European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the global gateway scheme should become a trusted brand to challenge China’s expanding influence…reports Asian Lite News
The European Union (EU) has revealed details of a $340 billion global investment plan, described as a “true alternative” to China’s Belt and Road strategy, the BBC reported.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the global gateway scheme should become a trusted brand.
China has funded rail, roads and ports, but has been accused of leaving some countries saddled with debt.
The Commission chief said countries need “trusted partners” to design projects that are sustainable, the report said.
The EU is looking at how it can leverage billions of euros, drawn from member states, financial institutions and the private sector.
Leyen said the projects had to be of high quality, with a high level of transparency and good governance, and had to deliver tangible results for the countries involved, she explained. One EU official told the BBC that Africa would be a major focus of the scheme.
China’s strategy has reached Africa, Asia, the Indo-Pacific and the EU too. China’s Cosco company owns two-thirds of the huge Greek container port at Piraeus and the China Road and Bridge Corporation has built a key bridge in Croatia.
“When it comes to investment choices,” said the Commission President, “The few options that exist too often come with a lot of small print which includes big consequences, be it financially, politically but also socially.”
Projects had to be of high quality, with a high level of transparency and good governance, and had to deliver tangible results for the countries involved.
The IOC last week said in a statement that its president, Thomas Bach,had a 30-minute video call with three-time Olympian Peng Shuai, joined by a Chinese sports official and an IOC official…reports Asian Lite News.
The European Union has urged the Chinese authorities to launch a transparent investigation into the case of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and present verifiable evidence of her safety, since her public reappearance has done little to ease concerns, Russian media reported on Tuesday citing an official.
Citing a statement by the External Action Service spokesperson statement, Sputnik News Agency reported: “The EU joins growing international demands, including by sport professionals, for assurances that she is free and not under threat. In this spirit, the EU requests the Chinese government provide verifiable proof of Peng Shuai’s safety, well-being and whereabouts. The EU urges the Chinese authorities to conduct a full, fair and transparent investigation into her allegations of sexual assault.”
Peng, 35, went missing on November 2 after she said on Chinese social media that she had been sexually assaulted and forced into a sexual relationship with Zhang Gaoli, 75, who was China’s vice premier from 2013 to 2018.
The IOC last week said in a statement that its president, Thomas Bach, had a 30-minute video call with three-time Olympian Peng Shuai, joined by a Chinese sports official and an IOC official.
The statement said that, during the call, Peng appeared to be “doing fine” and “relaxed,” and said she “would like to have her privacy respected.” The IOC did not explain how the video call with Peng had been organized, given the difficulties other concerned parties have had reaching her.
On November 18, the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) received a statement purporting to be from Peng, recanting her abuse claim. In response, the IOC said that it was “encouraged by assurance that she is safe.”
On November 19 and 20, photos and videos of Peng appearing in her home, in a restaurant, and at a youth tennis event in Beijing emerged on Twitter accounts affiliated with government-run media.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that Iran was serious about the upcoming nuclear talks and wants “a good and verifiable agreement.”…reports Asian Lite News.
Diplomats from EU, Russia and Iran in Vienna expressed optimism amid a fresh round of Iran nuclear talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal after a hiatus of more than five months.
“I feel extremely positive about what I have seen today,” said Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, who chaired the talks, after the meeting.
There is “clearly a will” by the Iranian delegation to bring the JCPOA back to life, Mora added, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that inked the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Xinhua news agency reported.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, said on Twitter that the participants agreed on further immediate steps during the seventh round of negotiations which started “quite successfully”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s top negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani also expressed optimism after the talks.
However, it remains to be seen whether such optimism can be transformed into real results as diplomats from China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany, in addition to Iran, convened on Monday at the Palais Coburg hotel to try to revive the 2015 deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that Iran was serious about the upcoming nuclear talks and wants “a good and verifiable agreement.”
“If other parties are ready to return to their full obligations and lift sanctions, a good and even immediate agreement can be reached,” Amir Abdollahian added in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell.
The last round of talks over the restoration of the 2015 deal was held in June 2021.
The US government under Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019.
Iran’s new negotiating team has set out demands for the revival of the nuclear agreement, including the removal of all US sanctions, verification mechanism for the removal of embargo, and guarantees from the US that the next administrations will not breach the deal.
EU, Russia and Iran optimistic after resumption of nuclear talks
Diplomats from EU, Russia and Iran in Vienna expressed optimism amid a fresh round of Iran nuclear talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal after a hiatus of more than five months…reports Asian Lite News
“I feel extremely positive about what I have seen today,” said Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, who chaired the talks, after the meeting.
There is “clearly a will” by the Iranian delegation to bring the JCPOA back to life, Mora added, referring to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that inked the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Xinhua news agency reported.
