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1 - 7 March 2021 Vol - 31 No. 5 Email : [email protected] Founder : Dr. Govind Narain Srivastava ISSN -2349-1221 Pakistan cries in a corner as NATO deters The person who makes an error should Troop withdrawal from Afghanistan be taught, and not made fun of! The virtual conference of 30-nation North Atlantic Treaty Society many a times label people into two groups- Winners and Organisation (NATO) has deferred its decision on withdrawal of Losers. Those who fail and those who succeed in life and in all its troops from Afghanistan by May 1 as it could not decide on the little bits and pieces. We ourselves may be guilty of doing the same withdrawal deadline that was agreed by the US-Taliban peace knowingly or unknowingly. But this categorization or judgment is deal on February 29, 2021 in Doha. harsh, cold, unforgiving, and short-sighted. But non the less, it’s a form of scrutiny that every one of us is quite familiar with. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced the decision on 18th February. Earlier the same day, the US had assured Afghan So maybe you stumbled or crashed again and you find yourself in that President Ashraf Ghani that America will consult Kabul before taking any familiar place, honestly you rather be anywhere else. You feel horrible final decision. NATO announcement came hours later wherein Stoltenberg as it reminds you of your failures, your mess-ups and past mistakes stated that the military alliance will leave Afghanistan only... that you rather forget. All the guilt that you have gathered in... By Dr. Ankit Srivastava Page 3 By Dr. Pramila Srivastava Page 24

By NDT Special Bureau Page 2 Could Jagmeet Singh become Voice of dissent in Indian Sudan aims for peace and Canada’s next PM? National Congress tranquility amid challenges

Is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau living the last of his The Indian National Congress is the oldest political party In April 2019, Sudan’s 30-year-old regime of President seven lives? He can wear ‘Blackface’ and get away scot- of India founded by Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Omar al-Bashir came to an end after the military ousted it. free; declare his admiration for China’s dictatorship... Naroji and Dinshaw Edulji Wacha in 1885... This followed after difficult economic conditions... By Tarek Fatah Page 2 By Sujay Dhawan Page 4 By Himanshu Sharma Page 5 For critical insights One Year* Five Year* Subscribe Rs. 350 Rs. 1500 To Subscribe E-Paper Whatsapp +91 9999 331 600 * Details on Page 21

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Opinion NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan's evil Karma pays well, stays in FATF Grey List implementation. But then who can trust ◆ By NDT Special Bureau Pakistan – the epicentre of world terrorism? @NewDelhiTimes This was evidently reflected in the FATF decision to keep Pakistan- the sponsor of [email protected] terrorism, in the grey list.

n February 25, the terror financing During 2020, Pakistan got three legislations- O watchdog Financial Action Task the Anti-Money Laundering (second Force decided to keep Pakistan in the grey amendment) Bill-2020, Anti-Terrorism Act list. Marcus Pleyer, President of the Paris- (ATA) (third amendment) Bill-2020 and based FATF, said the deadline given to Islamabad Capital Territory Waqf Properties Pakistan has already expired. He also asked Bill-2020 — passed in the Parliament to fulfil Islamabad to address their concerns “as the legal requirements of the FATF. Following in the Indian subcontinent that Pakistan — to the grey-list to give Pakistan company. quickly as possible”. “To date, Pakistan has the FATF recommendation for terror the epicentre of world terrorism — will Pakistan’s response to Samuel Paty’s killing made progress across all action plan items financing, it made punishment proportionate be evaluated on its anti-terror financing has crudely exposed Islamabad’s stance and has now largely addressed 24 of the 27 to the crime by extending jail-term from one initiatives! Pakistan claims having made on religious fundamentalism. Pakistan action items. As all action plan deadlines year to five years. Islamabad should ensure sufficient progress, and hopes for a positive President’s recent remark also rekindles have expired the FATF strongly urges full implementation on all points of money outcome. However, even in the best case Islamist embers. Pakistan court’s acquittal of Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action laundering and terror financing. scenario, Pakistan could remain in the the terrorist in Daniel Pearl murder case not plan before June 2021,” Pleyer said in Paris increased monitoring list (grey list) until only angered America, it showed how the at the end of its Plenary session. The FATF has placed Pakistan on the grey June. The FATF President will announce the administrative and judicial mechanism of list since June 2018 for deficiencies in its final decision on the concluding day of the the country is helpless, or rather bows before The virtual Financial Action Task Force counter-terror financing and anti-money four-day virtual plenary on February 25. the extremist. The plenary discussions will (FATF) plenary is being held in Paris from laundering regimes but Islamabad is still peruse the analytical report of the FATF’s February 22 to 25 to consider cases of not sincere. Of course, it cleverly used the Pakistan this time has been making the most assessors which is purely of technical various countries on the grey list, including FATF to pass all anti-money laundering aggressive diplomatic effort to wriggle out of nature. Others can challenge the positive Pakistan. The decision will be made at laws but what about enforcement? It the grey list which was never seen before. The findings, bring up negatives and offer the conclusion of the meetings whether persistently conspires to mislead the FATF. plenary could discuss all options, including critical opinions. Conclusions will hinge on or not to keep Pakistan on the grey list. In The whole world, the EU and the USA removal from the grey list, retaining in the consensus. Even the final decision can be the last plenary held in October 2020, the included, are aware of Pakistan’s duplicity. grey list or even blacklisting. Pakistan has not linked to onsite visits, physical verification FATF had decided to retain Pakistan on its It is supporting terror organisations listed by done enough, will remain in grey list, without or addressing minor deficiencies. Constant grey list till February 2021 as Islamabad the UN Security Council, not prosecuting any change. Grey list for sure. No other option. bleeding of India through thousand cuts, did not meet action plan targets on six out or convicting banned terrorists, and not Remain in the FATF Grey List. The FATF diplomatic row with France, and release of 27 anti-money laundering (AML) and tackling smuggling of narcotics and precious ghost will haunt Pakistan for a long time. of terrorist and killer of American citizen combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) stones. FATF President Dr. Marcus Pleyer Daniel Pearl through Pakistan court decision recommendations. Some European countries Pakistan hoped that at least three friendly had made it clear in October that remaining could turn the debate at the FATF plenary like host France had recommended to retain FATF members— China, Turkey and six outstanding items were “very serious and against Pakistan. Pakistan on the FATF grey list for not risks are not over until the government of Malaysia — will soak up all pressures For decades Pakistan has been bleeding fully implementing all recommendations. Pakistan repairs all six outstanding items”. and save it from further downgrade to the Other European countries also supported blacklist. Malaysia is resetting its course; India through thousand cuts. Now is the France. Now, Pakistan claimed compliance Ahead of its February 22-25 plenary, the its policy has changed along with change in arrival of the day of reckoning. The colour- with those six recommendations and FATF updated the overall performance of government. Malaysia would like to sell Palm grey, white or black-hardly matters. The evil significant progress in legislation and its all countries. That generated a lot of interest oil to India. Turkey and Malaysia could lapse karmas of past has come to haunt Pakistan. Could Jagmeet Singh become Canada’s next PM? Today, Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg can single-handedly dictate ◆ By Tarek Fatah terms and threaten Australia while Twitter Author & Columnist, Canada billionaire Jack Dorsey can shut down the @TarekFatah account of a sitting U.S. President and no [email protected] one can stand up to them.

s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau living Here is where Prime Minister Jagmeet I the last of his seven lives? He can wear Singh, backed by grassroots activists and ‘Blackface’ and get away scot-free; declare the working poor, could stand up for who we his admiration for China’s dictatorship and are — polite, kind, courageous, anti-racist, get re-elected; and embarrass himself on the generous and visionary.

India file and get away with it all. PC : Getty Images Almost 35 years ago when I arrived in To top it all, Trudeau’s failure in adequately Canada, one of my first acts was to look up and join the NDP after watching a providing COVID-19 vaccines to Canadians sat at negative 22, a fall of seven points well-known Peter MacKay, they buried him documentary on Tommy Douglas. Over the caused murmurs of anger and astonishment from just over a month ago, while Singh’s in the scrapheap of history and launched years it has been Ed Broadbent, Bob Rae, that a G7 nation had no capacity or capability favourability was at plus eight. an unknown Erin O’Toole who has not Audrey McLaughlin, Alexa McDonough, to produce any vaccine, but no outrage. Not been able to show Canadians that he has If these polls hold, Trudeau will call for Roy Romanow, Ujjal Dosanjh and Jack even when he dipped into an international the capability to lead us in a post-pandemic elections this summer or fall and his chances Layton keeping the fire burning. vaccine-sharing pool to secure doses world. of winning a minority or a bare majority typically reserved for developing countries. Now it’s your turn Jagmeet, but with this seems within reach. This leaves the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh to be piece of advice from one Punjabi Canuck to Trudeau’s arrogance and self-righteous in a position where he could bring down the One can lay the blame squarely on the another: attitude generates no negative reaction. It Liberal minority government once we are opposition Conservatives who have failed is also reflected in recent poll numbers. On over the vaccine runaround and go for the Step back a bit from identity and religious repeatedly to elect a leader who can capture Feb. 19, Ipsos put the federal Liberals at big prize in Ottawa. politics, for it’s a slippery slope towards the imagination of Canadians or have the 33%, ahead of the opposition Conservatives medieval identities that are contrary to flair for Parliament as well as the street. The post-pandemic future looks dark for the under a nondescript Erin O’Toole at 30% the universality of all humans. Distance common Canadian. With a handful of U.S. and the NDP with 20% support. They should have hung on to Rona Ambrose yourself from Khalistan for you were born tech billionaires and hedge fund managers for dear life, but they instead picked Andrew in Toronto, Ontario, not Tarn Taran, Punjab. Two days later an Angus Reid poll confirmed dictating to the rest of the world on how to Scheer, whose dimple-faced smiles just the trend showing the Conservatives making behave and live, I feel we are at the dawn And now that the lion has let down his didn’t match the climate of the Commons no dent in the Liberal armour, trailing the of Charles Dickens’ “Tale of Two Cities,” majestic mane for the world to see, do it more or the appearance of a thoughtful politician Trudeau Liberals by 3% with Jagmeet set during the upheaval of the French often! And never forget Tommy Douglas’s with the future of Canada on his mind. Singh’s NDP stable at 20%. The poll also Revolution and the dawn of the Industrial profound words: “Courage, my friends; ’tis showed that O’Toole’s net favourability Then, when they could have elected the Revolution. not too late to build a better world.” www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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Editor’s Desk NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan cries in a corner as NATO deters Troop withdrawal from Afghanistan NATO also issued a statement declaring at Washington’s request, as none of the 30 regaining salience. No NATO ally wants to that their missions in Afghanistan and Iraq NATO member stay in Afghanistan longer than necessary, ◆ Dr. Ankit Srivastava were “key contributions to the fight against but leadership is clear that its presence Chief Editor international terrorism”. remains conditions-based. It will assess @AnkitNDT the overall [email protected] “We are faced with many dilemmas, and situation there are no easy options,” said Stoltenberg and consult he virtual conference of 30-nation to explain why the alliance did not announce on the way T North Atlantic Treaty Organisation a decision on Afghanistan. With May (NATO) has deferred its decision on deadline approaching, NATO will closely withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan consult and coordinate in the coming by May 1 as it could not decide on the weeks. withdrawal deadline that was agreed by forward. the US-Taliban peace deal on February 29, “NATO’s goal is to ensure that The newly empowered 2021 in Doha. Afghanistan never again becomes NATO has decided to stay; a safe haven for terrorists that would it will shape peace talks. The N A T O attack our homelands, NATO countries will have a say. Secretary- so allies will continue That’s good news for India but bad news General to assess together and a disaster for Pakistan. The Taliban and Jens the conditions governments had Pakistan were certainly hoping for the US on the ground,” publicly supported the May 1 withdrawal withdrawal. Stoltenberg said. deadline. Instead, several allies indicated Protection of their support for prolonging the NATO Afghanistan is surrounded by Iran, Central troops remains troop presence. NATO has about 10,000 Asia, Pakistan, China, and India. How — mostly non-American — can the US afford to leave such a strategic troops in Afghanistan to location? The US and the NATO will rather train and advise the tighten their hold which had slackened Afghan security during the Trump term. They could be more forces. combative against China, than Trump.

Secretary Blinken The whole world - learned, mature, educated called upon and enlightened - knew this since Biden’s Ghani to discuss win. America is giving a clear message America’s ongoing to China and Russia to moderate their review of its strategy behaviour in Afghanistan. in Afghanistan and reiterated America’s Biden is going to stay in Afghanistan and commitment to the so is Ghani government. Foreign troops in peace process, Afghanistan are necessary to check China’s “for a just geo-economic and political machinations. and durable political Nobody expected the US to leave a strategic settlement location like Afghanistan-the heart of energy and trade routes and vast markets as the CARs, Asia and the Middle East! permanent and Pakistan is in Afghanistan only to fan comprehensive religious fundamentalism, terrorism and ceasefire”. The Taliban- political Islam. It is training and infiltrating Stoltenberg Kabul government talks terrorists into neighbouring countries. announced the are moving at a snail’s pace Nobody can stop letting the Taliban genie decision on while the peace deal required out of the Afghan bottle. 18th February. the Taliban to “negotiate [with Earlier the Kabul] in good faith” to reduce same day, the violence, implement a durable Accomplishments of US had assured ceasefire, hold meaningful negotiations with Afghan President Kabul and severe all links to Al-Qaeda and NATO in Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani that other terrorist outfits. NATO led the UN-mandated America will consult International Security Assistance Kabul before taking any final decision. Unlike predecessor Pompeo, Blinken won’t hold direct talks with the Taliban leaders. At Force (ISAF) from August 2003 to NATO announcement least any direct engagement with the Taliban December 2014. came hours later wherein is not indicated at this point. Defence ISAF has been NATO’s longest and Stoltenberg stated that the Ministers reiterated their commitment to the most challenging mission till date. military alliance will NATO-led Resolute Support Mission - with leave Afghanistan training and funding for Afghan security At the zenith of operation, the only when forces - and strong support to the Afghan force was more than 130,000 strong paramount, peace process. with troops from 50 NATO and and the partner nations. NATO will The Taliban apprehends American violation, ISAF ended in December 2014. security take all hence threatens consequences for the US and conditions allow. necessary NATO; both can’t get the Taliban agree to In January 2015, NATO launched Later, Secretary Blinken measures to an extension beyond May. As things started the Resolute Support Mission telephoned President keep them safe. unfolding in Afghanistan, the Taliban sent (RSM). Ghani to say: “We will delegations to allies like Iran, Russia, and RSM numbers around 10,000 only leave when the time The NATO China. troops from 36 NATO Allies and decision is right and the focus now partner countries. is on how we can support the peace talks.” was delayed Trump had side-lined NATO which is now

