law may escalate tensions in Indo-Pacific

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Post date 3 May 2021
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The agency can also block overseas ships from intruding into the territorial waters if they do not fall under innocent passage under international law, reported the japan times…reports Asian Lite News

China has passed a new legislation to strengthen the power of its maritime safety authorities sparking fears that tensions between Beijing and other Asian countries, including Japan, may escalate in the Indo-Pacific region.

The latest revision was passed at the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body on Thursday (April 29). It is scheduled to be put into force on September 1, citing Xinhua, the Japan Times reported.

The legislation will enable China’s maritime safety agency, which belongs to the transportation ministry, to order foreign vessels to leave what Beijing claims as its territorial waters if it thinks that they could threaten security.

The agency can also block overseas ships from intruding into the territorial waters if they do not fall under innocent passage under international law, reported the japan times.

China has conflicting territorial claims with four of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations — Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam — as well as Taiwan in the South China Sea and Japan in the East China Sea.

Beijing claims that the Senkaku Islands, administered by Tokyo, in the East China Sea are part of its territory, the amendment of the Maritime Traffic Safety Law could target Japanese vessels navigating around the uninhabited islets, called Diaoyu in China.

In February, China also enforced a controversial law allowing its coast guard to use weapons when foreign ships involved in illegal activities in waters it claims do not obey orders, making Sino-Japanese relations fragile over maritime security.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

Recently, the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping has adopted a hard-line posture in the South and East China seas as part of its goal of making the Communist-led country a “maritime power”, reported the japan times.

China has frequently sent official vessels to waters around the Senkakus in an attempt to lay claim to them, while Washington and Tokyo have agreed that the islets fall under the scope of a Japan-US security treaty.

In April, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga at their summit in Washington affirmed the significance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, irritating the Chinese government.

Suga (ANI)

Immediately after the summit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry summoned a senior official of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing to lodge a protest against the agreement between Washington and Tokyo, a diplomatic source familiar with bilateral relations said.

“China has started to take a tougher attitude toward Japan,” the source said, with Beijing announcing that the country is conducting military drills in the East China Sea for two days through Friday, reported the japan times.

Beijing, meanwhile, has rapidly built artificial islands with military infrastructure in the South China Sea, claiming sovereignty over almost the entire maritime area.

U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship (Wikipedia)

US warships have carried out “freedom of navigation” operations there in an apparent bid to counter Chinese claims and actions in the sea, a strategic waterway through which more than one-third of global trade passes.

Foreign affairs experts say that the move is a warning against the United States and other Western democratic countries that have been stepping up their involvement in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, reported the japan times. (ANI)

Also Read-Philippines refuses to withdraw navy from South China Sea

Tags china, India

ASEAN News Asia News China

Chinese jabs land in Myanmar

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Post date 2 May 2021
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A health worker analyses samples of COVID-19 vaccines, developed by Chinese company Sinovac

The donated vaccines, promised by China earlier this year, was handed over at a critical stage of prevention and control against the pandemic, demonstrating the “Paukphaw” (fraternal) friendship…reports Asian Lite News

A batch of Covid-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government has arrived at the Yangon International Airport, according to a release from the Chinese embassy.

The donated vaccines, promised by China earlier this year, was handed over at a critical stage of prevention and control against the pandemic, demonstrating the “Paukphaw” (fraternal) friendship and spirit of a community with a shared future, said the embassy on Sunday, hoping that the vaccines can help protect life and health of Myanmar people and combat the pandemic, Xinhua reported.

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, China and Myanmar have carried out effective cooperation, with China not only donating medicines and equipment, but also sending medical experts to assist Myanmar in combating the pandemic.

Also read:PICS: Myanamr’s Parliament Meet

Tags china, Covid-19, myanmar, vaccine

-Top News Asia News Nepal

Oli to seek vote of confidence on May 10

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 May 2021
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Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli

The decision was taken as Oli was increasingly facing non-cooperation from one section of his own Nepal Communist Party-Unified Marxist-Leninist…reports Asian Lite News

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who is facing a crisis inside his own party, is to seek a vote of confidence on May 10.