EU, Russia and Iran optimistic after resumption of nuclear talks
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent representative to international organisations in Vienna, said on Twitter that the participants agreed on further immediate steps during the seventh round of negotiations which started “quite successfully”.
Meanwhile, Iran’s top negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani also expressed optimism after the talks.
However, it remains to be seen whether such optimism can be transformed into real results as diplomats from China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany, in addition to Iran, convened on Monday at the Palais Coburg hotel to try to revive the 2015 deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Friday that Iran was serious about the upcoming nuclear talks and wants “a good and verifiable agreement.”
“If other parties are ready to return to their full obligations and lift sanctions, a good and even immediate agreement can be
reached,” Amir Abdollahian added in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Josep Borrell.
The last round of talks over the restoration of the 2015 deal was held in June 2021.
The US government under Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has gradually stopped implementing parts of its commitments to the deal since May 2019.
Iran’s new negotiating team has set out demands for the revival of the nuclear agreement, including the removal of all US sanctions, verification mechanism for the removal of embargo, and guarantees from the US that the next administrations will not breach the deal.
The French Minister accused the UK of closing legal ways to applications of asylum. “In France, there have been 150,000 asylum requests since January 1. In Britain, it’s 30,000.”…reports Asian Lite News
French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin has urged Britain to “take its responsibilities” on migrants, saying France will not be “hostage to UK’s domestic policy.”
“We have to work with our British friends. They must help us collectively to better fight against smugglers,” Darmanin said, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.
The French Minister accused the UK of closing legal ways to applications of asylum. “In France, there have been 150,000 asylum requests since January 1. In Britain, it’s 30,000.”
Following the death of at least 27 migrants trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain on Wednesday, he called for “an even more intense fight against smugglers.”
“Migrants should not be criminalised, but those who organise these transfers,” he added.
A growing number of illegal immigrants made Channel crossings to Britain recently. The BBC reported that more than 1,000 people had arrived in a single day in November for the first time, and more than 25,000 people have crossed the Channel so far this year, Xinhua news agency reported.
Andersson’s election followed an 11th-hour deal with the Left Party, which demanded a raise in pensions for around 7,00,000 of the poorest pensioners in return for not pressing the red button….reports Asian Lite News
Shortly after Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson was elected by Parliament as Sweden’s first female Prime Minister, she tendered her resignation after facing the harsh reality of having to lead a minority coalition government.
Just hours after she was elected the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Parliament (Riksdag) passed the opposition’s budget proposal prompting Andersson’s coalition partner the Green Party to pull its support. This, in turn, forced Andersson to announce her resignation, reported Xinhua news agency.
Wednesday’s events were a result of the inconclusive outcome of the 2018 elections, which led to a lengthy process of finding a government in a political landscape where certain parties do everything in their power to block their ideological opponents from having any form of influence.
In comparison, the election of Andersson was a breeze. To be elected prime minister, she only needed a majority of lawmakers in the 349-seat Riksdag not voting against her. She was backed by 117 but rejected by 174, with 57 deputies abstaining. One deputy was absent.
Andersson’s election followed an 11th-hour deal with the Left Party, which demanded a raise in pensions for around 7,00,000 of the poorest pensioners in return for not pressing the red button.
However, later in the day the ruling coalition’s budget proposal was voted down in favour of the budget proposed jointly by the Moderate Party, the Sweden Democrats and the Christian Democrats.
This came after the Center Party, which accepted Andersson as the prime minister in an attempt to shut out the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, decided not to vote for the government’s budget proposal, as they saw the deal as too sharp a turn to the Left despite the fact that the government had also made concessions to appease the Center Party.
Andersson, who since 2014 has served as the finance minister under former Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, said that she could lead the country with the opposition’s budget, describing it as requiring only minor tweaks. However, the Green Party had a different opinion.
After the Riksdag passed the opposition’s budget, the Greens announced that they would leave the government as they could not stand behind a budget negotiated by the Sweden Democrats.
The Riksdag will now have to elect a new prime minister. The Green Party has said they would support Andersson, who in turn said she was prepared to lead a single-party government.
If adopted, the measures would add to the pressure on Belarus to ease the migrant crisis across EU countries that border Belarus, including Latvia, Lithuania and Poland…reports Asian Lite News.
The European Commission has proposed targeted measures to hit transport companies that are said to have helped smuggle people into the European Union (EU) via Belarus, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced.
Addressing the European Parliament on Tuesday, von der Leyen said the measures would blacklist any transport company involved in helping move migrants from accessing EU airspace, landing at airports, arriving at ports or crossing EU territory.
“There are specialized travel agents offering all-inclusive deals: visas, flights, hotels and, somewhat cynically, taxis and buses up to the border. Let us be very clear: these migrants are being vilely misled by false promises,” she said.
Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said the situation was the result of people being “sold a lie” by international smuggling networks. “This is not a migration threat or crisis, this is a security one, so we have to deal with it as such,” Schinas added.
If adopted, the measures would add to the pressure on Belarus to ease the migrant crisis across EU countries that border Belarus, including Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko called on the EU to cooperate with Minsk to resolve the months-long migrant crisis that has left more than 10 people dead.
Since August, thousands of migrants, most of them from war-torn countries in the Middle East, were stranded at the border between Belarus and its neighbours, seeking to enter the EU territory. However, more migrants arrived at the Belarusian side of the border with Poland earlier this month.
Clashes broke out last week between Polish soldiers using water cannons and migrants throwing stones. Similar tensions also occurred on Belarus’s borders with Latvia and Lithuania.
Putin and Lukashenko expressed “serious concern over the unacceptable, brutal actions” of the Polish border guards against the migrants, said a statement issued by the Kremlin.
The EU has been blaming Belarus for the crisis, while Minsk has denied the accusation and said it is ready for talks.
: Photo taken on Nov. 1, 2021 shows a COVID-19 precaution notice to keep 1.5-meter distance in a shop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer/IANS)
The demonstration took place near the Brussels North Station, with protesters brandishing banners saying “Together for Freedom” and “Resistance”….reports Asian Lite News
In response to the tightened Covid-19 measures, demonstrations were held across Europe this past weekend, amid rising new cases and a new wave of the pandemic.
An estimated 35,000 people gathered in central Brussels on Sunday to protest against the reinforced measures, which include the mandatory use of the ‘COVID Safe Ticket’ (CST) and the obligation to wear face masks in areas where a CST is required, reports Xinhua news agency.
The demonstration took place near the Brussels North Station, with protesters brandishing banners saying “Together for Freedom” and “Resistance”.
The police used water cannons and tear gas to subdue demonstrators who threw fireworks at them.
Forty-two people were detained and two arrested, local police said late on Sunday and the mayor of the City of Brussels, Philippe Close, “strongly condemned” the riots.
In Rotterdam, the demonstration against the Covid-19 restrictions started on November 19 when several hundred protesters gathered in the city centre throwing fireworks and setting cars — among them at least one police vehicle — ablaze.
The protest escalated into riot, and the police responded with water cannons and tear gas.
Around 50 people were arrested and four were injured and sent to hospital for treatment.
Paris, Sept. 4, 2020 (Xinhua) — People wearing masks walk on the Trocadero Place near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, Sept. 3, 2020. The French government aims to mobilize 100 billion euros (118 billion U.S. dollars) in a recovery plan “of historic size” to help the country recover from the coronavirus pandemic crisis, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday. Ecological transition, competitiveness and social cohesion were identified as the three pillars of the plan dubbed “France Relaunch,” which Castex said was “the most massive announced to date among major European countries.” (Xinhua/Gao Jing/IANS)
On Monday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte condemned the riots and warned that everything possible would be done to punish the rioters.
“These are not corona protests, but pure violence by idiots, which has nothing to do with demonstrating,” Rutte said after consulting his fellow ministers.
Across Greece, restaurants and cafes remained closed lin protest against the government’s new restrictions.
The measures have hit thousands of businesses, with many of them facing the risk of permanent closure, and further state support is urgently needed, the Panhellenic Federation of Restaurants and Related Professions (POESE) said on Monday.
“We are shutting down today so that we will not have to shut down forever,” protesters chanted during a rally held in the center of Athens.
“Catering stays closed throughout Greece” read banners on the closed doors of restaurants and cafes.
Pedestrians wearing face masks are seen in Berlin, capital of Germany
With the onset of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, the European Union (EU) fears a new wave of Covid-19 infections.
The level of concern for the situation in the EU was rated at 8.3 of 10, or “very high” on November 19 by the European Center for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC).
Wearing masks, hand-washing and ventilation are crucial non-pharmaceutical measures that must continue in order to fight Covid-19, and “it remains extremely important that we follow the non-pharmaceutical interventions”, Stefan De Keersmaecker, European Commission spokesperson for Health, said on Monday.
French Minister of Labour Elisabeth Borne on Monday called on companies to strictly respect barrier gestures, especially the mask mandate, in order to enable the country to face the fifth Covid-19 wave.
In light of the worsening situation, France’s Vaccine Strategy Orientation Council (COSV) on Monday suggested that a booster shot for all adults should be considered.
In the face of the growing pandemic, Germany’s federal states have recently tightened their respective Covid-19 measures.
The states of Bavaria and Saxony have cancelled their Christmas markets this year, and Hesse decided that only those vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed to enter indoor areas of restaurants, sports facilities and cultural institutions.
A citizen wearing a face mask walks on a street in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Chen)
Austria has also made vaccination mandatory from February 1, reports Asian Lite News
Barely a week after imposing a lockdown on the unvaccinated, Austria on Friday announced a full national Covid-19 lockdown starting next week.
Austria became the first country in the European Union to take such a measure in the face of the Covid-19 resurgence. Besides, it has also made vaccination mandatory from February 1, Euronews reported.
The new measures announced by Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg on Friday morning will come into effect initially for 10 days starting Monday. Most stores will close, and cultural events will be cancelled.
“We have to look reality in the face,” Schallenberg was quoted as saying at a news conference.
“We do not want a fifth wave. Nor do we want a sixth or seventh wave,” the Chancellor said, as reported by public broadcaster ORF.
After 10 days, the effects will be assessed and if Covid cases don’t drop sufficiently, the lockdown can be extended to a maximum of 20 days.
People wearing face masks walk on a street in Vienna, Austria
However, according to Austria’s Health Minister, schools would remain open for those who need to go there, but all parents have been asked to keep their children at home if possible.
The lockdown comes as Covid infections soared in Austria in recent weeks. Daily case numbers have trebled in November, touching over 15,000 on Thursday.
According to the latest figures, the incidence rate was 990.7 cases per 100,000 people in the past week, and Health Minister Wolfgang Mackstein said imposing a lockdown was the “last resort”.
The country’s per capita infection rate is also the highest so far this year. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with many new Covid patients, and deaths have been rising again, the report said.
Last Monday, Vienna had announced a nationwide lockdown for about two million unvaccinated people. Under this, people aged 12 years and older were banned from going outside except for essential activities such as work, attending classes, essential shopping, or going for a walk.
A medical staff member collects a swab sample at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing center in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Zeljko Stevanic/Xinhua/IANS)
The country has 65 per cent people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — one of the lowest rates in Western Europe.
Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) had warned that as Covid cases continue to mount in Europe and Central Asia, the regions are likely to see about 500,000 additional deaths before February 1.
Hans Kluge, WHO’s European Regional Director, attributed the increased risk to low mask use, vaccine hesitancy and spread of the more transmissible Delta variant.
Many other European countries are also planning to reimpose restrictions in the wake of a steep rise in the number of cases, the BBC reported.
Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger has announced what he called a lockdown for the unvaccinated starting Monday. The country had reported a record 8,342 cases on Wednesday.
The Czech government is also limiting access to a variety of services.
The Netherlands introduced a partial lockdown last weekend. German leaders have also agreed to introduce restrictions for unvaccinated people in areas with high Covid hospital admissions that would affect 12 of Germany’s 16 states, the report said.
Daily infections had hit a new German record of 52,826 on Wednesday.
David Frost meets with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic in Brussels
Brexit minister David Frost said if there is no other solutions, the UK remains prepared to use the safeguard provisions under Article 16, which are a legitimate recourse under the Protocol, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
UK’s Brexit minister David Frost said on Friday that the UK government remains prepared to trigger the article in the withdrawal agreement that allows London and Brussels to temporarily abandon commitments, if current controversy over the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol is not solved.
“If no such solution can be found, we remain prepared to use the safeguard provisions under Article 16, which are a legitimate recourse under the Protocol in order for the Government to meet its responsibilities to the people of Northern Ireland,” Frost said in a statement issued after his meeting with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic in Brussels.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson along with Sir David Frost. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
As part of the Brexit agreement that came into force in January, there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but under the protocol all goods and animal-based products coming from the rest of the British territories must be checked upon arrival to see if they comply with EU sanitary regulations.
The UK government has argued that the protocol is not working, as it causes delays and interruptions to goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and irritates loyalists of the British crown who believe their place within the union could be affected.
In October, the EU offered to cut checks on food, plants and animal products by 80% and paperwork for transport companies by half, but London is pushing for renegotiating the whole protocol.
According to Frost, talks this week between the UK and the EU focused on medicines, customs and sanitary and phytosanitary measures, “though other subjects have also been considered.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson with David Frost, Ursula von Der Leyen and Michel Barnier after their dinner at the European Commission in Brussels in December last year. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
The UK minister also confirmed that “significant gaps” remain across must issues, and stressed that a “durable solution” requires goods to be able to move freely into Northern Ireland when both sides agree that they are remaining in Northern Ireland.
“Looking forward, the United Kingdom’s preference remains to secure a solution based on consensus. But any such solution must constitute a significant change from the current situation, materially ease practical problems on the ground, and safeguard political, economic and societal stability in Northern Ireland,” he said.
Earlier, Frost said that the UK and the EU are likely to reach a deal on changes to the disputed Northern Ireland Protocol by Christmas.