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Voice of dissent in Indian National Congress Unlike the BJP where democratic tradition in the party is the norm, the Congress organisational structure is dominated by a coterie who revere the Gandhi-Nehru family ◆ By Sujay Dhawan are also not happy with the ‘North-South’ remarks of Rahul Gandhi. “For the first 15 Editor years, I was a member of the Parliament in @SujayDhawan the North. So, I had got used to a different [email protected] type of politics. And for me coming to Kerala was very refreshing. Because suddenly I he Indian National Congress is the found that people are interested in issues and T oldest political party of India founded not just superficially but going into detail in by Allan Octavian Hume, Dadabhai Naroji issues,” Rahul Gandhi had remarked during and Dinshaw Edulji Wacha in 1885. The a meeting in Kerala. Congress has a rich legacy of leaders to look upon such as Mahatma Gandhi, On plain sight, these were totally uncalled Jawaharlal Nehru and the Iron Man of remarked and bizarrely suggested that India- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. For most voters of North India are not as ‘mature’ as part of the independent Indian history, the those of South India. Rahul Gandhi must Congress government has been in power understand that if he lost in Amethi to Smriti at the centre. However, the party is now Irani in the Lok Sabha 2019 election, it was going through tumultuous times and seems not because of an immature electorate but clueless against the constant rise of the because he and the Congress had failed to Bharatiya Janata Party under PM Narendra meet the expectation of the people there with Modi. The performance of the Congress in PC : Getty Images negligible development works. the last two General Elections of 2014 and loyalist who have kept him aversive to the called G23. They have finally shown the 2019 has been dismal to say the least. In political realities and the expectations of the guts to question the leadership of Rahul As expected, the Congress coterie close to the Legislative Assemblies of the states that Indian electorate and in his own dreamworld. Gandhi, breaking the Congress Taboo. Rahul Gandhi has been making a futile used to be Congress bastions some years Unlike the BJP where democratic tradition On February 27, the G23 held a meeting attempt to defend his remarks and even ago, the party now just makes the numbers. in the party is the norm, the Congress in Jammu sharing stage at an event called justify them. Rather than functioning as organisational structure is dominated by a ‘Shanti Samellan’ and openly admitted apologist for an individual or one family, So, who is to be blamed for this steady coterie who revere the Gandhi-Nehru family. that the Congress has weakened and Rahul the Congress must rebuild itself with a decline of the Congress? The lion’s share of Gandhi’s leadership needs to be questioned new leadership. A failure to do so will the blame must rest on Rahul Gandhi and his However, of late, there have been some and examined critically. result in the Congress being consigned loose leadership. For too long he has been voices of dissent in the Indian National to the footnotes of Indian political under the influence of coterie of dynasty Congress. The dissident is led by the so Reportedly, these dissident Congress leaders landscape. International Political Scenario of the Week their supporters are demanding that Prime ◆ By NDT Bureau Minister Nikol Pashinyan resign, calling @NewDelhiTimes the agreement he signed “treacherous” and “humiliating. Pashinyan has defended the [email protected] peace deal as a painful but necessary move to prevent Azerbaijan from overrunning the Armenia entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Greece has said that the Army is planning an attempted coup against him so as to take Students and academic community are control of the country. The Army “must protesting in Greece against a new campus obey the people and elected authorities,” security law. Which calls for the presence he told thousands of supporters in the of 1,000 uniformed, unarmed guards on capital Yerevan in a mass rally on February Greece’s University campuses. These guards 25. “I became the Prime Minister not on will answer to the Greek Police Force, and my own will, but because people decided have similar policing duties. Further, the so,” he shouted to the crowd of more than entrance to University campuses will be 20,000 people in the Republic Square. more controlled, and may include security “Let people demand my resignation or systems and checks. On February 23, more shoot me in the square.” He warned that than 5,000 University students and other the latest developments have led to an protesters gathered outside a courthouse in “explosive situation, which is fraught with Greece’s second-largest city Thessaloniki, unpredictable consequences.” Pashinyan’s to rally against the law. On February 10, decision to oust the first Deputy Chief of 2021, around 5000 protesters protesting the Military’s General Staff that includes against the provisions of the bill marched the armed forces’ top officers has caused a toward the Hellenic Parliament Building in clashed violently with the pro-democracy was brought to the area. Several Western fresh wave of political unrest in the country. Athens. Such protests are likely to continue protesters, beating them with iron rods and countries have imposed or threatened In response, the General Staff called for in the coming days and risk of confrontation sticks. Reports claim that at least two people sanctions against Myanmar’s Military. Pashinyan’s resignation. “The ineffective is high. were stabbed in the attacks, which occurred Social Networking giant Facebook has also management of the current authorities and after hundreds of pro-military demonstrators decided to impose a ban on all accounts the serious mistakes in foreign policy have Myanmar marched through central Yangon towards linked to Myanmar’s Military as well as ads put the country on the brink of collapse,” the main railway station. On February 26, from military-controlled companies. This the Army’s General Staff and other senior Protests are mounting in Myanmar against security forces in Myanmar’s largest city decision comes in the wake of the coup by military officials said in a statement. On the military coup of February 1 that resulted fired warning shots and beat truncheons the Military on February 1 that overthrew the November 9, 2020, Russia announced it had in the overthrow of democratically elected against their shields while moving to disperse democratically elected government. “Events brokered a lasting cease-fire deal between government and the seizure of all power more than 1,000 anti-coup protesters. The since the February 1 coup, including deadly Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed and control by the government. Pro- demonstrators had gathered in front of a violence, have precipitated a need for this Nagorno-Karabakh territory. The deal saw democracy protests are mounting each day popular shopping mall in Yangon, holding ban,” the social media giant said in a blog Azerbaijan reclaim control over large parts and the military has resorted to violence to placards and chanting slogans denouncing post. “We believe the risks of allowing the of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding control it. On February 25, supporters of the February 1 coup even as the security Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s army) on Facebook areas. Armenian opposition parties and the Myanmar Military took out a march and presence increased and a water-cannon truck and Instagram are too great.” www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Sudan aims for peace and tranquility amid challenges The transitional government under General Abdel-Fatteh Burhan has recently committed to reinforce security, continue economic reforms, support democratic reforms, and looks forward to implement the 2020 Sudanese Peace Agreement shortages and economic difficulties for By Himanshu Sharma ◆ Sudan. A State of Emergency was declared @_Himansh_ in seven provinces in this month following violence and arson. Rise in food prices, [email protected] inflation in the prices of fuel and basic necessities, and currency difficulties have n April 2019, Sudan’s 30-year-old triggered unrest in several parts of Sudan. I regime of President Omar al-Bashir came to an end after the military ousted it. This followed after difficult economic The transitional government under conditions led to massive protests where General Abdel-Fatteh Burhan has recently demonstrators asked the military to oust the committed to reinforce security, continue long-standing regime. economic reforms, support democratic reforms, and looks forward to implement the 2020 Sudanese Peace Agreement. Following an agreement in August 2019, a Transitional Military Council (TMC) was set up to administer till a new government The Peace Agreement itself is very complex is elected in November, 2022. It consisted and encompasses long standing problems of 11 members with 5 representatives each such as the anti-Khartoum movements, from the military and the protestors group- severe differences between various groups, Forces of Freedom and Change. The interim military’s overarching influence in domestic administration just completed the swearing governance, etc. in ceremony of a new Cabinet this month. The agreement is further complicated by PC : Getty Images But Sudan continues to see challenges several complex issues to provide justice to the victims in the past administration. After to overall stability. In the 2019 August restarted after the US removed Sudan challenges before a safe and secure transition the withdrawal of the UN unit at Darfur, agreement between demonstrators and from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. to democratic process can be made. communal violence ensued early this year. the Junta government, it was decided that Last month, the previous Secretary of the The TMC will look to manoeuvre through a comprehensive Peace Agreement with Treasury announced a $1.2billion loan to The good news is that it has regained the these issues to settle some of them before troubled provinces including rebel groups clear immediate Sudanese loans with the support of Western countries and the passing the baton next year. will be a part of it. It would also cater IMF opening further avenues of investment. Gulf. And the situations though volatile to the formation of a new Constitution The UK and the UAE have also committed in some regions are under control. The and government structures including the Inflation has creeped upwards last year, significant economic support for the new TMC must look to expedite the Peace Legislative and the Judiciary. and economic difficulties have followed the administration. Agreement to bestow further support for removal of subsidies on basic resources. its regime and accelerate the healing for In 2020, the pandemic has triggered food Although foreign economic support has The new Sudanese government faces multiple the soul of Sudan. Augmented chances of Iranian proxy attacks on the northern Iraq Energy and Erbil Centre the PKK. But Turkey will not be alone in of Action (JCPOA), limiting the number of ◆ By NDT Bureau this possible offensive and in any event of the airstrikes on Iraqi militants. During the @NewDelhiTimes an attack on the PKK, it will most probably administration of Ex-President Donald Trump, be joined by the Kurdistan Democratic Party the red lines which were imposed by the US [email protected] (KDP) under the leadership of the Barzani previously were no longer enforced, such as the clan, a close ally of the Turks who have been energy security and the security of international ran may be on the path of a proxy war assisting Turkey in its offensive against the shipping, while Iran continued to carry out as its action suggest. 15th February, PC : Getty Images I PKK in recent months. attacks with little or no US retaliation during 2021, saw 107mm rockets or Fajr-1 rockets, September 2019. Such attacks have continued manufactured by Iran flying across the sky Turkey is reported to have deployed to be carried out by Iran under the Biden with its target on Erbil Airport. The attack paratroopers in the region of Gara, Northern administration too but none have caused so much caused the death of one non-US Contractor Iraq, through helicopter drop in an attempt damage as the Abqaiq attack of 2019. The Trump and left several other contractors injured to push back the PKK away from its borders current conditions prevailing between the administration did retaliate with a heavy hand including a US serviceperson. The same which will allow them to secure their interest US and Iran, we can observe a few things when a US contractor was killed back on 27th attack also caused damages to a nearby in the Northern Iraq and Syria. It is apparent or highlights. December, 2019, unleashing a series of airstrikes Mercedes dealership. that Turkey views the Kurdish separatist as a against Iraqi Kataib Hizbullah Shia Militants in Turkey used Gara Raid as an excuse or front threat which it needs to deal with as soon as to attack Sinjar, which increased the chances of The culprit of the heinous attack is believed Iraq, which managed to kill about 25 people. possible to secure its national security. Iranian-backed proxy attacks on Turkish forces to be an Iranian-backed group known as the On 3rd January, 2020 using a UAV or an in Iraq, the recent military exchanges between Guardians of Blood Brigade that claimed it Iran may be trying to deter Turkey and Unmanned Ariel Vehicle, the US managed to the US and Iran have reduced the prospect had fired 24 rounds of Iranian manufactured highlight the risk and cost of such ambitions eliminate Commander Qassem Soleimani of of a possible US-Iran negotiation to reach an Fajr-1 rockets. Also, back on 14th February, through the recent proxy attacks, but the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) agreement on disarmament. Also, Iran might a group believed to be a front for the IRGC this may in turn create a backlash wave, Qods Force (QF) as well as the Deputy think that the recent US response or retaliation or Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, known to strengthening Turkey’s goal of securing its Head of the Popular Mobilisation Units Abu may be meek and mistake it for weakness and have previously carried out attacks on the US borders and handling its unfinished business Mahdi al-Muhandis. Such heavy retaliation cause it to further carry out attacks against troops back in Iraq, also claimed responsibility with the Kurdish separatist. This is why an by the previous administration is not making the US, which may lead to a direct exchange for attacks on a Turkish Army base in Mosul. increased risk of attacks is expected on the the task for the Biden Administration between the two sides. At the same time a direct energy infrastructure in Dohuk as well as smooth regarding negotiation and talk with and heavy attack by the US targeting Iranian The gradual rise in attacks by Iranian backed on Erbil Airport along with the pipelines Iran, but at the same time, the US cannot backed militants, may deter the Iranian from terrorist outfits suggests an alarming risk to connecting Kurdish oil into Turkey. the energy infrastructure as well as to the allow Iran to be let off the hook so easily carrying out any further attacks or provocation Erbil Airport in the coming months ahead. In On the other hand, the US is also caught in in order to gain some leverage and support against the US. Iran and the US announced that the recent past, Turkey has been persistently a pickle, trying to re-establish the “red line” over the commencement of the US-Iran they are committed to reaching an agreement pointing its guns towards the region of while at the same time trying to achieve negotiations. As such limited airstrikes towards disarmament process and sets a timeline Sinjar, the last remaining area under the its state objective of re-establishing and targeting Shia Militants seem to be the most for negotiations, indicating the US willingness to control of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party or strengthening the Joint Comprehensive Plan likely course of action for the US. Under the enter into negotiations.

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International NEW DELHI TIMES How will Joe Biden address the problem of Mexican drug cartels? To curb the issue, Joe Biden might like to increase coordination and cooperation between the US and Mexican agencies in the room called the Gun-Control laws. ◆ By NDT Bureau The topic has been extremely controversial @NewDelhiTimes in the US where the “Right of the people to keep and bear arms” was added by the 2nd [email protected] amendment to the law.

n the last days of the Trump era, drug While the amendment protects the right I cartels intensified illicit activities from infringement, gun violence in the US across the 1900 miles Southern land border has created a significant support base to PC : Getty Images of Mexico and the US. It is a known fact that curb the free availability of guns. This, if most of the illegal drugs flooding the US implemented, can also curb significantly the markets sneak their way from Mexico. The huge illegal trade of high power arms. Most narcotics market is such a lucrative one that of the trade relies on Central and Southern it has led to the creation of multiple cartels American citizens of the US buying guns competing against each other in the border from the original owners who don’t require states of Mexico. This results in an unending either a background check to buy arms or series of violence. permission to sell firearms to others.

It is not as if the trade is one-way only. Another long-term approach to comprehensively Weapons responsible for regular violent sophisticated arms from the vast US gun military solutions to further prod the issue. deal with the issue, in the long run, will wars between drug-trafficking organizations markets. Signs of this are apparent after an executive depend on the success of Anti-Drug are mostly sourced from the United States order rescinded Trump’s Emergency order campaigns in the US. The programs running taking advantage of its lax regulations on In 2019, Mexico claimed that over 2 million and re-directed funds diverted for the for the rehabilitation of addicts and education automatic guns. This completes the cycle of weapons entered illegally in the last decade Border Wall. Biden aides argue that the about narcotics need to be focused on. Only the North and South movement of drugs and and almost half are still not recovered. administration is looking to permanently the reduction in the demand for narcotics guns respectively. The means of smuggling goods to and fro, end the construction. It is imperative to note in the US will deter the cartels to look for between the US and Mexico, are vastly that almost the 2/3rd stretch intended to be innovative ways to continue the risky but Drugs mostly entering the US markets illegally numerous. There is no easy or permanent constructed has already been completed. highly lucrative trade of drugs. constitute cocaine, methamphetamine, and solution to this issue, however, some heroin. While AK-47, AR-15, and even the regulations can be adopted. To curb the issue, Joe Biden might like Every year, many precious lives are ruined 0.50 caliber sniper rifles are sought after by to increase coordination and cooperation due to narcotics addiction, and violence warring gangs for furthering their control. Trump’s approach to containing the issue by between the US and Mexican agencies. across the southern border claims many The north-eastern zone of Tamaulipas was building lofty walls and further militarizing Given the new National Security Law in lives. An effective approach addressing sanctioned by the US State Department last the border failed to show any meaningful Mexico which makes it mandatory for the US multiple facets of the illegal drug trade year as a disturbed zone under Tier 4 in an results. Now, the new Biden administration to share intelligence with Mexican agencies, starting from its supply, logistics, demand, advisory to travelers. Infighting among rival has a lofty challenge. It is certain that Joe there is a requirement to revisit the issue to and various US regulations needs to be groups has kept law-enforcement agencies Biden is not a big fan of the Trumpian wall. address some security concerns. Further, revisited by the new administration to break on their toes. These cartels purchase modern Neither is he likely to risk costly ineffective Biden might want to address the elephant the cycle of drugs and arms. Gara Operations of Turkey promote armed conflict and terrorist attacks in northern Iraq Turkey, even without the KRG support, may launch an offensive to weaken the PKK in Sinjar, incentivizing the PKK and pro-Iranian PMUs to be a part of forces on Gara as a platform for future attacks on ◆ By NDT Bureau Sinjar through a quick aerial attack as the @NewDelhiTimes region’s terrain is unfordable for a ground attack which may help the current Turkish [email protected] government gain political support ahead of the possibly early election of Turkey. This urkish government troops launched an will increase the chances of Iranian-backed T operation on February 10, in the Gara proxy attacks and the PKK attacks on the area of northern Iraq, nearly 40 kilometres Turkish forces in Iraq. south of the Turkish border, against the Kurdish forces of the Partîya Karkerên Turkey, even without the KRG support, may Kurdistanê (PKK) militant group. launch an offensive to weaken the PKK in Sinjar, incentivizing the PKK and pro- PC : Getty Images 48 PKK fighters and three Turkish soldiers Iranian PMUs to be a part of forces. While were killed during the fighting. 13 Turkish thirteen Turkish soldiers and cops and affiliated groups, particularly targeting the US continues to give political support soldiers and police officers captured between kill or capture the PKK commanders, security forces in south-eastern Turkey. to Turkey in its efforts to fight the PKK in 2015 and 2017 were also executed by the Murat Karayılan and Duran Kalkan, who High chances of Turkish nationals being Iraq and Syria, which points towards closer PKK. Turkish President Recep Tayyip apparently was supposed to be in Gara for kidnapped in Sulaymaniyah exist, which cooperation with the US against Iran and Erdoğan vowed, on February 16, to extend a meeting. The PKK however seems to have is controlled by the Patriotic Union of Russia. After seizing Sinjar, Turkish its operations against the PKK. been aware of the ongoing operation against Kurdistan (PUK) which does not consider forces chose to withdraw from the region it and cancelled the meeting. The US seem the PKK as a terrorist group. The PKK being replaced by Iraqi government forces The military support of the Kurdistan to have given the Turkish forces the green attacks on pipelines and other energy sides and Iranian-backed PMU militants, rather Regional Government (KRG) and the light to conduct its operation as indicated by in the provinces of Dahuk and Erbil, Iraq’s than staying and fighting, indicating that United States (US) for Turkey raises the the use of F16 fighter planes and sorties to Kurdistan regions is also a matter of concern. Turkey and Iran may have reached an probability of attacks by the PKK and the bombard the area. Pro-Iranian PMUs may also pose a threat to agreement and are not dealing with the pro-Iranian Popular Mobilisation Units the US interest in northern Iraq in order to PKK anymore. (PMUs) on KRG, the US, and Turkish The PKK is expected to retaliate by targeting pressurise the US and Turkey. properties in Iraq. Turkish Defence Minister the Kurdish regional government, Peshmerga The joint military offensive of the Kurdish Hulusi Akar visited Baghdad and Erbil in and Turkish troops, diplomatic buildings, Turkey’s offensive against the PKK Regional and Iraqi government forces late January after which the Turkish side and other commercial establishments and in northern Iraq is likely to continue, against the PMU and the PKK forces as per began its Gara Operations. The Turkish infrastructures. Likewise, there is also an prolonging the armed conflict. It may be that the agreement of the Sinjar pact, decreases operation aimed to rescue the kidnapped increased chance of attacks by the PKK Turkey wishes to use its current offensive the chance of Turkey’s involvement. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