The decision was taken as Oli was increasingly facing non-cooperation from one section of his own Nepal Communist Party-Unified Marxist-Leninist and the Nepal Communist Party-Maoist Centre has threatened to pull out from the government.

A section of Oli’s own party led by former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is not happy with Oli, who is also the party Chairman, since the formation of this government some three years back, accusing him of working unilaterally as head of the government and the party.

In the midst of this confusion, the Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence and decided to summon the house on May 10 for the purpose, Agriculture and Livestock Minister, Padma Kumari Aryal told IANS.

If Oli fails to garner a majority, then either he will dissolve the house and declare the elections or will seek support from other parties to run the government for the remaining two years.

Oli vs Prachanda

The rift between Oli and Nepal widened after Oli dissolved the Parliament on December 10. However in February, Nepal’s Supreme Court reinstated the Parliament but relations between Oli and Nepal soured further after Oli suspended him and some other senior party leaders close to him for six months.

The Nepal faction is also creating parallel party structures after animosity grew with Oli. After facing non-cooperation from within the party, now the Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence, the minister said.

Out of 121 seats, Oli has support of 86 lawmakers while the Nepal faction holds sway over 35. It is not sure whether the Nepal faction will cross the floor against his own party’s chairman. But the Nepal faction has been crossing the floors in some provinces, so it is likely to cross the floor or abstain from the trust vote, said party leaders.

In the 271-member House of Representatives, the CPN-UML has 121 seats, the Nepali Congress 63, the CPN-Maoist Centre of former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 49, the Janata Samajbadi Party 34, and smaller parties four seats

Also read:Nepal seeks India’s medical assistance to fight virus

Tags NEPAL, oli, Prachanda

-Top News China India News

India concerned over China’s massive Tibet infra push

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Post date 2 May 2021
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The Tibet infrastructure development projects have been included in the 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025)…reports Subir Bhaumik.

China is planning to develop a massive defence logistics infrastructure in Tibet that will turn the once independent kingdom into a military hub to dominate the Himalayas.

The plans were approved during the plenary session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) in March this year and also by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The Tibet infrastructure development projects have been included in the 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025).

The Long Range Objectives-2035 additionally identifies a number of strategic military projects for completion by 2025 and 2035.

The G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the G219 and G331 national highways will be upgraded and extended to run along China’s southwestern border.

The new 1,800-km Chengdu-Lhasa high-speed railway network will be the second strategic railway connecting from Tibet to the Mainland, reducing travel time from Chengdu to Lhasa to just 10 hours.

Chengdu is now the headquarters of the integrated Tibet-Sichuan military command that makes it possible for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to move strategic reserves swiftly from the borders with other Southeast Asian nations to beef up both offensives and strategic defence on the India front.

Shigatse (Rikaze), Tibet’s second-largest city, will emerge as a rail transportation hub as work has begun on railways to link Shigatse with Jilong in Guizhou province and Hotan in Xinjiang province.

To make up for aerial defence weakness, China will construct at least 20 new border airports by 2025 in Tibet, in places like Tashkurgan and Longzi.

Tashkurgan, the last stop before the Karakoram Pass, is under the jurisdiction of the South Xinjiang Military District and the PLA could easily threaten the Daulat Beg Oldi and the Depsang Plains from there.

The airport at Longzi in Tibet’s Shannan County will also boost the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in the middle sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Analysts like Jayadeva Ranade, former Cabinet Secretariat’s Chiba expert, say that “in just over a decade, China will have a much-improved strategic border defence infrastructure”.
“The considerably enhanced Chinese military presence will be a long-term potential threat for India,” Ranade said.

Ranade has closely studied the 142-page, 70,000-character “14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025) and the Long Range Objectives through the Year 2035 for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China”, whose English version is yet to be released.

“The document clarifies China’s national strategic intent and identifies the core areas of national security and development. It has a definite focus on strategic science and technology programmes in the frontier areas. The document details the projects that have direct implications for India,” said Ranade.

He said that India’s worst concern is over the Chinese plan to construct a massive dam on the Great Bend on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra).

