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Protest in Brussels to mark ‘B’desh Genocide Day’

Protest held in Brussels against genocide by Pak army in Bangladesh(Twitter)

Protestors raised demand for EU,UN recognition of 1971 genocide…reports Asian Lite News

A protest was staged in front of the European institutions to mark the 50th anniversary of 1971 Bangladesh genocide.

The demonstration was organised by various civil society and human rights organisations in Europe as well as the Bengali organisations.

The demonstration paid tribute to the 2-3 Million victims of genocide which was committed by the Pakistan army and also called for its international recognition.

“We need to remember this genocide incident 50 years later and never forget the brutality of this massacre in which Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh were oppressed and tortured. The Hindu community lost its land and was slaughtered by the Pakistani army ,said human right activist Manel Msalmi.

She also called for global Acknowledgment of 1971 genocide mainly because it remains unrecognized in comparison to the other genocides in Europe and Africa.

The Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day is a national day commemorated on March 25 in Bangladesh to pay tribute to the victims of the 1971 genocide.

Also read:B’desh sees violent anti-Modi protests

Andy Vermaut, organiser of this protest stressed that “3 million people were killed in Bangladesh in 1971 in an organized genocide. More than two hundred thousand girls were brutally raped. “The old patterns of behavior of the Pakistan of yesteryear, has scarred the people of Bangladesh to this day” “The wounds are impossible to heal if the world does not dare to officially recognize the horror of 50 years ago”.

“I ask for a general pardon from all member states in the face of inaction on the scenes Bangladesh has faced” ‘I wish to apologize on my own behalf for what the international community failed to do, thus causing so many casualties’. I hope you can muster the spiritual and moral sense of duty to do”,he added.

Also read:Modi begins Bangladesh tour with goodwill message

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Turkey calls for action on EU migrants

Turkey has been at odds with EU members Greece and Cyprus regarding maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in a contested part of the eastern Mediterranean…reports Asian Lite News

The Turkish government said on Friday that the European Union (EU) needs to take “concrete and constructive” steps regarding lingering issues such as renewing a migration pact and considering visa liberalisation.

EU leaders declared on Thursday that they were prepared to boost trade and extend a 2016 migration pact with Ankara, but warned of sanctions if Turkey resumes its “illegal” energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, reports dpa news agency.

The bloc will take further decisions at a European Council meeting in June, Brussels said.

In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Ankara hopes putting forward preconditions and “addressing only certain areas and postponing them to June will not lead to losing a positive momentum (with the EU)”.

Illegal migrants cross the Meric river by boat to enter Greece in Edirne Province, Turkey,

The EU “has no authority” to label Turkish drilling activities as illegal, the statement said, blaming such rhetoric on “provocations” by the Greek side.

Turkey has been at odds with EU members Greece and Cyprus regarding maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in a contested part of the eastern Mediterranean.

Ankara said it still “welcomes efforts made with the report to improve Turkey-EU relations on the basis of a positive agenda”.

Also read:Turkey-Russia deal for Syrian ceasefire

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EU to infuse $5.9bn in health

“Health diplomacy is not an option” for the member states but a “shared necessity” said Portuguese Minister of Health Marta Temido…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union (EU) will invest over five billion euros ($5.9 billion) in the EU Health Program, the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council.

Portuguese Minister of Health Marta Temido said at a virtual conference on Thursday that the measure highlights the need to reinforce the strategy to combat the Covid-19 pandemic at national and European levels, reports Xinhua news agency.

She said that “health diplomacy is not an option” for the member states but a “shared necessity”.

“Global health challenges transcend borders and the classic north/south or east/west divisions, exposing the limitations of segmented approaches,” she said.

Temido emphasised that “this is the time to act together and seek to reinforce the strength and influence of the European Union in health” with “more inclusive, comprehensive and coordinated strategies to face the new challenges” and with “global solidarity”.

“No state is safe until everyone is safe,” she said.

“The EU has been and will remain committed.”

In his brief address, Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa acknowledged that “there was a lot of selfishness and isolationism in the fight against the pandemic”.

Accordingly, a “closer alignment of the policies of the member states” is extremely necessary, he said.

“During the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union, we will have the opportunity to focus on the essential role of the Union in the area of health, thinking about this pandemic, but thinking mainly about the future,” he said.

The conference, which has attracted over 30 speakers, aimed to reinforce the EU’s role in improving global health.

Also read:EU to reset ties with Turkey

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EU to reset ties with Turkey

European Nations leader have reached a decision to resume diplomatic talks with Turkey in various fields…reports Asian Lite News

European Union (EU) leaders have agreed to relaunch cooperation with Turkey in a “phased, proportionate and reversible” manner in the fields of trade and migration.

They decided to launch high-level dialogues with Turkey on issues of mutual concern such as public health, climate, counter-terrorism, as well as regional issues, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying on Thursday.

“The EU is ready to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate, and reversible manner to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest and take further decisions at the European Council meeting in June,” the statement, issued following discussions at a virtual EU summit, further said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.


According to the statement, the engagement was only “provided that the current de-escalation is sustained and that Turkey engages constructively”.

European Council President Charles Michel told a press conference following the meeting that the decision on Turkey was “a step in the right direction”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will “suspend” the cooperation if matters persist.

Since last year, Turkey had been at odds with EU member states Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean.

Also read:EU revises vaccine export system

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‘UK has exclusive deal with AstraZeneca’

The UK and the EU also issued a joint statement on Wednesday evening, stating they were working on a “win-win situation” to “expand vaccine supply for all our citizens”…reports Asian Lite News.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Thursday the country has an “exclusive” contract with coronavirus vaccine developer AstraZeneca, while the European Union’s is based on a “best efforts” basis.

Hancock told the Financial Times that both sides were looking to resolve a dispute surrounding vaccine delivery, reports dpa news agency.

But he added the bloc should not try and suspend the export of vaccines from a site in the Netherlands to the UK, due to the nature of the contractual agreements they have with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant.

AstraZeneca vaccine

“I believe that free trading nations follow the law of contracts,” he told the newspaper on Thursday.

“They have a ‘best efforts’ contract and we have an exclusivity deal.

“Our contract trumps theirs. It’s called contract law — it’s very straightforward,” Hancock added.

On Wednesday, the EU tightened controls of its vaccine exports further, allowing shipments headed almost anywhere to be halted.

The move triggered warnings from the UK, a major recipient of EU-produced jabs.

Member states including Belgium and Ireland have voiced concern about the potential backlash to blockades.

The UK and the EU also issued a joint statement on Wednesday evening, stating they were working on a “win-win situation” to “expand vaccine supply for all our citizens”.

Also Read-EU revises vaccine export system

Read More-UK to fine £5,000 for holidaying abroad

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EU sanctions China over Uighur abuses

The last time the EU imposed punitive measures on Beijing for human rights violations was after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989…reports Asian Lite News

The European Union (EU) is sanctioning China for human rights abuses against the Uighur ethnic minority, an informed source from the 27-member bloc said on Monday.

The source told dpa news agency that the decision came following an agreement from the bloc’s Foreign Ministers.

The last time the EU imposed punitive measures on Beijing for human rights violations was after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

The names of the targets for measures like EU asset freezes or travel bans are due to be officially published shortly, the final step that implements sanctions, according to the source.

In the last few years, hundreds of Uighurs, Kazakhs and Huis have testified about being held in internment camps as part of what observers say is a government campaign to forcibly assimilate ethnic minorities.

Also read:EU nations seek solidarity over migration

According to the Chinese government, the camps, estimated to have held more than 1 million people since 2017, are “vocational education centres” to eradicate extremism and terrorism.

Also on Monday, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said the Eu is set to sanction 11 individuals involved in the Myanmar military coup, as well as for the repression of the demonstrators in the country.

The EU Foreign Ministers are holding a meeting here during which they are also likely to sanction several individuals and entities from North Korea, Russia, Libya, Eritrea and South Sudan on the basis of that instrument.

Aside from endorsing sanctions, the ministers are expected to discuss the politically sensitive issues of Turkey and Russia, attempting to hash out their strategic positions to both countries.

Also read:EU leaders summit turns digital

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EU leaders summit turns digital

It will be the first regular EU summit since mid-2020…reports Asian Lite News

A summit of European Union (EU) heads of state and government planned for later this week has been moved exclusively online as much of the continent faces a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of meeting in person Brussels, as originally planned, the leaders will meet via video conference, a spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel said on Twitter on Sunday.

It will mark the first regular EU summit since mid-2020, reports dpa news agency.

Leaders usually meet every three months, though there has been a series of additional video conferences in between meetings in recent months to deal with the pandemic.

The pandemic will be high on the agenda at the summit planned for Thursday and Friday, as leaders try to hash out ways to reach a shared goal of speeding up vaccination campaigns.

Future ties with Russia and Turkey will also be discussed.

Also read:EU nations seek solidarity over migration

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European nations to resume AstraZeneca jabs

AstraZeneca vaccine
The EMA has ruled out claims of blood clots

France, Italy, Latvia and Bulgaria announced they would likely restart vaccinations using the AstraZeneca jab on Friday following the EMA advice….reports Asian Lite News

Several European countries have announced they would restart vaccinations with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 jab after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) deemed it “safe and effective”.

The EMA statement came after an extensive review of possible blood clot risks, the agency’s chief said on Thursday, following reports that some people had developed blood clots in the period after having the injection, reports dpa news agency.

France, Italy, Latvia and Bulgaria announced they would likely restart vaccinations using the AstraZeneca jab on Friday following the EMA advice.

Spain would reportedly follow suit next week, according to El Pais newspaper.

In an effort to bolster damaged public confidence in the vaccine, French Premier Jean Castex announced that he himself would receive the injection on Friday.

Swedish health authorities said, on the other hand, that they would need “a few days” to assess the EMA report before lifting the ban on AstraZeneca.

“The suspension remains for the time being,” Johan Carlson, head of the Swedish Public Health Agency, told reporters.

Also read:EU’s ‘Green Certificate’ for safe travel

Germany will aim to restart vaccinations using AstraZeneca’s vaccine on Friday, Health Minister Jens Spahn said.

The restart in Germany would come with new advice on the vaccine’s side effects, Spahn added.

Blood clot reports from several countries prompted governments around the world to halt inoculations with the AstraZeneca jab.

This slowed down already sluggish inoculation campaigns in the European Union.

The EMA, which had approved the jab in January, launched a review of the risks.

“The committee has come to a clear scientific conclusion,” the agency’s chief Emer Cooke said when presenting the findings.

“This is a safe and effective vaccine. Its benefits in protecting people from Covid-19, with the associated risks of death and hospitalisation, outweigh the possible risks,” Cooke said.

A woman receives a COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination campaign for healthcare professionals in Nice

The agency’s committee concluded that the vaccine was not associated with an increase in the overall risk of thromboembolic events or blood clots.

“When you vaccinate millions of people, it’s invevitable that rare or serious incidences or illnesses will occur in the time immediately following vaccination,” she said.

However, the agency could not definitively rule out a link between cases of rare, very serious clotting disorders and the vaccine, and said it launched additional investigations to understand the issue.

The EMA therefore recommended issuing warnings by including the risks in the product information.

The World Health Organization has also recommended the continued use of the vaccine.

Also read:EU warns of vaccine export curbs