1 - 7 March 2021 7

International NEW DELHI TIMES Attack on Italian Ambassador highlights the fragile situation in the DRC The ambush marks the first time a foreign diplomat has been killed in the DRC, while most militants have previously carried out attacks against non-governmental organization (NGO) workers and their vehicles organization (NGO) workers and their ◆ By NDT Bureau vehicles. Since the year 2018, most of @NewDelhiTimes the terrorist and insurgency center (JTIC) attacks against the NGO sector have [email protected] involved attempted or successful abduction. Half of these attacks have been occurring in nidentified armed assailants killed the the province of Nord-Kivu. U Italian Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Luca Attanasio, along On December 16, 2018, when unidentified with an Italian carabinieri police officer and assailants killed a WFP driver in Loashi, their Congolese driver, during an ambush on near Masisi town in North Kivu province, it a United Nations convoy near Kanyamahoro was the last recorded attack by such a non- city, north of Goma, in the DRC’s province state armed group targeting a UN agency. of North Kivu on February 22. Two other In the neighboring Sud-Kivu province, unidentified persons were also wounded. on November 3, 2020, unidentified armed The Ambassador and the police officer were assailants abducted three Oxfam employees traveling in a vehicle belonging to the World in Abonyi, Fizi territory. Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations. They were traveling from Goma to visit a The failed abduction was followed by the PC : Getty Images school feeding project of the WFP in Rutshuru, killing on January 10, of six park rangers exploitation, the ethnocultural orientation may have been known to the perpetrators of noting that the road had previously been in an assault on their patrol in Nyamitwitwi of different groups operating in North Kivu the attack. cleared for travel without any safety escorts. in Virunga National Park. These attacks province, including Mai-Mai militants, thus The United Nations convoy was hijacked and were suspected to be the responsibility of appears to be the motivating factors for It is also uncertain if the attackers were aware taken into the bush by the attackers, and an unidentified alleged Mai-Mai militants. The non-state armed groups to attack outsiders that the road had previously been cleared for exchange of gunfire broke out when the Army place where the attack took place, Virunga whom they may view as natural resource travel without any security, or how efficient and park guards responded to the attack. No National Park, is an important economic and competitors. their intelligence gathering capability is. party has taken responsibility as of yet. social region. During an attack in Rutshuru The ambush, however, emphasizes the on February 17, 2018, four employees of the Based on the indiscriminate and intermittent objectives of non-state armed groups The ambush marks the first time a foreign French NGO Hydraulics Without Borders existence of previous attacks against the operating in the province to carry out attacks diplomat has been killed in the DRC, while were kidnapped by alleged Mai-Mai Nyatura NGO convoys in the province, and the fact against government and NGO personnel or most militants have previously carried militants. In conjunction with the potential that no foreign diplomats were killed in the targets they consider to jeopardize their hold out attacks against non-governmental financial benefits through natural resource DRC before, the identity of the Ambassador on territorial and natural resources. Indian Muslims must not fall for BiP App An app whose privacy policies and ownership details are yet to be clarified on a global level must certainly be installed carefully information on its origin and the privacy ◆ By NDT Bureau policies. @NewDelhiTimes Needless to mention that the Turkish [email protected] President projects himself as a world leader of Muslims and nurtures a hidden desire to W hatsApp recently made some significant bring back the Islamic Caliphate. Given the changes to the way it manages user fact that another attempt at establishing the data. Once a person (having business Islamic State by terrorist group ISIS resulted account) chooses to accept the new Privacy in lot of bloodshed and innumerable loss of Policy, it will be an agreement to share a Muslim lives, the app must be reconsidered portion of his/her data with Facebook. before use.

Since their announcement, WhatsApp An app whose privacy policies and has been getting a heavy backlash from ownership details are yet to be clarified on WhatsApp users all around the world. a global level must certainly be installed Amidst the grave outrage on social media, carefully. There can be many vested many audiences decided to abandon the interests behind the development of the app. messaging applications and shifted to other The users of the app may be exploited by the alternate applications, including Telegram, PC : Getty Images masters at later stage for their own benefits. Signal, and BiP. All those alternative Whatever the outcome may be, the end user applications offer similar features and widespread popularity amongst Muslims The first and foremost point of focus is the is bound to suffer. functionality. owing to its origin in Turkey. The BiP app control of a leading Turkish mobile operator is increasing its user base with every passing over the app. Secondly, the mass migration The Indian Muslims must not fall for the The BiP app is one such application software day. Turkish top institutions, including the of Turkish administration including the trap created in the BiP app like other Muslim that helps to send messages and activate Turkish Presidency and Defence Ministry, President from WhatsApp to BiP. countries are falling. The data of Indian calls to their friends and family. The BiP moved their WhatsApp groups to BiP. In Muslim users can be breached anytime, app claimed itself as a secure, and easy- Google Play Store, BiP now ranks first in The minute details available about the app which could push them into colossal trouble. to-use communication platform available Muslim countries like Bangladesh, Bahrain, shows that the Turkish government is having There are chances that their data can be used for free. However, the BiP application in Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, etc. It a backdoor control over the functioning of by the extremist organization which would reality, is a Turkish messaging platform has been downloaded over 65 million times the app. And if a foreign government is eventually put them on the radar of Indian based on BiP AS, created by the Turkcell in total. involved in running a particular app, it is a intelligence agencies/law enforcement İletişim Hizmetleri A.Ş., a leading mobile matter of grave concern for every Indian, agencies. They can further be subjected operator in Turkey. The developer of Two aspects of the BiP must be analysed by especially Muslims, as the application to fraudulent bank activities as well for the rich messaging app BiP has gained every Muslim before arriving at a decision. is getting popularity without real time extortion by criminals.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 8 1 - 7 March 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Rich Muslims seldom send their kids to Madrassas: It’s time to invest in scientific education system One cannot neglect that affluent Muslims seldom send their children to the madrassas because they hardly find these emancipatory in the politico-economic sense in the politico-economic sense. It is a widely ◆ By NDT Bureau known fact that the madrassa system lacks @NewDelhiTimes dynamism and reduces pupils’ competitive ability by training them for a particular field [email protected] called theology with least or zero focus on scientific education. M adrassa education system has always been a matter of discussion and debate There is no denying the fact that theology has within the Indian context. Many Muslims less role to play when it comes to practicality foster differing views regarding its nature and competition for job security; therefore, and functioning. There is no escape from the it squeezes down career opportunities. fact that this system requires diversification concerning its curriculum and functioning To conclude, the madrassa system requires mode. However, the diversification process an overall assessment. Further, there is a is equally difficult as it requires resources; requirement to study the madrassa system the more excellent financial assistance; and its contemporary challenges thoroughly. community efforts and inclusivity regarding

PC : Getty Images : Getty PC Indian Muslims need to address these modern sciences and linguistics. challenges by setting up new educational inclusivity, and progressive outlook Muslims are facing today. The madrassa institutions based on formal system of The stringency in the madrassa system’s and attracted far more students than the system has always lacked a progressive education. approach emanated from the threat felt from madrassas. Over the years this stagnancy economic vision, and their students lack the spread of western-styled educational has even more entrenched given the rapid essential training and skills so that they Islam has always given importance to curriculum. The introduction of English as progression and development of the society. could enter into the formal job market. education. In the past, Muslims witnessed the medium of instruction further alarmed Only those students could enter the formal great scientists, doctors, engineers, the madrassas that they may lose hold The affluent Muslim class always enjoyed market spaces who shifted from madrassas architects, etc., from amongst themselves. on the Muslim community, funding and better options available for education and to colleges and universities and become This has come down drastically with the decrease in enrolment. With the passage economic progression. The madrassas equipped for the job market. advent of modern ages owing to absolute of time, madrassas became more explicit were left for the poor who could never reliance on age old madrassa system and in their objective and inflexible about their imagine sending their children to English One cannot neglect that affluent Muslims failure to move towards the modern scientific world view. On the other hand, the modern schools. This reality even finds relevancy seldom send their children to the madrassas education system. Therefore, diversification education system brought in the diversity, today, given the lack of financial resources because they hardly find these emancipatory is a timely requirement. Wahiduddin Khan and Zafarul Islam Khan: A classic case of peaceful approach vs radicalization Prime Minister of India, the Dilli Gaurav of people at 35 different places on the way ◆ By NDT Bureau Award- presented by the Chief Minister from Mumbai to Nagpur. This Shanti Yatra @NewDelhiTimes of Delhi, the FIE Foundation Award, the contributed significantly to the return of Urdu Academy Award, the Aruna Asaf Ali peace in the country. All the communities [email protected] Sadbhavna Award and the National Citizen’s are respecting him because of his gentle Award- presented by Mother Teresa. He was approach and his ways of achieving peace. ahiduddin Khan is a person of great recently conferred with the Sayyidina Imam He projected Islam as a peaceful religion by W stature. He always stood for the Al Hassan Ibn Ali Peace Award (2015) in propagating peaceful means of resolution to greatest good of the society. He has been Abu Dhabi and the Life Time Achievement different societal issues, which actually is the messenger of peace and harmony. He Award by the Islamic Society of North the quintessence of Islam. first came under the limelight when he America (ISNA) Chicago in September gave Muslims a clarion call to relinquish On the contrary, his son Zafarul Islam Khan 2015. The recent book, ‘The 500 Most claims over the disputed Babri Masjid site, became the talk of the town since he made Influential Muslims of 2009’ by Georgetown one of the first community leaders to make a post on Facebook using terms like “hate University, Washington DC, has named father. His radical ideas have landed him it. He embraced Gandhian principles and campaigns, lynching and riots” by what him “Islam’s Spiritual Ambassador to the in trouble. From being a son of a Padma considered non-violence as the only way he called “Hindutva bigots”. These posts world.” His approach, the book points out, Bhushan awardee to the person charged to achieve peace. The Centre for Peace and not only increased hatred amongst the is “popular among Indians, both Muslim and with sedition, everything happened because Spirituality (CPS), established in 2001, is communities but also projected India in a non-Muslim.” of his hard-line approach. Contrary to meant to encourage and develop a peaceful bad light, internationally. Instead of using the teachings of his father, Zafarul Islam culture in India. He was conferred with the the proper channel available in India, Khan Khan gave statements having potential to He has authored over 200 books on Islam, Padma Bhushan- the highest civilian award thanked Kuwait for its support for Indian foment hatred and create enmity between prophetic wisdom, spirituality and peaceful in India, for his overall contribution to peace Muslims and also threatened to ask for communities. While Maulana Wahiduddin co-existence in a multi-ethnic society, the and other aspects. He is an acclaimed peace support from the international community Khan believed in peaceful approach and most recent being ‘The Prophet of Peace: contributor not only at the national but also for the Indian Muslims. A challenge clearly dialogue, Zafarul Islam Khan preferred the The Teachings of Prophet Muhammad’. at the international level. against the unity and integrity of the nation. more radical approach. He has predominantly supported the peace In response, the Delhi Police charged Khan process and has always given priority to The story of Maulana Wahiduddin Khan and Besides Padma Bhushan, he is also a with sedition under Section 124A of the national and international unity, mainly his son Zafarul Islam Khan throws light on recipient of many other awards like the Indian Penal Code. Zafarul Islam Khan through interfaith harmony and preached a very important aspect of life- one can be Demiurgus Peace International Award, apologised for the post later. However, the religious tolerance. For instance, when the the progeny of a person with an exceptional the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna question remained- why is there a stark Babri Masjid demolition happened, there rich past, but it will definitely get him/her in Award, and the National Citizen’s Award. contrast between the father and the son? Some of the other awards presented to him were bloody communal riots throughout the trouble if he/she deviates from the peaceful are the National Integration Award, the country, he was in favour of establishing His views have been different from that of ways. Showing dissent is okay, but it must Communal Harmony Award, the Diwaliben peace. He went on a 15-day Shanti Yatra his father. He is considered to be a radical not take you away from the ambit of law Mohan Lal Mehta Award- presented by (peace march) through Maharashtra along Muslim having hard opinions about various and peaceful approach. Striking the right the former President of India, the National with Acharya Muni Sushil Kumar and aspects of Muslim life in India. His views balance is always better for improving this Amity Award- presented by the former Swami Chidanand, addressing large groups have taken a hard-line approach, unlike his world and hereafter. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES What should be the intended use for Zakat funds? “Zakat is for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect (Zakat). And for those whose hearts will be brought together and for those in debt - an obligation by Allah And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (9:60)

◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes [email protected]

akat is an obligatory ordeal for affluent Z Muslims to pay from their bank balance, grains, silver and gold to different organizations and people who collect it. Core purpose of giving Zakat is to help those who are in need and to contribute towards the overall development of the society.

It’s a means to help the poor without burdening the government of the day. If one takes a close look at the categories of Zakat beneficiaries and the eligibility criteria, it can be safely said that Zakat cannot be used for funding extremist activities and must be used for overall development of Muslims.

Muslims, the largest minority who make up approximately 14.2% of India’s 1.25-billion population, contributes a significant portion

to the overall GDP of India. For the full year PC : Getty Images of 2020-21, India’s GDP is likely to be Rs. 134.4 lakh crore as against Rs. 145.7 lakh amount is generated in terms of Zakat every multiplied manifold.” (30:39) develop a proper mechanism for collection crore in 2019-20. Even if a fraction of this year than there is no dream than cannot be of Zakat and use it for the overall amount is attributed to Muslims than the achieved for Muslims, be it establishment of Islam says that giving Zakat does not reduce development of the Muslims with special amount in figures would be in trillions. educational institutions or creating jobs at the wealth of a Muslim but ultimately it focus on scientific modern education. They Again, based upon the Islamic teachings local level. will increase their wealth, happiness and should plan to assist their government mandating Zakat, if 2.5% of this amount contentment. financially and in other fields so that the is calculated than the actual figures would “As for the Zakah that you give, seeking inclusion of Muslims in modern society is be in billions. Now imagine, if this much with it Allah’’s good pleasure, that is Given the fact, it is important for Muslims to streamlined. UK Supreme Court rules that UN Commissioner for Human Shamima Begum who joined Rights Michelle Bachelet talks of Islamic State cannot return the plight of women in Pakistan ◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes [email protected]