Serious discussions on diverting the waters of the Brahmaputra had started in the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics in Beijing in 1995.

Details of a comprehensive plan emerged in a book authored by former military officer Li Ling titled ‘Tibet water can save China’, which was published in 2005.

The 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025) and the Long Range Objectives-2035 confirms that a number of hydroelectric projects will be built along its lower reaches and a massive dam three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam in Sichuan province will be constructed on the Great Bend on the Tsangpo.

“The dams constructed on the fragile Himalayas will pose a constant danger to those living downstream and adversely impact the livelihoods of over a billion people residing in the Indo-Gangetic plain,” said Ranade.

He said the planned infrastructure projects in Tibet and the anticipated huge influx of labour and engineers will raise the temperature on the Tibetan Plateau and accelerate the retreat of Tibet’s glaciers.

These glaciers are the source of the Indus and a number of rivers that feed into the Ganges. This will seriously reduce the flow of water even leading to the rivers drying up.

Pakistan bans processions on Youm-e-Ali

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 May 2021
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The provincial secretaries and representatives of law enforcement agencies attended the session through video link…reports Asian Lite News.

Amid surging coronavirus cases in Pakistan, the federal government on Saturday imposed a ban on Youm-e-Ali processions, while majalis will be permitted under strict SOPs which are already in place for Ramadan.

An important session on the conduct of Youm-e-Ali was held at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar. Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan were also present, Geo TV reported.

The provincial secretaries and representatives of law enforcement agencies attended the session through video link.

“Keeping in view the risk factor due to the ongoing surge in Covid spread across the country and particularly in major urban centres, it was decided to ban all sort of processions while holding of Majalis has been permitted under strict Covid SOPs which are already in place for Ramazan ul Mubarik,” read an NCOC statement.

The forum emphasised the need to engage religious scholars and community leaders at provincial and district levels for the implementation of these decisions.

Pakistan’s medical facilities crumbling under rising COVID-19 cases(ANI)

Pakistan has seen record deaths in recent days from the coronavirus, and stricter restrictions on movement and gathering in public are planned for the upcoming Eid holiday.

Officials are worried the country’s health care system, already under strain, could reach breaking point if more contagious variants of the virus begin to spread, as has happened in neighbouring India.

On Saturday, authorities reported 4,696 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours and 146 deaths from the disease.

Int’l flights reduced to 20% in Pakistan

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Post date 2 May 2021
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Inbound air traffic will operate at 20 per cent of the total current quantum, while there is no change in the existing Category C list countries…reports Asian Lite News

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday issued an advisory reducing the number of inbound international flights to 20 per cent to curb a further rise in Covid-19 cases.

“Amid high disease prevalence in various parts of the world and current disease situation in the country with corresponding extreme stress on the critical care system. Pakistan has decided to significantly reduce inbound International Air Travel from 5 May to 20th May,” said the NCOC in a statement on Twitter.

It was not immediately clear which routes and air carriers will be affected.

The NCOC said that the decision will be reviewed on May 18.

Inbound air traffic will operate at 20 per cent of the total current quantum, while there is no change in the existing Category C list countries.

“Pakistani passport holders (stranded/short term visa) are allowed to travel to Pakistan subject to exemption by the committee as per procedures in vogue,” the NCOC statement read.

All inbound travellers to Pakistan, including those from the Category C list countries, must have a negative repeat PCR test before travelling to Pakistan (maximum 72 hours old) while a rapid antigen test will be done on arrival at the airport.

Negative cases will undergo 10 days of self-quarantine at home with stringent TTO protocols, Geo TV reported.

Pakistan

The statement said that positive cases will be shifted by the provincial/ district administration to a self-paid facility for 10 days quarantine with TTO of contacts (if any) and a repeat PCR test will be conducted on the 8th day of the quarantine period.

In case of a negative result, the passenger will be allowed to proceed home. However, in case of a positive result, the passenger will either undergo an additional quarantine period or be shifted to hospital as per the advice of health authorities.

