Authorities issued the order on May 23, requiring residents of seven villages in the region to move so that the Chinese government can begin the first phase of construction…reports Asian Lite News
Chinese authorities have ordered Tibetans living in Rebgong county in western China to vacate their land for the construction of a hydropower dam, forcing them off the farmlands they need to make a living, media reports said.
Authorities in Lingya village, about an hour’s drive from Rebgong, issued the order on May 23, requiring residents of seven villages in the region to move so that the Chinese government can begin the first phase of construction 10 days after the notice’s issue date, said a Tibetan from Rebgong who now lives in exile, RFA reported.
“The land that is being confiscated by the Chinese government is farmland, which is the livelihood of Tibetans,” said the source, adding, “The authorities have warned the Tibetans not to show any kind of condemnation.”
BEIJING, Oct. 1, 2019 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at a grand rally to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng/IANS)
Rebgong, called Tongren in Chinese, is in Malho, or Huangnan, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a Tibetan-populated area in China’s Qinghai province, RFA reported.
Chinese authorities tightly control the residents of the restive Tibet Autonomous Region and Tibetan-populated regions of western China, restricting their political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity.
Chinese infrastructure and development projects in these areas have led to frequent stand-offs with Tibetans who accuse Chinese firms and local officials of improperly seizing land and disrupting the lives of local people.
Many result in violent suppression, the detention of protest organisers and intense pressure on the local population to comply with the government’s wishes, RFA reported.
Another Tibetan living in exile said authorities have begun confiscating land, but they have not discussed compensation for residents forced to move.
People wait to cross into Egypt through the Argeen land port with Sudan on April 27, 2023. Egypt has received more than 16,000 foreigners fleeing the deadly conflict in neighboring Sudan, including more than 14,000 Sudanese, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday. (Photo by Radwan Abu Elmagd/Xinhua)
The authority said that the closure could be extended again in the future…reports Asian Lite News
Khartoum, June 1 (IANS) Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority has extended the closure of the country’s airspace to June 15 amid continued armed conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
In a notice to airmen, or NOTAM, on Wednesday, the authority decided to extend the closure of airspace for all civil flights, with the exception of those carrying humanitarian aid.
The authority said that the closure could be extended again in the future, Xinhua news agency reported.
Since the outbreak of the deadly armed clashes in the Sudanese capital Khartoum and other areas on April 15, the country’s airspace has been closed as air navigation systems at Khartoum International Airport have been affected.
More than 800 people have been killed, and nearly 1.4 million people have been forced to leave their homes since the conflict began, with more than one million people internally displaced and about 3,45,000 people crossing into neighbouring countries for safety, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in its latest report on Sunday.
Calls to remove video of Canadian Sikh woman's killing gather steam
Davinder Kaur, 43, was stabbed to death by her estranged husband Nav Nishan Singh in Sparrow Park, Brampton, on May 19…reports Meenakshi Iyer
Calls to remove a video circulating online of a Canadian Sikh woman whose gruesome killing was caught on camera, have been picking up steam with netizens urging social media giants to remove the graphic content.
Davinder Kaur, 43, was stabbed to death by her estranged husband Nav Nishan Singh in Sparrow Park, Brampton, on May 19.
Emergency crews found the mother of four with “obvious signs of trauma”, who died on the spot despite attempts by paramedics to save her life.
Singh, who was arrested a short distance from the crime scene, has been charged with first-degree murder.
“Truly disturbing”, professor and human rights activist Madhu Purnima Kishwar tweeted after the video went viral. Singh hurled profanities at Kaur and reportedly took video of her dying moments. The video shows her bleeding profusely in a creek after being attacked.
“Her (Kaur’s) final moments of pure suffering have been shared around the world on social media for all to see and cringe in horror to,” Ashis Basu, a Twitter user, wrote
“I am outraged that there is a video circulating on Twitter of Davinder Kaur in her dying moments in Brampton Park. Under no circumstances should this video be put out or watched or retweeted,” Amardeep Kaur, associated with Toronto University, said on Twitter.
Amardeep said she repeatedly raised a concern with Twitter but the social media giant refused to take down the videos or even add sensitive content warning.
“I tried again in the “harassed/ intimidated with violence” category — on note that the video celebrates and praises violent acts… Twitter still chose not to remove or even put a sensitive warning on them. It is such a horrific violation to the women that we can’t get these brutal videos down,” an anguished Amardeep said.
Twitter’s policy on deceased individuals prohibits sharing excessively gruesome images or videos, or sharing media depicting a deceased individual for sadistic purposes.
It further says that sharing images or videos of a deceased individual can “cause serious distress to the deceased’s family and can also negatively impact the well-being of others who view this content”.
“It is a huge disservice to them and their families and it also causes such a huge desensitisation toward violence against women,” Ananya, an Illustrator for Teen Vogue, said.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown told Global News that he is aware of the “harrowing video”.
“It’s very disappointing that a video as heinous as that would be available for viewing. I know the police took this very seriously — they made their best efforts to have the video removed,” he said.
While the news outlet reached out to both Twitter and Facebook, there was no response.
Kaur, according to her family, had been contemplating divorce from Singh who left her six months ago.
The two had been married for more than 20 years and had four children together with three living in Brampton and one in India.
Indian-American teen wins $50,000 Young Scientist award.
Saathvik also took first place in the fair’s computational biology and bioinformatics division, receiving another $5,000…..reports Asian Lite News
A 17-year-old Indian-origin student in Missouri has won the prestigious Regeneron Young Scientist Awards of $50,000 for his research relating to the mpox virus.
Saathvik Kannan of David H. Hickman High School in Columbia was awarded for using biocomputational methods to understand the causes of heightened infectivity in the disease mpox after it re-emerged in 2022.
Saathvik’s approach, named Bioplex, uses a combination of machine learning and three-dimensional comparative protein modeling to decode structures like those that enable the mpox virus to replicate.
This allowed him to identify the mutations in the virus that likely made it more infectious as well as other mutations that could make it resistant to antibiotics.
He credited his mentor, Kamlendra Singh, an assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Missouri.
“I was overjoyed and incredibly excited!” Saathvik wrote in an email to the Columbia Daily Tribute about the prize.
“I felt that it reflected our work with Dr. Singh’s mentorship and guidance over the last few years culminating in my project from this year.”
Saathvik believes scientists will also be able to apply Bioplex to future outbreaks of other viruses.
More than 1,600 young scientists and engineers representing 49 states and 64 countries across the world competed at the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.
Saathvik also took first place in the fair’s computational biology and bioinformatics division, receiving another $5,000.
According to Regeneron, a leading biotechnology company, the winners were selected for their commitment to innovation in tackling challenging scientific questions, using authentic research practices and creating solutions to the problems of tomorrow.
Rishab Jain, another Indian-American student from Portland, won the same award last year for developing an AI-based model to enable rapid and cost-effective production of drugs, such as recombinant Covid-19 vaccines, using synthetic DNA engineering.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz(https://twitter.com/MunSecConf)
The Russian embassy in Berlin, as well as one consulate general, will continue to operate….reports Asian Lite News
The German government would close four out of the five Russian consulates in the country by revoking their licenses after Moscow limited the number of German officials in Russia, according to the German Federal Foreign Office.
The Russian embassy in Berlin, as well as one consulate general, will continue to operate. The measures will take effect from the end of the year, the office said.
At the same time, Germany’s Foreign Office also announced it is closing down three of its consulates general in Russia, Xinhua news agency reported.
Regarding Russia’s diplomatic presence in Germany, the “decision applies reciprocally to ensure a balance of the two sides’ presence, both in terms of personnel and structure,” the foreign office said.
On April 22, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had notified German Ambassador to Russia Geza Andreas von Geyr that the maximum number of German diplomatic staff in Russia would be “significantly” limited in response to Germany’s “hostile” actions.
Germany and Russia have repeatedly expelled each other’s diplomats. However, the situation has worsened considerably since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, which led to massive sanctions against Russia by the EU.
Volunteers distribute food to flood-affected people in Jamshoro district, Sindh province, Pakistan, on Sept. 1, 2022.(Str/Xinhua/IANS)
The Report published by World Food Programme comes with an early warning for the months from June through November 2023. Last year 8.5 million people were threatened with food insecurity; the country is looking at a bigger number this year. Pakistan’s financial crisis has deepened due to the increasing public debt
Pakistan has tried to window-dress every aspect of its existence before international bodies, alas the May 9 catastrophe wiped the tower of lies when a mad mob of people wreaked havoc across the country. The degree of violence wasn’t a reflection of people’s concern for Imran Khan, but their frustration towards the multiple crises in Pakistan that have still not persuaded the government to change the dictum and pull a common man from misery.
The social media was flooded with videos of young men ransacking the corps commander’s house; hurling abuses while emptying the luxurious contents of the fridge – frozen strawberries, okra, keema, yoghurt, etc. While inflation has touched 45 per cent and the FAO-WFP (Food and Agriculture Organization-World Food Program) has declared Pakistan a ‘very high concern’ area in food security, political rivalry and blame game still take precedence.
Pak government remains preoccupied with commenting on international events that do not concern them such as the recently concluded G20 Tourism Group Meeting in Srinagar.
PTI protests in Pakistan against Imran Khan’s arrest.(photo:Twitter/Instagram)
If not that, then the focus shifts to yesteryear’s glory. On the 28th Pakistan celebrated the Youm-e-Takbir to recall the day when Pakistan became a nuclear power 25 years ago. But for what? Ranked between 150 and 170 on democratic values, human rights, per capita income, and other parameters, they remain delusional to their reality.
The plight of minorities is even worse. Thousands of women and children across Balochistan are facing acute malnutrition. NGOs working on their rehabilitation are limited to paperwork. Added to that, due to the lack of awareness among the public about ongoing programs on malnutrition, the citizens are not receiving the benefits. In lost hopes, it is the citizens working as a community asking the United Nations and nutrition officials to take the program out of closed doors and grips of political leaders who redirect any aid to their homes or the black market.
The Report published by WFP comes with an early warning for the months from June through November 2023. Last year 8.5 million people were threatened with food insecurity; the country is looking at a bigger number this year. Pakistan’s financial crisis has deepened due to the increasing public debt.
Between April 2023 and June 2026, they have to pay $77.5 billion, and judging from the worsening political instability and complacent attitude of the government the problem of food insecurity is here to stay long term.
The demo of Pak’s future is being witnessed in a big city like Karachi. As entacles of hunger spread, looting the residents preparing for Bakra Eid at marketplaces has become commonplace. Last week in the fight for survival in Pakistan, a robber shot a person for food and money. Sellers of sacrificial animals now fear for their life as meat is worth its weight in gold!
The IMF is also second-guessing its decision to extend a helping hand to a rogue nation. The tumultuous political environment urges IMF and its bilateral partners to halt the release of a new line of credit.
The May 9 debacle was an eye-opener for the rest of the world. The citizens will become a danger to themselves and the leaders will catalyze the national hysteria for the smallest personal gain.
For now, the fight is over vegetables, flour, and sugar, but the next big issue will be over clean drinking water. The 2022 flood water has been stagnant and staring into the face of authorities for 10 months now. Malaria, Typhoid, and E. coli are common problems in Sindh and Balochistan, besides gastrointestinal, reproductive, and neurological problems due to waterborne diseases.
Medication is either unavailable or out of reach. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see people fighting over water, as Pakistan slowly slips into anarchy.
The gravity of the problem has still not ruffled the feathers of the state. The elite is busy gathering vote banks for the Riyasat-i-Madina, selling a purist fantasy to 43 percent of Pakistani teetering on the brink of starvation. Even the Pak army is unable to feed its poor soldiers two meals a day owing to cuts in special funds!
Some people have made shrines their permanent residence as every once in a while a kind benefactor shows up with rice and meat stew to feed the crowd. Reputable government employees and social leaders also sit for this langar hiding their faces, unable to digest their financial helplessness. Some gaze teary-eyed at distribution centers and walk away because their dignity doesn’t allow them to eat free food.
It’s hard to see much good coming out of petty fights within the ruling class that only thirsts for power and revenge. The above events foreshadow a time when the country will swallow itself tugging on each other to remain afloat, fighting over the last bread like animals. Now only providence can save the innocent Pakistani citizen.
Kathmandu: Newly-appointed Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' during his Swearing-in Ceremony, in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, December 26, 2022. (Photo:IANS/Video Grab NTV)
This is Prachanda’s first official after assuming office in December last year…reports Asian Lite News
Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Wednesday embarked on a four-day official visit to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry in Kathmandu said Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, is being accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal and an official delegation comprising Foreign Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Finance Minister Shakti Basnet, Energy, Minister Prakash Jwala, Physical Infrastructure & Transport Minister Ramesh Rijal, Chief Secretary, Secretaries, and senior government officials.
The Prime Minister was sent off at the VVIP lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dev Raj Ghimire, Chairman of the National Assembly Ganesh Timilsina, deputy prime ministers, ministers, and top officials.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Kathmandu on June 3.
This is Prachanda’s first official after assuming office in December last year.
According to Foreign Minister Saud, the entire gamut of bilateral interests and concerns will be discussed including electricity trade, construction of transmission lines, and opening of integrated check post among others.
Similarly,there will be discussions about Indian investment promotion in Nepal’s energy and hydropower sector, trade and transportation, and airways.
Nepal has also prioritised the issue of long-term energy trade with India.
Similarly, Nepal has been urging India to pave the way for electricity trade in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has already agreed to take 50 MW of electricity immediately with Nepal.
During the visit, preparations have been made to discuss the matter of ensuring the airways between the heads of government of the two countries and reach a conclusion.
Prachanda and Modi will meet at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Thursday at 11 a.m.
After the meeting, they will hold a joint press conference and will witness the signing of some agreements and a memorandum of understanding.
After completing the engagements in New Delhi, Prachanda will visit Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
Pakistan Minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha termed Porter’s statement – regarding the political situation in Pakistan as “extraordinary”….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan State Minister for Finance and Revenue Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Wednesday slammed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for “intervening” in Pakistan’s internal matters, local media reported.
“Pakistan’s conduct is in line with the law,” the state minister said, terming IMF Mission Chief for Pakistan Nathan Porter’s statement – regarding the political situation in Pakistan – “extraordinary”.
While the IMF does not comment on domestic politics, Porter had said that the Fund hopes “a peaceful way forward is found in line with the Constitution and the rule of law”.
Hoping that both sides will reach a staff-level agreement before the announcement of the federal budget – expected to be unveiled on June 9 – for the fiscal year 2023-24, the state minister said that the delay is neither good for Pakistan nor the Fund.
Dr Pasha confirmed reports that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, adding that the premier assured the fund’s chief that Pakistan will meet all its obligations, Geo News reported.
On May 27, the Prime Minister contacted Georgieva, requesting her to help Pakistan revive the stalled $6.5 billion facility.
The Prime Minister – according to the sources – requested her to intervene in order to complete the pending ninth review – which would unlock $1.1 billion in financing for the cash-strapped nation, Geo News reported.
The minister, in response to a question regarding Pakistan’s plan of action in case it fails to convince the fund before the expiry of the programme – June 30 – said: “The Ministry of Finance is not sitting with its eyes closed, there is always a Plan B but our priority is to revive the IMF programme.”
Canadian accused of killing Indian-origin gangster extradited to Thailand.
Matthew Dupre, 38, who allegedly gunned down Jimi ‘Slice’ Sandhu in February 2022, arrived in Bangkok on a special air force flight on Sunday night…reports Asian Lite News
A former Canadian soldier and alleged hitman has been extradited to Thailand where he has been charged with the murder of an Indian-origin gangster in Phuket last year, media reports said.
Matthew Dupre, 38, who allegedly gunned down Jimi ‘Slice’ Sandhu in February 2022, arrived in Bangkok on a special air force flight on Sunday night, The Bangkok Post reported.
Sandhu, who grew up in Abbotsford, was connected to the United Nation Gang, which was founded in the Fraser Valley in 1997.
On February 11, 2022, the Phuket court issued a warrant for the arrest of Dupre and his alleged accomplice on charges of premeditated murder, having guns and ammunition in possession without permission and illegally carrying and using the guns in public.
A police investigation later found the two suspects left Thailand for Canada on February 6, the report said.
Dupre was arrested on February 20, 2022 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at his home in Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
His extradition was approved last December by the Court of Alberta, Edmonton, under the 1999 Extradition Act of Canada.
The second wanted suspect killer in the case died in a small-plane crash in Canada in May 2022.
Dupre denied all the charges against him, media reports said citing police officials.
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences signs MoU with Thumbay Group1
The delegates also appreciated Gulf Medical University‘s efforts to establish a full-fledged Academic Health System; a first in the private sector in the region…reports Asian Lite News
A high-profile delegation from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran, headed by Dr. Alireza Zali, President of the institute visited Thumbay Medicity (Ajman) on May 25, 2023. The visit aimed at a providing a platform for meaningful engagement and laying the groundwork for long-term knowledge sharing collaborations that can benefit both the entities.
The delegation was received by Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President – Thumbay Group, Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Vice President –Thumbay Healthcare and other senior dignitaries of the management. To begin with, the guests were provided a tour of the facilities, including Gulf Medical University University’s educational and research facilities, Thumbay Rehabilitation Hospital, Thumbay Dental Hospital and Thumbay University Hospital- to showcase the infrastructure, resources, and capabilities to the visiting delegation. It allowed the delegation to gain a firsthand understanding of the operations and the environment in which medication education and healthcare takes place. They were, furthermore, presented with a video outlining Thumbay Group’s activities in medical education, healthcare, research and other sectors, as well as an overview of the ongoing and upcoming expansion projects.
High Profile Delegation from Iran’s Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Visits Thumbay Medicity
Thanking Thumbay Group’s leadership for the reception, Dr. Alireza Zali, President, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, said that the delegation was very impressed with the facilities at Thumbay Medicity, the quality of the academic curriculum imparted and the emphasis on innovation and the overall healthcare facilities at Thumbay Group. “What we saw when we walked around the Thumbay Medicity; the vision of the University, the direction that the group aspires to take is really impressive. We can see that Gulf Medical University has a very clear strategy of how to move ahead. This meeting can be considered as an auspicious one for us as we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Gulf Medical University to discuss new gateways for bilateral cooperation on common goals such as web based education, online education, exploring potential research collaborations, sharing expertise in medication education strategies, discussing policy frameworks, and further identifying areas of mutual interest for future cooperation,” he said.
The delegates also appreciated Gulf Medical University‘s efforts to establish a full-fledged Academic Health System; a first in the private sector in the region.
Thanking the delegates for their visit, Dr. Thumbay Moideen stated that Thumbay Group hopes to establish a strong relationship with healthcare institutions in Iran, to benefit from the country’s accomplishments in the field. Elaborating further, he said, “Thumbay Group has set out a three-year strategy to increase business by three folds, setting new benchmarks in healthcare and education, reinforcing its commitment to create a conducive environment for students and knowledge exchange. We are also glad to sign the MoU with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, as it strengthens our commitment to advancing medication education through global partnerships and the pursuit of knowledge sharing opportunities.”