he Supreme Court of United Kingdom T has ruled that Shamima Begum, who joined the Islamic State as a teen, cannot return to the country. Shamima Begum left the UK aged 15 to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria. Her intention to return to the UK in 2019 resulted in a public debate about the handling of returning jihadists. In February 2019, the British government issued an order revoking PC : Getty Images her British citizenship, later stating that she about their own lives; excessive maternal would never be allowed to return. ◆ By NDT Bureau mortality; poverty, and high levels of violence and sexual violence against In July 2020, however, the Court of Appeal @NewDelhiTimes women and girls. Last year, CEDAW found ruled that Begum should be permitted to [email protected] “persistent discriminatory stereotypes" and return to the UK so that she could fairly expressed concern at the prevalence of child contest this decision by instructing lawyers uring her oral update before the 46th marriage and forced marriage, as well as so- properly. This ruling was appealed to the D Session of the United Nations Human called “honour” based crimes. Supreme Court which, on 26 February 2021, Rights Council, the United Nations UN ruled unanimously against her, reversing the Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Women from religious minority decision of the Court of Appeal. Bachelet talked about the sordid plight communities are particularly vulnerable of women, including the threat of forced to forced marriage accompanied by forced The President of the Supreme Court, Lord conversion and forced marriage faced by conversion”. Robert Reed, said that the UK Court of women of the minority community. Appeal made four errors last year when it The UN High Commissioner also urged ruled that Begum should be allowed to return should prevail over other competing rights. Bachelet remarked: “In Pakistan, the Pakistan to support and protect women to the UK to carry out her appeal. According "The right to a fair hearing does not trump unequal status of women continues to result human rights defenders and journalists who to Reed, the Court of Appeal was mistaken all other considerations such as the safety of in widespread denial of their rights, from are at the forefront of efforts to promote in ruling that Begum's right to a fair hearing the public," Reed said. education to the right to make decisions legal and societal change.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 10 1 - 7 March 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Ties with Saudis South Korea starts vaccinating, Amnesty report at stake as US but people over 65 must wait describes Axum outh Korea administered its first COVID-19 when the country will be chiefly massacre in releases findings S coronavirus vaccines to people at dependent on locally produced Oxford- long-term care facilities, launching a mass AstraZeneca vaccines during the early part Ethiopia’s Tigray on killing immunization campaign that authorities of its vaccination campaign. hope will restore some level of normalcy by oldiers from Eritrea systematically Despite what the government sees as a lack he United States has pledged to tell the end of the year. S killed “many hundreds” of people, the of laboratory data on its efficacy in older T the world its conclusions on what role large majority men, in a massacre in late The rollout comes at a critical time for adults, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is Saudi Arabia’s crown prince played in the November in the Ethiopian city of Axum, the country, which has seen its hard-won still showing real-world effectiveness in brutal killing and dismembering of a U.S.- Amnesty International says in a new report, gains against the virus get wiped out by a preventing serious illnesses and lowering based journalist, but as important is what echoing the findings of an Associated Press winter surge and is struggling to mitigate death rates in the countries where it was comes next — what the Biden administration story last week and citing more than 40 the pandemic’s economic impact. Yet used, experts say. People over 80 account plans to do about it. witnesses. it also comes with controversy over the for just 5% of the country’s coronavirus government’s decision to delay inoculating cases, but 56% of its virus-related deaths, Crucially, the head of the government- people older than 65. Jung said. established Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Daniel Bekele, says the “I felt very anxious over the past year, but The vaccinations began as South Korea Amnesty findings “should be taken I feel more secure now after receiving the reported another 406 new infectionson very seriously.” The commission’s own vaccine,” said Lee Gyeong-soon, a nursing February 26, brining its total for the preliminary findings “indicate the killing of home worker, who got her shot at a public pandemic to 88,922, including 1,585 deaths. an as yet unknown number of civilians by health center in northern Seoul. More than Health Ministry official Son Young-rae said Eritrean soldiers” in Axum, its statement said. The Amnesty report on what might be the deadliest massacre of Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict describes the soldiers gunning down civilians as they fled, lining up men and shooting them in the back, rounding PC : AP Photo AP PC : up “hundreds, if not thousands” of men for beatings and refusing to allow those grieving to bury the dead. Over a period of about 24 hours, “Eritrean Ahead of the release of the declassified soldiers deliberately shot civilians on the U.S. intelligence report, and announcement street and carried out systematic house-to- of any U.S. punitive measures, President house searches, extrajudicially executing Joe Biden spoke to Saudi King Salman men and boys,” the report released says. for the first time since taking office more “The massacre was carried out in retaliation than a month ago. It was a later-than-usual Photo AP PC : for an earlier attack by a small number of courtesy call to the Middle East ally, timing local militiamen, joined by local residents 5,260 residents and workers at 213 nursing the start of the campaign was “the historic seen as reflecting Biden’s displeasure. Still, armed with sticks and stones.” a White House readout made no mention of homes, mental health facilities and rehab first step toward restoring normalcy.” Son the killing or the report. centers who are younger than 65 were to said to help create a safe environment for The “mass execution” of Axum civilians receive their first shots of the two-dose vaccinations the government is extending by Eritrean troops may amount to crimes The conversation was overshadowed by the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and current measures on social distancing for at against humanity, the report says, and it expected imminent release of findings on Oxford University. least another two weeks. calls for a United Nations-led international whether the king’s son approved the Oct. 2, investigation and full access to Tigray An unspecified number of patients and Using refrigerated trucks escorted by 2018, killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a critic for human rights groups, journalists and workers at 292 long-term care hospitals police and military vehicles, South of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s humanitarian workers. The region has been and in the same age group will also get the Korea transported 1.57 million doses of authoritarian consolidation of power, largely cut off since fighting began in early vaccine, according to officials at the Korea Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines across the inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. U.S. November. intelligence agencies concluded in 2018 Disease Control and Prevention Agency. country. These shots were produced in that the prince likely ordered the killing, a the southern city of Andong, where local By the end of March, authorities plan to pharmaceutical company SK Bioscience finding reported by news media but never complete injecting the first doses to some officially released. manufactures the vaccines under a contract 344,000 residents and workers at long-term with AstraZeneca. The White House said Biden discussed care settings, who will receive the Oxford- with King Salman the two countries’ AstraZeneca vaccines, and 55,000 frontline Separately, doctors, nurses and other health “longstanding partnership” and welcomed medical workers, who will receive shots professionals treating COVID-19 patients the kingdom’s recent releases of an advocate developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. will begin receiving Pfizer shots. 117,000 doses of that vaccine, which South Korea for women’s rights and some of its other Long-term care facilities, where elders or obtained through the WHO-backed COVAX political detainees. people with serious health problems often program, arrived in the country. The language came in contrast to Biden’s live in crowded settings, have endured the Photo AP PC : pledge as a candidate to make Saudi Arabia worst of South Korea’s outbreak. About 35% South Korea plans to secure enough doses to “a pariah” over the killing. The White House of the country’s COVID-19 deaths by the vaccinate 79 million people this year, well over Ethiopia’s federal government has denied offered no immediate explanation for his end of 2020 were linked to these facilities, its population of 51 million, through bilateral the presence of soldiers from neighboring milder tone with the king. said Jaehun Jung, a professor of preventive negotiations with pharmaceutical companies Eritrea, long an enemy of the Tigray region’s medicine at the Gachon University College now-fugitive leaders, and Eritrea’s government The kingdom’s state-run Saudi Press Agency and COVAX, which was established to of Medicine in Incheon. promote global access to vaccines. dismissed the AP story on the Axum massacre similarly did not mention Khashoggi’s as “outrageous lies.” Eritrea’s Information killing in a report about the call between But there’s criticism over the government’s While there has been disappointment the Minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, said his Biden and King Salman, instead focusing on decision to delay the approval of the shots haven’t come sooner, officials have country “is outraged and categorically rejects regional issues such as Iran and the ongoing Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines for people insisted South Korea could afford a wait- the preposterous accusations” in the Amnesty war in Yemen. over 65 until the developers provide more and-see approach as its outbreak isn’t as dire report. The king and Biden stressed “the depth of data on effectiveness for that age group. The as in the United States or Europe. the relationship between the two countries government has yet to approve any vaccine But even senior members of the Ethiopia- and the importance of strengthening the for people older than 65, but officials have Officials aim to vaccinate more than 70% appointed interim government in Tigray partnership between them to serve their indicated the Pfizer shot could get approved of the population by November, which they have acknowledged the Eritrean soldiers’ interests and achieve security and stability first. hope would meaningfully slow the virus and presence and allegations of widespread reduce risks of economic and social activity. looting and killing. in the region and the world,” the report said. Jung says the decision risks the safety Credit : Associated Press (AP) of people who are most vulnerable to Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

1 - 7 March 2021 11

International NEW DELHI TIMES Medical oxygen scarce in Africa, Latin America amid virus crisis over the supply of medical Only after the lack of oxygen was blamed Femi Odekunle, a Nigerian academic and A oxygen for coronavirus patients has for the deaths of four people at an Egyptian close ally of the President, went without struck nations in Africa and Latin America, hospital in January and six people at one adequate oxygen for nearly 12 days at the where warnings went unheeded at the start in Pakistan in December did governments Abuja University Teaching Hospital until of the pandemic and doctors say the shortage address the problems. two state governors and Ministry of Health has led to unnecessary deaths. officials intervened. He died anyway, and John Nkengasong, director of the Africa relatives and friends blame the oxygen It takes about 12 weeks to install a hospital Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shortage, the Premium Times newspaper oxygen plant and even less time to convert said medical oxygen is a “huge critical need” reported. The hospital attributed his death to industrial oxygen manufacturing systems across the continent of 1.3 billion people and his severe infection. into a medical-grade network. But in Brazil is a main reason that COVID-19 patients are and Nigeria, as well as in less-populous more likely to die there during surges. In Malawi, the President promised funding nations, decisions to fully address inadequate for protective gear for medical workers and Even before the pandemic, sub-Saharan supplies only started being made last month, the immediate purchase of 1,000 oxygen Africa’s 2,600 oxygen concentrators and after hospitals were overwhelmed and cylinders. patients started to die. 69 functioning oxygen plants met less than half the need, leading to preventable Corruption was blamed for defects in a deaths, especially from pneumonia, said Dr. The gap in medical oxygen availability “is new oxygen plant at a hospital in Uganda’s one of the defining health equity issues, I John Adabie Appiah of the World Health

PC : AP Photo AP PC : capital of Kampala, the Daily Monitor Organization. think, of our age,” said Peter Piot, director of newspaper reported. Workers had to rely the London School of Hygiene & Tropical The number of concentrators has grown million, saw its January virus cases increase on rusty oxygen cylinders blamed for the Medicine, who said he survived a severe to about 6,000, mostly from international fivefold, with 75 medical workers infected deaths of at least two patients. coronavirus infection thanks to the oxygen donations, but the oxygen produced isn’t in the first six weeks of 2021. Only then he received. pure enough for the critically ill. The did President Muhammadu Buhari release “While top health officials basked in the number of plants that can generate higher $17 million to set up 38 more oxygen plants oxygen of good publicity, patients were Doctors in Nigeria anxiously monitor concentrations is now at 119. and another $670,000 to repair plants at five literally choking to death,” the newspaper traffic as oxygen deliveries move through hospitals. said. the gridlocked streets of Lagos. Desperate Yet without formal requests from families of patients around the world governments, nearly $20 billion in World Some oxygen suppliers have dramatically Leith Greenslade of the Every Breath sometimes turn to the black market. Bank coronavirus funds for the world’s raised prices, according to a doctor at the Counts Coalition, which advocates for wider Governments take action only after hospitals poorest countries remains unspent so far, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital who access to medical oxygen, said the looming are overwhelmed and the infected die by the organization told The Associated Press. spoke on condition of anonymity because he shortages were apparent last spring. dozens. was not allowed to talk to reporters. That has Nigeria was “struggling to find oxygen to driven up the cost of a cylinder by 10 times, “Very little was done. Now you have a In Brazil’s Amazonas state, a pair of manage cases” in January, said Chikwe to $260 — more than the average monthly second wave, not just in Africa but in Latin swindlers were caught reselling fire Ihekweazu, head of its Centre for Disease wage — and a critically ill patient could America and Asia, and the oxygen shortages extinguishers painted to look like medical Control. need up to four cylinders a day. are becoming at crisis levels,” she said. oxygen tanks. In Peru, people camped out in lines to get cylinders for sick relatives. A main hospital in Lagos, a city of 14.3 Money and influence don’t always help. Credit : Associated Press (AP) Facebook signs pay deals with Hong Kong kicks offCOVID-19

3 Australian news publishers Photo AP PC : acebook announced preliminary vaccinations with F agreements with three Australian publishers, a day after the Parliament passed Sinovac jab a law that would make the digital giants pay for news. ong Kong began administering its first H COVID-19 vaccines to the public, Facebook said letters of intent had been kicking off its program that will eventually signed with independent news organizations Photo AP PC : offer free vaccinations to all 7.5 million Private Media, Schwartz Media and Solstice residents. it has a high efficacy rate and no side-effect.” Media. People age 60 and older and health care Billy Au, a resident in his 60s, had no such The commercial agreements are subject to workers are among the some 2.4 million concerns and was inoculated. the signing of full agreements within the people currently prioritized to receive “I’m never hesitant to receive the vaccination next 60 days, a Facebook statement said. vaccines at community centers and Australian news sites did not appear to be because I believe that there are many outpatient clinics across Hong Kong. The “These agreements will bring a new slate fully restored until. people in China who have received Chinese of premium journalism, including some government said registrations for the first vaccines. I don’t see why I shouldn’t take previously paywalled content, to Facebook,” Google, the only other digital giant targeted two weeks of the program are full. it,” he said. the statement said. by the legislation, has already struck content licensing deals, or is close to deals, with Participants so far will be receiving the A panel of Hong Kong experts said the Schwartz Media chief executive Rebecca some of Australia’s biggest news publishers vaccine by Chinese biopharmaceutical firm efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine after Costello said the deal would help her including Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Sinovac. A million doses arrived in the city two doses, 21 days apart, was 62.3%. In company continue to produce independent and Seven West Media. last week, and Hong Kong leader Carrie contrast, a study in Israel found that the journalism. Lam and other top government officials were two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has 92% Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the vaccinated first in a bid to bolster confidence effectiveness. “It’s never been more important than it new Australian law was critical to the deals in the program. is now to have a plurality of voices in the that Australian media businesses were Hong Kong has since struck deals to buy a Australian press,” Costello said. negotiating with the two gateways to the A poll published in January by the University total of 22.5 million doses of vaccines, with 7.5 million shots each from Sinovac, AstraZeneca Private Media chief executive Will Hayward internet. of Hong Kong found that a majority of and Fosun Pharma, which will deliver the said the new deal built on an existing respondents in the city concerned about the Under the law, if a platform can’t reach Chinese vaccine’s efficacy. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to the city. Facebook partnership. agreement with a news business, an The government has so far approved the arbitration panel can be appointed to set a “I don’t think I’ll get the vaccine for the time Australia’s Parliament had passed the final Sinovac and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. legally binding price for journalism. being. I’ll take a wait-and-see approach,” amendments to the so-called News Media The first million doses of the Pfizer- said Ken Cheung, a Hong Kong resident. Bargaining Code. “Global tech giants are changing the world, BioNTech vaccine had been slated to arrive In return for the changes, Facebook agreed but we can’t let them run the world,” “I would like to see if others experience but was delayed by export procedures, the to lift a six-day-old ban on Australians Morrison told reporters. any side-effects after the injection. I’ll only government said in a statement. accessing and sharing news. Access to Credit : Associated Press (AP) consider the vaccine only when I’m sure that Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Art & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES Shiv Becomes Pre Teen A Poem by Shri Nana Many Many Cheers both of which he can do so very well Dadi and Bua as his teen time flows. for Shiv starting his pre- Teen Years, without any blemish. A family guy for sure Such is our fond hope and blessing He has joined the Pre Teen Town Shiv has learnt to dance who spends quality time with Shiv will grow to be another Ten Zing wearing his tenth Birthday Crown. on the stage enjoying home life who climbed Mount Everest in one go It is a dapper start to his creative talent of which he would like more and more. and still did not blow He has learnt to be the rage. Shiv as a social person himself off his feet. to play the drums He has done well is fun to watch Today, his name is used He loves to be better than all his chums. in his studies for naming many a street. the Man of the Match. Shiv is growing taller in which he has to Such is the House of Fame He is an endearing soul each time he lights a new candle compete with his class buddies. which should also be Shiv's desire a Champion in many fields on his birthday cake He is learning three languages as he enters his new time zone, running, skating, English, Hindi and French the ring on his cell phone which if he wants to Chess and Swimming he has learnt even to make In these he wants to be the This is a wonderful beginning. beckons him to move on as he sometimes likes to bake. best on the bench. Will the going be good for him sturdy and sure in his step He has his football He is great pals with Abir, This depends on his talent and hard work smiling all the time and cycling to cherish, Papa, Mummy, Nana, Nani His love of labor will grow as he heads towards his prime. Dutch poet declines Dear Sir or Madam: Paul McCartney Author-editor assignment to translate memoir due out in November Nadja Spiegelman Gorman’s works writer who was chosen to translate to edit new literary A American poet Amanda Gorman’s work into Dutch has handed back the magazine assignment following criticism that a white uthor and editor Nadja Spiegelman author was selected to translate the words A is heading a new literary magazine of a Black woman who is the youngest that will highlight writing from around the inaugural poet in U.S. history. world. Astra Quarterly will likely release its Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, who last year first issue later this year. became the youngest writer to win the “It feels like the ideal moment for a International Booker Prize with her novel Photo AP PC : publication whose primary focus is on “The Discomfort of Evening,” announced international literature. There is a growing the decision in a Twitter post. awareness that America is not the center aul McCartney is finally ready to write projects as Barry Miles’ biography “Paul of the world, that reading widely is vital to P his memoirs, and will use music — and McCartney: Many Years From Now,” and all of us,” Spiegelman told The Associated a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet — to help the 1990s documentary and book “The Press. guide him. Beatles Anthology.” The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards has been equally open about “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” will himself, but his 2010 memoir “Life” still be released Nov. 2, according to a joint sold millions of copies. announcement from the British publisher PC : AP Photo AP PC : Allen Lane and from Liveright in the United No Beatle has written a standard, full- States. fledged account of his life. Lennon published two works of stories, poems and drawings McCartney, 78, will trace his life through 154 and was considered the most gifted with songs, from his teens and early partnership words, but he was murdered in 1980, at with fellow Beatle John Lennon to his solo age 40. Ringo Starr’s “Another Day In the work over the past half century. Irish poet Life” is centered on photographs and quotes, Paul Muldoon is editing and will contribute A Dutch translation of “The Hill We Climb,” because, the drummer has said, a traditional an introduction. the poem Gorman recited to wide acclaim memoir would require multiple volumes. Photo AP PC : at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe “More often than I can count, I’ve been George Harrison, who died of cancer in Biden, was scheduled to be released at the asked if I would write an autobiography, but 2001, issued the scrapbook/retrospective “I, “Technology has led to the rise of a end of March by publisher Meulenhoff. the time has never been right,” McCartney Me, Mine” in 1980. multilingual, multicultural class of readers said in a statement. “I am shocked by the uproar around my According to McCartney’s publishers, his and writers, all of whom are in conversation involvement in the dissemination of Amanda “The one thing I’ve always managed to do, songs will be arranged alphabetically, and with one another. Astra Quarterly hopes to Gorman’s message, and I understand people whether at home or on the road, is to write will include McCartney’s comments on be read in Mexico City or Lagos as much as who feel hurt by the choice of Meulenhoff to new songs. I know that some people, when when and where they were written and what in New York or Paris.” ask me,” said Rijneveld, who writes poetry they get to a certain age, like to go to a diary inspired them. The U.S. edition of the book Spiegelman most recently served as online as well as novels. to recall day-to-day events from the past, but will be broken into two volumes, contained editor of The Paris Review. She has also I have no such notebooks. What I do have within a single box. written the memoir “I’m Supposed to Protect Meulenhoff general director Maaike le are my songs, hundreds of them, which I’ve “Presented with this is a treasure trove You from All This,” and such illustrated Noble said in a statement that the publisher learned serve much the same purpose. And of material from McCartney’s personal works as “Lost in NYC” and the upcoming wants to learn from the experience. these songs span my entire life.” archive- drafts, letters, photographs- “Blancaflor.” “We are going to look for a team to Financial terms for “The Lyrics,” which never seen before, which make this also a cooperate with to translate Amanda’s words has a list price of $100, were not disclosed. unique visual record of one of the greatest Astra Quarterly will be released through and message of hope and inspiration as well Publishers have long sought a McCartney songwriters of all time,” according to the Astra Publishing House, which announced as possible and in her spirit,” Le Noble said. memoir, even though he has spoken often announcement. the new, English-language publication. Credit : Associated Press (AP) about the past and has participated in such Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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THIS DAY | THAT YEAR | NEW DELHI TIMES

March 1, 2002

The peseta was discontinued as the official currency of Spain and was replaced with the Euro (€) on this day, that year.