The NCOC stated that registration on the Passtrack App by all inbound travellers before travelling to Pakistan is mandatory, however, deportees are exempted from registration on the app.

Imran renews call for electoral reforms

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Post date 2 May 2021
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Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

Most big opposition parties have dismissed a proposed electoral reform by Pakistan Prime Minister for the introduction of EVMs, The News International reported…reports Asian Lite News.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday once again asked the opposition parties to come forward for discussion on electoral reforms including the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) even though major parties have already dismissed his proposal.

“Our govt is determined and we will put in place reforms in our electoral system through the use of technology to bring transparency and credibility to our elections and strengthen our democracy,” Imran Khan said in one of his tweets, adding that in the recently concluded NA 249 bye-election, all parties are claiming rigging.

Our govt is determined & we will put in place reforms in our electoral system through the use of technology to bring transparency & credibility to our elections & strengthen our democracy.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 1, 2021

His remark comes in the backdrop of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) win in the NA-249 by-election in Karachi, which earlier today, went for recount after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) accepted PML-N’s application and fixed the hearing for May 4 (Tuesday).

Most big opposition parties have dismissed a proposed electoral reform by Pakistan Prime Minister for the introduction of EVMs, The News International reported.

Despite Imran Khan’s stress on EVMs, the opposition has argued that anything that is controlled and operated by others and can be used to manipulate electoral results is unacceptable.

Former Speaker Pakistan and PML-N leader Sardar Ayaz Sadiq claimed that the countries where EVMs have been tried and tested have either already reverted to paper ballots or are going back to the old system for different reasons.

“A financially tied-up country like Pakistan can’t afford billions and billions of rupees to purchase hundreds of thousands of EVMs. Additionally, because of technical problems, the country can’t ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and internet service all over Pakistan to keep the EVMs functional on polling day,” the former speaker said. “We have to keep in view our resources and capacity,” he added.

Also Read-Imran calls in army to help contain Covid-19 spread

Tags covid, imran, PAKISTAN

Asia News Bangladesh

B’desh police detains top Hefazat leader Junaid Al Quasemi

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Post date 2 May 2021
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Junaid is the son of Allama Nur Hossain Quasemi, who was the secretary-general of the recently dissolved committee of Hefazat…reports Sumi Khan.

The Criminal Investigation Department of Bangladesh Police arrested Hefazat-e-Islam leader Junaid Al Quasemi, one of the masterminds of the militant outfit, from Brahmanbaria on Saturday morning.

Junaid was behind the violence unleashed in the district by the radical outfit during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in March this year, Jisanul Haque, Senior Assistant Superintendent (media wing) of CID, told.

Junaid is the son of Allama Nur Hossain Quasemi, who was the secretary general of the recently dissolved committee of Hefazat.

Haque said the police are also probing if there is any case of sabotage against Junaid, as has been reported recently.

Earlier on Friday night, the police had arrested six persons, including militant leader from Brahmanbaria, Niazul Karim, in connection with the three-day mayhem unleashed in the district in March.

The police have so far arrested 398 persons in connection with the case.

Raich Uddin, Additional Superintendent of Police (crime and administration), said that six persons were arrested in a special operation from different places on Friday. Among them, Niazul Karim had led a mob on March 26 to Radhika Bazar in Sadar Upazila which set fire to tree trunks and tyres on the streets.

Niazul Karim is the Women and Family Welfare Secretary of the Brahmanbaria District Islamic Movement and the Madrasa Secretary of the Central Committee of the National Teachers Forum.

He had led the attacks on the Central library, besides orchestrating arson in Brahmanbaria between March 26 and March 28.

Hefazat activists and supporters had wreaked havoc across the district in March when large-scale vandalism was witnessed at various government and private establishments in the district.

So far, 56 cases have been registered in connection with these incidents, in which more than 40,000 people have been accused.

During the violence on March 26-28, teachers and students of different madrasas vandalized and torched different government and non-government establishments and houses in the district.

Also Read-B’desh resumes int’l flights

Tags Hefazat leader Junaid Al Quasemi

Also read:UK condemns new sentence for dual citizen in Iran