Iran claimed that US policy of maximum pressure, adopted by former President Donald Trump’s administration, has failed and the recession in Iran is over….reports Asian Lite News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSMe6qLrJ8
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied that there has been either a direct or indirect exchange of messages between Tehran and Washington over mutual disputes, a top official said here.
“Until now, Iran hasn’t received any message, either direct or indirect, from the US administration,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.
The problem is that Washington is not willing to change the course, said Khatibzadeh, adding that the US has not taken steps to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Sanctions imposed by the former US government are still in place, and Iranian diplomats in New York City remain restricted in their movements, he noted.
US President Joe Biden
Khatibzadeh dismissed the continuation of pressure on Iran, saying that the US policy of maximum pressure, adopted by former President Donald Trump’s administration, has failed and the recession in Iran is over.
The US needs to stick to its own obligations, return to the JCPOA and lift sanctions that have been costly to the Islamic Republic, he said.
In response to the .S withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has suspended implementing parts of its obligations under the deal.
The incumbent US administration under President Joe Biden has said that if Iran returns to full compliance with the nuclear deal, Washington would do the same.
But Iran insisted its compliance would only take place once US sanctions were removed.
Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa (Xinhua/Tang Lu/IANS)
It seems that Sri Lanka was under alleged Chinese pressure to approve its Sinopharm vaccine as part of countering India’s growing vaccine outreach to neighbouring countries, reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka’s National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) on Saturday approved China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use in the island country.
According to State Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Channa Jayasumana, this is the third Covid-19 vaccine to be approved in the country after the AstraZeneca and Russia’s Sputnik V jabs, reports Xinhua news agency.
Earlier this month, General Manager of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) Dinusha Dassanayake said the SPC had also made an application to the NMRA to clear China’s Sinovac vaccine for emergency use.
Last month, a Sri Lankan government spokesman had confirmed that it had put Chinese Sinopharm’s Covid-19 vaccine on hold and would use India-manufactured Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate 14 million people.
According to reports, the Chinese embassy in Colombo has been placing stress on political management since January and making public statements that their vaccine will arrive by mid-Feb and regulatory approval can even be obtained by then.
A police officer receives the COVID-19 vaccination at a police hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: Ajith Perera/Xinhua/ians)
Sri Lanka is in the midst of a mass inoculation program as it began inoculating all those above 30 years old in the urban Western Province from mid-February, after vaccinating frontline workers and health workers with the AstraZeneca doses.
Sri Lanka received AstraZeneca doses from India in January and February.
It also received 264,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine under the World Health Organization-led COVAX facility which is being administered to those above the age of 60 years.
Last month, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thanked India for its generosity after he obtained 500,000 doses of Covishield vaccine donated by the nation below the ‘Neighbourhood First’ coverage.
Last week, Narendra Modi and Gotabaya Rajapaksa had agreed to maintain regular contact between relevant officials, including in the context of the continuing Covid-19 challenges.
Sri Lanka expects India’s backing at UNHRC
Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage has confirmed that India has assured Sri Lanka of its support at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
The UNHRC member countries will vote on a new resolution on the Sri Lanka’s rights and accountability record on March 22.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
“Being the superpower they are, Sri Lanka greatly appreciates their position,” the state-run Daily News quoted the foreign secretary’s remarks, who was speaking at the Third Digital Dialogue hosted by the Media Centre for National Development.
Colombage had earlier sent an official communique to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India’s support when Sri Lanka’s record in human rights and related accountability will be probed in the Geneva-based body.
UK, Germany, Canada, Malawi, North Macedonia and Montenegro are the members of the Sri Lanka Core Group.
“The Core Group restates the ongoing importance of addressing Sri Lanka in the Human rights Council. Informed by the report the core group intends to present a resolution to promote reconciliation accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka,” the statement read.
According to The Hindu, Colombo has also been reaching out to member countries during the past weeks, pitching its version of Sri Lanka’s post-war realities that the U.N. resolutions seek to address.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, seeking support at the 47-member Council where Colombo anticipates a hostile resolution.
All eyes are on India’s vote, not only because of its “influence” in the Council, but also because of its own tensions with Colombo, following the Rajapaksa government’s recent decisions on strategic projects involving India and China, according to the report.
Given India’s pressing geopolitical concerns in the island nation, and stated support for Tamil aspirations, it remains to be seen how India will approach on the vote.
India’s homegrown Covaxin is the third Covid-19 vaccine authorised in Nepal, reports Asian Lite News
Nepal’s drug regulatory body has approved India’s Covaxin jab against Covid-19 for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).
Nepal’s EUA approval for Covaxin, produced by Bharat Biotech International, came on Friday, making it the third country to do so.
Prior to this, Nepal had given the EUA approval to Covishield, a vaccine developed by Serum Institute of India, as well as China’s Sinopharm.
Immunisation against Covid-19 started in Nepal after it received one million doses of the Covid vaccines in grant from India in January produced by Serum Institute.
The Himalayan nation also procured another one million Covishield jabs at a discounted price.
The Health Ministry said that it is waiting to receive an additional one million doses of the Covishield but was not not sure when it will arrive.
Until Nepal gets the third consignment from the Serum Institute, it has paused Covid vaccination, health officials said.
Covaxin was shown to be 81 per cent effective in an interim analysis of late-stage trial data on some 26,000 people in India, according to a media report.
Nepal so far has received 2,348,000 doses of vaccines — 1,000,000 doses under grant assistance from India; 1,000,000 doses of the 2,000,000 doses that the government has bought from the Serum Institute of India; and 348,000 doses under the COVAX facility.
But Nepal has yet to receive the Chinese Covid vaccine though it has promised to deliver 800,000 doses in a grant.
Two more companies — Russia’s Sputnik V and China’s Sinovac — had filed applications at the department for approval, according to the drug regulatory body of Nepal.
Nepal has already inoculated over 1.6 million population against the disease.
Hezbollah's leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivers a televised speech in Beirut, Lebanon
“The awareness of the Lebanese people has prevented this so far, but the danger is still there,” said Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ….reports Asian Lite News
Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has warned against the danger of a civil war in Lebanon.
“There is information that some external and internal parties are pushing for a civil war in Lebanon,” Xinhua news agency quoted Nasrallah as saying in a televised speech on Thursday.
“The awareness of the Lebanese people has prevented this so far, but the danger is still there,” he said.
Nasrallah noted that his party will never opt to using weapons to force change in the country.
“Hezbollah is not interested in resorting to weapons for the sake of reforming the state, forming a government, or fighting corruption because these goals can be achieved by other means.”
He added that Hezbollah is not the only party that owns weapons in Lebanon.
The Hezbollah leader also warned that some of the protests taking place in the country recently may be triggered by the parties who want to provoke violence.
Lebanon has been witnessing demonstrations all over the country in protest against the dire living conditions amid the unprecedented economic crisis.
The August 2020 Port of Beirut blasts and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the country’s economic situation, driving thousands of companies out of business while leaving thousands of people unemployed.
Figures released by the World Bank showed that over 50 per cent of the Lebanese people have become “poor”.
This year, the Central Bank of Lebanon also tightened regulations against the country’s banks, which compelled some of them to close branches and lay off employees to stay afloat.
The national currency has slipped to a new low of 10,000 Lebanese pounds per $1.
Tensions have been running high for weeks between North Korea and the US
North Korea and Malaysia had maintained close relations since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1973…reports Asian Lite News
North Korea announced on Friday that it will sever diplomatic ties with Malaysia after it extradited a Pyongyang national to the US over money laundering charges, according to a state media report.
The Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency said Mun Chol-myong, the Malaysia-based North Korean businessman, was accused of supplying prohibited luxury items from Singapore to Pyongyang and laundering funds through shell companies in violation of UN sanctions.
Last week, Malaysia’s top court ruled that he can be extradited to Washington, rejecting his appeal challenging the extradition request from the US.
Muhyiddin Yassin.
In the report on Friday, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) citing the Foreign Ministry, said: “On March 17, the Malaysian authority committed an unpardonable crime, in the end, of forcibly delivering the innocent citizen of the North Korea to the US by having charged him with ‘criminal’.
“With regard to the grave situation that has prevailed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hereby announces total severance of the diplomatic relations with Malaysia which committed a super-large hostile act in subservience to the US pressure.”
warns of consequences
North Korea claimed that the businessman was engaged in “legitimate external trade activities” and warned that the Malaysian authority will bear full responsibility for any consequences that result between the two countries.
It also warned that the US will “pay a due price” as the “backstage manipulator and main culprit of this incident”, the KCNA reported.
In the statement, the Foreign Ministry called North Korea’s relations with Washington “the most hostile one on this planet”.
North Korea and Malaysia had maintained close relations since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1973, but ties were strained when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother, Kim Jong-nam, was poisoned to death at the Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017, reports Yonhap News Agency.
The two countries both expelled the ambassadors from their respective countries, while the Malaysian Embassy in Pyongyang was closed down following the incident.
Pak PM urged people to strictly follow rules amid third Covid wave
He was administered the dose during the ongoing second phase of the vaccination process in the country in which people over 60 years of age are being inoculated…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has received the first shot of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine against Covid-19, just days after President Arif Alvi was administered the jab.
Khan, 68, received the jab here on Thursday, Special Assistant to the Pakistani Prime Minister on Health Faisal Sultan confirmed.
He was administered the dose during the ongoing second phase of the vaccination process in the country in which people over 60 years of age are being inoculated.
On the occasion, Khan stressed that people across the country should follow the standard operating procedures to fight against the third wave of the pandemic in the country, according to a statement from the Prime Minister Office.
A handover ceremony is held for the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government at Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, capital of Pakistan
On Monday, President Alvi and his wife Samina received their Covid-19 jabs with the Sinopharm vaccine in Islamabad.
Pakistan officially launched its National Covid Immunization Program across the country in early February shortly after receiving the Chinese government-donated Sinopharm vaccines, with the frontline healthcare workers given the priority for inoculation.
On Wednesday, the second batch of the vaccines arrived in the country.
Amid an ongoing third wave of the pandemic, Pakistan has so far registered 615,810 coronavirus cases and 13,717 deaths.
Putin expressed willingness to work with the US in the fields of mutual interest
“I want to invite President Biden to continue our discussions, but on the condition that we do this actually live, as they say, online,” said Putin…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he would like to invite his US counterpart Joe Biden to an online meeting to continue their discussions of bilateral ties.
Putin told a local TV program that the first phone call between the presidents in January was initiated by Washington, the Xinhua news agency reported.
“I want to invite President Biden to continue our discussions, but on the condition that we do this actually live, as they say, online,” he said.
The discussions could be held on Friday or Monday, and the Kremlin is ready at any time convenient for the White House, Putin said, adding that he would give relevant instructions to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Earlier in the day, Putin said that the US has to take into account Russia’s interests and Moscow is capable of protecting them.
He emphasised that Russia is prepared to work with the United States in fields of mutual interest, but only on terms that are favourable for Russia.
Putin made the remarks amid escalating Moscow-Washington tensions after a US intelligence report on Tuesday accused Russia of “denigrating” Biden’s candidacy during the elections to increase support for former President Donald Trump.
“We don’t think there is need to respond to the US delaying-time trick again,”said North Korea’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui…reports Asian Lite News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN9FPYjqa8A
A top North Korean official has vowed to ignore the US’ attempts to establish contact until Washington has met Pyongyang’s conditions, state media reported on Thursday.
“We don’t think there is need to respond to the US delaying-time trick again,” North Korea’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui was cited as saying in a report issued by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
She accused Washington of adopting hostile policies and using “cheap tricks”, dpa news reported citing KCNA.
Choe said no contact or dialogue of any kind was possible unless the US rolls back what she called its “hostile policy” towards North Korea.
“In order for a dialogue to be held, an atmosphere for both parties to exchange words on an equal basis must be created,” she said, adding that Pyongyang would also disregard future Washington attempts to take up contact.
With Choe’s statement, North Korea confirmed for the first time that the administration of President Joe Biden has been trying to get in touch.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had announced that efforts in this direction had so far been unsuccessful.
The goal is to rely on diplomacy and reduce the “risk of escalation”, it said.
US President Joe Biden
But the following day, Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, threatened to scrap a peace agreement with South Korea as she slammed Seoul for conducting military exercises with the US.
She also warned the new US administration against any provocative acts, saying “if it wants to sleep in peace for the coming four years, it had better refrain from causing a stink at its first step”.
Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, had initiated talks with Kim Jong-un about Pyongyang’s nuclear programme and also met him personally.
Despite two high-profile summits, little progress was made on the issue of reducing or dismantling the disputed North Korean nuclear arsenal.
Myanmar has been witnessing continued protests demanding the release of Suu Kyi
After Suu Kyi was dislodged by the February 1 coup, the military has piled on charges against her, from illegally importing walkie-talkies to sowing disorder by inducing others to commit offences against the state…reports Asian Lite News
New corruption allegations against Aung Sang Suu Kyi, the detained former de-facto leader of Myanmar, were aired on national television on Thursday, as the military seemed to seek to strengthen the case for its February 1 coup against her government.
In the broadcast, U Maung Weik, a business owner, is shown explaining how he handed over envelopes full of cash to Suu Kyi or her associates starting in 2017, reports dpa news agency.
In all, Weik said he had handed over a total of $550,000 during four separate incidents.
A news reader said the businessman has been found guilty of bribery and that the country’s anti-corruption commission is investigating.
Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi attends a ceremony to mark the 72nd Martyrs’ Day in Yangon, Myanmar, July 19, 2019. Myanmar held a state ceremony here Friday to mark the country’s 72nd Martyrs’ Day, paying tribute to fallen national heroes including General Aung San and eight others who sacrificed their lives in 1947 for regaining the country’s independence. (Xinhua/U Aung/IANS)
After Suu Kyi was dislodged by the February 1 coup, the military has piled on charges against her, from illegally importing walkie-talkies to sowing disorder by inducing others to commit offences against the state to mishandling the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
When queried by DPA, Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer for Suu Kyi, dismissed the new allegations.
“I am here not to tell this as her lawyer, but as a Myanmar citizen. We all believe her character. You can criticise her in many ways but you can not criticise her such as silly ideas of corruption.
“I always believe her character. No one believes that she is corrupt,” the lawyer told the news agency.
The coup was staged as the military alleged massive voting fraud in the 2020 general elections, which saw Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament.
Myanmar refugees staged a protest against China’s support to the new military rule in Myanmar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday 03rd March, 2021. (Photo: IANS)
In response to the coup, Myanmar has witnessed continued protests demanding the release of the former de facto leader and other senior officials of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party and also the restoration of the democratically elected government.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group said that at least 38 protesters were killed in Yangon on Sunday, in one the bloodiest days since the coup.
In total, more than 200 protesters have reportedly been killed during the crackdown, according to the AAPP.
The Secretary-General has asked Arnault to assist in achieving a political solution to the conflict, working closely with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and regional partners…reports Asian Lite News
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed French diplomat Jean Arnault as his personal envoy on Afghanistan and regional issues.
The Secretary-General has asked Arnault to assist in achieving a political solution to the conflict, working closely with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and regional partners, Guterres’ press office said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Arnault brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience in peace settlements and mediation, with an extensive background in UN missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, including Afghanistan.
The personal envoy will be responsible for liaison with regional countries to support the negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, as well as the implementation of any agreements which are reached, said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesman.
The appointment came ahead of multilateral peace talks on war-torn Afghanistan in Moscow on Thursday, which will include an Afghan government delegation and representatives of the Taliban, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Afghanistan’s killing fields: Taliban and its mentors have blood on their hands
Meanwhile, Turkey would also arrange a US-proposed conference on the Afghanistan peace process early in April.
The Secretary-General remains ready to support initiatives for advancing the Afghanistan peace negotiations, said Dujarric.
The concurrence of the parties will underpin any progress toward a political settlement, he added.