March 2, 1969 Dmitri Shostakovich completed his 14th Symphony on this day that year

March 3, 2019 SpaceX's Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station during its demonstration run on this day that year.

March 4, 2019

Canadian Minister Jane Philpott resigned in protest at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's and the government's handling of a scandal involving bribes from engineering firm SNC-Lavalin on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

March 5, 2019 Major study into the MMR vaccine involving over 650,000 children in Denmark found it does not increase the risk of autism on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

March 6, 2020

Russia refused to reduce oil production over COVID-19 fears, breaking with Saudi Arabia and OPEC and prompting a price war on this day that year.

March 7, 2017

Malta's famous landmark the Azure Window collapsed

into the sea after a storm on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 14 1 - 7 March 2021

Delhi/NCR NEW DELHI TIMES Campaign launched in Delhi to Delhi government directs facilitate switch to electric vehicle that no offline exams will take place up to class VIII PC : Getty Images

pledge if you are going to switch to an EV PC : Getty Images ◆ By NDT Bureau and install a charging point on your premise @NewDelhiTimes in the next three years. I have taken this pledge today and hope everyone will do [email protected] the same. Over 7,000 new EVs have been assessment of projects and assignments for registered in Delhi. Total subsidy of around ◆ By NDT Bureau he Switch Delhi campaign has Classes 3 to 8," the DoE said in an official order. Rs 13.5 crore on over 210 approved models T been launched by the Dialogue and @NewDelhiTimes has been disbursed as of now," Gahlot said. The guidelines state that for Classes 3 to 5, Development Commission (DDC) in Delhi. [email protected] 30 marks will be for assessment based on Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot worksheets, 30 for the assignments given He later tweeted: I took the @SwitchDelhi launched the campaign. he Delhi government has issued the in winter breaks and 40 for the assignments Pledge and today, I commit to make a T guidelines for assessing students up and projects provided from March 1 to 15. The Switch Delhi pledge has been launched conscious choice to contribute to a pollution to class VIII and has directed that no offline to cement the commitment of Delhiites to free Delhi. Delhiites, take your Pledge now examinations for these students will take Similarly, for Classes 6 to 8, 20 marks will be a part of the electric vehicle revolution at https://ev.delhi.gov.in/Pledge, share it place. be for assessment based on worksheets, 30 in Delhi and make Delhi the EV capital of with your friends and be a part of Delhi's for the assignments given in winter breaks India. I encourage all Delhiites to take this journey to becoming EV Capital of India. The guidelines of the Directorate of and 50 for the assignments and projects Education (DoE) have been issued to the provided from March 1 to 15. government-run and aided schools for assessment for the 2020-21 academic "In case a student does not have access to session, during which schools were closed a digital device or internet, the assignments due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all and projects will be given in hard copies teaching and learning activities were by calling his parents to the school while conducted online. following the COVID-19 guidelines.

According to government officials, private "While allotting the assignments and schools will prepare their own schedule and projects, the subject teachers will explain decide on the modalities on their own. the nature and method of attempting the worksheets. They will also keep in mind that "Since no classroom teaching and learning words hurting religious sentiments related has taken place at the primary and middle to caste, contradictory statements having level, the formal mode of pen-and-paper double meaning etc. will not be part of the assessment will be replaced by a subjectwise assignments and projects," the order said. Delhi government initiates mass registration drive for construction workers ◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes [email protected]

he Delhi government has initiated a T mass registration drive for construction workers in the national capital.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia PC : Getty Images said: "To ensure that construction labours benefit from Delhi govt's various labour will take place at 45 sites in Delhi for a welfare schemes, we are starting awareness month starting today," he added campaigns at various 'labour chowks' for 1 month. From about 10 lakh workers, over 2 Sisodia tweeted: “The Government of Delhi lakh registered, rest unaware of the schemes" is launching a massive registration drive for construction workers so that the workers "At 263 'labour chowks' in the national of Delhi can avail the schemes of Delhi capital, the government will start an Government related to education, pension, awareness campaign for labours, which maternity, marriage etc. In the same month, is about the welfare schemes that can be the government has paid 3.18 crore to 488 availed by them. The registration process workers in different items”. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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National NEW DELHI TIMES A non-grateful Information Technology (Intermediary Pakistan uses Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Indian air space but does not care Rules 2021 notified by the Government • Two Categories of Social Media Intermediaries: not less than five years. Intermediary shall ◆ By NDT Bureau To encourage innovations and enable growth not be required to disclose the contents of to thank India @NewDelhiTimes of new social media intermediaries without any message or any other information to the subjecting smaller platforms to significant first originator. ◆ By NDT Bureau [email protected] compliance requirement, the Rules make a @NewDelhiTimes distinction between social media intermediaries • Significant social media intermediary shall he Indian government has notified the and significant social media intermediaries. have a physical contact address in India [email protected] T Information Technology (Intermediary This distinction is based on the number of users published on its website or mobile app or Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics on the social media platform. Government both. eeping diplomatic tensions by the side, Code) Rules 2021. According to an official K is empowered to notify the threshold of user India in a great gesture allowed Pakistan release by the Ministry of Electronics and base that will distinguish between social media • Voluntary User Verification Mechanism: Prime Minister Imran Khan to fly over its Information Technology (IT), this rule has intermediaries and significant social media Users who wish to verify their accounts airspace during his travel to Sri Lanka. The been framed in exercise of powers under intermediaries. The Rules require the significant voluntarily shall be provided an appropriate Pakistan Prime Minster embarked on a two section 87 (2) of the Information Technology social media intermediaries to follow certain mechanism to verify their accounts and day visit to Sri Lanka. Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier additional due diligence. provided with demonstrable and visible Information Technology (Intermediary mark of verification. Guidelines) Rules 2011. • Additional Due Diligence to Be Followed by Significant Social Media Intermediary: The following guidelines Related to Social Media will now be administered by Ministry of Electronics and IT: • Appoint a Chief Compliance Officer who shall be responsible for ensuring compliance

PC : Getty Images • Due Diligence To Be Followed By with the Act and Rules. Such a person should Intermediaries: The Rules prescribe be a resident in India. However, Pakistan has yet to issue a due diligence that must be followed by statement in its official capacity or in the intermediaries, including social media • Appoint a Nodal Contact Person for 24x7 personal capacity of Prime Minister Imran intermediaries. In case, due diligence is not coordination with law enforcement agencies. Khan, even on social media thanking India followed by the intermediary, safe harbour Such a person shall be a resident in India. for allowing to use its airspace. provisions will not apply to them. • Appoint a Resident Grievance Officer who A small word of thanks from Pakistan, • Grievance Redressal Mechanism: The shall perform the functions mentioned under even a token one too, could have been Rules seek to empower the users by Grievance Redressal Mechanism. Such a commendable but even this is too hard to mandating the intermediaries, including person shall be a resident in India. • Giving Users An Opportunity to Be Heard: expect from Pakistan or Imran Khan? social media intermediaries, to establish In cases where significant social media a grievance redressal mechanism for • Publish a monthly compliance report intermediaries removes or disables access Delhi police denies receiving resolving complaints from the mentioning the details of complaints to any information on their own accord, users or victims. Intermediaries shall received and action taken on the complaints then a prior intimation for the same shall be reports that security appoint a Grievance Officer to deal with as well as details of contents removed communicated to the user who has shared such complaints andshare the name and proactively by the significant social media that information with a notice explaining cover of Kejriwal has contact details of such officer. Grievance intermediary. the grounds and reasons for such action. Officer shall acknowledge the complaint Users must be provided an adequate and been reduced within twenty four hours and resolve it • Significant social media intermediaries reasonable opportunity to dispute the action within fifteen days from its receipt. providing services primarily in the nature taken by the intermediary. ◆ By NDT Bureau of messaging shall enable identification • Removal of Unlawful Information: @NewDelhiTimes • Ensuring Online Safety and Dignity of the first originator of the information of Users, Specially Women Users: that is required only for the purposes An intermediary upon receiving actual [email protected] Intermediaries shall remove or disable access of prevention, detection, investigation, knowledge in the form of an order by a withing 24 hours of receipt of complaints of prosecution or punishment of an offence court or being notified by the Appropriate he Delhi police has denied all such contents that exposes the private areas of related to sovereignty and integrity of India, Government or its agencies through T reports that claim that the security cover individuals, show such individuals in full the security of the State, friendly relations authorized officer should not host or publish of Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal has or partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the with foreign States, or public order or of any information which is prohibited under been reduced. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind nature of impersonation including morphed incitement to an offence relating to the above any law in relation to the interest of the Kejriwal has Z-Plus security from Delhi images etc. Such a complaint can be filed or in relation with rape, sexually explicit sovereignty and integrity of India, public Police which comprises pilot, escort, close either by the individual or by any other material or child sexual abuse material order, friendly relations with foreign protection team, home guard, spotter, search- person on his/her behalf. punishable with imprisonment for a term of countries etc. and-frisking staff etcetera in the form of 47 plain-clothes personnel and 16 uniformed personnel from CRPF," police spokesperson Indian railways says higher fares for Chinmay Biswal said. short distance passenger trains only to discourage non-essential travel These fares are fixed at unreserved price of ◆ By NDT Bureau mail/ express trains for the same distance. @NewDelhiTimes Covid is still around and in fact worsening in operation average on a daily basis. Short some States. Visitors from many States are [email protected] distance passenger trains running presently being subjected to screening in other areas constitute less than 3% of total trains. More ndian Ministry of Railways has said and discouraged to travel. such trains are in the pipeline in consultation "The security cover provided to him remains I that higher fares for short distance with the State Governments. Such short unchanged and there has been no reduction passenger trains are aimed at discouraging “During challenging times of COVID, distance trains require interstate discussions in the number of personnel provided to him. non-essential travel. A statement from the Indian Railways has operationalized almost and concurrence of all concerned. Keeping Four policemen have been replaced by four Ministry of Railways said: that the slightly 65 % of the Mail/Express trains and over in view the prevailing COVID situation, after other policemen for administrative reasons. higher fares for passenger and other short 90 % of suburban services as compared to introduction of Mail/Express trains, Railways The security rules in the 'yellow book' that are distance trains had been introduced to the pre lock down times. Total 1250 Mail/ is gradually operationalizing passenger trains followed say this is a normal procedure. The discourage people from avoidable travels Express, 5350 suburban services & more taking all necessary precautions and making Z-Plus security remains intact," he added. and those which are not most necessary. than 326 passenger trains are presently in additional efforts.”, the statement added.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 16 1 - 7 March 2021

Neighbourhood NEW DELHI TIMES Imran Khan invites Sri Lankan Buddhists to visit Pakistan isiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Lanka’s 22 million people. Ethnic minority V Khan has proclaimed his Muslim- Tamils, who are mainly Hindu, comprise majority nation a choice destination for about 15% and 9% are Muslims. religious tourism by Sri Lankans, most of whom are Buddhists. Khan said northern Pakistan is the center of the ancient Buddhist Gandhara civilization In talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and that a 40-foot (12-meter) sleeping Khan highlighted Buddhist heritage sites Buddha statue was recently discovered in Pakistan and stressed the building of there. cultural ties, the Pakistan Embassy said in a statement. “We are planning a Buddhist trail ... with “Pakistan probably has one of the greatest all the Buddhist great shrines and Buddhist Buddhist heritages in the world and we places,” he said. invite people from Sri Lanka to visit them,” Khan said a day earlier after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda the older brother of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa. PC : AP Photo AP PC : Buddhists account for more than 70% of Sri Credit : Associated Press (AP) UN says Afghan India finds boat adrift with Impunity for Civil civilian casualties War Crimes in Sri Rohingya refugees; 8 dead Lanka Risks Future down by 15% Offenses, UN Says last year report submitted to the U.N. Human A Rights Council warns of future he number of civilians killed and violations and instability in Sri Lanka T wounded in violence across war- because of the government’s repeated failure weary Afghanistan fell by 15% last year to redress past violations and bring justice to compared to 2019, according to a United the victims. Nations report released. Thousands of Tamils allegedly were killed The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and women sexually assaulted and raped and the U.N. Human Rights Office attributed by Sri Lanka’s security forces in the last six the drop in civilian casualties in part to an months of the country’s 26 year-long civil apparent tactical change by insurgents to war. targeted killings, fewer suicide bombings and a stark drop in casualties attributed to A report issued by the Office of the U.N. international military forces. High Commissioner for Human Rights at Still, Afghanistan remains among the the end of January documents violations deadliest places in the world to be a civilian. including extra judicial killings, enforced A distressing feature of the conflict remains disappearances, arbitrary detentions, torture the disproportionate impact on Afghan and sexual violence. It noted some of these women and children, who make up 43% of violations, which could amount to war all casualties. crimes or crimes against humanity, were PC : AP Photo AP PC : committed by both the Sri Lankan military The attacks targeting civilians include and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or assaults on members of the judiciary, media ndia’s coast guard has found a boat promising them work in Southeast Asian LTTE. and activists. Also targeted have been I adrift in the Andaman Sea carrying nations. religious minorities, especially the Shiite scores of Rohingya refugees, including eight U.N. human rights chief Michele Bachelet Muslim population, most of whom also who had died, officials said. The U.N. and rights groups earlier reported submitted a critical assessment of the belong to the Hazara ethnic group, and the that many of the people on the boat were current situation in Sri Lanka to the Council. Sikh population. The boat left Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh suffering from acute dehydration. She said nothing has been done to ensure on Feb. 11 with 90 people, including 23 justice for the victims nearly 12 years after children, on board and its engine failed UNHCR spokesperson Catherine Stubberfield the armed conflict. She said the current on Feb. 15, Indian External Affairs said she appreciated the Indian coast guard’s government, like its predecessor, has failed Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava efforts. “But given that the refugees are still to promote reconciliation or hold any of the said. adrift at sea, immediate disembarkation perpetrators to account. is absolutely critical to meeting their most He said the coast guard found 81 people basic human needs and ensuring that their “The impact on thousands of survivors, PC : AP Photo AP PC : alive on the boat and provided them with safety is no longer threatened,” she said. from all communities, is devastating. food, water and medical care. One refugee Moreover, the systems, structures, policies was missing, he said. The mother of a 25-year-old man reportedly and personnel that gave rise to such grave violations in the past remain—and have Two Indian coast guard ships were sent to on the boat said she was praying for his safety. recently been reinforced. Addressing The overall number of civilian casualties in help the refugees, and the Indian government grievances and redressing past violations 2020 of 8,820 — including 3,035 killed and is in discussions with Bangladesh to ensure are critical prevention tools at the core of the “Oh God, save all of the people that are 5,785 others wounded — fell below 10,000 for their safe return, Srivastava said. Council’s work,” she said. the first time since 2013. Last year’s total was stuck on the boat including my son with 15% down compared to 2019, the U.N. said. He said 47 of the passengers possessed your divine magic,” she said at Kutupalong Bachelet said disturbing trends over the identity cards from the U.N. High refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar. past year indicate a serious deterioration in Afghanistan has seen a nationwide spike Commissioner for Refugees issued in in bombings, targeted killings and violence civil and political rights. She cited the rapid Bangladesh stating they are displaced “Is my son alive? Has anything happened on the battlefield as peace negotiations in shrinking of Sri Lanka’s independent media Myanmar nationals. to him because of hunger? I do not know Qatar between the Taliban and the Afghan and the erosion of judicial independence. anything about what my son is doing, how She warned the growing militarization of government have stalled. It’s been over a More than 1 million Rohingya who fled an he is surviving. He only took four liters of key civilian functions was encroaching on month since the sides last met to discuss army crackdown in Myanmar are living water,” she said. democratic governance. how to proceed. in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh. Credit : Associated Press (AP) Human traffickers often lure the refugees, Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Voice of America (VOA) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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North America NEW DELHI TIMES Mexican President says Proposed US legislation would Haiti’s President: Mexico doing better than US on virus target Honduras President despite coup exican President Andrés Manuel ewly proposed U.S. legislation targets whenever U.S. prosecutors in New York attempts he M López Obrador said that his country is N Honduras President Juan Orlando suggest his political rise was funded in part doing better than the United States in dealing Hernández as allegations of ties to drug by drug traffickers. He has not been charged. backs democracy with the coronavirus pandemic, even though trafficking grow. Mexico’s per capita death rate is probably The bill also seeks to prohibit the export of aiti’s President blamed powerful higher and the country has vaccinated less As the administration of President Joe Biden defense items such as tear gas, pepper spray H oligarchs for seven attempts in than 1% of its population. seeks to return the issues of corruption and and rubber bullets that Honduran security his four-year term to overthrow Haiti’s human rights to relations with Honduras forces have deployed in recent years against democratic system, most recently an and other Central American countries, a protesters. The U.S. government would attempted coup on Feb. 7, but said he group of Democratic senators says the U.S. actively oppose loans to Honduras’ security remains committed to democracy. government’s relationship with Honduras forces from multilateral development banks. Jovenel Moise defended his use of decrees -- must change. recently retiring three supreme court judges It calls on the Honduran government to talk and appointing their replacements. He said Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced a to the United Nations about establishing he had to take off his “gloves” to fight bill that would seek to isolate Hernández, an anti-corruption mission in the style against organized crime, rampant insecurity who in recent years has leaned heavily on his of one that had success in Guatemala. and kidnapping instigated by the oligarchs. support within the U.S. government when Under Hernández, a mission backed by the facing domestic opposition and multiplying Organization of American States was not Nonetheless, he told a virtual meeting of the U.N. Security Council that “we see the

PC : AP Photo AP PC : democratic regime and elections are the only way to have access to power.” López Obrador said that comparing The President spoke after U.N. special envoy countries is in “bad taste,” but went on to for Haiti, Helen La Lime, told members that say “the most powerful nation on earth, our efforts by part of the opposition to unseat neighbor, did worse than us.” Moise on Feb. 7, as well as the President’s The Mexican government’s “estimated” actions reacting to the alleged coup attempt death toll from COVID-19 is now about and a senior judge’s announcement of 201,000. The United States death toll is his appointment as interim head of state, around 500,000, but its population is 2.6 “have further hardened the positions of the times larger. principal actors in the political crisis that has for too long affected the lives of the Haitian Moreover, estimates of excess deaths in population.” Mexico since the start of the pandemic suggest the COVID-19 toll is now well “As the country prepares to enter a tense pre- above 220,000. Mexico has administered electoral period, the polarization that has defined about 1.7 million vaccine doses, while the most of President Moise’s term in office has U.S. has given 64 million shots. become even more acute,” she said, pointing to shrinking civic space and an alarming and López Obrador blamed rich countries for deteriorating humanitarian situation. “hoarding” vaccines, calling that “totally unfair,” and said “the U.N. has to intervene.” La Lime also cited the Feb. 14 peaceful demonstration in the capital Port-au-Prince López Obrador has demanded the United by some 3,000 demonstrators “to denounce States vaccinate the millions of Mexicans what they deem to be a looming risk of living in the U.S. with or without legal return to authoritarian rule.” documents; Mexico says its consulates in the United States have even been registered as vaccination centers. Photo AP PC :

But a photo circulated on social media allegations of connections to drug traffickers renewed after it began to implicate a number showed a sign posted last week outside one by U.S. prosecutors. of federal lawmakers in corruption scandals. Mexico City vaccination center stating “No Foreigners Will be Vaccinated.” “The United States cannot remain silent in Earlier this month, Hernández again denied the face of deeply alarming corruption and Presidential spokesman Jesús Ramírez said any connection to drug trafficking after human rights abuses being committed at the that was a mistake, and promised everyone U.S. prosecutors filed documents in an highest levels of the Honduran government,” over 60, foreigners and Mexicans alike, upcoming drug trafficker’s trial suggesting Merkley said in a statement. would have access to vaccines. the President was under investigation.

“That was a photo of one center, and that “A failure to hold Honduran President Hernández’s brother Juan Antonio “Tony” message was corrected,” Ramírez said. Juan Orlando Hernández, national officials, Hernández was convicted in New York of a The opposition claims that Moïse’s five- and members of the police and military But Dr. Ruy López Ridaura, the country’s drug conspiracy in 2019. year term ended on Feb. 7, but Moïse has accountable for these crimes will fuel director of disease prevention and control, reiterated that it ends in February 2022 since widespread poverty and violence and force said the exclusion of foreigners apparently U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken he wasn’t sworn in until 2017. Prior to that, more families to flee their communities in occurred at other sites in the opening weeks spoke with his Honduran counterpart about a provisional President ruled Haiti for one search of safety.” of the vaccination effort. cooperation between the two countries’ year following chaotic elections marred by governments. allegations of fraud. “There may have been some confusion at Merkley’s bill, “Honduras Human Rights some operating sites,” López Ridaura said. and Anti-Corruption Act of 2021,” Under the administration of President Moise has repeatedly said he will step down “It was a communication problem. ... The calls on Biden to impose sanctions on Donald Trump, immigration overshadowed in February 2022 and has called for legislative orders are totally clear now, foreigners will Hernández and “determine whether he is a everything else in the relationship. and Presidential elections to be held Sept. 19, also receive their vaccinations.” specially designated narcotics trafficker.” with a runoff scheduled for Nov. 21. The legislation also has the backing of Biden has spoken about development support López Obrador invited Argentine President Critics accuse Moïse of amassing more Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard for so-called Northern Triangle countries to Alberto Fernández onstage at his daily power in recent months, noting that he Durbin of Illinois and Elizabeth Warren of address the root causes of migration, but morning press conference, and the already had been ruling by Presidential Massachusetts among others. Blinken also included “corruption and lack Argentine leader proposed that vaccine decree ever since he dissolved the majority of respect for human rights” as causes of companies be forced to cede intellectual of Parliament in January 2020 after failing Such a designation would be a tremendous migration, according to a State Department property rights and allow anyone to to hold legislative elections in 2019 amid reversal of fortunes for a President summary of the call. manufacture their shots. political gridlock. who frequently cites Honduras’ active Credit : Associated Press (AP) participation in the U.S. war on drugs Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Africa NEW DELHI TIMES Congo, Italy, UN probe ambassador’s killing amid questions

talian Carabinieri experts were joining the Italian nation” in an unusually personal that Congolese authorities and MONUSCO armed groups and the army. I U.N. and Congolese authorities in letter of condolences to the Italian President. to do all they can to shed light on those investigating the killings of the Italian responsible for this ignoble assassination,” The attack, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) ambassador, his bodyguard and their driver Eastern Congo is home to myriad rebel rebel spokesman Cure Ngoma said in a north of Goma, was right next to Virunga in eastern Congo amid questions about groups all vying for control of parts of the statement. National Park. the dynamics of the attack and security mineral-rich, loosely governed Central precautions taken for the convoy. African nation that is the size of Western The rebel group noted the attack took place The WFP provided the first run-down of Europe. in the “three antennas” area near Goma and what happened, saying after the armed The two-car World Food Program convoy the border of Rwanda and close to Congolese group stopped the car and killed the driver, was travelling from Goma, the regional and Rwandan military positions. It blamed the remaining six passengers of the convoy capital in the east, to visit a WFP school the killings on those forces. were forced into the bush at gunpoint. project in Rutshuru, when an armed group An exchange of fire ensued, it said. The blocked their passage and ordered the More than 120 armed groups are active in ambassador and his security escort were passengers out, WFP said. eastern Congo which has not been secure for more than 25 years, according to Kivu mortally injured during the shootout and The Congolese driver Moustapha Milambo Security Tracker, a joint project between subsequently died, it said. was killed immediately. WFP said Human Rights Watch and the Congo The four other passengers in the group, all Ambassador Luca Attanasio and Carabinieri Research Institute to monitor armed violence WFP staff, have since all been accounted for officer Vittorio Iacovacci were fatally shot in in Eastern Congo. after reports they had been kidnapped, the an ensuing shootout. In the specific area of the attack, several U.N. agency said. But how events transpired exactly remained Photo AP PC : armed groups are active including the Attanasio, who was shot in the abdomen, was unclear, with WFP saying the road had FDLR, the Nyatura militia and remnants of transported to the U.N. Mission in Congo been previously cleared for travel without the former M23 rebels. hospital where he died from his wounds, security escorts. U.N. security officials “Investigations are underway to find the according to Congo’s interior ministry. The based on Congo usually determine whether It’s unusual for a top diplomat to be targeted perpetrators of this despicable crime,” said driver and police officer died at the scene. roads are safe. North Kivu governor Carly Nzanzu Kasivita. in eastern Congo, but attacks have been rising, Pierre Boisselet, coordinator of the Congo’s interior ministry said the provincial U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in Congo’s government has blamed the killings Kivu Security Tracker, said. authorities of North Kivu were not aware of New York that the U.N. had launched an on the Democratic Forces for the Liberation the presence of the Italian ambassador and “Attacks on humanitarians and kidnappings internal review concerning the “security of Rwanda, the Rwandan Hutu rebel group therefore did not provide him with security of humanitarian workers have been around the incident.” known as FDLR. The rebel group, however, measures. U.N. peacekeeping chief Jean- increasing. Last year we recorded 12 of denied responsibility for the attack. Pierre Lacroix said that the determination of The bodies of the ambassador and the officer those incidents in North and South Kivu, but whether roads are safe is normally made by headed back to Italy on a plane chartered “The FDLR declares that there is nothing only one ended in a death,” he said. “Usually U.N. security officials in the country. by the Italian government, as Pope Francis to implicate it in the attack that resulted in violence by armed groups targets civilians,” paid homage to the “two noble children of the death of the Italian ambassador and asks or civilians are hurt amid clashes between Credit : Associated Press (AP) Former Foreign South African ex-President’s Senegal launches vaccination Minister declared corruption trial set for May preliminary campaign with China’s Sinopharm winner in Niger enegal launched its COVID-19 iger’s electoral commission said S vaccination campaign in the capital, N that former Foreign Affairs Minister Dakar, where the Health Minister received the Mohamed Bazoum has been elected first jab of China’s Sinopharm vaccine. President of the West African nation, according to preliminary results from the “This day is a historic day” Health Minister second round of voting. Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr said after getting the injection. The West African nation received The commission said Bazoum received more 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine last than 55.7% of the vote, while challenger week. Shots now are being given to health care and opposition candidate Mahamane workers, people over age 60 and individuals Ousmane received 44.25%. The results with underlying health conditions. were announced at the Palais de Congres in the capital, Niamey, during a ceremony The Health Minister also announced that attended by ambassadors and national and Photo AP PC : Senegal is negotiating with Russia to buy international election observers. the Sputnik V vaccine. In March, the country ormer South African President Jacob are ready to begin the trial. is also expecting to get nearly 1.3 million F Zuma’s corruption trial is set to begin The participation rate for second round vote Judge Nkosinathi Chili certified the case as vaccine doses through the World Health in May, more than 16 years after he was first was 62.9%, which was lower than the first trial-ready and scheduled it to start on May Organization’s COVAX initiative. implicated in the graft allegations. round held Dec. 27 with a turnout of 67.7%, 17. As a gesture of “solidarity,” the Minister the commission said. Zuma, South Africa’s President from 2009 Zuma faces corruption charges related said Senegal will share 10% of the 200,000 to 2018, is accused of receiving bribes from to payments he allegedly received as Sinopharm doses with neighboring countries The results must now be approved by the French arms manufacturer Thales. Constitutional Court. bribes from Thales. Thales was among the Gambia and Guinea Bissau. Both Zuma and Thales deny the charges companies that scored contracts to supply “Senegal is one of seven countries -among If approved, Bazoum will succeed President against them, which include corruption, South Africa with weapons in the country’s the 54 countries of the African continent- to Mahamadou Issoufou who is stepping down fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. controversial 1999 arms procurements. start the vaccination against COVID-19, the after serving two terms, in accordance with Zuma’s trial and the order for him to appear The allegedly corrupt deal with Thales Minister said. Niger’s constitution. Issoufou’s decision before a judicial inquiry into graft are seen was facilitated by Zuma’s former financial to respect the constitution has been widely as tests of President Cyril Rampahosa’s adviser Schabir Shaik, who was convicted Senegal, a country of 16 million, has hailed and paves the way for Niger’s first campaign against corruption. of the charges in 2005 and sentenced to 15 registered more than 33,000 cases of peaceful, democratic transfer of power since COVID-19 and 800 deaths, according to State prosecutor Advocate Billy Downer years in jail. Shaik was released on parole, its independence from France in 1960. The the African Centers for Disease Control and told the Pietermaritzburg High Court that on medical grounds, after serving just over West African nation has seen four coups. Prevention. all pre-trial matters had been concluded and two years. Credit : Associated Press (AP) that both the state and Zuma’s defense team Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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South America NEW DELHI TIMES UN registers steep Authorities: rise in murders of Colombian activists Prison riots layings of human rights leaders S and mass killings of civilians are in Ecuador increasing at a worrying pace in Colombia, according to a United Nations report published. leave 62 dead ixty-two inmates have died in riots at The annual U.N. report on the human rights S prisons in three cities in Ecuador as a situation in Colombia found that violence result of fights between rival gangs and an is “intensifying” in some rural areas where escape attempt, authorities said. state presence is weak and armed groups are fighting for territorial control following the Prisons Director Edmundo Moncayo said 2016 demobilization of the Revolutionary in a news conference that 800 police offices Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel

PC : AP Photo AP PC : have been helping to regain control of the group. facilities. Hundreds of officers from tactical and wildcat mining still exist. These areas a transitional justice system that he accuses units had been deployed since the clashes According to the U.N. report, at least 133 are now fought over by armed groups that of being too lenient with former rebel broke out. human rights defenders were murdered in include the National Liberation Army, the commanders. Critics of his government have Colombia in 2020, a 23% increase from Gulf Clan and former FARC rebels who said that it has been slow at implementing Moncayo said that two groups were trying 2019. refused to join the 2016 peace deal with some aspects of the peace deal, including the to gain “criminal leadership within the Colombia’s government. coca substitution projects. detention centers” and that the clashes were The United Nations also registered 76 precipitated by a search for weapons carried massacres across the country last year, which The United Nations said that Colombia’s The United Nations urged Colombia’s out by police officers. are defined as events in which three or more government to increase its presence in these government has made progress towards civilians are executed at once. The number areas to protect civilians and bring down stopping violence against activists by setting of massacres registered was “almost double” violence. up a monitoring system that provides early the number in 2019 and was the highest warnings on threats against human rights number since 2016, said Juliette de Rivero, One way to do that, De Rivero said in a defenders. De Rivero also praised a recent the United Nations High Commissioner for press conference, is by “putting the (2016) initiative by the attorney general’s office Human Rights representative in Colombia. peace deal at the center of the government’s to decrease impunity for crimes by taking response.” itinerant judges to remote rural areas. The report will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva by U.N. High The peace deal includes land titling projects Nevertheless, the report calls on Colombia Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle and programs aimed at helping coca growers to “intensify” efforts to implement the peace Bachelet. to substitute their illegal crops for legal deal. crops. It also created a commission aimed “The growth in assassinations is worrying,” The findings were published as Colombia’s at finding solutions to dismantling armed De Rivero said. “The Colombian state has government struggles to diminish violence groups. the capacity to adjust its policies to prevent in rural areas that were once controlled violence.” by the FARC and where illegal activities President Ivan Duque has been a critic of like cocaine trafficking, timber smuggling some aspects of the peace deal, including Credit : Associated Press (AP) Guyana President addresses nation on EU slaps sanctions on 19 country’s Republic Day more Venezuelan officials Photo AP PC : ◆ By NDT Bureau Photographs and videos on social media @NewDelhiTimes show alleged inmates decapitated and [email protected] dismembered amid pools of blood.

n the occasion of the 51st anniversary of Deadly prison riots have happened relatively O Guyana, the country’s President Dr Irfaan frequently in recent years in Ecuador, whose Ali has called on to embrace the concept of One prisons were designed for some 27,000 Guyana. In his Republic Day message, Dr Ali inmates but house about 38,000. said: “ “Our country’s national motto, “One people, One nation, One destiny”, is the tripod President Lenín Moreno tweeted that he has upon which our independent and republican PC : AP Photo AP PC : ordered the Ministry of Defense “to exercise statehood rests. The elements of our national strict control of weapons, ammunition motto commit us to the pursuit of unity; it affirms he European Union imposed sanctions democratic functioning of the National and explosives in the outer perimeters of our sovereignty and shapes our ambitions”. T on 19 more officials in Venezuela Assembly, and for serious violations of prisons” as a result of this week’s riots. According to President Ali, “One people” is a accused of undermining democracy or rights human rights and restrictions of fundamental nod to Guyana’s ethnic diversity, while “One abuses in the crisis-torn South American freedoms,” the Ministers said. Moncayo said 33 died at the prison in Cuenca country. in southern Ecuador, 21 in the Pacific coast nation” signals unity in the face of external They said the measures are not designed threats. According to the President, “One city of Guayaquil and eight in the central EU Foreign Ministers targeted the 19 with to “to have adverse humanitarian effects or destiny” asserts the country’s shared aspiration city of Latacunga. asset freezes and travel bans “in view of unintended consequences for the Venezuelan of living in a just and prosperous society. population, and can be reversed.” the deteriorating situation in Venezuela Moncayo said that close to 70% of the “The ‘One Guyana’ project, which I recently following the December 2020 elections.” Once a wealthy oil nation, Venezuela is country’s prison population lives in the launched, celebrates our oneness as enunciated The main opposition parties boycotted those now mired in a deep economic crisis, which centers where the unrest occurred. in our national motto. It is aimed at excising the polls. critics blame on two decades of failed vices of ethnic rancour, hatred and divisiveness; socialist policies that have left the nation Minister of Government Patricio Pazmiño breaking down barriers of mistrust, suspicion, It means that a total of 55 Venezuelan bankrupt and its infrastructure crumbling. sent a tweet blaming “the concerted action of and stereotypes; and fostering greater tolerance officials are now subject to EU sanctions. President Nicolás Maduro says he is under criminal organizations to generate violence and understanding. The One Guyana Project attack from the United States, which wants in the country’s prisons,” but added, “We are will encourage respect for the immeasurable “The individuals added to the list are to oust him from power. managing actions to regain control.” worth of every citizen regardless of his or her responsible, notably, for undermining race, religious belief or class. the oppositions’ electoral rights and the Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Opinion NEW DELHI TIMES Spike in Covid-19 cases, partial lockdown and failure to procure Vaccine by Iraq Health Ministry causes unrest Wearing a mask is also mandatory in public spaces and fines will be imposed if they do not follow the rules. But the public and even the security personal don’t seem to be following this rule as few were seen wearing masks in public areas flights from eight countries including the only in the month of March. China is also ◆ By NDT Bureau UK and South Africa on December 24, expected to donate 50,000 vaccines to Iraq. @NewDelhiTimes 2020, and Iraqi citizens coming from these countries are required to complete 14 days The delay in acquiring the COVID-19 [email protected] quarantine period upon their arrival, the UK vaccine may be due to the internal corruption variant of the COVID-19 virus has managed plaguing the Iraq Health Ministry. Back in partial lockdown came into effect in to enter the country. September 2020, Iraq’s Health Minister A Iraq on the February 18, 2021, which said that Iraq would be the first country to was announced earlier by Health Minister It is expected that the public will not follow import COVID-19 vaccines once approved Hasan al-Tamimi, owing to a sharp increase the latest COVID-19 restriction imposed by the WHO but now it seems that its in Coronavirus cases which included the UK in the country to the fullest with a chance neighbouring countries had already received variant (B.1.1.7). of protest if the curfew goes beyond the the vaccine while it waits for the first dose The month of February saw a remarkable month of March in cities like Baghdad and of COVID-19 vaccine to arrive in Iraq. The increase in the coronavirus cases including the southern parts of Iraq. All shops and PC : Getty Images delay in acquiring the vaccines and failure the UK variant (B.1.1.7). 3,332 new cases of businesses in the hospitality sector are to to start the vaccination process will certainly which may be the cause of the sudden the virus were recorded on February 16 and be closed during the curfew, but people are bring scrutiny and allegation against the increase in the number of cases and failure by February 18 over 640,000 positive cases pressured to work due to the prevalence of Health Ministry for corruption, prioritizing to follow COVID-19 protocols. were recorded with 13,901 deaths due to the extreme poverty in the country and such the vaccination of politicians, and trying to restrictions may not go down so well with profit out of the procurement process. COVID-19 in Iraq. Iran has completed just An increase in the number of cases is around 6 million tests so far. Peak infection the public. expected in the coming days owing to the With a further increase in the number of rate had fallen from 5000 a day in September Several shops and business owners of government’s delay in acquiring the vaccine cases, the government will have to impose 2020 to 3000 a day as of November 2020 Baghdad’s Mall staged a protest on February and starting the vaccination process. The further lockdowns, which may not sit well and 800 a day by January 2021, but from the 17 in response to the curfew orders and lack Iraqi Government approved the allocation with the public due to widespread poverty month of February 2021, the infection rate of support from the government. Wearing of USD 100 million for the purchase of and economic disparity. The delay in the seems to be on the rise again. a mask is also mandatory in public spaces COVID-19 vaccine on January 27, 2021 and process and politicizing the vaccination Before announcing a 08:00 PM to 05:00 AM and fines will be imposed if they do not the government has also ordered 1.5 million process and prioritizing certain regions over curfew on February 15, the Iranian Health follow the rules. But the public and even the doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine along others will certainly cause problems. Minister blamed the public for the sudden security personal don’t seem to be following with refrigerators to store the vaccine, which increase in the COVID-19 cases owing to this rule as few were seen wearing masks in is expected to be delivered only by the end Financial aid is absolutely necessary for the failure to follow COVID-19 protocols and public areas. of February. Further another 2.5-3 million business owners and establishments affected rules and warned that if the number of cases doses of COVID-19 vaccine are expected by the lockdown if lockdown measures are continues to rise a nationwide curfew would Earlier local officials and religious leaders to be delivered by other pharmaceutical to have any effect. A separate independent have to be imposed. were of the impression that Iraq had companies also in the month of February body needs to be appointed to oversee and achieved herd immunity and that religious through the WHO’s COVAX facility. So, the evaluate the whole vaccination process by Though the Government of Iran banned practices gave immunity from the virus vaccination process is scheduled to begin the Health Ministry. Debate on US Cyber Policy under Biden The problem with Cyber warfare is that it is a real time warfare and there is no minimum threshold to define a limit like physical warfare likely that greater defence cooperation with ◆ By NDT Bureau allies will figure in the new administration’s @NewDelhiTimes priorities. There are substantial issues in Cyber related cooperation for the US. [email protected] First, increased Cyber cooperation with the n December last year, a massive European nations will have to factor in the I Cyber Attack on US Cloud provider amount of distrust that resulted from the Accellion, cyber security Firm FireEye revelation of spying activities by America detected a group tagged as “UNC2452” on its allies. Second, the capabilities and as responsible for the attack. The firm policies of each nation needs to be figured found a backdoor Malware for spying in out to determine the level of cooperation. the ‘SolarWinds’ Network Management Extensive US operations will result in more software. Following the serious attack, the exposure of the US cyber capacities. NSA formed a combined investigation of the FBI, the ODNI, and the CISA to investigate Third, there will be fear of blowback if the breach. Their investigation revealed a operations are doubted and it can result in significant data breach by an ‘Advanced PC : Getty Images souring of relations. Such as any legally Persistent Threat’ likely Russian in origin. agility to counter and inflict losses on the advocated a new strategic approach called problematic exposed operation on foreign The Cyber Security structure of the US adversary. The Biden Administration is the ‘layered cyber deterrence’ as a strategy. soil can be termed as abusive by courts of and other Western Allies are the most deliberating on possible strategies to achieve This strategy envisages “deterrence by partner countries. Fourth, the extent of the advanced lot, but strategic competitors are the same. denial” by strengthening the Defences, and US operations in the cyberspace of partners fast catching up- a cat and mouse game of using “defence forward” as an instrument may become a matter of domestic concern devising new ways to attack Cyber assets. Under Trump, the policy was focused on a to deter. In deterrence by denial, the state in future. The problem with Cyber warfare is that it is “defend forward” strategy. This strategy is would have options to open another sector a real time warfare and there is no minimum meant to proactively observe attempts to to humiliate to deter the attacker. The Biden administration will look to threshold to define a limit like physical infiltrate cyber domain by adversaries, inflict implement aspects of deterrence by denial warfare. Though the last election was fairly costs in day-to-day operations of adversary For now, Biden has retained the NSA Director while gauging allies for cooperation in cyber checked of any foreign interference, the to deter them and force them to favourable General, Paul Nakasone, who headed the defence, just like the NATO. However, it will 2016 elections created a large hue and cry international norms of behaviour. Last Cyber Command under Trump. This implies be a long road ahead in deciding the perfect alleging Russian interference. Similarly, any year, the bipartisan ‘Cyberspace Solarium an unlikely change in stance in the strategy strategy for protection of CyberSpace by the future war in the data domain will require Commision’ established by Congress for the foreseeable future. Though it is United States and its partners. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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Sports NEW DELHI TIMES If the Ahmedabad pitch was Man United to face AC Milan substandard, the technique of batsmen against spin was even more substandard in last 16 of Europa League ormer European champions Manchester collapsing against spin is nothing unusual. ◆ By Dr. Pawan Mathur F United and AC Milan will meet in the Many may find this opinion unpopular but round of 16 of the Europa League, putting @PawanMathur it holds true that the Indian batsmen of the 39-year-old forward Zlatan Ibrahimović up 1990s with Navjot Singh Sidhu. Mohammad [email protected] against his former English club. Azharuddin and a young Sachin Tendulkar and then in 2000s with Virendra Sehwag Ibrahimović played for United for two fter losing the third test of the series as the opener and Tendulkar (now the most years, including in the 2016-17 season when A against India on a turning track inside experienced member of the team) Rahul United won its only Europa League title. two days, a large section of the England Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman Milan, a seven-time European Cup media and former England cricketers have had a much better technique to play spin on Photo AP PC : champion, has never won the Europa League started a rant about how the wicket prepared a turning track than the current lot of Indian or its predecessor the UEFA Cup — the only at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, batsmen. was a ‘bad advertisement’ (the usual cliché) continental title it is missing. for Test cricket. Yes, the pitch in the third test Both Sidhu in the 90s and Sehwag in the “It’s one of the those draws again that you was a difficult one to bat on, but certainly not The return leg at San Siro is one week later. 2000s didn’t give two hoots to the reputation feel could be a Champions League game,” ‘unplayable’ or ‘impossible’ to bat, as many of the spinner. Indian cricket fans very well United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said. Arsenal will face Olympiakos and go back are claiming. The pitch just showed the remember Sidhu’s demolition of Shane to Piraeus for its second straight game in weakness of the batsmen against spin and Warne in the 1998 Border-Gavaskar series United dropped into the Europa League after the competition. The London team used the inability of the batsmen to judge for the which set the platform for Tendulkar and finishing third in its Champions League Olympiakos’ stadium as a neutral venue and turn. A look at some of the dismissals of the Azharuddin in the middle order to dominate. group. Milan last played in the top-tier beat Benfica 3-2 in the “home” leg in the competition in 2014. round of 32. Both teams are on track to qualify for the Arsenal and Olympiakos will be meeting in next Champions League, in second place in a European competition for the sixth time in their domestic leagues trailing crosstown the past 12 seasons. Olympiakos won in the rivals Manchester City and Inter Milan, last 32 a year ago. respectively. Two-time UEFA Cup champion Tottenham “They’re on the up and have done really will face Dinamo Zagreb and play the first well this season,” Solskjaer said of Milan, leg in Croatia, while 1992 champion Ajax is which is scheduled to visit Old Trafford for at home first against Swiss club Young Boys. the first leg on March 11. Credit : Associated Press (AP) France to play All Blacks in opener of 2023

PC : Getty Images Rugby World Cup wine-growing Bordeaux, also against a England batsmen against Axar Patel, man In the remarkable 2001 Border Gavaskar European qualifier in Pool B. The opening of the match with match figures of 11/70, series, VVS Laxman and Tendulkar again weekend also features the 2019 finalists in clearly show the English batsmen failed brilliantly used their feet against Shane action down south in Marseille. Defending to judge the trajectory of the ball and gave Warne totally neutralising his turn. The champion South Africa will start its bid for their wickets away expecting for the turn on current generation of Indian batting is

PC : AP Photo AP PC : a record fourth world title against Scotland straight deliveries. In the second innings, good no doubt but no such performance in in Pool B on Sept. 10, one day after beaten Zak Crawley was bowled playing down the hree-time champion New Zealand recent memory comes to mind of a world finalist England — the 2003 champion wrong line. Johny Bairstow played for the and three-time runner-up France will class spinner being completely taken to the T — takes on Argentina in Pool D at the turn on a straighter ball and was trapped leg square off in a blockbuster opening match of cleaners by the Indian batting line up. 67,000-capacity Stade Velodrome. Wales before wicket. Thus, more than the pitch, it the 2023 Rugby World Cup. and Fiji meet on Sept. 10 in Bordeaux in was England’s technique against spin that Also, if a pitch turns from the first ball, it The teams have combined to deliver some of what is usually a spectacular affair. Their was poor. does not mean that it is a bad advertisement the most storied matches in the tournament’s final pool game at the 2019 World Cup in for test cricket. Just as a green top offering history, including the 1987 and 2011 finals, Japan ended in an incident packed 29-17 One argument given in favour of the pace and bounce for the fast bowlers from ball both won by the All Blacks. win for Wales. Ahmedabad pitch being bad is that even one isn’t one. Test cricket requires the highest Indian batting struggled. This is only a form of skills and batsmen are expected to Host France and New Zealand were The 20-team tournament has been expanded partially correct argument. In India’s first perform on all surfaces. Moreover, as cricket confirmed in the schedule release as the first to eight weeks with player welfare in mind. innings, the pitch did not look unplayable contests are increasingly becoming more game of 48, Sept. 8, 2023 at Paris’ Stade de Teams will have at least five days between when Rohit Sharman and Virat Kohli were skewed in favour of the batsmen, so there is France. games, after criticism for decades of tier two forging a partnership which momentarily nothing wrong in the occasional Test match At the national stadium the following and tier three teams not given enough of a threatened to bat England out of the match where bowlers have a field day. On the same day, two-time champion Australia plays a turnaround, and being thrown at the well- before India collapsed from 98/2 to 145 all day as the India vs England test unfolded, a European qualifier in Pool C. Australia is rested major teams with sometimes only out. However, it is not the first time in recent T20 International between New Zealand and chasing its first crown since beating France three days rest. memory that Indian batsmen collapsed Australia produced 434 runs in 40 overs. If 434 in 1999. Ireland will open on the same in Credit : Associated Press (AP) against spin, even if it was a part-timer Joe runs in 40 overs with 30 sixes and an overall 10.4 Root who triggered the collapse. Indian fans run rate with bowlers being plundered is not a will very well remember how Steve O Keefe ‘bad advertisement’ for cricket, then 17 wickets wreaked havoc on the Indian battling line falling on a day isn’t one either. up in the first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played in Pune 2017 with identical Also, India has every right to prepare a rank figures of 6/35 in both innings. In that match, turner and use the home advantage to the Steve Smith played a masterclass innings of maximum. Just as England have every right 109, which rates as one of the best innings to prepare a green-top at Lord’s or Headingly by a visiting batsman on Indian turning when India tours them later this year. Let pitches. Apart from Keefe in that test, the them prepare the green tracks. India do have Indian batsmen in the last few years have the required fast bowling resources in their also succumbed to the spin of Nathan Lyon ranks to give more than a semblance of the and Moeen Ali on a few occasions. fight to England on those green-tops. The same cannot though be said of England’s So, this generation of Indian batsmen current spin resources on this Indian tour.

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Technology & Health NEW DELHI TIMES Sperm Farming: An evil reality of technological advancement in the business of milk, to begin with, extraction of semen” and was started in the These contractions are severe enough with, and meat later. 80% of all dairy cows are late 1960s. (Imagine a man being made to some types of probes, to cause haemorrhage ◆ By Smt. Maneka impregnated artificially. In natural breeding, ejaculate by having an electric rod shoved and bruising of affected muscles and stiffness Sanjay Gandhi one ejaculation produces one or two calves into his anus- twice a day for years). A for a few days. at most. single ejaculation provides 500 to 600 @ManekaGandhiBJP sperm ‘doses,’ each containing 20 million In studies done on the physiological distress A study was done on the industry of sperm sperm. This happens to each bull for 5-10 changes in the plasma, cortisol level of ndia has the world’s largest number of farming, and frozen semen technology, years (depending on his semen output and animals was checked as an indicator of the I cattle. They are not being worshipped between 2014 and 2016 (Journal of Human quality) and then he is sent to slaughter. The degree of distress being experienced by in the temples; they are not ambling through Animal Studies, Yamini Narayanan, 2018). semen is deep frozen in liquid nitrogen and animals. Plasma cortisol levels rose sharply the countryside eating as they move. They Apart from studying the documentation and then sent round India. This ghastly invasive in bulls 15 minutes after electroejaculation are being hit by farmers in whose fields they doing hundreds of interviews with people reproductive technology was the reason for and remained elevated for 2-4 hours, showing come to eat, they are being thrown acid on by involved in semen production, industry the “success” of the White Revolution, or extreme distress (Source: Electroejaculation: urban fruit sellers, they are being poisoned policy, and animal protection, the authors Operation Flood, in the 1970s, making India a welfare issue? Surveillance vol.22.). The and taken away by people who strip their also studied the government owned semen a leading milk producer – but exchanging Netherlands and Denmark have banned this skin for leather, they are being kept tied in stations in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, quality for quantity. Milk has never been of practice due to its cruelty. filthy small stalls for milk, they are being seeing firsthand the process of semen that same purity and quality ever again. None of these farms – like most everything put onto overcrowded trucks and taken for extraction, quality assessment, storage, and in the animal husbandry sector – run illegal slaughter, they are being herded into transportation to dairies. There, the semen properly. Bulls should be examined for jails called gaushalas, where they stand in would be used to artificially inseminate optimum physical health. They should be fed their own faeces, till they fall down dead of cows. A single semen extraction can produce extremely well, exercised and kept happy in starvation. They eat plastic, they drink from hundreds of calves, since it is divided into order to ensure optimal semen quality. This filthy gutters, they are hit by passing cars. amounts just sufficient to ensure conception. does not happen in a single centre. Most of There are no happy cows or buffaloes in So many Indians have stopped drinking milk the bulls are sick, underfed, never exercised India. because they are outraged about the abuse and very rarely checked for disease. of dairy cows and male calves. But most are Since 2014, when the BJP government unaware of the extreme cruelties involved in So, what has happened? India has a much lower rate of success than other countries, came in with a vow towards stopping the sperm extraction. PC : Getty Images export of meat, India has been the world’s using artificial insemination, inspite of having the world’s largest artificial bovine largest exporter of cow meat (“beef”), even The study found that bulls are taken at 18 Indian animal husbandry departments have reproductive breeding centres. The bulls are surpassing Brazil. Both of countries now months and tethered by their noses in small more than 60 frozen-semen farms and about kept badly and the semen being sent round account for almost 40% of the world’s cow groups in barns with little space, or kept 77,000 artificial insemination centres. There is often diseased, causing abortions in the meat production. And we are the largest singly in isolation in small stalls for years. are no rules, no animal welfare protection for cows. This has a direct bearing on human milk producer in the world across the globe, They become frustrated and agitated, and these bulls. The psychological and physical health, and the spread of tuberculosis has outranking the E.U., the U.S., and China. the ropes in their noses are used to control traumas of bulls are treated as irrelevant to been directly linked to the brucellosis in them, causing wounds and often maggot semen extraction. Most cows and buffaloes do not breed infestations. Each bull goes to the semen milk cattle which comes through the semen. naturally any more. As a person who extraction centre twice a day, four days a What is the effect of electro ejaculation on There are many more diseases that come hires hundreds of vets, I know that they week. the bull’s body? through this extracted semen, and I will may know nothing at all about diagnosis write about them in the next column. and medicine, but all of them know about A dummy cow is propped up and the bull The rod or probe in the rectum has ring artificial insemination. This is the primary has to mount her and ejaculate into an electrodes, that is, electrodes which Put yourself in the place of the bull. As long focus of all veterinary colleges. artificial, temperature-controlled vagina. surround the barrel of the probe. These as you drink milk, this is what will happen to Bulls that won’t, or can’t perform undergo electrodes stimulate nerves other than those this young virile animal. Do you want to be To keep the milk and meat going, India has the painful process of electro-ejaculation. required for electroejaculation. In particular, responsible for this terrible cruelty? a large national breeding program. Semen This procedure uses a 12-24-volt jolt of the nerves of the muscles in the hind limb To join the animal welfare movement is extracted from bulls and sent across the electricity applied through a probe in are affected, resulting in strong contractions contact [email protected], country to be used practically by all those the rectum. It is called “human-assisted of the muscles of the legs, thighs and back. www.peopleforanimalsindia.org Mt Etna’s latest NASA releases Mars landing eruptions awe video: ‘Stuff of our dreams’ ASA released the first high-quality even those who N video of a spacecraft landing on PC : AP Photo AP PC : Mars, a three-minute trailer showing the study volcanos enormous orange and white parachute hurtling open and the red dust kicking up ount Etna, Europe’s most active as rocket engines lowered the rover to the M volcano, has awed even seasoned surface. volcanologists in recent days with spectacular spurts of lava lighting up the The footage was so good - and the images Sicilian sky each night. so breathtaking - that members of the rover Writing on the institute’s website this week, team said they felt like they were riding The latest eruption overnight petered out by he said that after “gifting us moments of along. around 0900 GMT February 23, according suspense” over the previous nights, Etna

finally erupted in a way “those of us who Photo AP PC : to Italy’s National Institute for Geophysics “It gives me goose bumps every time I see it, have worked in this for decades have rarely and Volcanology. just amazing,” said Dave Gruel, head of the seen.” of our dreams,” said Al Chen, who was in entry and descent camera team. For over a week, Etna has been belching charge of the landing team. lava, ash and volcanic rocks on a regular Referring to the activity overnight, he The Perseverance rover landed near an Six off-the-shelf color cameras were devoted basis. The nearby Catania Airport closed tweeted “Did I call the 20-21 February ancient river delta in Jezero Crater to search to entry, descent and landing, looking up and temporarily, and residents of the town of paroxysm of #Etna ‘incredibly for signs of ancient microscopic life. After down from different perspectives. All but Pedara said it appeared one day last week as powerful’? Well, its successor, in the spending the weekend binge-watching one camera worked. The lone microphone if it were raining rocks as a thick blanket of night of 22-23 February, was MUCH the descent and landing video, the team turned on for landing failed, but NASA got ash covered the town. more powerful.” at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, some snippets of sound after touchdown: the So far, there have been no reports of damage California, shared the video at a news whirring of the rover’s systems and wind Volcanologist Boris Behncke of the national or injuries. conference. gusts. institute’s Etna observation center has followed the latest paroxysms with awe. Credit : Associated Press (AP) “These videos and these images are the stuff Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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Entertainment & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES Marvel’s Wanda has a future, but ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ will ‘WandaVision’ fate unclear hit Paramount+ hen “WandaVision” wraps its initial (with the date yet to be announced), the W run next month on the Disney+ character will move to the next “Captain even sooner streaming service, Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Marvel” movie, Feige said. aramount Pictures is joining other will make her next appearance in the big- P major Hollywood studios in slashing screen “Doctor Strange” sequel. He was asked if shifting Marvel stories and the traditional 90-day theatrical window. characters between film and TV might end ViacomCBS announced that some of It’s storytelling that determines how and up cutting into the potential audience. the studio’s films, including “Mission: when characters from the Marvel Comics Impossible 7” and “A Quiet Place Part “I always say when the lights go down universe hopscotch between TV and movies, II,” will go to its fledgling streaming and and a movie starts, it’s a clean slate - Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige said. service, Paramount+, after 45 days in forget everything that’s come before and theaters. “All of the crossover between series, be able to enjoy something that’s its own between films, will always vary based on self-contained story line,” Feige said. He Like all studios in the past year, Paramount the story,” Feige said. “Sometimes (a series) acknowledged that as the studio makes has had to adapt. Paramount sold some of will go into a season two, sometimes it’ll go more shows and films and introduces new its films to streaming services, including into a feature and then back into a series.” characters, it “becomes harder and harder” “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” which went PC : AP Photo AP PC : to meet that goal. to Netflix, and “Coming 2 America” to Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch, future during a virtual panel discussion held Amazon, but held back its biggest titles, plays opposite Benedict Cumberbatch’s “But it is something that all of our writers by the Television Critics Association. But including “Mission: Impossible 7” and title character in “Doctor Strange in the and filmmakers pay great attention to, to second seasons are being considered and “Top Gun: Maverick” for more traditional Multiverse of Madness,” planned for a 2022 make sure that fans can follow” the latest planned for series, he said, without giving theatrical releases. release. chapter and that newcomers can enjoy it too, away details. he said. Feige wouldn’t say whether “WandaVision,” Marvel Studios’ first original series for There’s a flurry of potential new Disney+ When the Walt Disney Co. acquired Marvel Disney+, has a future after its March 5 candidates, including “The Falcon and Entertainment for about $4 billion in 2009, season finale. The riff on generations of the Winter Soldier,” debuting March 19 prior deals left some of its properties with TV sitcoms — with the added superhero with Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan other studios. twist — brought Wanda and Paul Bettany’s reprising their roles from “Avengers: character, Vision, to the fore from the Endgame.” Asked if Marvel Studios might be able to “Avengers” movie franchise. regain them, Feige said he believes it could “Loki,” starring Tom Hiddleston revisiting happen, but added that “rumors online about “I’ve been at Marvel for too long to say a his character following the events of things reverting” to Marvel aren’t always true. definite no or definite yes to anything,” “Endgame,” debuts June 11. After “Ms. Feige replied when asked about the show’s Marvel” arrives on the streaming service Credit : Associated Press (AP) Lady Gaga’s dogs Acclaimed Writer of “Baahubali” Photo AP PC : recovered safely KV Vijayendra Prasad to write the after theft, shooting script of “Sita- The Incarnation” “A Quiet Place Part II” has been delayed ady Gaga’s two French bulldogs, which several times over the past year. It was L were stolen by thieves who shot and ◆ By NDT Bureau originally set to come out last March, but wounded the dog walker, were recovered was pulled from the schedule when theaters unharmed, Los Angeles police said. @NewDelhiTimes closed nationwide. Both it and “Mission: A woman brought the dogs to the LAPD’s [email protected] Impossible 7” are currently scheduled to Olympic Community Police Station, just open in the fall. northwest of downtown, around 6 p.m, said Capt. he acclaimed writer of the movie Jonathan Tippet, commanding officer of the T “Baahubali” is all set to write the script The 45-day plan is yet another sign of how department’s elite Robbery-Homicide Division. for the film “Sita-The Incarnation” which is quickly the pandemic has changed the set to be a multilingual film as announced business of Hollywood. In the past theater by the movie producers. The Movie will be owners have been able to insist upon released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam exclusive 90-day theatrical windows, but as well Kannada under “A Human Being most have had to compromise to stay afloat Studio Production”. during the pandemic. In the past few months, Universal Pictures reached an agreement The directors of the film have said that the with many theater chains to shorten the film will take audiences on a VFX Journey theatrical window for its films. Warner Bros. across “India’s mythology”. So you can be and parent company WarnerMedia followed sure that this movie will be watched and thing’s for sure, the movie is bound to be with the more controversial decision to enjoyed by a mass audience all across India epic knowing KV Vijayendra Prasad’s level debut films simultaneously in theaters and PC : AP Photo AP PC : when it finally hits the big screen. of writing who is one of the best writers in on HBO Max. the industry. Lady Gaga’s representative and detectives The movie “Sita” is being directed by director And there’s also the pressure to get premium went to the station and confirmed that they Alaukik Desai while veteran scriptwriter, KV Vijayendra Prasad is no stranger to content to new streaming services faster. were the dogs, Tippet said. Vijayendra Prasad will be writing the script writing the script of a blockbuster Bollywood Paramount+ launches March 4 and has some and screenplay of the movie. He will also be movie and if we just check we can see that The singer is currently in Rome to film a hefty competition for audience dollars and accompanied by Manoj Muntashir who will he has worked on projects such as Bajrangi movie. attention in Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple be incharge of writing the movie’s dialogs Bhaijaan, Magadheera, Baahubali: The TV+ and HBO Max. A few films are being The woman who dropped off the dogs appears and lyrics. “Sita” is one of the great epics Beginning, and Baahubali: The Conclusion produced to go directly to to the service, to be “”uninvolved and unassociated” with of Indian Mythology which will finally be among others. including a new “Paranormal Activity” the attack, Tippet said. brought to the big screen of Bollywood. and a new “Pet Sematary” origin story. The So if you enjoyed the movie Baahubali company has also struck a deal with EPIX In a tweet, the LAPD said the woman had The Cast of the movie as well as further and if you like epic history and mythology found the dogs “and reached out to Lady that will add thousands of other movies to details for the movie is yet to be announced or for short if you are an individual of Paramount+. Gaga’s staff to return them.” so we will have to wait till the directors and Culture be sure to watch this movie when Credit : Associated Press (AP) writers decide to spill the beans. But one it comes out. Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Think - Tanks NEW DELHI TIMES The person who makes an error should be taught, and not made fun of! Humans have a long history of committing mistakes and utterly failing at the task at hand. It doesn’t necessarily mean we are losers We seek perfection ruthlessly, but perfection ◆ By Dr. Pramila may necessarily not even exist and our Srivastava perception of perfection is dynamic and constantly changing. We remain obsessed @PramilaBK with the success of others and their exploits. [email protected] So, we formulate our expectations and goals ociety many a times label people into by their standard of success, but little do we S two groups- Winners and Losers. Those see how many times they had to fail or how who fail and those who succeed in life and many mistakes they had to make before they in all its little bits and pieces. We ourselves figured out how to be successful in what they may be guilty of doing the same knowingly do. We are just too focused on the mount on or unknowingly. But this categorization or PC : Getty Images which they stand today. And as soon as we judgment is harsh, cold, unforgiving, and terrible. Maybe before this catastrophe, we stumbled a bit while at it. We try and we fail take our first step, we are troubled by our short-sighted. But non the less, it’s a form of might have been feeling quite strong and and we learn and the next time we try we own mistakes and failures to recreate their scrutiny that every one of us is quite familiar confident about ourselves. Just when we can be better at it throughout the experience. level of success. with. were expecting a bit more out of life, we Remember that we can lose sometimes and have been put down to the dirt again and still be good. This may be best exemplified We forget that everyone, every single one So maybe you stumbled or crashed again embarrassed. by the Greek story of the Spartan Army of us is going to make mistakes, tones of and you find yourself in that familiar place, at Thermopylae, where a small group of mistakes, over and over again. Yes, we would honestly you rather be anywhere else. You But humans have a long history of Spartan army held out against a vastly larger naturally want to avoid making mistakes feel horrible as it reminds you of your committing mistakes and utterly failing at Persian army. They were utterly defeated but whenever and wherever possible but who failures, your mess-ups and past mistakes the task at hand. It doesn’t necessarily mean their sacrifice was considered profoundly has lived and never made any mistakes? It that you rather forget. All the guilt that you we are losers. We as humans are prone to noble. is these mistakes that teach us what we’re have gathered in the past comes flooding making mistakes over and over again and doing and what’s wrong and what’s right. back into your thoughts. You are reminded through our mistakes, we have learned to So, you see most of us are going to make Our experience is our best teacher. So, we of your fundamental idiocy and you may be better. Our history and past have taught mistakes and encounter terrible failures in should be open to making mistakes and in even doubt the very nature of your entire us that terrible things can and do happen some areas or part of our lives. But we are the same way we should also be open to existence. to good people and therefore we must in an extremely success-focused world and learning from our mistakes. We must learn remember to be a little kind and sympathetic we define success by some very shallow and to forgive ourselves for the mistakes that we So, what do we do? We step back, retreat, in the face of failure. narrow definitions. We talk endlessly about make and try to learn from them so that we despair, flagellated, embarrassed, we opportunities and giving our best efforts in can install in ourselves the heart to forgive feel small and incompetent, we lick our Our mistakes don’t mean we have failed in order to be successful but when it comes others for their mistakes and help them learn wounded pride. We’ve been here before, life and we are utterly useless, it just means to failure or mistakes there is a deep and from it as we also have to learn from our it’s familiar but yet it feels overwhelmingly we tried something and we might have uncomfortable silence. own failures and mistakes. India sets an example in global health cooperation by supplying COVID-19 Vaccine and co-created with the Indian Council of in some of these nations and setting up the pandemic is rattling the world, India again ◆ By International Institute for Non - Aligned Studies Medical Research. infrastructure to direct the shots. came with gifts of vaccines.” @iinsNAM As the fight against COVID-19 arrives at a Be it the developed world or the developing Hridayesh Tripathi, the Nepalese Minister of [email protected] defining moment, India, in an extraordinary world, both are struggling to control Health and Population, stated that India had diplomatic initiative, launched the the spread of this current pandemic. shown kindness by offering the vaccine in ndia’s collaboration with partner ‘Neighbourly Vaccine Diplomacy’ and Providentially, India is equipped with a a grant. I nations has expanded across several donated millions of COVID-19 vaccines technical workforce and the ability for quick sectors, health is the most significant among to the neighbouring South Asian countries. development and manufacturing scale-up. Mohamed Nasheed, Speaker of People’s them. India has arisen as the capital of Free Shipments of the immunization arrived Lately, Indian companies have been boosting Majlis (parliament) of Maldives, expressed low-cost generic medicines and affordable lately in Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, production to meet the exceptional demand gratitude toward India for its “gift,” saying vaccines to provide health coverage to those Maldives, Myanmar, Mauritius, and for COVID-19 immunizations. The Serum that New Delhi has consistently been Male’s who have, to a great extent, been barred Seychelles; only days after India initiated its Institute of India has just amassed 80 million first responder and reliable companion. from the formal medical care sector. nationwide vaccination program. dosages of the AstraZeneca immunization Thus, in a time of need for the neighbouring India’s commitment with several nations in India provided 2 million dosages to and produces 50 million every month. A countries, India is stepping out to support the health sector has been developing at a Bangladesh and 1,000,000 dosages to Nepal portion of those immunizations will likewise the world to overcome the pandemic fast rate in the areas such as export of high as a “gift” under its “Neighbourhood First” be given to the World Health Organization- globally and setting as an example in health quality low-valued Indian drugs, setting policy. The country had sent 150,000 dosages supported COVAX initiative to provide corporation sector. vaccines to needy nations. up of manufacturing units and medical of Covishield immunizations to Bhutan and (in arrangement with care framework in foreign countries, 100,000 dosages to the Maldives. COVID-19 India’s assistance amidst a seething pandemic News from Non-Aligned World) medical treatment, telemedicine, capacity vaccines from India arrived in Colombo, has become the focal point of world pioneers’ development, conventional medication, and the Sri Lankan capital, via a special Air www.iins.org appreciation of its speedy so forth. India currently is one of the world’s India flight on January 28, 2021. Under dispatch of vaccines to largest producers of immunizations. the Government of India’s #VaccineMaitri neighbouring South Asian Contact New Delhi Times initiative, India has gifted 500,000 doses of Amid all the worldwide fuss for COVID nations. Dr. AK Abdul made in India COVISHIELD vaccines to Sri immunizations, India approved two Momen, the Foreign For Complaints & Suggestions Lanka. COVID-19 immunizations on 3rd January, Minister of Bangladesh, +91-9999331600 namely Covishield and Covaxin. They are India intends to provide anywhere between expressed after receiving being administered to the frontline health 12 million to 20 million shots to its the consignment. A-2/59, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 workers in the nation. Covishield is Oxford- neighbours in the first phase of support “India had stood by AstraZeneca’s immunization manufactured throughout the following three weeks to Bangladesh during the Visit us at : twitter@NewDelhiTimes by Pune-based Serum Institute of India about a month. Besides, India is likewise (1971) Liberation War, facebook.com/newdelhitimes (SII); Covaxin is made by Bharat Biotech assisting with the training of health workers and today, when the Printer and Publisher: Dr. (Mrs.) Pramila Srivastava, on behalf of Dr. Ankur Srivastava, Printed at Sudhir Printers, 151, Desh Bandhu Gupta Market, Karol Bagh, Delhi - 110005, Published at A-2/59 Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi-110029. Ph.: 26102520, 26105846 Fax: 26196294 Email: [email protected], Vol. 31, No. 5 Editor : Dr. Ankit Srivastava www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper