NEW DELHI TIMES R.N.I. No 53449/91 DL-SW-1/4124/20-22 (Monday/Tuesday same week) (Published Every Monday) New Delhi Page 24 Rs. 7.00

8 - 14 February 2021 Vol - 31 No. 2 Email : [email protected] Founder : Dr. Govind Narain Srivastava ISSN -2349-1221 Biden may review Bad counsel may cause us to fall into an abyss US-Taliban deal In this journey, we call life, as eternal and fleeting as it may On February 29, 2020, the US and the Taliban signed a deal in Qatar’s seem, we are faced with an ocean of difficult situations capital Doha. America agreed to withdraw all its troops and coalition and circumstances that often we cannot overcome on our forces from Afghanistan. The Taliban committed to talk to the Afghan own. We are weak or more specifically we are incomplete. government for a negotiated peaceful settlement to Afghan crisis, and Incomplete in our wisdom, incomplete in our knowledge, to severe ties with other terror outfits like the IS and Haqqani network. and incomplete in our capacity to understand and we are The Afghan dialogue between the Taliban and Afghan government left feeling alone, powerless, or insecure to muster the is continuing at Doha since September, 2020. Now Biden courage to meet life and all is trails. We feel the need to administration, new to the process... rely on our friends and family... By Dr. Ankit Srivastava Page 3 By Dr. Pramila Srivastava Page 24

By NDT Special Bureau Page 2 Myanmar under military heel Delve deeper into the mysteries of Pakistan reports interview with Ancient Aliens UN, social media says it’s fake

The political landscape of Asia has changed and the Human mind is way more complex than we think. But A report appearing in Pakistan daily Dawn reported that reaction by the world’s competing powers is an indication mysteries of deep space and time continuum is ever more UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged and of which side has scored a win... complex and beyond human comprehension... Pakistan to “come together and seriously... 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 India & Bangladesh inching closer on cultural lines “The primary language is Bangla, called Bengali by most nonnatives, an Indo-European language spoken not just by Bangladeshis, but also by people who are culturally Bengali. This includes about 300 million people from Bangladesh, West Bengal, and Bihar, as well as Bengali speakers in other Indian states.” - Michael S. Harris of Bangladesh, Pakistan has time and again ◆ By NDT Special Bureau proved that it will try every trick in its purse @NewDelhiTimes to purge the growth of Bangla speaking . [email protected] The world has not forgotten the atrocities angla speaking Muslims of Bangladesh meted out by the Pakistan army on the B have close and metaphorical Bangla speaking Muslims in East Pakistan. relationship with India in comparison Lest we forget, in 1971, the Pakistan Army to Pakistan as they inherited a shared with the support of the militant Islamist outfit language with India and celebrated same Jamaat-e-Islami killed between 200,000 festivals, observed similar prayers and kept and 3,000,000 people and raped between forward bilateral relationship to promote 200,000 and 400,000 Bengali women. This international bond and boost economic was one of the most macabre state sponsored development. Since 1971, Bangladeshi similar sectarian practices and offerings and Bangladeshi Taka being acceptable as genocide in the 20th century. According Muslims vowed to share a healthy mutually which can seldom be found in Pakistan. a medium of exchange. Bangla speaking to the Bangladesh Genocide Archives, it cooperative relationship with India which Muslims have enriched themselves by all started with Operation Searchlight, a reciprocated the gesture in good faith. “It would be best to go back to the working and trading with Indians more than planned military pacification carried out by paradigm of history, and Pakistan since the partition. Wearing lungi, the Pakistan Army started on 25 March, 1971 Since the partition, Bangla speaking fraternal ties in managing India- kurta and pajama is common in Bangladesh to curb the Bengali nationalist movement by Muslims have been sharing commendable Bangladesh relations. The participation of and Indian states like Assam, West Bengal taking control of the major cities on March bond with West Bengal and Assam due to Bangladeshi soldiers in the Republic Day and Bihar which is often traded informally 26, and then eliminating all opposition, similar practices and cultures. They have parade is a good start”. at the bordering areas. political or military, within one month. It natural bonding with Indians due to shared -Rudroneel Ghosh; TOI was India that came to help the oppressed ancestry before partition. Both Hindus and Language is one of the transformative sources Bengali Muslims of then East Pakistan. Muslims have relatives on either side of Bilaterally, India has always looked forward that burgeon natural bond and integration the border and keep visiting each other at to upgrade its ties with Bangladesh to between two persons encompassing India, standing true to its age-old friendship every opportune moment. Bangla speaking achieve a prosperous growth for both the cultural, regional, and geographical aspects. bond has always supported Bangladesh Muslims have long been influenced by countries for carrying out business and trade Pakistan, after innumerable atrocities on irrespective of international pressure. religious scholars of West Bengal and Assam without any hindrance. The atmosphere Bangladesh in the 1970s is trying hard to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who frequently visit Bangladesh to deliver is so cordial that those residing close to extend the olive branch towards Bangladesh. once said, “Bangladesh always looks their lectures and motivate them towards border on either sides keep importing and However, by fanning religious extremism towards India in the time of need”. This their . This is evident from the fact exporting their MSME goods, handy-craft and secretly promoting the infamous Jamaat statement speaks for the depth of shared that Bihar, West Bengal and Assam share and other valuable items with Indian Rupee members against the ruling establishment relations between the two countries. Myanmar under military heel reimpose sanctions on Myanmar as a reaction dreams of a place I never visited but felt was to the coup, calling it “a direct assault on within reach. ◆ By Tarek Fatah the country’s transition to democracy and Author & Columnist, Canada the rule of law”. He called for a concerted The romance of Rangoon was sullied by @TarekFatah international response to push the generals the bloodshed in Rakhine state from where [email protected] into relinquishing power. ’s state-run the Rohingya were chased out by Buddhist news agency Xinhua described the coup as extremists fighting Islamist jihadis, and he political landscape of Asia has merely a “a major cabinet reshuffle.” years before that in the expulsion of most T changed and the reaction by the world’s “foreigners” from the capital, some of whom competing powers is an indication of which China’s reaction reflected Beijing’s attitude who call Toronto their home. side has scored a win. towards its border states as mere satellites. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin And then there was Rudyard Kipling and his The military in Myanmar-formerly known as told a briefing that China hoped the parties poem that immortalized the country in his Burma-has staged a coup and imprisoned the would “properly handle their differences” “Road to Mandalay”: country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. and “maintain political and social stability”. Ship me somewhere east of Suez, where the As 2020 ended with the demise of Trump best is like the worst, and the continued rise of a worldwide Never has a military coup been given as Where there aren’t no Ten Commandments pandemic, the forgotten people of Myanmar much respectability. Of course, Beijing an’ a man can raise a thirst; after decades of military dictatorship and a has supported every military coup that has For the temple-bells are callin’, an’ it’s there genocide of the country’s Rohingya Muslims occurred in its other satellite state, Pakistan. that I would be — went to the polls and elected Aung San Myanmar may be its name today, but for By the old Moulmein Pagoda, looking lazy Suu Ky’s National League for Democracy those of us born in the Indian subcontinent at the sea;

(NLD) party by a landslide. PC : Getty Images just after World War Two, the country was On the road to Mandalay, This was not what the country’s generals had known as Burma, the land where many Where the old Flotilla lay, anti-racism, my reference to Kipling or expected. They had backed her opposition of our fathers fought for both sides in the With our sick beneath the awnings when we calling Myanmar as Burma and Yangon as who were demanding a rerun of the vote, Anglo-Japanese conflict. went to Mandalay! Rangoon will be seen as me needing a jab claiming widespread fraud. The election On the road to Mandalay, of ‘wokeness’. commission disagreed, saying there was no Its capital was once known as Rangoon Where the flyin’-fishes play, evidence to support these claims. And so, on until the military generals changed it to An’ the dawn comes up like thunder outer Here’s a line in Bollywood Hindi to quench Feb 1, the military staged a coup just as a Yangon. As children, we had songs about China ‘crost the Bay! the thirst of the politically correct: session of new parliament was set to open. lovers in Rangoon where the population was a potpourri of the indigenous mingling But almost a century has passed from when Meray Peeya gaaey Rangoon, Suu Kyi and a number of her party leaders with , Pashtuns, , Chinese, Kipling was born in Bombay and roamed keeya tha wahaan se telephone, were put under arrest. Several charges have Baloch and Malays. One could even run into the Khyber Pass, wrote about Kim’s Gun Teree yaad satati hai been filed against her, including possession Persians and Lebanese, they say. in Lahore and expressed his dreams about of walkie-talkies. Burma. “My lover has gone to Rangoon Every time Burma bleeds, it’s like someone He called me on the telephone, U.S. President Joe Biden threatened to has stabbed my memories, wounding my In today’s world of cancel culture and Your thoughts trouble me” www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

8 - 14 February 2021 3

Editor’s Desk NEW DELHI TIMES Biden may review Fretful Pakistan US-Taliban deal Eagerly Awaits government and other stakeholders. The our foundational partnership with the United counterterrorism force in Afghanistan which administration is looking carefully at States and we will work closely together the Taliban may not agree. Residual force ◆ Dr. Ankit Srivastava the negotiations to fully comprehend the on security, peace, counter-terrorism and in Afghanistan could collapse the Doha Chief Editor progress vis-à-vis Taliban’s commitments regional engagement. Mr Sullivan affirmed accord. Sustainability of small contingent is @AnkitNDT to “end this so-called forever war” and that the partnership with the Government of another problem. [email protected] “bring forces home”. The US may “retain Afghanistan and ANDSF remains a priority some capacity to deal with any resurgence and a key to US national security objectives. Some Afghan officials hope that the review n February 29, 2020, the US and of terrorism”. We will continue close consultations in the will add new US conditions but the Biden O the Taliban signed a deal in Qatar’s days and weeks ahead. We agreed to work team is keen on effective implementation of capital Doha. America agreed to withdraw According to a statement by the National toward a permanent ceasefire and a just and existing conditions of the Doha agreement all its troops and coalition forces from Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne durable peace in a democratic Afghanistan as all of its components are ‘inter-related’. Afghanistan. The Taliban committed to talk on January 22, 2021 “National Security capable of preserving the gains of the past to the Afghan government for a negotiated Advisor Jake Sullivan spokewith Afghan two decades, protecting the rights of all In all likelihood, the Biden administration peaceful settlement to Afghan crisis, and National Security Advisor Hamdullah Afghans, and continuing the reforms”. may reaffirm the Doha agreement to severe ties with other terror outfits like Mohib regarding the U.S. commitment to framework. That pushes the Taliban much the IS and Haqqani network. The Afghan the U.S.-Afghan partnership and to peace for The Taliban responded sharply that they harder to ensure that they are “living up to dialogue between the Taliban and Afghan all the people of Afghanistan. Mr. Sullivan would “honour the agreement” and expect their commitments to cut ties with terrorist government is continuing at Doha since underscored that the U.S. will support the “the other side to remain committed to their groups, reduce violence in Afghanistan, and September, 2020. peace process with a robust and regional agreement too.” The review could impede engage in meaningful negotiations with the diplomatic effort, which will aim to help the the Afghan peace process. The US may Afghan government and other stakeholders”. Now Biden administration, new to two sides achieve a durable and just political not withdraw its remaining 2,500 forces, Washington should elicit assurances from the process, wants to review the Doha settlement and permanent ceasefire. pledged for May 2021 under the Doha the Taliban to protect and respect women’s agreement to gauge Taliban’s commitment deal. That could induce the Taliban to go rights and human rights. and compliance. That has put the intra- Mr. Sullivan also made clear the United back on guarantees to prevent Al Qaeda Afghan dialogue on hold, awaiting the States’ intention to review the February and other terrorist groups from operating in Washington may shift the May timeframe outcome of the new US administration’s 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement, including to Afghanistan. The US may also shift the May of its final withdrawal making it review of Afghanistan assess whether the Taliban was living up timeline of troop’s withdrawal to ensure the contingent on the Taliban’s comprehensive policy. to its commitments to cut ties with terrorist Taliban’s compliance with commitments. implementation of the Doha agreement, groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, reduction of violence and real progress in US National and to engage in meaningful negotiations President Biden has always detested the intra-Afghan talks. It will be interesting to Security with the Afghan government and other prolonged US military engagement in watch the Taliban’s response to a delayed Adviser Jake stakeholders. Afghanistan. As Obama’s Vice President he American pull-out. Sullivan has opposed military surge in 2009. Wiser with “made clear He expressed America’s desire that all Vietnam experience he advocated an end to The West, America included, want troops the United Afghan leaders embrace this historic “forever wars”. The US troop pull-out has withdrawal. Now Iran, Russia and China States’ opportunity for peace and stability. The reached a point of no return; any reversal at are backing the Taliban. So, the U.S. may intention to National Security Advisors discussed this stage is unlikely. not withdraw all its armed forces from review” the the United States’ support for protecting Afghanistan. Increasing Chinese influence Doha deal and the extraordinary gains made by Afghan The unwinnable Afghan war - the longest and there mandates some modicum of the US check whether the women, girls, and minority groups as part of costliest in American history — has fatigued military presence akin to North Korea, Taliban are living up the peace process. Mr. Sullivan committed the American public. Any policy change on Japan, Germany, , , Oman, to their commitments to consulting closely with the Government Afghanistan enhances the risk of American Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain. to cut ties with of Afghanistan, NATO allies, and regional lives, besides political cost. Fortunately, terrorist groups, partners regarding a collective strategy to American Special Representative to Appalled by the Taliban savagery against reduce violence support a stable, sovereign, Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has been civilians, non-Muslims and women, in Afghanistan, and secure future for retained for policy continuity. America had ousted the terror outfit from and engage in Afghanistan.”. Afghan political space way back in 2001. meaningful The NATO Defence Ministers meeting, Pakistan has been maneuvering since then negotiations The Afghan National scheduled for February 18 in Brussels, for the Taliban’s political rehabilitation. with the Security Advisor has Afghanistan on the agenda. American It felt assured with the Doha deal but review Afghan Hamdullah Mohib review won’t be over by then but some and probable change unnerves Pakistan tweeted: “In my phone indications could surface. Intensifying much more than the Taliban, hence its call with my US counterpart violence in Afghanistan dissuades the rhetoric that the Doha deal offers the best @jakejsullivan, I reaffirmed that Europeans from a total troop and the only chance for a negotiated peace! Afghanistan remains committed to withdrawal in May. Biden Much more than the Taliban, Pakistan may want to retain a small eagerly awaits, fingers crossed, for final outcome of American review of the Doha deal. PC : Getty Images

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 4 8 - 14 February 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Delve deeper into the mysteries of Ancient Aliens Ancient aliens who walked on the Earth were considered to have supernatural powers as their mental capacity and evolution made them superior beings ◆ By Sujay Dhawan happened in the past which scared the hell out of them that they are not interested in Editor coming before us? @SujayDhawan [email protected] Aliens, who must have travelled light years across the galaxy, faced innumerable uman mind is way more complex than challenges and landed on our planet H we think. But mysteries of deep space thousands of years ago; they must have and time continuum is ever more complex found something chilling about us humans and beyond human comprehension. You enough to either return back or go into might not understand or might not be at hiding. content with what I say further ahead but it’s

imperative to be said. PC : Getty Images OR,

We live in a world which is more like a since time immemorial. It won’t be wrong planets. Space travel would become a new We are the aliens, as we were created by cocoon for us. We are away from any space to say that we ourselves are aliens for this normal now. aliens coming here to rule the planet. As per time disturbance or any deep space anomaly. planet and we were brought here to start scientists, around eight humans like species We don’t encounter any alien being or afresh. But, yes this but, always come. once walked the Earth 50-60 thousand years distant traveler from any other planet or star back. But archeologists have also found system or even a galaxy. Ancient aliens who walked on the Earth were But we are still fighting amongst ourselves. skulls with elongated head. We have to considered to have supernatural powers as Still countries are trying to be world unravel the mysteries and find the answers You can go ahead and distance yourself their mental capacity and evolution made superpowers. We are still dependent on to it. from these weird things I am discussing or them superior beings. They knew how to natural resources like petrol, diesel and Or have we already found it and it's too will be discussing now. harness free energy like solar, wind, etc. gas which are contributing to high carbon emissions. disturbing to share with common people, therefore, secret organisations hold back the You believe it or not, but the fact is alien Egypt Pyramids, UFO sightings, Baghdad information and do not pass it around. life is a reality. Several documents and UFO battery, etc., are live examples before us. We Global warming is not a theory but a reality. sighting by people across the world were have to ask ourselves the question that who Our world is dying and the cause and reason All this could make a very good plot for a investigated but no concrete conclusion are we? What are we? Why are we still not for it is only us. Due to us, all the species are sci-fi movie but what if there is even an iota ever came out as recent classified files were able to give answers to these questions? suffering extremely. of truth in this? declassified by the CIA on the same matter. People living in 1960’s and 1970’s use Coming back to our main topic, where are You can either be amazed or scared or go We accept this fact or not but aliens from to think that by the year 2020 we would the aliens now? Why aren’t they talking numb, but the truth will come out one day some other planets have been visiting us be flying in cars and travelling to nearby to us? Why are they in the hiding? What or the other. International Political Scenario of the Week Although the European Union and the USA ◆ By NDT Bureau have been critical of the Russian treatment @NewDelhiTimes of Navalny, Russia has called the West not to interfere in its interfere matter. [email protected] Putin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia Russia won’t listen to Western criticism of Navalny’s sentencing and the police action Protests in Russia have erupted across against protesters. “We aren’t going to take the 11 time zones in the country over the into account such statements regarding prison sentencing of political dissident and the enforcement of our laws on those who opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Navalny, violate them and Russian court verdicts,” the major political rival of Russian President Peskov said. Vladimir Putin, was arrested in Russia, upon his return to Moscow from Germany on January 17, 2021. The 2021 Catalan regional election will be held on February 14, 2021, to elect the 13th A Moscow court sentenced Navalny to Parliament of the autonomous community prison, finding that he violated the terms of of Catalonia. All 135 seats in the Parliament his probation while recuperating in Germany will be up for election. Election campaign and in the aftermath of this judgement, is likely to witness skirmishes between rival are at the forefront of the protests. Students people’s rights, I oppose it,” he said. The protests erupted throughout the length and political factions. breadth of Russia. The protestors have and the academic community with affiliation Rector stated that the culture of protests at been met with a heavy hand by the police. The COVID-19 situation will also present to the Boğaziçi University have denounced Boğaziçi University was “taken to extreme”. According to arrest-monitoring group OVD- a problem. The Catalan Parliament voted the decision to appoint Bulu the Rector as Bulu underlined that he respected people’s Info, police arrested over 10,000 protest in January to postpone elections until undemocratic and an attempt to infiltrate the right to protest. “If you simply choose participants across Russia. May 30 due to high levels of coronavirus campus with Erdogan supporters. protest instead of talking to the people you transmission. Later, the Catalan High Court protest, this is not democracy,” he said. On his Instagram account, Navalny has made overruled that decision and reinstated Bulu is the first Rector chosen from outside an appeal to people of Russia and wrote: elections for mid-February. Catalonia has the university community since Turkey’s Erdogan has said that the Turkish youth “iron doors slammed behind my back with confirmed nearly 38,000 new coronavirus 1980 military coup. Hundreds of protestors should be “a youth repairing broken hearts.” a deafening sound, but I feel like a free man. infections in the past two weeks. have been detained by the police. Meanwhile “You will carry this nation to the future Because I feel confident, I’m right. Thanks the police say that the protestors are not with the power of our glorious past,” he to your support. Thanks to my family’s Turkey affiliated with the university. remarked, at a meeting of the ruling Justice support.” Speaking in a live YouTube and Development (AK Party). broadcast, Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s chief Boğaziçi University in Turkey is in midst of Amidst all the controversy and resulting strategist who is currently residing abroad, a protest. The first protests broke out after protests, Bulu has refused to resign. Bulu The opposition Republican People’s Party has called the protests a huge moral victory. professor Melih Bulu was appointed by said everyone was entitled to freedom of self- (CHP) and its head Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has The protests will escalate in the coming days Turkish President Recap Erdoğan as the new expression “within democratic boundaries.” called for Melih Bulu to resign to “end this and so will the police crackdown. Rector of Boğaziçi University. The students “But when it comes to abusing other ugly situation.” www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan reports interview with UN, social media says it’s fake Pakistan has hyped the tension since August 2019, when India abolished Article 370 that offered undue advantage to Islamic militants in Kashmir region. India has maintained, rightly so, that By Himanshu Sharma ◆ the merger is its “internal matter”. @_Himansh_ [email protected] Coming to the veracity of the interview having been actually conducted, this appears report appearing in Pakistan daily to be a report twisted for local consumption. A Dawn reported that UN Secretary- The international media, while reporting the General Antonio Guterres urged India and Secretary-General’s statement, noted that Pakistan to “come together and seriously this was not the first time he had insisted discuss their problems.” At his first news on a resolution to the dispute based on the briefing of 2021 in New York on January UN Charter and resolutions. He stressed the 28, the UN Chief talked of human rights same during his four-day visit to Pakistan in and peaceful solutions for problems that 2020 to attend an international conference have no military solution. He viewed that on Afghan refugees. “any military confrontation between the two would be a disaster of unmitigated Guterres had, in a previous statement, PC : Getty Images proportions for both countries and for the talked of “the need for Security Council’s whole world.” resolutions to be implemented for effective has given so many pro-Pakistan comments. Union Territory and that’s a fait accompli. de-escalation,” full respect of human rights Such orientation has made India view his Even PM Modi cannot change the facts on Guterres was reportedly responding to and “continental freedom in Jammu & comments with circumspection. Not many the ground now. Pakistan can keep talking an APP news correspondent on tensions Kashmir for people to have free movement.” in India care for his advice. forever. Guterres reportedly talked about a between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. He offered his good offices in relation to the de-escalation of the situation in the Line of The journalist referred to Guterres’ August situation. Referring to India’s revocation of The reporter of Dawn has not provided Control and “to come together and seriously 2019 statement, which called for a resolution Article 370 and ending Kashmir’s special any links to UN Chief’s statements. The discuss their problems.” of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with status, Guterres urged India “to refrain from statements and quotes attributed to Guterres the relevant UN resolutions and the UN taking steps that could affect the status of are not available on the UN website. On He asked the warring countries to discuss Charter. Jammu and Kashmir”. checking, the writer found no mention there. Kashmir bilaterally. Both sides should So, the entire pack of statements needs to be follow the pre-requisite to implement the Pakistan has hyped the tension since August He reportedly said, in another statement, checked for veracity. In all probability it could UN resolution. 2019, when India abolished Article 370 that the UN position on this region was be . Given Pakistan’s penchant for that offered undue advantage to Islamic “governed by the Charter of the UN and telling lies and making the gullible public lap UN Secretary General’s instructions are very militants in Kashmir. Pakistan downgraded applicable Security Council resolutions. The up every word of the lie, this could be another clear. Pakistan should not fight with India. its diplomatic relations with India, expelled final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be concocted report which is appropriately Pakistan should talk, if it can, otherwise the Indian High Commissioner and kept on settled by peaceful means, in accordance twisted for local consumption. Same speech it must forget the issue. Come on. Let’s persistently provoking India through acts with the Charter of the UN.” was heard many times previously. This could sit down and talk. India would like to talk of terror. India hung on despite all Pakistan be just a mere eye wash. The reality is India about Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir any time machinations to ratchet up tensions in the After his visit to Pakistan in 2020, Guterres has already assimilated Kashmir as the Pakistan wants. The earliest the better. Protest in Tripoli, Lebanon turns violent The residents of Tripoli are also upset with the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown till February 14. Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab has said that the Coronavirus lockdown was necessary The residents of Tripoli are also upset with ◆ By NDT Bureau the extension of the COVID-19 lockdown @NewDelhiTimes till February 14. Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab has said that the Coronavirus [email protected] lockdown was necessary. Although Tripoli is the second largest city in Lebanon, it is ripoli, the second largest city in now one of the most resource-deprived area Lebanon, is in a midst of a protest that T in the country. 60% of the population of has now turned violent. The protest erupted Tripoli lives on dollar one per day. on January 28, 2021, when protestors launched Molotov cocktails, hand grenades The COVID-19 crisis and the subsequent and stones at the security forces, who restriction measures have left many in attacked protesters with tear gas and rubber Tripoli jobless and without any source of and live bullets. income. Even before the crises, almost the entire Tripoli workforce depended on day- Dozens of young men set fire to the historic to-day income. municipal building they had been trying to storm for days. They also firebombed two A September study by CARE International other government buildings and a private in the city of over 250,000 found that the university that belongs to a former Prime average household income is 145,000 Minister, Najib Mikati. Lebanese pounds - or less than $20 at the PC : Getty Images current average black-market rate - and 33% According to a statement by the Lebanese pledged to respond with “full severity and institutions and occupy its streets should be of those sampled were unemployed. Army Command, “Three people have been decisiveness.” Tripoli’s Mayor Riad Yamaq held responsible for these events,” he said. arrested, including a Syrian, for participating said, “Those who were behind the riots came The glaring income inequalities in Tripoli in acts of vandalism and starting a fire. from outside Tripoli. Hariri added that those who burned the has also infuriated the protestors, most Another two were arrested for participating city were “criminals who do not belong of which belong to the poor strata of in the riots and keeping the civil defence Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to the city.” “Why did the army stand still the society. The protests in Tripoli have firefighters from getting to the building.” described the events as “an organized on Thursday night and do nothing about erupted as Lebanon grapples with both Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces said crime” and has defended the actions of the the burning building? Who would protect the COVID-19 pandemic and the worst rioters threw hand grenades, even targeting army. “Every single person who plotted to Tripoli if the army did not?” he asked about economic crisis in its history, with only a a patrol, injuring at least nine officers. They jeopardize the stability of the city, burn its the January 28 incident. caretaker government in charge.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 6 8 - 14 February 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Sarwar Chishty- A disgrace to the glorious Sufi tradition Contrary to the Sufi traditions, Sarwar Chishty frequently travelled to Pakistan and falsely claimed himself to be the custodian of Dargah Ajmer Sharif just to gain access to the ruling establishment and media houses of Pakistan Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). ◆ By NDT Bureau The PFI is currently being investigated by @NewDelhiTimes the NIA for its involvement in tens of cases related to terrorist and anti-National activities [email protected] including joining the ISIS and Arms training case, not mentioning hundreds of criminal he ascetic and mystic traditions have cases being investigated by various state T always been a part of the ancient police. Indian culture. Sufism with its arrival in India brought with it an idea inclusive of The self-acclaimed Sufi, Sarwar Chishty, all differences based on traditional and recently gave a statement in support of religious identities that existed in India prior the PFI and justified their criminal acts as to . Sufism helped in the nourishment Muslim empowerment: a statement highly of communal harmony at societal level by unbecoming of a Sufi preacher. Apart from shunning orthodox and purist outlook. The open support for the PFI/SDPI, Sarwar saintly living and charitable behaviour of Chishty is also known for actively organising Youtube/Facebook : TariqJamilOfficial Sufis had attracted many, leading to a huge anti-CAA/NRC protests and delivering publicity or may be to garner Pakistan’s got involved in such activities which led to following across the continent leading to communally charged speeches at Ajmer and support. The outcome of the move must be registration of FIRs against him at various establishment of peace and harmony. Sufi for his untiring efforts to organise the anti- seriously looked upon. Sarwar’s frequent points of time under sections 153A, 153B, Islam anticipates that Muslims must do CAA protests at Dargah Ajmer Sharif area press releases and videos which criticized 147, 148, 307, etc., of the IPC and section away with doctrinal issues and sectarian thereby vitiating the secular and peaceful the Indian Government was quoted by 4/25 of Arms Act. differences so that Islam’s message of peace atmosphere of the exalted Dargah. Not Pakistani media widely to defame India is observed with its followers and is spread stopping here, Sarwar Chishty even tried to internationally. In the image attached with Sarwar Chishty is playing the Muslim throughout the world. Unfortunately, Sufism portray the efforts of the government during this article, Sarwar Chisty can be seen victimisation card to further his own interest and its essence is losing its relevance with Corona lockdown as an oppressive and meeting with Tariq Jamil in Pakistan. and interests of radical organisations like the each passing day due to the radical approach divisive move aimed to suppress the Muslim PFI. State intervention in this matter may of some self-acclaimed Sufis who are either community. All the activities carried by Very few people know that Sarwar Chishty lead to unrest and discomfort in a particular politically motivated or are acting under Sarwar Chishty questions his credentials as has a second wife who is a widow of a section of our society given the precarious the guidance of enemy countries. Of all a Sufi preacher and project him more asa Pakistani Army Officer. Through his wife, nature of Muslim victimisation card, the Sufis in this category, name of Sarwar politician with vested interests. Sarwar met several top Army officials of hence, the onus is on the civil society and Chishty deserves special mention. Pakistan and is a favourite amongst the intelligentsia to take collective initiative by Contrary to the Sufi traditions, Sarwar Army establishment there. What does he using modern tools of communication and In spite of being the Khadim of Dargah Chishty frequently travelled to Pakistan and want to gain by being close to the Army outreach and sensitize the masses especially Ajmer Sharif, Sarwar Chishty is a Muslim falsely claimed himself to be the custodian establishment of an enemy country? Is Muslims against the evil designs of people hardliner who is known for his connection of Dargah Ajmer Sharif just to gain access there any other Sufi doing such nefarious like Sarwar Chishty. A timely intervention with fundamentalist/radical organisations to the ruling establishment and media activities? Maligning the highly exalted may stop the further deterioration of already like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the houses of Pakistan. Reason? To gain cheap peaceful image of Sufis, Sarwar Chishty damaged image of Sufis in India. Maduro consolidates power in Venezuela International critics of Venezuela’s socialist government were unanimous in rejecting the country’s newly chosen Congress as illegitimate address, which was overshadowed by the elections”. The U.S. Secretary of State, humanitarian aid isn’t impeded by the U.S. ◆ By NDT Bureau government’s celebratory session in the Mike Pompeo, was even more vocal about sanctions and the Treasury Department @NewDelhiTimes legislature downtown. “But we aren’t going Guaidó’s role and the illegitimacy of the specifically exempts any COVID-related to give up.” new Assembly made up of largely Maduro assistance. [email protected] loyalists. Meanwhile, on January 25, 2021, the n January 5, 2021,the allies of President “We consider this group to be illegitimate European Union has called for broad political O Nicolas Maduro retook control of and will not recognize it nor its talks in Venezuela to set up new elections. Venezuela’s Congress, thereby completing pronouncements,” he said referring to the “The only way out of the crisis in Venezuela the full political takeover by already ruling pro-Maduro Assembly. “President Guaidó is to resume political negotiations promptly United Socialist Party (PSUV). National and the (old) National Assembly are the and to urgently establish a Venezuelan-led Assembly has been the only major institution only democratic representatives of the dialogue and transition process leading to not controlled by Maduro’s PSUV party. The Venezuelan people as recognized by the credible, inclusive and transparent local, PC : Getty Images coalition led by his party won 256 out of 277 international community, and they should legislative and presidential elections. seats in the election held in December, which be freed from Maduro’s harassment, threats, most opposition candidates boycotted. In a statement on January 6, 2021, the persecution, and other abuses”. For this negotiation process to be successful, European Union said that “the Venezuelan it must be inclusive, involving representatives There is no doubt that Maduro has Today “begins a new cycle for Venezuela, elections of 6 December 2020 for the of the authorities and of the democratic consolidated his power but this has come at a new National Assembly born from the National Assembly regrettably went ahead opposition, as well as from civil society a cost for the common citizen of Venezuela popular vote is born,” Maduro wrote on without a national agreement on electoral organisations. Difficult compromises will and this is most visible in the procurement Twitter after PSUV took control of Congress, conditions. The European Union considers be necessary if Venezuela is to carry out a of the COVID-19 vaccine. In September “Together we will take a great leap toward that the elections failed to comply with the successful transition to democracy and stability. 2020, Maduro’s Health Minister agreed to economic recovery, reconciliation and international standards for a credible process At this challenging juncture, all Venezuelan purchase 11 million doses of vaccines in national peace.” and to mobilise the Venezuelan people to leaders need to prioritise the interests of the the first round of the U.N.-backed program, participate. Venezuelan people. The EU stands ready to International critics of Venezuela’s known as COVAX, which seeks to buy support such an inclusive process, including socialist government were unanimous The lack of political pluralism and the way and distribute vaccines to more than 100 through electoral observation missions,” the in rejecting the country’s newly chosen the elections were planned and executed, countries. Under the terms, it was required EU statement said. Congress as illegitimate. Many western including the disqualification of opposition to make a down payment of over $18 million powers, including the US have recognized leaders, do not allow the EU to recognise by December 15 and provide financial The situation in Venezuela presents one opposition leader Juan Guaido as this electoral process as credible, inclusive guarantees for another $101 million. of the pressing challenges for the Joe Venezuela’s de facto President. After the or transparent, nor do they allow its outcome However, Maduro alleges that due to the Biden administration. Not only is Biden developments of January 5, Guaidó held to be considered as representative of the US unilateral sanctions on Venezuela, funds conferred with the task of confronting his own virtual Parliamentary session via democratic will of the Venezuelan people. for procurement of vaccines were impeded. Maduro’s authoritarian regime, but he also Zoom, with a cohort of opposition leaders. The EU deeply regrets that the National While Maduro’s government claims that the has to ensure that the US policies towards “They are trying to annihilate Venezuela’s Assembly assumed its mandate on 5 January western banks refuse to process Venezuela’s Venezuela do not result in sufferings of the democratic force,” Guaidó said in his online on the basis of these non-democratic payments, Guaido and his aides say that common Venezuela citizen. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES IAEA report states Iran’s development of nuclear programme Iran had indicated its plans to produce uranium metal from natural uranium and then produce uranium metal enriched up to 20% for fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor the first stage.” He told Iran’s official news by Iran’s announcement that it is preparing strongly urge Iran to halt this activity, ◆ By NDT Bureau agency IRNA that the move will elevate to produce uranium metal. Iran has no and return to compliance with its JCPoA @NewDelhiTimes commitments without further delay if it is serious about preserving the deal.” [email protected] Meanwhile, Iran insists that it will accept n January 13, the International Atomic any terms to the nuclear deal. In an essay O Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran titled ‘Iran Wants the Nuclear Deal It Made: has started work on uranium metal-based Don’t Ask Tehran to Meet New Demands’, fuel for a research reactor. The IAEA said dated January 22, in Foreign Affairs, Iran’s in a statement that International Atomic Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Energy Agency Director Rafael Mariano writes that any attempt to “demand new Grossi has “informed IAEA member-states terms” will jeopardize the deal. about recent developments regarding Iran’s plans to conduct R&D activities on uranium Iran is willing to discuss regional issues, but metal production as part of its declared aim “neither the United States nor its European to design an improved type of fuel for the allies have the prerogative to lead or sponsor Tehran Research Reactor.” future talks.” The report by the IAEA also mentioned that Iran had indicated its plans to produce On January 28, Zarif tweeted, “Why on uranium metal from natural uranium and Earth should Iran-a country that stood firm then produce uranium metal enriched up & defeated 4 years of a brutal US economic terrorism imposed in violation of JCPOA & to 20% for fuel for the Tehran Research PC : Getty Images Reactor. UNSC Resolution-show goodwill gesture first? It was the US that broke the deal-for The IAEA report also mentions that Iran said no reason. It must remedy its wrong; then that “there is no limitation on (its) Research Iran will respond.” and Development (R&D) activities” and Iran to the level of “progressive nations in credible civilian use for uranium metal. The “modification and installation of the relevant production of new fuels.” production of uranium metal has potentially It may also be mentioned that Joe Biden has equipment for the mentioned R&D activities grave military implications. said that the USA would seek to rejoin the have been already started” at its Fuel Plate The IAEA report has drawn concerns nuclear agreement if Iran came back into the Fabrication Plant in Isfahan. from the international community. The E3 Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of fold. Biden has named Robert Malley as the (, Germany and the ) Action (JCPoA), Iran committed to not Special US Envoy for Iran, who was one of Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA, Kazem issued the following joint statement: “We, engaging in production of uranium metal the key negotiators of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Gharibabadi, tweeted that “natural uranium the governments of France, Germany and or conducting research and development Deal. This too has raised hopes of the revival will be used to produce uranium metal in the United Kingdom, are deeply concerned on uranium metallurgy for 15 years. We of the 2015 deal. Rising online radicalisation in Singapore causes concern

◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes [email protected]

"O nline radicalisation remains a key concern, and the COVID-19 situation has facilitated the further proliferation of terrorist and extremist propaganda due to Singaporeans spending more time online.”

On February 3, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) stated that the approach to rehabilitate radicalised individuals needs to be adjusted as more young people have picked up terrorist ideology. The profile of those dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism-related activity has changed significantly, the ISD said.

According to the Overview of Safety PC : Getty Images and Security Situation in 2020 released by the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs on February 2, 2021, “Online aftermath of the terror attacks in France and worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch needs of a more diverse group of detainees radicalisation remains a key concern, and other parts of the world arising from the re- in 2019. He is the first ISA detainee to be and supervisees in recent years,” it added. the COVID-19 situation has facilitated publication of caricatures depicting Prophet influenced by what has been described as the further proliferation of terrorist and Muhammad by French magazine Charlie far-right extremist ideology. While dealing with the youths affected by extremist propaganda due to Singaporeans Hebdo on 1 September 2020, a number of extremism, the ISD said it pays particular spending more time online. In 2020, the individuals in Singapore were found to have The ISD noted that since 2015, seven of effort on the detainees continuing with their Internal Security Department detected a made social media postings which incited the 53 people it had picked up for terror- education where practicable. number of self-radicalised Singaporeans violence or stoked communal unrest. These related conduct were aged between 16 and and foreigners. The most recent case cases underline the continued threat posed 19. Singapore also saw the first woman dealt “This was assessed to be critical in keeping involved a 16-year-old youth who was by hate speech and extremist ideologies, with under the ISA for terror-related conduct these youths motivated and focused. We detained in December 2020. He had plotted and the need to guard against them”. The in 2016. Six Singaporean women have have worked with their families, schools and to attack Muslims at two local mosques 16-year-old Singaporean was influenced by been dealt with under the law to date, the other rehabilitation stakeholders to create a on the anniversary of the New Zealand Australian Brenton Tarrant - who killed 51 ISD noted. “As a result, the rehabilitation conducive environment to facilitate their Christchurch attacks. In late 2020, in the people and injured 40 after opening fire on approach has also been adjusted to meet the studies.”

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 8 8 - 14 February 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Biden signs executive order on climate change Biden has reversed the policy of previous US President regarding climate change. One of the major decisions taken by Biden after his swearing in was the announcement that the United States is re-joining the Paris Agreement signed in 2015 a significant increase in global ambition. It ◆ By NDT Bureau makes clear that both significant short-term @NewDelhiTimes global emission reductions and net zero global emissions by mid-century – or before [email protected] – are required to avoid setting the world on a dangerous, potentially catastrophic, n January 27, 2021, the US President climate trajectory. The order reaffirms that O Joe Biden signed an executive order the President will host a Leaders’ Climate on tackling climate change. According to a Summit on Earth Day, April 22, 2021; that release by the White House, the executive the United States will reconvene the Major action was aimed “to tackle the climate crisis Economies Forum; that, to underscore the at home and abroad while creating good- administration’s commitment to elevating paying union jobs and equitable clean energy climate in U.S. foreign policy, the President future, building modern and sustainable has created a new position, the Special infrastructure, restoring scientific integrity Presidential Envoy for Climate, which and evidence-based policymaking across will have a seat on the National Security the federal government, and re-establishing Council, and that it will be a U.S. priority the President’s Council of Advisors on to press for enhanced climate ambition and Science and Technology”. “These Executive integration of climate considerations across Orders follow through on President Biden’s a wide range of international fora,” the promise to take aggressive action to tackle White House statement added. climate change and build on the executive actions that the President took on his first The directives in the executive order aim to day in office, including re-joining the conserve 30 percent of the country’s lands Paris Agreement and immediate review of and waters in the next 10 years, double the harmful rollbacks of standards that protect nation’s offshore wind energy, and move to PC : Getty Images our air, water, and communities”, the an all-electric federal vehicle fleet, among justice. Our plans are ambitious, but we are signed in 2015. The new US Climate Envoy statement added. other changes. Biden’s sweeping plan is America. We’re bold, we’re unwavering in John Kerry has also said that the US will aimed at staving off the worst of global the pursuit of jobs and innovation, science now seek to play a leading role in global The White House statement further stated that warming caused by burning fossil fuels. and discovery.” climate action. through the signing of the executive order, climate considerations were regarded as an “It’s a whole of government approach to put Thus, Biden has reversed the policy of Kerry has said the country plans to announce essential element of the U.S. foreign policy climate change at the centre of our domestic previous US President Donald Trump a target for reducing its greenhouse gas and national security. “The order affirms national security and foreign policy,” regarding climate change. One of the major emissions by 2030 under the Paris Climate that, in implementing – and building on – Biden said. “It’s advancing conservation, decisions taken by Biden after his swearing Accord before an international climate the Paris Agreement’s objectives, the United revitalizing communities and cities and on in was the announcement that the United summit that Biden will host on April 22, States will exercise its leadership to promote the farmlands and securing environmental States is re-joining the Paris Agreement 2021. Murder of democracy in Pakistan Apart from many coups attempts, there have been numerous unsuccessful coups attempts in Pakistani history from landing in Pakistan as he returned from ◆ By NDT Bureau a visit to Sri Lanka. @NewDelhiTimes Apart from many coups attempts, there have [email protected] been numerous unsuccessful coups attempts in Pakistani history including, Rawalpindi P akistan has a long history of coups conspiracy in 1951 led by Maj. Gen. Akbar conspired by the Army Chiefs, be it Khan along with left-wing activists and is by General Zia ul Haq or General Pervez sympathetic officers against the government Musharraf, the democracy in Pakistan has of Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first Prime been assassinated again and again. Minister. In the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it is written that “the Prime While in 1995, another coup attempts Minister is the boss, not the Army Chief”. against the government of Benazir Bhutto Despite this fact, the first coup was carried led by Maj. Gen. Zahirul Islam Abbasi with out in the year 1953, when the then the support of Islamic extremists was foiled. PC : Getty Images Governor-General Ghulam Muhammad dismissed the government of Prime Minister here. The most shocking coup was attained The coup conducted in 1977 by General Zia Overall, Pakistan’s democratic structure Khawaja Nazimuddin despite it enjoying at midnight on July 4, 1977, in which Chief ul Haq proved to be anathema not only for always remained in crisis, one after another the support of the Constituent Assembly of of Army Staff General Zia-ul-Haq ordered the Pakistan People’s Party or Bhutto Family the Major Generals defiled the democratic Pakistan. the arrest of civilian government of Bhutto, but for entire Pakistan, as Zia emerged as a environment of the country. Since the his ministers, and other leaders of both the cruel dictator who imposed strict Shariya partition, almost every regime faced coup Then in the year 1954, he dismissed the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan law in the whole country. d’état conspired by the Major Generals. Constituent Assembly to prevent it from National Alliance. changing the Constitution to restrict the However, after 11 years of the long struggle Unlike the world’s largest democracy India, Governor-General’s powers. While, five General Zia in a nationally televised address of Pakistan’s democracy, in 1988, he died in the democracy in the Islamic republic of years later in 1958, the first Pakistani announced that the National Assembly a plane crash and the story of a tyrant ended Pakistan is constantly assassinated by its President, Major General Iskander Mirza, of Pakistan and all provincial assemblies there. Army Chiefs, who use law as an apparatus dismissed the Constituent Assembly of were dissolved and that the Constitution of to fulfil their aims. Pakistan and the government of Prime Pakistan was suspended. The democracy in Pakistan was murdered Minister Feroz Khan Noon, appointing Army again in October 1999, when senior officers Countries like Pakistan needs to take a leaf Commander-in-Chief General Ayub Khan In this wake, the martial law was enforced loyal to Army Chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf from the book of Indian democracy which as the Chief Martial Law Administrator. by new President General Zia ul Haq who in a coup attempt arrested Prime Minister has successfully shown that there is a clear Ironically, Mirza himself was exiled by introduced a strict but modern form of Nawaz Sharif and his ministers after cut distinction between the arms of the Ayub Khan, who appointed himself the conservatism that promoted nationalistic thwarting the Sharif regime’s attempt to government with civilian government being President. The caravan was not stopped and religious programs. dismiss Musharraf and prevent his plane the supreme of all. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES Hezbollah targets IDF drones It is unlikely that the Israeli incursions into the Lebanon airspace will stop in the upcoming days been successful to curb the acquisition of ◆ By NDT Bureau a stockpile of precision-guided missiles @NewDelhiTimes and Hezbollah has now acquired twice the missiles it had last year. Meanwhile, the [email protected] Lebanese President has alleged that Israeli warplanes and drones violate Lebanon’s n February 3, 2021, the Israel Defense airspace almost daily and said that the O Forces (IDF) tweeted, “Anti-aircraft country will file a complaint with the United missiles were just fired toward an IDF UAV Nations against Israel “aggression and during routine activity over Lebanon. The violations of Lebanon’s ”. aircraft was not hit and we continued our mission as planned.” Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan The surface-to-surface anti-aircraft missiles Nasralla, said that Israel has were fired by the Hezbollah group at an not been successful to curb Israeli drone over Southern Lebanon. According to the Times of Israel, the the acquisition of a stockpile Hezbollah-linked news site Central Media of precision-guided missiles later shared photographs and a video of the and Hezbollah has now drone, which appears to be a Matrice model of the Chinese manufacturer DJI, equipped acquired twice the missiles with a camera. The device does not appear it had last year. to be damaged. However, it is unlikely that the Israeli The Times of Israel also quoted Ali Choeib, incursions into the Lebanon airspace will a journalist having proximity to Hezbollah, stop in the upcoming days. On January 26, that Hezbollah was behind the attack on the the IDF Chief of General Staff Aviv Kochavi IDF UAV and this was a part of Hezbollah’s delivered an address, the crux of which was

policy to repel all Israeli incursions into PC : Getty Images that Israel was ready to take quick action in Lebanese airspace. “What is certain is that the neighbourhood. [Hezbollah’s] decision to try to prevent However, the Hezbollah claimed that it Hezbollah and the IDF has seen an escalation the enemy from continuing to violate its brought down the IDF drone. The Times with Hezbollah now targeting Israeli drones. He accused Hezbollah of storing its missiles airspace has been made permanent,” Choeib of Israel on February 1, quoted Hezbollah- This is the first time since October 2019 that in populated areas of Lebanon and said these tweeted. affiliated media saying that drone crashed drones of the IDF have been targeted by areas will not be spared if war erupts. He near the village of Blida, just west of the Hezbollah. said residents would be given time to flee On February 1, the IDF said that one of its border from the Israeli community of ahead of time, but “because these areas are drones fell in the Lebanese territory. The Yiftah, and was taken away by members of In a year end interview, Hezbollah’s leader, flooded with rockets and missiles, they will IDF however did not divulge much details. Hezbollah. Thus, the conflict between the Hassan Nasralla, said that Israel has not be flooded with attacks by the Israeli army.” BRN holds online talks with Thailand representatives The BRN insurgents have targeted Buddhist temples and monks, which they consider emblematic of the Thai Buddhist state’s occupation of ethnic Malay Muslim territory because of COVID-19. The BRN team for ◆ By NDT Bureau peace talks came to Kuala Lumpur but the @NewDelhiTimes Thai team was in Bangkok. [The meeting] was conducted via online without any [email protected] problem,” Rahim Noor was quoted by Benar news. he Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), T or National Revolutionary Front, is In Thailand, the Office for the Peace-Talk an Islamist Patani independence movement Dialogue Panel, which is under the National in northern Malaysia and Patani, southern Security Council, issued a statement which Thailand. It was founded on March 13, 1963, mentioned, “Thailand’s technical-level by Haji Abdul Karim Hassan. The primary peace talk team had a teleconference with objective of the BRN since its inception has the representatives of the BRN with Tan Sri been to fight for an independent Patani state. Abdul Rahim bin Mohammad Noor being a facilitator”. According to the International Crisis Group, the BRN is thought to be the largest and best “The essences of the meeting were [about] organised of the armed groups and is focused designing an approach on how to handle on political organising and recruitment peace talks during the COVID-19 time within Islamic schools. The BRN insurgents and on the topics for the next talks, such have targeted Buddhist temples and monks, as violence reduction and promotion of which they consider emblematic of the Thai participation in solving Deep South issues”, PC : Getty Images Buddhist state’s occupation of ethnic Malay the statement added. to the problems in the Southern Border administrative issues and also began delving Muslim territory. Provinces of Thailand and was a result of into “substantive issues including the Peace talks between Thailand officials and mutual efforts between the two sides which reduction of violence in order to create a On February 3, 2021, online talks were the BRN was launched in January 2020 in have been working closely to design the conducive environment for the process.” held between Thailand and the BRN order to forge peace in the Southern region jointly accepted dialogue process”. representatives. The talks were facilitated of the country. Wanlop Rugsanaoh, Head On April 4, 2020, the BRN declared a by Malaysia. Benar News said that Abdul of the Peace Dialogue Panel, conducted his The second round of talks in Kuala Lumpur ceasefire on humanitarian grounds, citing Rahim Noor, the Malaysian broker of talks first talk with the BRN’s Anas Abdulrahman were held in the first week of March 2020. concerns about the coronavirus outbreak between the Thailand government and the in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A press release The Thai Secretariat for the Peace Dialogue and calling it “the main enemy of all BRN, had confirmed that such a meeting issued by the National Security Council’s in the Deep South announced that the overall humankind.” Since the declaration of the took place online. “Yes, it is true. The Thai Secretariat for Peace Dialogue reaffirmed atmosphere of the meeting was constructive ceasefire, violence has remained at a low side could not come to Kuala Lumpur the “intention to seek peaceful solutions and both sides discussed technical and level in Southern Thailand.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 10 8 - 14 February 2021

International NEW DELHI TIMES Humanitarian situation worsens in insurgency hit Cabo Delgado in Mozambique The Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamo (ASWJ), also locally known as Ansar al-Sunna is behind the deadly insurgency in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique ASWJ has been heralded by the IS in official ◆ By NDT Bureau news sources such as Amaq, Nashier, and @NewDelhiTimes the Al-Naba newsletter. The ASWJ, the Mozambique affiliate of the Islamic State [email protected] terror group, has reportedly carried out more than 600 attacks since the beginning of their n February 3, 2021, the United Nations insurgency. O Population Fund (UNFPA) released a statement which spoke of the worsening The militants have taken control of territory humanitarian situation in the insurgency hit in Cabo Delgado, including a strategic port, Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique. and burned dozens of villages across the The UNFPA statement talked of the violent resource-rich province. The recent violence conflict in Mozambique and stated, “The and the growing presence of Islamist northern tip of Mozambique, the resource- militants in the area have caused panic and rich land of Cabo Delgado province, despair among the local population. presents a growing conundrum. The humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado In this province has developed one of the is exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. continent’s most complex and layered On January 21, 2021, a Joint UN statement crises, which impacts the lives of millions, on humanitarian crisis and escalating PC : Getty Images especially women and girls. From the violence in Northern Mozambique stated, pandemic to flooding and related disease “The United Nations is deeply concerned lack of access to sexual and reproductive ideology seeking to replace government by the worsening humanitarian crisis and outbreaks, on top of the ongoing conflict health services, and the negative health and institutions with a structure that is premised leading to mass displacement, it exists as a escalating violence forcing thousands to flee economic consequences of gender inequality upon law. in Cabo Delgado province. perfect storm of instability”. – all of which impact humanitarian response and recovery efforts. Women and girls are Since its inception, the group has become Escalating conflict and a deteriorating The UNFPA particularly expressed concerns disproportionately affected by the conflict more and more radical in its ideological humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado at the plight of the women and girls in the due to their particular vulnerabilities”, the dispensation and has carried out regular has left communities completely reliant on Cabo Delgado region. “Of particular concern UNFPA statement added. attacks on the armed forces as well as humanitarian assistance. is the plight of women, who typically the local residents in the Cabo Delgado form the frontline of such crises as first The Ahlu Sunnah Wa-Jamo (ASWJ), also province of Mozambique and such attacks According to the Government, attacks responders, caregivers to their communities, locally known as Ansar al-Sunna is behind have escalated since last year. by non-state groups have forced more and rebuilders of livelihoods. Yet they are the deadly insurgency in the Cabo Delgado than 565,000 people to flee their homes also at greatest risk of gender-based violence province of Mozambique. The group was The ASWJ has links with the Islamic State and villages, abandoning their crops and (GBV), poorer health outcomes due to a formed in 2015 and follows a radical Islamic (IS) and the extremist activities of the livelihoods.” Fresh attack on forces shows the magnitude of terror threat The Forces Armées Maliennes (FAM: Armed Forces of Mali) said that it hit back with air support from the French Barkhane force and the Malian air forces in the region of #Mopti was the subject of a ◆ By NDT Bureau terrorist attack. The #FAMa retaliated with @NewDelhiTimes air support from the #Force_Barkhane and the Malian .” [email protected] Although no group has officially claimed ccording to the Twenty-seventh Report responsibility for the attack, the Al-Qaeda- A of the Analytical Support and Sanctions affiliated Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal- Monitoring Team of the United Nations Muslimin (JNIM) has been suspected as Security Council released on February 3, to be the most likely terrorist organisation 2021, the COVID-19 has “weakened the behind this attack. The attack once again hand of governments in conflict zones more shows that Islamic extremists have made than it has inhibited terrorist groups, and its substantial progress in Sub-Sahara Africa. long-term impact on economies, government resources and allocations for international The UNSC report dated February 3, also cooperation risks aggravating the threat talks of the JNIM report. The report mentions further”. The most glaring example of this that “following the 18 August military coup threat is visible in the rising capabilities d’état, Malian troops continued to engage of the Islamic extremists in Sub-Saharan in counter-terrorism operations with their Africa. international partners. The open dialogue with JNIM leadership On February 3, 2021, the same day as the shows continuity with the previous UN Security Council report was released, Government, and possible sanctions 10 soldiers were killed near the village of

violations are being monitored. On 8 PC : Getty Images Boni in the Mopti region in Central Mali- October, the dialogue enabled the exchange a hotspot of recent violence. The Forces of approximatively 200 JNIM fighters for ongoing political, social and ethnic tensions, areas of Diabali, Bankass, Bandiagara and Armées Maliennes (FAM: Armed Forces of a leading Malian political figure and three as illustrated by the difficulties Malian Koro. It purports to bring different ethnic Mali) said that it hit back with air support foreign nationals held hostage. authorities faced in resolving the crisis in groups together, despite having itself been from the French Barkhane force and the Farabougou in central Mali or imposing responsible for the orchestration of inter- Malian air forces. The FAM tweeted, “This A few weeks earlier, JNIM had murdered security on the Dogon plateau. JNIM ethnic violence. It has recently recruited Wednesday 03 February 2021, around 6.15 a Swiss hostage held since 2016. Terrorist further benefits from a strong position in the fighters within the Dogon and Bambara am, a detachment #FAMa based in #Boni groups have exploited the transition and Mopti and Ségou regions, especially in the communities.” www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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International NEW DELHI TIMES UN kicks off selection of next Secretary-General he United Nations kicked off the be seen. In their joint letter, Woodward and T selection of its next Secretary- Bozkir said “the position of the Secretary- General, asking the 193 U.N. member General is one of great importance that requires states to submit candidates to be the the highest standards of efficiency, competence world organization’s chief diplomat and and integrity, and a firm commitment to the operating officer. purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” It stressed that candidates The process officially began with a joint should have “proven leadership and letter signed virtually by General Assembly managerial abilities, extensive experience in President Volkan Bozkir and Britain’s international relations, and strong diplomatic, U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, this communication and multilingual skills.” month’s President of the Security Council opening the nomination of candidates. The letter states that Guterres “indicated his readiness to meet the expectations of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose the membership regarding transparency and current term expires on Dec. 31, announced inclusivity with the submission of a vision last month that he is seeking a second five- Photo AP PC : statement and participation in an informal year term. dialogue with member states.” see basic information about all candidates, The General Assembly elects the Secretary- Honduras’ U.N. Ambassador Mary Elizabeth including their resumes, and to meet and General on the recommendation of the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has Flores Flake also sent a letter to all U.N. question them at open sessions. 15-member Security Council where the five already endorsed Guterres for a second term. member nations saying there has never been permanent members -- the U.S., Russia, Just before Christmas, a group of 25 nations a female Secretary-General and asking them China, Britain and France -- have veto Woodward and Bozkir said informal from all regions called the Accountability to “present women candidates.” power, so their support is crucial. dialogues with candidates will take place Coherence and Transparency group wrote before the Security Council begins the to the General Assembly and Security “I am writing this communication from In the 2016 race, there were 13 candidates selection process by May or June. a place of conviction, where standing for Council urging that the selection process vying to be Secretary-General, seven women equal rights makes a difference in creating a for the next Secretary-General meets and six men, and the General Assembly held Woodward tweeted that the Security fair and equitable organization, and opening “at a minimum” the 2015 standards of open interviews for each of them, where Council and General Assembly presidents opportunities for women all over the world,” transparency and involvement of the 193 ambassadors from all countries could ask have worked “kick-starting the process of Flores Flake said. U.N. member nations. Guterres’ election questions. Six straw polls were held in the selecting and appointing the U.N. Secretary- was a disappointment to women, who had Security Council between July and October, General.” A 2015 General Assembly resolution, which hoped to break the all-male hold on the and Guterres led in all of them. was adopted by consensus, changed the post, and to East Europeans who have never “We look forward to contributing to an previously largely secretive selection of had a Secretary-General from the region. The current election is the first under the open process over the coming months,” the Secretary-General to a more open and It was supposed to be next in the informal 2015 resolution where an incumbent is Woodward said. transparent process. It allowed the world geographical rotation for U.N. chief when seeking reelection. Whether any candidates body’s member states for the first time to Guterres, a Portuguese, was elected. are put forward to challenge him remains to Credit : Associated Press (AP) US, China top diplomats discuss Prominent Lebanese Hezbollah critic key issues, show differences found killed in his car he top American and Chinese to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, T diplomats spoke in the first major including across the Taiwan Strait.” prominent Lebanese publisher and A vocal critic of the Shiite militant exchange between the countries since He said that the United States will continue President Joe Biden took office and Hezbollah group was found shot dead in to stand up for human rights and democratic his car, a brazen killing that sparked fears touched on several critical issues that values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet, have strained their ties. of a return to political violence in this Photo AP PC : and Hong Kong, according to the State country gripped by social and economic Department statement. Yang said that at upheaval. “Up until today in the history of Lebanon, present, “the Sino-U.S. relationship is at a all investigations have led to a dead end,” crucial juncture.” The body of 58-year-old Lokman Slim, she told reporters. a longtime Shiite political activist and His wife, Monika Borgmann, standing next “The Chinese government’s policy towards researcher, was slumped over on the to al-Ameer, called for an international the U.S. has always maintained a high passenger seat with multiple wounds from probe. “This killer has to be punished,” degree of stability and continuity,” he was gunshots fired at close range, security and quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua Borgmann said.

PC : AP Photo AP PC : forensic officials said. News Agency. Security forces found Slim’s car on a rural He had been missing for hours since and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi and U.S. road near the southern village of Addoussieh, He urged Washington “to correct the his family posted social media messages Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed in Sidon province. He was visiting friends in mistakes made over a period of time and looking for him. in a phone call tension points in the bilateral work with China to uphold the spirit of non- a southern village and was heading back to relationship between the two, notably the conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect, To his friends, Slim was a fearless critic of Beirut in the evening. situation in Xinjiang, home to the Uighur and win-win cooperation and focus on Lebanon’s powerful politicians, Hezbollah Afif Khafajeh, a coroner who inspected minority whose treatment is heavily cooperation, manage differences as well as and its allies Iran and Syria, and a major Slim’s body, said there were six bullets in criticized in the West, as well as Hong Kong promote the healthy and stable development resource on the history of Lebanon’s civil Slim’s body — three in the head, one in and Taiwan. of China-U.S. relations.” war. His killing raised fears that Lebanon’s political tensions could turn into a new wave the chest and one in the back. Blood was The two statements reaffirmed the different The Chinese side maintained that Xinjiang, of assassinations. splattered over the passenger car seat. positions of the countries, which have Hong Kong and Tibet were strictly internal A security official at the scene said Slim’s clashed on issues from trade to Beijing’s affairs and they won’t tolerate any foreign Critics, however, accused Slim of sowing ID, phone and gun were missing. The crackdown in Hong Kong to increased U.S. interference, Xinhua reported. sedition, undermining national unity and support for self-ruled democratic Taiwan. being a Zionist because of his criticisms of officials spoke on condition of anonymity U.S.-China relations have fallen to new lows Yang called the Taiwan issue as the “most Hezbollah. in line with regulations. His phone was later in the past few years, accelerated in part by sensitive, most important and core issue found. between the U.S. and China.” “He was carrying the weight of this country former President Donald Trump starting a Lebanon has a history of political crimes trade war with Beijing and blaming it for the on his shoulder,” his sister Rasha al-Ameer Under Trump, the U.S. increased weapons sales told reporters at their home after the news of and violence. With rising tension amid coronavirus pandemic that has killed more to and official exchanges with the self-ruled deepening political dispute and economic than 2 million people globally. the killing broke. She said she has no faith island, which China claims as part of its own in local investigations and that the family crisis, officials have warned of a return of Blinken said the U.S. would work with allies territory to be reunited by force if necessary. would carry out its own private forensic violence and assassinations. to hold China “accountable for its efforts Credit : Associated Press (AP) probe. Credit : Associated Press (AP)

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 12 8 - 14 February 2021

Art & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES France - A Dream Come True A Poem by Shri Prakash The Country its fame France, are the magnet of Europe; which cried aloud in day or night, can hold you A reservoir of happiness and the slogan under a sunlit sky in an everlasting trance. and hope, which made the World proud or in its brilliant neon light. The train from Paris to Rome where love and wisdom Liberte', Egalite' Fraternite', hugs the blue seas has often bloomed, Liberty, Equality Fraternity, The tour de eiffel, along the Mediterranean Coast, just when Society The bien mot or the good word The Eiffel Tower A sight for the Gods to see appeared to be doomed. that shines like La Soleil by any other name and for the travellers to toast. So France has a front seat in the corridors of time cannot arouse the delight Notre- Dame has its in human history like an unfading chime which it does soul - stirring message in making War and Peace stands up also for joie de vivre, in its original Parisian height. in shaping Europe's for the faithful and the devout. or the joy of life, Le Printemps, The Spring Liberation and Unity. The many centuries it has seen in Provence To Notre-Dame A passion for fun, food and friends has a heavenly flavor Nature and the People's Progress that can last forever especially when blended with many millions have been. have created France's Destiny and still feel very good. Soufle' and Champagne which no one can transgress. The Champs-Elysses to savor. The Tulleries and Versailles, France is a Dream Come True can never fade from memory, Le Jardin et Le Palais, which will never lose for anyone who has walked Rose' Wine and the South of The Garden and The Palace its ethereal hue. New museum Library association awards Carnegie medals traces history to McBride, Giggs T his year’s winners of the Carnegie of Black music medals for fiction and nonfiction, presented by the American Library Association, have each checked out a few across genres books in their time. new museum two decades in the “I work from libraries a lot, and my wallet A making is telling the interconnected is full of library cards,” says Rebecca Giggs, story of Black musical genres through the an Australian author whose “Fathoms: The lens of American history. Photo AP PC : World in the Whale” received the nonfiction on in our country and our lived experience collection, including clothes and a Grammy prize. The National Museum of African American and our political environment that made that Award belonging to Ella Fitzgerald, a guitar Music, which opened with a virtual ribbon- James McBride, the fiction winner for “Deacon music so moving, so inspirational, such the owned by B.B. King and a trumpet played King Kong,” has library cards in four different cutting on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is soundtrack for that part of our lives?” by Louis Armstrong. To make the best use seated in the heart of Nashville’s musical cities and wrote parts of his novel in branches out of the space, the exhibits are layered with in New York City and Philadelphia. tourism district, alongside honky-tonks and The museum tells a chronological story of interactive features, including 25 stations the famed Ryman Auditorium and blocks Black music starting in the 1600s through that allow visitors to virtually explore the from the Country Music Hall of Fame and present day and framed around major music. Museum. cultural movements including the music and instruments brought by African slaves, Visitors can learn choreographed dance Even as Nashville has long celebrated the emergence of blues through the Great moves with a virtual instructor, sing “Oh its role in the history of music, the new Migration, the Harlem Renaissance and the Happy Day” with a choir led by gospel museum fills a gap by telling an important civil rights movement. legend Bobby Jones and make their own and often overlooked story about the roots of hip-hop beats. Visitors can take home their American popular music, including gospel, When Winans recently took a tour of recordings to share via a personal RFID Photo AP PC : blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. the museum, she saw her own family of wristband. gospel singers, The Winans, represented “In New York you can get anything you want “When we think of the history of African in the museum’s exhibit on spiritual music There will be a changing exhibit gallery, with but it takes longer because you can’t leave American music and the important part alongside the artists that influenced her own the first topic to be the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the library with them. But in Philly, you can,” it has played in our country, it was long musical career. an a cappella group originally formed in explained McBride, whose novel last year was overdue to honor it in this type of way,” said 1871 to raise money for Fisk University. The chosen by Oprah Winfrey for her book club. gospel great CeCe Winans, who serves as a “You never start out doing what you’re group sang slave spirituals at their concerts. With a grant from the Carnegie Corporation national chair for the museum. doing to be a part of history or even be a part The tradition continues today. of a museum,” said the 12-time Grammy- of New York, the library association The idea for the museum came from two winning singer. After a year of racial reckoning through the established the award in 2012, with winners Nashville business and civic leaders, movement of Black Lives Matter, Hicks in each category receiving $5,000. Previous Francis Guess and T.B. Boyd, back in She noted that the museum put gospel said the timing couldn’t be more perfect to honorees include Donna Tartt, Doris Kearns 1998, who wanted a museum dedicated to music in context with how it inspired social highlight the contributions of Black music to Goodwin and Colson Whitehead. Black arts and culture. And while there are change, especially during the civil rights era. our shared American experience. McBride and Giggs each have strong museums around the country that focus on childhood memories of libraries. McBride, a certain aspects of Black music, this museum “When you look at all the different “(It) is not an accident that we are able to longtime New Yorker, would visit them often bills itself as the first of its kind to be all movements that have happened down finish and get the museum open in this because they were a “safe space” and because encompassing. through the years, and Martin Luther King moment, in this moment where we need his family couldn’t afford to buy many books. Jr., it was always with the church behind to be reminded, perhaps more than others Giggs remembers her mother getting into “Most music museums deal with a label, a them,” said Winans. “It was the gospel or more than in the recent past that we are aerobics “in a big way” and , a few nights a genre or an artist,” said H. Beecher Hicks music that inspired us to love one another, brothers and we share more together than we week, dropping off her and her sister ata III, the museum’s president and CEO. “So to build bridges.” do our differences,” said Hicks. it’s one thing to say that I’m a hip hop fan or library next door to the workout space. I’m a blues fan, but why? What was going The museum has 1,600 artifacts in their Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

8 - 14 February 2021 13

THIS DAY | THAT YEAR | NEW DELHI TIMES

February 8, 1926 Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio become the Walt Disney Studios on this day that year.

February 9, 2020 Deaths from COVID-19 virus overtook those of SARS (2003) with 813 deaths worldwide, with more than 34,800 known infections PC : Getty Images on this day that year.

February 10, 2003

France and Belgium broke the NATO procedure of silent PC : Getty Images approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with Iraq on this day that year.

February 11, 1990

South Africa's Nelson Mandela was released from prison PC : Getty Images after 27 years on this day that year.

February 12, 1998 Intel unveiled its 1st graphics chip i740 on this day that year on this day that year.

February 13, 2017 US President Donald Trump accepts the resignation of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn over his dealings with Russia on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

February 14, 1989

Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the death of Salman Rushdie and his publishers due to his novel "Satanic Verses" on this day that year. PC : Getty Images

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 14 8 - 14 February 2021

Delhi/NCR NEW DELHI TIMES All identified industrial units in Delhi NIA will probe the blast outside are operating on cleaner fuels (PNG) the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi PC : Getty Images

On February 1, Indian Prime Minister pursuit,1627 industrial units spread across ◆ By NDT Bureau Narendra Modi spoke to Benjamin ◆ By NDT Bureau 50 industrial areas in Delhi were identified @NewDelhiTimes Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel on @NewDelhiTimes to switch over to Piped Natural Gas (PNG). telephone. According to a press release by Periodic follow-up was conducted with M/s [email protected] [email protected] the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the GAIL, IGL and Government of NCT of Indian Prime Minister conveyed his strong Delhi. he National Investigation Agency release by the Ministry of Environment, condemnation of the terror attack near the T (NIA) will now probe the blast that A Forest and Climate Change, India Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on 29 January PNG has now been made available at took place outside the Embassy of Israel on states that cleaner fuels in the form of Piped 2021. the doorstep of all these 1627 identified January 29, 2021. Natural Gas (PNG) has now been made industrial units and 1607 industrial units available to all identified industrial units in have already switched over to use of PNG The Ministry of Home Affairs through a He assured Prime Minister Netanyahu that Delhi. in lieu of more polluting conventional notification has handed over the probe from India accords the highest importance to the According to the release, the newly formed approved fuels. Delhi Police to the National Intelligence safety and security of Israeli diplomats and Commission for Air Quality Management in Agency (NIA). The National Investigation premises, and would deploy all its resources National Capital Region and its Adjoining The balance 20 industrial units, which are Agency (NIA) is India's counter-terrorist to find and punish the perpetrators. Both Areas took upon the switching over the presently running on LPG, are also expected task force. The agency is empowered to leaders expressed satisfaction about the industrial units in Delhi to cleaner fuels to be switched over to PNG by the end of deal with terror related crimes across states close coordination between Indian and as one of the priority action item. In this February, 2021. without special permission from the states. Israeli security agencies in this context. Fifth sero survey in Delhi detects antibodies in 56% of the population

◆ By NDT Bureau PC : Getty Images @NewDelhiTimes COVID, though we should continue to practice covid appropriate behaviour.”. [email protected] The Health Minister said that the latest elhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain serological survey involved around 28,000 D has said that fifth sero survey done in samples and was the largest one undertaken the national capital of Delhi has detected by the Delhi government. It was conducted antibodies in 56.13 % of population. Jain from January 15 to 23. tweeted: “ In the fifth sero survey done in the national capital of Delhi, antibodies have The highest prevalence of antibodies was been detected in 56.13 % of population. recorded in South East Delhi – 62.18%. North This was the largest survey being done by Delhi recorded the lowest seroprevalance of the Delhi Govt. Delhi has largely won over 49.09%. Praveen Sinha appointed as the interim CBI Chief is appointed to succeed Rishi Kumar Shukla who has completed his two-year tenure. This is the fourth time since 2005 that an interim chief has been appointed for the country's premier investigative agency.

◆ By NDT Bureau In an order, the Department of Personnel and Training said: "With reference to the @NewDelhiTimes approval of the Appointments Committee [email protected] of the Cabinet, Praveen Sinha, a IPS of Gujarat cadre, Additional Director CBI, raveen Sinha has been appointed as the shall with immediate effect look after the P Interim Chief of the Central Bureau of duties of the CBI Director, vice Rishi Kumar Investigation (CBI). Sinha 1988 batch IPS Shukla, IPS (MP: 83) till the appointment of officer of the Gujarat cadre. Sinha will be new Director CBI, or until further orders, the CBI interim chief until a new Director whichever is earlier." www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

8 - 14 February 2021 15

National NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan linked Khadim of Ajmer Dargah planning to increase support for Popular Front of India among Sufis Contrast between Sufism and the PFI is same as that between Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb and violent extremism figures but Syed Sarwar supports all those Ajmer Dargah on December 29, 2020, as well as ◆ By NDT Bureau organization and individuals who extol during the subsequent press conference thereby @NewDelhiTimes Hazrat Mauwiyah and Yazid. Due to his allowing the PFI to utilise the Ajmer platform. controversial stand, many Sufis in Pakistan Sufism has a rich history in India evolving for [email protected] have allegedly threatened Syed Sarwar not over 1000 years. Sufi saints have been deemed to visit Pakistan anymore. to be holy persons and spreading brotherhood yed Sarwar Chishty, a local Khadim among people of all . S of Dargah Khwaja Moinuddin Hassan Contrast between Sufism and the PFI is Chishty, Ajmer, has recently taken up many same as that between Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb Though the PFI does not have any support activities which shows his close linkages and violent extremism. The PFI’s role in several amongst Sufi and Bareilvi, with the help of with the Popular Front of India (PFI). violent criminal incidents including infamous Sarwar Chishty, it may be trying to expand hand-chopping case of a Professor in Kerala, its base among the Sufi Muslims. Whether Being a frequent visitor of Pakistan, his Narath Arms Training case, many of its members his current hobnobbing with the PFI would be closeness to Pakistan is an open secret joining the ISIS, involvement in religiously utilized to communalise the peace-loving Sufis which has also been proved witnessing his motivated murder cases, precipitating the recent or whether Sufis would allow him to do so is contact with several Pakistani politicians However, in Pakistan, a major section of Bangalore riots, etc., are well known. Despite something one needs to wait and watch. and other personnel. Interestingly, his anti- Sufis is against Syed Sarwar as he has been this, Sarwar Chishty recently released a video What India needs is more of true Sufi establishment videos and press statements espousing the cause of Hazrat Mauwiyah supporting the PFI and stating that the PFI is followers who can defeat the of hate are widely quoted by Pakistani media and his son Yazid who had killed Imam struggling to save the Constitution and protecting propounded by Hindu/Muslim right-wing to present a negative picture about India Hussain in the Battle of Karbala. Sufi in the the rights of Muslims in India. He even groups through their philosophy of love and amongst the international community. Indian sub-continent is against these Islamic facilitated the PFI leaders when they visited brotherhood. Farm Laws: The 1991 moment for Indian Agriculture the income in the hands the producers. The ◆ By Jaganathan Saravanasamy price support system (MSP) as an incentive and security-net encouraged farmers to go for he economic reforms that started less risky and less profitable crops of wheat, T in 1991 are basically liberalisation rice and sugarcane. Over the years, security of and opening up to trade and commerce. income even if it meant subsistence has taken However, unlike in industry and services precedence rather than prosperity that comes sectors, trade and commerce in agriculture has with little risk taking. MSP is an assured price not received sufficient attention. The recently but it is neither an ensured nor a remunerative passed Farm Laws could be the 1991 moment price to the farmer, as it can’t ignore the for agriculture. Improved productivity alone PC : Getty Images unstated objective of fair price to consumer. does not mean prosperity to farmers. It calls In democratic polity, consumer interest takes that, (a) the MSP system will be withdrawn the farmer on orders adjudicating authority, for remunerative price as well. Food production precedence over that of producer. And every (b) APMC will be closed down gradually and such recovery shall not be initiated against has increased significantly (50 Million Tonnes in farmer is a consumer, too! (c) the corporates will become monopolistic the land of the farmer. 1950 to nearly 300 MT in 2019), mouths to feed buyers. increased manyfold (38 crores in 1950 to 135 It is a fact that in a market place, farmer The second law, the Farmers’ Produce crore in 2019), prices of all other consumer goods has no bargaining power. Farmers as sellers As long as the PDS is there, the procurement Trade and Commerce (Promotion and has been steadily going up and so is the cost of always outnumber few buyers who are often in a of food grains has to continue, and with Facilitation) Act 2020, broadens the market agricultural inputs. cartel; they are already in debt to the commission the implementation of ‘one ration-card by ending monopoly of APMC mandis, agents; in the peak of season, they create in- one-nation’ the quantity of woodgrains removes the barrier for free movement What remained depressed is the price the farmer elastic supply as there is no viable storage; procured at MSP has to go up. In any case, of agricultural produce as well as traders gets for his produce. Shrinking net profit for they don’t have capacity and wherewithal to other than food grains, even at the APMC towards competitive market anywhere in the producer, despite increasing productivity differentiate their products; they face complete mandis all other agriculture produce is sold India. In the era of Free Trade Agreements and production, is an anomaly the farmer information asymmetry and hence the farmers at spot price as determined by the market between nations, APMC mandi system is faces. There is no net surplus in the hands to always end up as price takers. That is where, the forces (read commission agents) and not at an anathema. By prohibiting fee or levy reinvest. This perpetually losing enterprise left new Farm Laws, in addition to existing MSP and MSP. Impression that the APMC mandis on the goods traded in such new market many farmers in deep debt. Hence, the answer APMC mandis, aim to additional and alternative ensure MSP is completely wrong. MSP places and electronic trading platforms, to prosperity of farmers lie in price and not in mechanism to enhance remunerative price to is neither an obligation nor a contract and the new law encourages APMC mandis to production alone. Price is a market function farmers. But, the small proportion of farmers it can never be that. What can reasonably become efficient market places and reduces of demand, supply, product quality, product who have been garnering the benefits of MSP ensure remunerative price to farmers, is the transaction cost. It ensures payment differentiation, buyers bargaining power and want no other system. a transparent contract entered between for the goods sold within three days. As a sellers bargaining power. producer and buyer before the sowing natural corollary to freeing up of market, How do farmers gain pricing power then? season. the Essential Commodities (Amendment) The agricultural policies followed so far had Produce what the markets want; instead of Act 2000 gives legitimacy to the essential Farming Agreement, as defined in Section three objectives. Ensuring food security of the individually facing the imperfect market with economic functions of storage and logistics. nation, keeping the food prices affordable to perishable produce organise yourself into Farmer 5 of the Farmers (Empowerment and consumers and obtaining remunerative price to Producer Company; demand better storage and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance These facilitating legislations, along with the farmers. Policies followed achieved the first logistics to space your arrivals in the market; and and Farm Services Act 2000, not only corporatized entities like the FPCs portend two objectives long ago, but failed to deliver a demand freedom to sell wherever and whomever aims to ensure a contracted price, but bright future. It will slowly, but surely pave remunerative price to farmers. Affordable food you wanted to. Aren’t the recently enacted Farm also provides for a guaranteed price and a the way for progressive farmers becoming price to consumer and remunerative price to Laws, provide for all these? mutually agreed profit sharing. It is clearly entrepreneurs and educated youth taking up farmer are difficult to achieve simultaneously. defined as production agreement entered farming and farm businesses. Our farmers can Whether the three recently passed Farm into prior to the cultivation season for the produce for the world. Instead of outrightly The visionary political leadership of the Laws (a) broaden and deepen the primary farmer to supply a crop of predefined quality rejecting these progressive legislations, sixties, unceasing efforts of agricultural market? (b) help capture the huge value that and for the buyer to pay the agreed price. the farmer’s union must ask for collective scientists, tireless work of agricultural lies between farm gate and consumer? (c) Unfortunately, this agreement is touted bargaining power in the market place. extension workers, the indomitable spirit of improve pre-harvest institutional finance? as and given an impression of corporates Jaganathan Saravanasamy is a Post- farmers and the policy instrument of MSP and (d) increase the collective bargaining entering a long lease of an agricultural land Graduate in Agriculture, alumnus of had ensured the first two objectives. It is power as seller? By plain reading, the of the farmers. In fact, Section 8 of this Act IIM B in PGPPM and currently working time we embark on a new policy regime that answer to these questions has to be in the expressly prohibits any transfer of land, as Addl. Director General of Police fetches better price to farmers. The markets, affirmative. Unfortunately, fear, anxiety and including by sale, lease or mortgage under (Policy & Planning) at the Maharashtra the market players and the governments that distrust has been created in the minds of the the pretext of Farming Agreement. Not only Police Headquarters, . Views are operate the market must work to maximise farmers by purveying wrong information that, in case of any recovery to be made from personal.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 16 8 - 14 February 2021

Neighbourhood NEW DELHI TIMES Sri Lanka leader vows action vs 2019 bombing militants ri Lanka’s President said that he has to enjoy the freedom as equals under the S received the final report of an inquiry nation’s legal framework.” commission investigating the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks and vowed he will Sri Lanka rejected a report by U.N. High not allow anyone responsible for the Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle deaths of more than 260 people escape Bachelet, who called for “international justice. action to ensure justice for international crimes” allegedly committed during the civil President Gotabaya Rajapaksa did not war. disclose what’s in the report, saying only that he had already given instructions to She said in the report last week that Sri implement its recommendations. Lanka has “largely closed the possibility “We will not allow those responsible for of genuine progress being made to end designing and enabling this tragedy to escape impunity through a domestic transitional justice process.” She said member countries justice. We will never allow extremism to Photo AP PC : raise its head again, in this country,” he said now have the option of referring Sri Lanka commission. The attacks, which came after They also accused the government of moves to the International Criminal Court to in his address marking the country’s 73rd 10 years of peace following the end of a to alter the demographic makeup of Sri Independence Day. investigate and persecute violations of quarter-century civil war, enabled Rajapaksa Lanka’s north and east, which they consider international law. to win the Presidential election later in their traditional homeland, by settling the Two local Muslim groups that had pledged 2019 on a platform of national security Sinhalese population there. Tensions also allegiance to the Islamic State were blamed In his speech, Rajapaksa said that “traitorous and protecting the interests of the country’s rose after the government made compulsory for the coordinated suicide bombings in six elements always band together and seek to majority Buddhist Sinhalese. the cremation of those who died of places on April 21, 2019. More than 260 marshal domestic and foreign forces against COVID-19, which has enraged Muslims, Sri people, most of them worshippers at Easter the leadership that upholds indigenous way Sri Lanka’s Independence Day was marked Lanka’s second largest minority. services in three churches and foreign and of life and country’s sovereignty.” He said by ethnic and religious polarization. local holidaymakers having breakfast in people should not be misled by them. three hotels, were killed. In rare show of unity, Muslim leaders and Tamil political, civil and religious leaders civilians joined the Tamil protest march. Both government forces and the defeated took part in a protest parade for a second Political infighting leading to a communications Tamil Tiger rebels were accused of grave day, marching from the country’s east to breakdown between the then President and “I am a Sinhala Buddhist leader and I human rights violations. Initial conservative the north to demand solutions to minority Prime Minister was cited as a cause for the will never hesitate to state so,” Rajapaksa U.N. estimates said about 100,000 people issues. security lapse despite near specific foreign said in his speech. “I govern this country had died. A later U.N. experts’ report said as intelligence warnings. in accordance with Buddhist teachings. many as 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians may The protesters want justice for those killed Within the Buddhist philosophic tradition have been killed in just the final months of and disappeared during the civil war and Both former President Maithripala of peaceful coexistence, which gives due fighting. Sirisena and former Prime Minister Ranil release of those detained without trial on respect to all religions and ethnicities, Wickremesinghe were summoned before the suspicion of terrorism. every person in this country ... has the right Credit : Associated Press (AP) Tens of thousands rally in Bangladesh plans a record size painting of support of Nepal’s embattled PM Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes [email protected]

angladesh is planning to create a B large crop-field painting of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This would be the largest work of

PC : Getty Images art in the world history and Bangladesh will be on threshold of registering its name under epal’s Prime Minister, facing growing Both Oli and the splinter group claim to Guinness World Records. The painting will N protests against him, gathered his control the Nepal Communist Party and be unveiled ahead of Bangabandhu 100 supporters in a rally in the capital in an the issue is being disputed at the Election years of birth to be celebration on March 17 attempt to show he still has support. Commission. The splinter faction even this year. announced that it had ousted Oli from the Tens of thousands of people waving red party at a meeting last month. Communist flags gathered at the heart of “A largest ‘crop field mosaic’ using portrait Kathmandu cheering and chanting slogans Oli became Prime Minister after the party of Bangabandhu titled ‘Shasyachitre in support of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad won elections three years ago. His party and Bangabandhu’ will be illustrated by PC : Getty Images Oli. the party of former Maoist rebels had earlier cultivating golden and violet-coloured merged to form a unified Communist party. “We love K.P. Oli. Oli is our hero. Oli for the paddies on the vast areas of crop field which or over 20 acres of crop field canvas after Tensions, however, have grown between Prime Minister for the next 10 years,” the is used as canvas for this painting,” said the China with an area of 8,55,786 square Oli and the leader of the former rebels, crowd chanted. Krishibid AFM Bahauddin Nasim while feet, according to the latest Guinness World Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also co-chair addressing a view exchange meeting with record. A splinter faction of Oli’s governing Nepal of the party. The two had previously agreed the Agricultural Journalists Forum at city’s Communist Party and opposition parties that they would split the five-year Prime Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh (KIB). Bangabandhu’s face appearance will be have been holding protests against him since Minister’s term between them, but Oli has displayed on the crop field during various he decided to dissolve Parliament on Dec. refused to allow Dahal to take over. Bangladesh official news agency Bangladesh cropping stages from crop transplantation 20 and hold new elections on April 30 and The opposition has also accused Oli’s Sangbad Sangstha reported that the crop to harvesting of paddy. The layout of May 10. government of corruption, and his field mosaic, length of 400 meters and 300 the portrait of Bangabandhu has already The splinter faction led a nationwide general administration has faced criticism over its meters width covering an area of 1,20,00 been completed and the seedlings will be strike, shutting down schools, markets and handling of the coronavirus outbreak. square meters or 12.92 lakh square feet, will transplanted in a planned and artistic way on transportation. Credit : Associated Press (AP) be the world largest portrait on 100 bighas the outlay of the portrait. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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North America NEW DELHI TIMES confirms Dozen state police charged in the its 1st case of South African virus variant massacre of 19 in Mexico anada most populous province reported dozen state police officers have been But Barrios Mojica said the state police C its first case of a Coronavirus variant A arrested for allegedly killing 19 officers charged in the killings knew their first identified in South Africa that is believed people, including Guatemalan migrants, shell casing might give them away, so to be more contagious than the original. whose bodies were found shot and burned probably picked them up. Dr. David Williams, Ontario’s Chief near the U.S. border late in January, Mexican Medical Officer of Health, said the case was authorities announced. “There is growing force behind the hypothesis that the crime scene was altered, found in the Peel region outside Toronto and Tamaulipas state Attorney General Irving due to the absence of casings,” he said. the person does not have a known history of Barrios Mojica said all 12 officers were in travel or any known contact with someone custody and face charges of homicide, abuse In describing the hours that led up to the who has travelled. of authority and making false statements. killings, Barrios Mojica said the truck British Columbia has also reported cases of

PC : AP Photo AP PC : carrying the victims was apparently part the South African variant. The killings revived memories of the of a larger convoy of vehicles transporting gruesome 2010 massacre of 72 migrants Authorities have said four of the dead have migrants from Guatemala and El Salvador Viruses constantly mutate but scientists are near the town of San Fernando in the same been identified so far — two Guatemalans to smuggle them across the U.S. border. He especially concerned about the emergence gang-ridden state. But those killings were and two Mexicans. Their names have not said the trucks also carried armed men to of three that researchers believe may spread done by a drug cartel, while it is likely many been released by officials, but relatives of provide protection. more easily. One first reported in the United people will find it more shocking that the one of the dead Mexicans said he worked as Kingdom was previously confirmed in Jan. 22 slayings allegedly were carried out an immigrant trafficker. Barrios Mojica did not rule out that the Canada, and Ontario has dozens of cases by law enforcement. reason for the killings may have been a now. Of the 19 bodies examined by experts, 16 dispute between drug gangs, which fight were found to be males, one was confirmed “In the aforementioned acts of January 22, over territory and the right to charge migrant The variant first found in South Africa was as female and the two others were so at least 12 state police officers participated,” smugglers for passing through “their” detected in October. Since then, it has been badly burned their gender had not yet been Barrios Mojica said. territory. found in at least 30 other countries including determined. the U.S. The Attorney General did not say what The massacre is the latest chapter in motive the officers might have had, though The forensic results confirmed the fears Tamaulipas’ history of police corruption. The discovery comes as the pandemic-weary corrupt local and state police in Mexico are of families in a rural Indigenous farming Most towns and cities in the state saw their Ontario government is thinking of reopening often in the pay of drug cartels. community in Guatemala who have said municipal police forces dissolved years ago, schools in Canada’s largest city of Toronto they lost contact with 13 migrants as they because officers were often in the pay of the and its suburbs. Cartels in Mexico often charge migrant travelled toward the United States. cartels. smugglers for crossing their territory, and Scientists recently reported preliminary kidnap or kill migrants whose smugglers The truck holding the bodies had 113 bullet A more professional state police force was signs that some of the recent mutations have not paid or paid a rival gang. impacts, but authorities were confused by supposed to be the answer, a belief that came may modestly curb the effectiveness of two the fact that almost no spent shell casings crashing down with the arrests announced. vaccines, although they stressed that the The bodies were found piled in a charred were found at the scene. shots still protect against the disease. pickup truck in Camargo, across the Rio A repeat of the 2010 massacre has long been Grande from Texas, in an area that has been Initially, that led investigators to speculate one of the Mexican government’s worst The Coronavirus has killed roughly 20,000 bloodied for years by turf battles between the shootings may have taken place nightmares. in Canada. the remnants of the Gulf cartel and the old elsewhere, and the truck driven to the spot Zetas cartel. where it was set on fire. Credit : Associated Press (AP) Credit : Associated Press (AP) Guatemalan fights hunger with book-for-food barters by bike onifaz Díaz biked through the cyclist. “People get motivated if I go to their B sprawling city of Quetzaltenango, home with my bike.” 7,640 feet (2,330 meters) above sea level He sometimes tows a small cart to be among Guatemala’s volcanoes, to deliver able to carry as much as 125 pounds (57 a sociology book to the home of a local kilograms) and has gone as far as 37 miles teacher. He pedalled away with four brightly (60 kilometers) for a delivery to a nearby collared bags of Incaparina, a popular cereal town in the highlands, where many roads are

mix crucial in fighting child hunger. Photo AP PC : gutted with potholes. The Coronavirus has worsened child A 1-pound bag of Incaparina, which With the number of kids her association helps The 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) of Incaparina malnutrition in Guatemala, which already provides 24 servings, costs just 9 quetzales skyrocketing from 120 to 382 during the she provided in return will help a highlands suffered from the worst rate of it in the ($1.15). But that’s well out of reach for the pandemic, “the bartering is food security,” family eat for a month. Western Hemisphere. Since the pandemic hit, families that are served by the nonprofit 32 Benítez said. “The idea is that before age Díaz has cycled more than 1,200 miles (2,000 Volcanoes, co-founder Dr. Carmen Benítez 5, children won’t already be chronically Castillo delights in choosing her books from kilometers) with his saddlebags filled with said, with 97% of those households scraping malnourished.” the titles Díaz posts on social media, and she donated books, and lugged back thousands by on less than that per day in income. loves the feeling of a “growing circle” of of pounds of the oatmeal-like food for a local And the initiative is having an impact. giving and receiving. NGO that feeds nearly 400 kids. Nearly half the population of Guatemala’s “Seeing that the children are less scared, that Western Highlands, a majority-indigenous “You might not get to those places, but your they play more … that is where we can get People pick a book they want from a list of region, suffers from chronic malnutrition, help can,” she said. “This small grain of results,” she said. donated titles, and in return give several bags according to the World Bank, and Incaparina sand to be able to change this country.” of Incaparina. By bringing the books-for-food is a lifesaver for many families. Nearly a year into the books-for-food For his part, Díaz plans to continue cycling barter program directly to people’s homes, the program, two more cyclists have joined On visits to rural homes that get help from against hunger as long as it’s needed, even 44-year-old is ensuring that donations keep Díaz. Donations are pouring in, from books 32 Volcanoes’ nutrition programs, Benítez as he’s struggling economically as well since flowing to fight the hunger crisis as many and artwork for bartering to different kinds often sees little food on the shelves other the theatre company he co-founded has been people stay home as much as possible to avoid of nutrient-rich foods like amaranth grain. catching or spreading the virus. than a bright red Incaparina bag, some salt shuttered since last spring. and corn for tamales — or cheap, processed Ana Castillo, the 29-year-old high school “It’s an opportunity to serve in which we all “People want to provide support, but … foods that do nothing to prevent stunting and teacher who last weekend received the benefit,” he said. the ‘stay-at-home’ has gotten very strong,” increase diabetes, as well as learning and sociology book, “Liquid Love,” a study on said Díaz, an actor by profession and avid behavioural disabilities. modern relationships, is a regular donor. Credit : Associated Press (AP)

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Africa NEW DELHI TIMES Tigray opposition parties assert 50,000-plus civilian deaths trio of opposition parties in Ethiopia’s resources, according to witnesses. Even some from appointed authorities in Tigray and A embattled Tigray region estimates that of the new administrators appointed by Abiy’s Ethiopian ministries for more international more than 50,000 civilians have been killed government have warned that people are dying help, and he pointed out that the U.N. works in the three-month conflict, and they urge of starvation as vast areas beyond main roads in “northern Syria, in Yemen, in areas of the international community to intervene and towns still cannot be reached. high insecurity.” before a “humanitarian disaster of biblical The opposition parties assert that the hunger The Tigray region hosted 96,000 refugees proportion will become a gruesome reality.” is man-made as cattle have been killed and from Eritrea before the fighting, and Grandi The statement posted does not say where the raided, crops burned and homes looted and said he had spoken to some who were caught estimate comes from, and the parties could destroyed. The statement was signed by the in the crossfire and then resorted to “eating not immediately be reached. Communication Tigray Independence Party, the National leaves” after being cut off from support for Photo AP PC : links remain challenging in much of the Congress of Great Tigray and Salsay several weeks. Others were forcibly returned Angela Merkel in a phone call with Abiy region, making it difficult to verify claims Weyane Tigray. to Eritrea by Eritrean forces, he said. It was “underscored the significance of a peaceful by any side. not clear how many. Their statement accuses Ethiopia’s government solution to the conflict in the Tigray region No official death toll has emerged since the of “using hunger as a weapon to subdue Tigray Two of the refugees’ four camps remain and of humanitarian supplies to the people fighting began in early November between since it has been obstructing international inaccessible, and “most likely there is no affected.” Merkel added that “humanitarian Ethiopian and allied forces and those of the efforts for humanitarian assistance.” Ethiopia’s refugee presence here anymore,” he said. aid organizations and media must be granted Tigray region who dominated the government government, however, has asserted that aid is Citing satellite imagery, the U.K.-based free access.” for almost three decades before Prime Minister being delivered and nearly 1.5 million people DX Open Network nonprofit this week U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. Each side have been reached. reported further destruction at the Hitsats underlined the need for “urgent steps to now views the other as illegitimate. and Shimelba camps in recent weeks by alleviate the humanitarian situation and extend The United Nations and others have pressed for unnamed armed groups, with humanitarian the necessary protections to those at risk,” The opposition parties say the international more humanitarian access and a solution to a facilities among those targeted. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. community should ensure the immediate complicated system of clearances with a variety withdrawal of fighters including soldiers of authorities, including ones on the ground. Up to 20,000 of the refugees have been Guterres welcomed Ethiopia’s “positive from neighbouring Eritrea, who witnesses “dispersed” into areas where humanitarian engagement” during recent visits by Grandi, say are supporting Ethiopian forces. “In 40 years (as) a humanitarian, I’ve rarely workers don’t have access, Grandi said. U.N. Security and Safety Chief Gilles The parties also urge an independent seen an aid response so impeded,” the head The U.N. Refugee Chief also called for Michaud and World Food Program Executive investigation into the conflict, dialogue, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan an independent, transparent investigation Director David Beasley, Dujarric said. They more humanitarian aid and media access to Egeland, tweeted. into alleged abuses. “The situation is very were undertaken to spur “sustained, impartial “cover what is happening.” U.N. Refugee Chief Filippo Grandi after complex,” he said. “There has been a lot of and unimpeded humanitarian access” to Civilians throughout Tigray, a region of a visit to Tigray told reporters that the crossfire, a lot of violations on all sides,” Tigray and to refugees and internally displaced some 6 million people, have been dying from situation is “extremely grave.” He said including Tigray-allied fighters. Pressure people, he said. targeted attacks, crossfire, disease and lack of his team had heard a “very strong appeal” continued as Germany said Chancellor Credit : Associated Press (AP)

Chief last week urged Tanzania to share its Malawi setting up field hospitals Tanzania says no data on infections, while the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director plans in place to said that “if we do not fight this as a collective to cope with virus surge on the continent, we will be doomed”. alawi faces a resurgence of COVID-19 accept COVID-19 President John Magufuli, who has long M that is overwhelming the southern asserted that God has eliminated COVID-19 African country where a Presidential vaccines in Tanzania, last week asserted that vaccines residence and a national stadium have been anzania’s Health Ministry says it has for it are “inappropriate” even as the first turned into field hospitals in efforts to save no plans in place to accept COVID-19 significant vaccine deliveries begin to arrive lives. T vaccines, just days after the President of on the African continent. President Lazarus Chakwera, just six the country of 60 million people expressed months in office, lost two Cabinet Ministers doubt about the vaccines without offering But authorities in Tanzania, from the to COVID-19 in January amid a surge that Photo AP PC : evidence. Catholic church to government institutions, led him to declare a state of national disaster are pushing back and telling the public and in all of Malawi’s 28 districts. turned into a 100-bed treatment facility, Health Minister Dorothy Gwajima told a employees that COVID-19 exists in the according to officials. press conference in the capital, Dodoma that country and precautions must be taken. Chakwera declared three days of national “the ministry has no plans to receive vaccines mourning over the deaths of the Ministers A 300-bed field hospital at Bingu National Stadium has begun admitting patients. for COVID-19.” Any vaccines must receive of Transport and Local Government, which ministry approval. It is not clear when any shocked the nation and inspired a raft of Another 300-bed field hospital has been opened at a youth center in Blantyre, the vaccines might arrive, though Tanzania is new measures aimed at stemming the spread eligible for the COVAX global effort aimed of the virus in a country with a poor health country’s largest city. And a 200-bed facility for emergency care has been set up in the at delivering doses to low- and middle- system. A more contagious strain of the income countries. Coronavirus first reported in South Africa northern city of Mzuzu. has since been confirmed in Malawi. The government also has recruited 1,128 The Health Minister insisted Tanzania is medical professionals, just short of 1,380 “Our medical facilities are terribly understaffed, safe. During a presentation in which she

that health authorities have said are needed. PC : Getty Images and our medical personnel are outnumbered,” and others didn’t wear face masks, she Chakwera said in a recent address. The government of Chakwera — a retired encouraged the public to improve hygiene pastor who was a relative political newcomer practices including the use of sanitizers but While it’s difficult to gauge the level of virus Malawi has seen its number of confirmed when he was elected in June — has already also steam inhalation — which has been infections in Tanzania, this week leading cases of the disease go above 23,000, spent more than $38 million in tackling dismissed by health experts elsewhere as a opposition party ACT Wazalendo announced according to Dr. John Phuka, co-chair of the the pandemic. Last month he ordered the way to kill the Coronavirus. that party leader Seif Sharif Hamad, Vice Presidential task force on COVID-19. Finance Minister to release another $22.6 President of the semi-autonomous island Chief Government Chemist Fidelice region of Zanzibar, was being treated for The numbers appear relatively small in a million as soon as possible to meet the Mafumiko also suggested the use of herbal COVID-19. country of 18 million, but the 14,000 active demands of the crisis. medicine to cure COVID-19, without cases are many times more than the number “The situation is quite desperate,” Chakwera offering evidence. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control of established hospital beds. Officials are said in a recent address, referring to the setting up makeshift facilities to increase and Prevention in its latest travel warning shortage of health infrastructure. “Although Tanzania’s government has been widely the number of treatment units from 400 to at on Tanzania says the country’s level of in my six months in office we set up 400 criticized for its approach to the pandemic. least 1,500, sometimes erecting tents on the COVID-19 is “very high.” It gave no details national treatment units, the current wave It has not updated its number of Coronavirus lawns of hospitals. but urged against all travel to the East of infections has completely overwhelmed infections — 509 — since April. African nation. The Presidential residence State House in these facilities.” the southern city of Zomba soon will be Credit : Associated Press (AP) The World Health Organization’s Africa Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

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South America NEW DELHI TIMES Bolsonaro allies win in Congress Common pots and slow impeachment drive prepared by neighbours feeding resident Jair Bolsonaro helped elect election. But he can still lose control if he P two allies to the top jobs in both has an issue with spending, if his Cabinet houses of ’s Congress, a success that reshuffle doesn’t work. The President needs thousands in Peru is expected to help him blunt a campaign the support of these center-right parties.” t dawn, Genoveva Satalaya and her by protesters who have been calling for the A neighbours walk through Lima’s food conservative leader to be impeached. Bolsonaro abandoned his own party shortly markets hoping to find a kind merchant who after being elected President, and he has will donate food to help fill the “common Deputy Arthur Lira of the center-right struggled to find support for his policies in pot” that is feeding their neighbourhood. PC : AP Photo AP PC : Progressive party was elected by his a complicated Congressional landscape of The survival strategy that first appeared colleagues to be speaker in the Chamber of many parties. in Peru’s capital during the country’s civil streets into makeshift food markets. The Deputies, while Sen. Rodrigo Pacheco of the conflict four decades ago has been vital uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus in Bolsonaro’s approval ratings have dipped center-right Democrats party was chosen as since the coronavirus pandemic arrived Peru has been partly driven by the informal into the low 30% range — a situation that the Senate President. in this South American nation. With the labour force’s need to go to work every country again under a lockdown, Satalaya’s day. The second wave of cases currently pot is feeding 120 people, including seniors, sweeping through has pushed hospitals to children and pregnant women. the brink, with intensive care units reaching capacity. Peru has recorded more than 1.1 Satalaya and her neighbours prepare lunch million cases and over 41,000 deaths related Monday through Friday. There’s not enough to COVID-19, the disease that can be caused food for weekday breakfasts or dinners or by the coronavirus. weekend meals. The pandemic also hit Peru’s economy hard, “We don’t have meat, not even a tuna,” causing a 12% drop in gross domestic product Satalaya, a 45-year-old mother of two, said for 2020. The public health emergency left while she and her neighbours cooked rice more than a third of Peruvians short of food and potatoes for lunch. due to a lack of money, forcing them to The common pots, also seen in other Latin cook in groups, according to a June survey American countries, have emerged as by the Institute for Peruvian Studies. In a symbol of the struggles of the region. Latin America, some 20 million people will Thousands of them are in use throughout suffer from hunger, according to preliminary Peru at levels not seen since the 1980s and estimates by the United Nations. 1990s during the armed conflict between the There are almost a thousand common pots

PC : AP Photo AP PC : state and the Shining Path terrorist group. in Lima that are recognized by officials Seventy percent of the Peruvian labour in the municipality, but many, including Any impeachment move would have to analysts have attributed to the delayed force, including most residents of Satalaya’s the one run by Satalaya, are not registered start in the Lower House, where outgoing rollout of Brazil’s coronavirus vaccination neighbourhood, work in the informal and do not receive any kind of help. The Speaker Rodrigo Maia has been a critic of program and to the end of cash handouts to economy and live by the motto: “If you don’t government announced last week that it the President though also rejecting calls for the nation’s poor. work today, then you don’t eat.” With no would send aid to many common pots, but an impeachment effort. Maia’s candidate to unemployment benefits and no possibilities since there are so many, the help may not be his successor, Luiz Felipe Baleia Rossi, His relative weakness has boosted the to work from home, they eke out what reach every neighbourhood. got 145 votes in the Lower House dispute bargaining power of a centrist group they can as street vendors, turning many Credit : Associated Press (AP) while Lira got 302. of lawmakers, said Márcio Coimbra, coordinator of post-graduate studies in In the Senate, Pacheco also had the support institutional and government relations at Guyana President says country’ oil of opposition parties despite Bolsonaro’s Mackenzie Presbyterian University. explicit support. Coimbra said the price of their backing may and gas sector will play a critical role Neither Lira nor Pacheco mentioned start with the doling out of government Bolsonaro in their victory speeches, and both positions — the sort of back-scratching in country’s development promised to lead an independent legislature. politics that Bolsonaro had vowed to avoid A healthcare system that is not modern. An when he ran for President on an anti- ◆ By NDT Bureau In accepting the leadership of the lower corruption platform. education system that needs continuous house, Lira said, “Neutrality should mark @NewDelhiTimes modernisation. We have set ourselves some very ambitious goals and a strategic vision this presidency, the respect to the customs, A report in the newspaper Estado de S.Paulo [email protected] in how we’re going to achieve this. to the minority and the majority.” said Bolsonaro’s administration paid more than $92 million in funds earmarked for r. Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana Still, the Brazilian President published a special projects backed by individual D has said that the oil and gas sector First of all, we have to build a world-class picture of himself with Lira on his social lawmakers in January, a record figure for of the country will play a vital role in the education system. And this is where the media channels. that month. Analysts linked the amounts development of the country and funds from resources that will come from oil and gas to the congressional leadership elections, this sector will finance the education and will go. To ensure we have a world-class Opponents of Bolsonaro, who is midway a move typical of Brazilian Presidents that health sectors. education and healthcare system”. through a four-year term, have been staging Bolsonaro had promised to end. street demonstrations to demand his ouster “We must open up new opportunities in over his handling of the Coronavirus Centrist party officials reportedly have agriculture, industries, manufacturing, pandemic, which has caused more deaths designs on ministries such as health, mining aquaculture. The wealth must be able to in Brazil than any other nation except the and regional development, according to create new opportunities of growing new United States. Bolsonaro aides and influential lawmakers forms of wealth, while at the same time who spoke on condition of anonymity. stabilising existing sectors. Beatriz Rey, a political scientist at the Center for Latin American & Latino Studies “The victory of Lira will give the impression That’s why we will continue to invest in at American University in Washington, of an alliance, of solidity of the relationship PC : Getty Images key industries that have important social said the two wins reduce Bolsonaro’s risk with Congress to Bolsonaro,” said Thiago de and economic impact, like GuySuCo. of being impeached, although they don’t Aragao, director of strategy at political risk The President remarked: “What will create So, the transformation you will see from nullify it. consultancy Arko Advice. “But in fact, it will an enabling environment, one that will an infrastructure standpoint will see be something that still requires negotiation secure the existing economy and take us into opportunities for deep-water harbours. New “Bolsonaro has won, but it is not clear every single every day, and negotiation on the future. We have to address what are the shore-based facilities. whether he will get unconditional support,” every single issue to be voted.” hindrances to our development. One, the Rey said. “He has no coalition in Congress cost of energy. Human capital. The lack of The reduction of travelling time and the cost and that is why he is so active in this Credit : Associated Press (AP) transformative infrastructure. of doing business,” the President said.

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Opinion NEW DELHI TIMES Control of ISI in Pakistan & dangers for India By 1990’s, the ISI was so incredible inside Pakistan that no one had enough help or ability to conflict with its will consistently seen dangers to their public ◆ By NDT Bureau security since autonomy. @NewDelhiTimes The job of an intelligence office is to fill in as [email protected] the primary line of protection by giving the public authority advance data about dangers t’s a known fact that the ISI (Inter- to public security. I Services Intelligence), the intelligence agency of Pakistan, is moulding Pakistan to The ISI officers are well-fed and because of be controlled by the Military, protected by the funding, the ISI tends to spread its web a regular civilian government. This brings around the world. The reason why the ISI up the issue of whether the ISI considers has a tight control in Pakistan is because the Pakistan and its political chiefs like a combat civilians as well as the Government believe zone. The way that the ISI Head is named by that Pakistan doesn’t have good relations the PM as the Counsel of the Military Head with any of its neighboring countries and doesn’t infer that his faithfulness shifts to this is why there is always a fear of security the civilian government. It just suggests that amongst them regarding getting controlled the Military Head concludes who is most by other nations. appropriate to satisfy his arrangements and desire for the country. At this point, they believe that having the ISI in power, there are less chances of Pakistan General Ayub Khan gave exceptional getting attacked by other nations. authorizations and awards to the ISI and utilized it to stifle his rivals across the country. Using Gen. Khan’s awards and Whatever the reasons may be, a country interests, the ISI developed much the same controlled by its authoritative intelligence as Hitler’s SS police. Rather than working wing can never be trusted as institutions like PC : Getty Images on potential dangers on the country, it began the ISI tends to carry out disruptive activities working on conceivable dangers on their lion’s share of all the assistance (cash, types By 1990’s, the ISI was so incredible inside without any public accountability. political plans. of gear, arms, hardware and so forth) to Pakistan that no one had enough help or reinforce its position. Another immense bit ability to conflict with its will. Even the Given the fact that India is a democratic In the early 90s, the CIA burned nearly was utilized to prepare, arm, design and Pakistani government is powerless against it secular country, Islamic State like Pakistan billions of dollars in preparing and equipping execute fear-based oppressor assaults in as it is more grounded and more persuasive which is under control of a fanatic the Mujahedeen (Taliban) to fight against Kashmir valley and the remainder of India. than the public authority itself. The ISI organization is bound to create troubles the USSR with the help of the ISI. The ISI Just limited quantity went to the expected acquires significance from the way that the for India which for decades believed in in turn played twofold game and utilized Afghan Taliban battling against the USSR. political and military administrations have neighbor’s first policy. Coup in Myanmar, Aung Suu Kyi detained 15 years of struggle and house arrest to bring resulted in 70,000 people leaving Rakhine and mulls action if the coup is not reversed. ◆ By NDT Bureau democracy to Myanmar, Suu Kyi came to for Bangladesh. Rohingya militants’ next Biden administration must pressurize the @NewDelhiTimes power in 2015 election. attack in August 2017 triggered a military- military to hand over power back to Suu led campaign that drove over 730,000 more Kyi, otherwise impose strict economic [email protected] Beloved as “the Lady”, she thus fulfilled Rohingyas into Bangladesh. sanctions. The Australian government was the dreams of millions by winning a emocracy is a rare exotic plant that “deeply concerned” and sought immediate landslide election. Myanmar’s first civilian D refuses to strike roots on Myanmar’s All blame was heaped on Suu Kyi as chief release of detained leaders. government materialised in half a century! soil, no matter how intensively one attempts counsellor. Mounting international criticism She remains hugely popular at home as a the impossible. When the sapling briefly forced her to cease military operations but champion of democracy and a beacon of appeared to have struck root in 2015 trial international image suffered. Amnesty human rights. The prompt unfolding of and promised to grow into a huge banyan International withdrew human rights prize events turned her into an international icon. tree, a sudden storm felled it to the ground. from her. Slanderous campaign of Western Army Generals struck in Myanmar once Islamists led to stripping off the Noble Prize more, sending the democratically elected The military-promoted 2008 Constitution and further fall from grace. government of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National reserved one-fourth of the Parliamentary League for Democracy (NLD) packing! seats and three key ministries for military Gambia filed a case at the International lawmakers for effective ‘check’ over civilian Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging genocide In November 2020 elections, Suu Kyi’s MPs. Military controlled state affairs till against Rohingya Muslims. Suu Kyi denied NLD achieved a comfortable landslide growing civilian power made it uneasy. the extent of military-led crackdown and electoral victory-a referendum on her defended it but the ICJ’s interim order fledgling democratic government-but chose In 2011, Myanmar emerged from decades of pressed for urgent measures to protect a government of national unity. The military- military rule but army retained lion’s share Rohingya Muslims from genocide. backed Union Solidarity and Development of state power through a hybrid system, Party (USDP), as the main opposition, conceding limited democratic activity. Myanmar suffers from ethnic and religious alleged irregularities and demanded a re-run. Suu Kyi tried to amend the Constitution in strife. Democratic process handles conflicts The military alleged “huge irregularities” January, 2019, to outlaw military takeover well by allowing equal rights while and render it high treason, punishable with military’s support for Buddhist nationalists despite Myanmar Election Commission PC : Getty Images certifying no evidence of fraud. death, but military lawmakers hung tough to can aggravate sectarianism. Majority do not their political powers. The escalating army- like return of Rohingyas, hence coup could Japan was watching the situation closely. The February coup against the Nobel civilian tension culminated in February be popular. As the protests to coup are intensifying, laureate and the de facto leader Suu Kyi also coup. Myanmar’s new military authorities detained Myanmar’s President. The Military America’s disengagement in the region has appeared to have cut most access to the Chief Min Aung Hlaing took over power Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims emboldened anti-democratic forces. Many Internet. and imposed a year-long state of emergency. have clashes in northern Rakhine province governments have condemned the coup and for decades. In June 2012, Rohingya it will be taken up at the UN. But International Myanmar’s democracy was never perfect, Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in Muslims killed 80 people and burnt down community’s reaction was somewhat nowhere is it. But imperfect democracies 1991 in detention but was released in 2010 homes. In October 2016, they attacked subdued. America opposes any attempt around the world must be allowed to grow to global jubilation and subsequently got police border posts killing nine police to alter the outcome of recent elections or and evolve rather than wilt under pressure elected to the Parliament in May 2012. After officers. Military’s retaliatory operation impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, from army to toy with a nation’s future. www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

8 - 14 February 2021 21

Sports NEW DELHI TIMES FIFA reiterates strong NBA tells teams it plans March 7 All-Star Game in Atlanta collaboration with the ◆ By NDT Bureau @NewDelhiTimes African Union [email protected] FIFA strengthened its relationship with the African Union when both he NBA told its teams that it expects the organisations along with the Confederation of African Football T to finalize plans in the coming week to (CAF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 have an All-Star Game in Atlanta. February 2019 following the 32nd Ordinary Assembly of the AU The game and skills competitions will be The third pillar of the 2019 MoU pertains held on March 7, the NBA told clubs in the ◆ By Dr. Pawan Mathur to collaboration on the promotion of good memo, a copy of which was obtained by The @PawanMathur governance and anti-corruption in sport, Associated Press. It remains unclear when in particular through joint actions such [email protected] players would have to report to Atlanta and as workshops and awareness campaigns how testing will work there, or if fans will be against match manipulation and other forms n February 4, 2021 FIFA President part of the game. of malpractice in football. O Gianni Infantino spoke over a call with the African Union (AU) Chairperson Joint actions were envisaged in the MoU The first-half schedule ends March 4, with PC : Getty Images Cyril Ramaphosa. The call preceded the the second half set to begin on March 11. to promote good governance among the “If I’m going to be brutally honest, I think 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of The league said it expects to agree to FIFA member associations in the AU region it’s stupid,” Fox said. “If we have to wear the Heads of State and Government of the terms with the National Basketball Players with key principles such as democracy, masks and do all this for a regular game, AU. According to a statement by FIFA, Association on testing protocols that will gender equality, stakeholder involvement, then what’s the point of bringing an All-Star Ramaphosa and Infantino “spoke of the apply to all players during the break, how transparency, accountability, solidarity, and Game back? But obviously, money makes positive momentum generated between testing will work for the All-Star event, and checks and balances. the world go ’round, so it is what it is.” both organisations in the past two years as when players will have to report back to well as the strong institutional bonds forged their home markets to begin preparations for Fox was not among the top vote-getters between the AU and FIFA for the benefit of the second-half schedule. in the first fan-balloting results released. the African people”. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant is the leading ESPN first reported on the contents of the overall fan vote-getter so far with just over FIFA strengthened its relationship with memo. 2.3 million, the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron the African Union in 2019 when both the James has just under 2.3 million, and organisations along with the Confederation Daily testing, the NBA said, will continue Golden State’s Stephen Curry has just over of African Football (CAF) signed a during the break and the league expects 2.1 million. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that another condition will be that players following the 32nd Ordinary Assembly of won’t be allowed to travel internationally. “I have zero energy and zero excitement the AU. The MoU had three pillars at its If a player leaves his home market about an All-Star Game this year,” James core. Under the first pillar, FIFA, CAF and during the midseason break, the NBA is said. “I don’t even understand why we’re the AU committed to support education expected to mandate that he stay in private having an All-Star Game, but it’s the using football for all schoolchildren of all accommodations. agreement.” member countries of the AU, including the development and training of teachers. FIFA All players will likely have to be back in The Lakers had a 71-day offseason, and has allocated a budget of USD 100 million home markets within two days of their teams James had been looking forward to a five- to the Football for Schools Programme over resuming play, the NBA said. day break to recharge himself. Instead, he’s the next four-year cycle likely headed to Atlanta, a development he Talks between the league and the NBPA

PC : Getty Images called: “Pretty much kind of a slap in the The second pillar aims to promote safety and have gone on for weeks about if and how face.” security at football matches with a focus on A notable example of cooperation between to salvage the All-Star Game, which capacity-building on legislative aspects, the FIFA and AU was witnessed in August 2020 was originally scheduled to be played in “We’re also still dealing with a pandemic, development of stadium safety and security when the two organisations along with CAF Indianapolis this season — before the dealing with everything that’s been going on, management measures and interventions, as and the World Health Organisation (WHO) pandemic called off those plans. Among and we’re going to bring the whole league well as engagement in best practise exchange launched the #SafeHome campaign. This is the ideas the league and the union are into a city that’s still open,” James added across AU countries. FIFA’s commitment to in accordance to the third pillar of the 2019 discussing: how the game can benefit both after posting his 96th career triple-double this pillar was manifested recently when in MoU in which FIFA committed to support COVID-19 relief and historically Black in the Lakers’ 114-93 win over Denver. January 21, FIFA President Gianni Infantino the AU in the promotion of gender equality. colleges and universities. “Obviously, you guys can see I’m not very visited Cameroon, the host of the 2021 happy about it, but it’s out of my hands, and African Nations Championship (CHAN) and Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox said that he During his address to the 32nd Ordinary I’ll be there physically if I’m selected. I’ll be met Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Ngute thought the notion of an All-Star Game was Assembly of the African Union in Addis there physically, but not mentally.” and the CAF President Constant Omari. “stupid” during a pandemic. Players have Ababa, Ethiopia, Infantino had said that been told to wear masks on their benches, It would be Atlanta’s third time playing host gender equality was an issue that needed Infantino said that “it was important to show coaches must wear them at all times during to the game, the others coming in 1978 and to be taken seriously. The #SafeHome FIFA’s support to football in Cameroon and games and the league and NBPA have 2003. Cleveland is the 2022 host, Salt Lake campaign intends to support women and across the African continent, especially installed strict protocols to try to get through City will host in 2023 and Indianapolis will children victims of , as the African Nations Championship just the season safely. get the event in 2024. kicked off, the first international tournament particularly as stay-at-home measures in being played in 2021, and spectators are response to COVID-19 have put them at attending matches according to the safety greater risk. protocols which have been established. During their talks the FIFA President It sends an important message to have assured his AU counterpart reiterated their football restarting in Africa, particularly commitment to the terms of the 2019 MoU, in an indisputable football country such including plans to boost African Football as Cameroon.” FIFA has also provided with a particular focus on infrastructure financial support to this tournament. Since (stadia, football pitches), football academies October 2020, CAF has been utilising FIFA’s and competitions, but also on the fight COVID Relief Fund grant (USD 2 million) against match manipulation, as well as to restart their competitions, with the medical safety and security at football matches protocols, flights and accommodation for across Africa. Both organisations committed match officials at CHAN being subsidised to continue the strong relationship between through this funding. them in the past two years in the future too.

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 22 8 - 14 February 2021

Technology & Health NEW DELHI TIMES India being poisoned in the name of purity: Ban adulteration of Honey Honey is eaten because it is known to be an antioxidant and has anti-microbial (killing germs) properties... Sugar has no nutrient value and is known to add weight and cause chronic disease

◆ By Smt. Maneka antioxidant and has anti-microbial (killing On all the large Chinese portals they were Sanjay Gandhi germs) properties. It is expensive to create, advertising a sugar syrup called the All because thousands of bees have to be Pass Syrup. The advertisements claim that @ManekaGandhiBJP maintained and fed a steady diet of flowers. the chemical mixture, called syrup, can Sugar has no nutrient value and is known to pass the honey adulteration tests – C3, C4, n 2013, India started using Neonicotinoid add weight and cause chronic disease. It is TMR, SMT, Oligosaccharides and even I pesticides in order to protect a crop cheap. NMR! Companies in India are importing that Monsanto had promised the Indian this chemical mixture, which was being sent farmer he would not have to use pesticides The FSSAI is the government organisation to India in some cases as “industrial raw on. These are the worst pesticides in the in charge of food standards. In 2017, the material”, and even “paint mixture”, from world and they have been indicted for FSSAI ordered that honey should be tested China. 11,000 tonnes of this mixture have having killed billions of bees on the planet. I for adulteration with corn, sugarcane, rice come in annually to Nasik, Uttarakhand, called a meeting of the ICAR in 2014 to ask and beetroot syrups. The test was called Uttar Pradesh and . The factories for the ban of these pesticides. The ICAR C3 and C4. The tests were isotope tests, that make this syrup are all “legitimate food refused, even though they admitted that the SMR, TMR, foreign oligosaccharides tests processing businesses.” The FSSAI chooses bee population has gone down sharply. They and pollen counts. In 2019, the FSSAI to look the other way. mysteriously issued a directive revising, said cotton was more important than fruit, PC : Getty Images grain and flowers which are dependent on and downgrading, the parameters and Down to Earth ordered samples online bee pollination! allowing the adulteration to go undetected. 10,000 MT came in. By 2017, it was more from two Chinese suppliers called Wuhu The Director of the National Bee Board told than 4,300 MT. These syrups are imported Foods and CNN Foods. In their order they If the bees have gone down in number Down to Earth that he had written a letter under the names of “Fructose syrup (F55/ specifically stated that they wanted this drastically, how has the honey production to the government saying that by reducing F42)”, “Honey blend syrup”, “Tapioca syrup to pass all the government tests. Both tripled? Till 2013, the yearly growth rate pollen count, the FSSAI has legalised the fructose syrup”, “Golden fructose glucose companies wrote that their product could was only 0-4.8%. From 2013-14, the growth practice of adulterating and selling rice syrup”, even “Fructose Rice Syrup for pass any Indian tests, even if the adulteration rate rocketed from 5.3 to 11.1 %!!! This syrup and corn syrup as honey. The cheating Honey”. Anyone from India can look up was up to 80%, and added that their Indian could not have happened naturally. How of the consumer, by honey processors, has the marketing portals like Alibaba, Okchem clients used this percentage in their so- have hundreds of honey companies come been legalised. “You can understand why.” and Tradewheel, and order from a host of called honey bottles. The samples that Fedex into the market? This question has always Chinese companies. brought in simply said “syrup” and “paint troubled me. I don’t eat honey. By now, the companies selling honey have pigment emulsion.” increased massively and became very The FSSAI issued directives to sugar Last month, the environment magazine, powerful. Baba Ramdev had jumped in importers saying they had evidence that Down to Earth took pure raw honey and Down to Earth, answered this question in a as well. But strangely enough, the honey this Chinese import was being used to mixed it themselves with the Chinese and deeply detailed investigation that they took farmers were all going bankrupt because adulterate honey. The FSSAI announced in Indian adulterants (from a company in months over. You should read it. We do not these companies had stopped buying their 2020 that the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Jaspur) in different proportions – from 25% take food adulteration seriously and yet it is honey. Spectroscopy (NMR) was now mandatory to 75% – and sent these to the Gujarat based the highest form of corruption, and should for any company exporting honey (the lab- Centre for Analysis and Learning in have the death penalty on it. So, we have a huge honey industry which Indian consumer is expendable, of course, Livestock and Food (CALF) of the National uses no honey? so the standards for detecting adulteration Dairy Development Board. The samples I will attempt to encapsulate what they have in honey remained the low ones revised in passed all the tests up to 75% adulteration! discovered, but again, I repeat, go onto their So, what do the “honey” bottles contain? 2019.) To Read Full Article : https://www. website and read the expose. newdelhitimes.com/india-being-poisoned-in-the- Sugar syrup import into India from China Did the fructose syrup import stop? No. It name-of-purity-ban-adulteration-of-honey Let’s start with the basics: have increased steadily. Fructose and simply changed its name. To join the animal welfare movement glucose syrup was being imported from contact [email protected], Honey is eaten because it is known to be an China to India in bulk amounts. In 2014, The Chinese were not hiding their product. www.peopleforanimalsindia.org Study: Russia’s Sputnik V US billionaire buys SpaceX flight to vaccine appears safe, effective orbit with 3 others ussian scientists say the country’s R Sputnik V vaccine appears safe and UA. billionaire who made a fortune effective against COVID-19, according to A in tech and fighter jets is buying an early results of an advanced study published entire SpaceX flight and plans to take three in a British medical journal. “everyday” people with him to circle the Photo AP PC : globe this year. Press. “I also think if we are going to live The news is a boost for the vaccine, which Besides fulfilling his dream of flying in in that world, we better conquer childhood governments around the world increasingly space, Jared Isaacman announced that he cancer along the way.” are purchasing in the race to stop the PC : AP Photo AP PC : aims to use the private trip to raise $200 devastation caused by the coronavirus He’s bought a Super Bowl ad to publicize the million for St. Jude Children’s Research pandemic. mission, dubbed Inspiration4 and targeted “But the outcome reported here is clear,” Hospital, half coming from his own pockets. British scientists Ian Jones and Polly Roy for an October launch from Florida. The Researchers said that based on a fall trial wrote in an accompanying commentary. A female health care worker for St. Jude other passengers aboard the SpaceX Dragon involving about 20,000 people in Russia, “Another vaccine can now join the fight to already has been selected for the mission. capsule — what Isaacman calls a diverse the vaccine is about 91% effective and reduce the incidence of COVID-19.” Anyone donating to St. Jude in February group “from everyday walks of life” — will appears to prevent inoculated individuals will be entered into a random drawing for be announced next month. SpaceX founder from becoming severely ill with COVID-19. The vaccine was approved by the Russian seat No. 3. The fourth seat will go to a and chief executive Elon Musk expects the But it is unclear if Sputnik V can stop government with much fanfare on August business owner who uses Shift4 Payments, flight to last two to four days. transmission. The study was published 11. President Vladimir Putin personally Isaacman’s credit card processing company “This is an important milestone toward online in The Lancet. broke the news on national television in Allentown, Pennsylvania. enabling access to space for everyone,” and said one of his daughters had already Musk said during a press conference Scientists not linked to the research “I truly want us to live in a world 50 or 100 received it. At the time, the vaccine had only from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, acknowledged that the speed at which the years from now where people are jumping been tested in several dozen people, and the California. While expensive, these initial vaccine was made and rolled out had brought in their rockets like the Jetsons and there move elicited criticism from experts both at private flights will drive down costs over criticism of the Russian effort’s “unseemly are families bouncing around on the moon home and abroad. time, he noted. haste, corner cutting and an absence of with their kid in a spacesuit,” Isaacman, transparency.” Credit : Associated Press (AP) who turns 38 next week, told The Associated Credit : Associated Press (AP) www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper

8 - 14 February 2021 23

Entertainment & Lifestyle NEW DELHI TIMES Harry Styles investing in new ‘Ma Rainey,’ music venue in Manchester ‘Minari’ and hile most music stars are rescheduling “What’s going to make it different than just Boseman lead W tour dates to 2021, Harry Styles is touring? I want it to be a room that people looking farther ahead and making plans to remember playing and look forward to headline his own arena — one he’s putting playing.” SAG nominations his money and ideas into. hadwick Boseman received two The location was also a big pull for Styles. C posthumous nominations from the Styles is one of the investors in a £350 27th Screen Actors Guild Awards, while the million pound ($456.6 million) new concert He finds the idea of giving a “music city” Korean American family drama “Minari” venue in Manchester, England, called Co-op like Manchester, a brand new, large-scale and Spike Lee’s Vietnam veteran drama “Da Live. concert building, “incredibly exciting.” 5 Bloods” were among the nominees for best ensemble. The project, announced, teams him up with Styles’ first job was as a paperboy for a Oak View Group on what they hope will be The nominees, announced on Instagram

Co-op store in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, Photo AP PC : the UK’s largest arena. — delivering newspapers for “a few quid” Live, differed notably from the Golden before school — so working with them now Styles remains philosophical about this Globe nominations announced the day “As long as everything’s in order by 2023, feels like a full-circle moment. (Most of his delay. His dates have been moved to 2021 before. While the Hollywood Foreign Press hopefully they’ll let me play there. If I paper route earnings got spent on candy, he and he said he’s more concerned with Association spurned films with largely non- haven’t messed it up yet,” Styles said, said.) keeping his crew and fans safe. white casts in its tops awards, the actors smiling. guild nominated a strikingly more diverse “Maybe the first show they’ll make me He’s instead been able to use this time slate of nominees for its top award, best After 10 years touring the globe and playing deliver the papers to every seat,” he joked. to start acting again in a “great project,” ensemble. record-breaking stadiums shows with One the psychological thriller, “Don’t Worry, Direction, Styles, 26, knows what he’d like Styles’ dad lives in Manchester. The northern Darling,” directed by Olivia Wilde and from a venue, both as an artist and as an starring Florence Pugh. attendee. English city was recently placed under strict restrictions by the U.K. government due to It’s a switch from the music he said he’s the number of coronavirus cases. “Ultimately, I’m a music fan,” he said. “I always writing and working on. love going to shows, I love live music.” “It’s a difficult time. Manchester is going to “You try and put so much of yourself into For performers, he also wants to create great come back. It just will. Like everywhere, it’s music and then you’re trying to actively memories. about people protecting each other.” remove that from any acting,” he said. “I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do two Already vetoing a suggestion of backstage The pandemic put a stop to his plans for things I love doing.” jacuzzies (“bad idea”), he’s concentrating on touring to support his “Fine Line” album making it a standout place to play. until December 2020. Credit : Associated Press (AP) Pedro Almodovar's PC : AP Photo AP PC : 'Madres paralelas' Season 2 of web series Up for best ensemble are Regina King’s will feature “One Night in Miami,” about a 1964 Family Man delayed meeting of four Black icons; the August Wilson adaptation “Ma Rainey’s Black Penelope Cruz Bottom”; Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari”; Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods” and Aaron Sorkin’s 1960s ◆ By NDT Bureau courtroom drama “The Trial of the Chicago @NewDelhiTimes 7.”

[email protected] All of those films, except Sorkin’s, were overlooked by the Globes in its top scar winning filmmaker Pedro Almodovar's award, best dramatic film. “Minari,” set O upcoming directorial venture Madres in Arkansas but with largely Korean paralelas (Parallel Mothers) will feature dialogue, was even ruled ineligible for the Penelope Cruz in a major role. Penelope category by the Hollywood Foreign Press Cruz, Aitana Sanchez Gijon, and the young Association. Milena Smit will play the three mothers in the film, accompanied by Israel Elejalde as But the SAG Awards, presented by SAG- the main male character. Cruz’s involvement AFTRA, are considered a far better as a cast in the movie has now been officially barometer for the Academy Awards, where announced by the Almodóvar Bothers PC : Getty Images actors account for the largest percentage of production outfit El Deseo. The second season of the show was the academy. Usually, the eventual Oscar By NDT Bureau ◆ originally scheduled for a February 12 best picture winner is first nominated for “With ‘Madres paralelas’ I return to the @NewDelhiTimes release on Amazon Prime. best ensemble by the SAG Awards, though female universe, to motherhood, to the “Green Book” and “The Shape of Water” [email protected] The Family Man is an Indian Hindi-language family. I speak of the importance of ancestors were two recent exceptions. Last year, Bong espionage action thriller web series on and descendants. Joon Ho’s “Parasite” won the SAG’s top he second season of the web series Amazon Prime Video created, directed and honor (and became the first non-English film Family Man, which is streamed produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. The inevitable presence of memory. There T to do so) before triumphing at the Oscars. are many mothers in my filmography, the on Amazon Prime, has been delayed. A who also co-wrote the story and screenplay statement by the creators Raj and DK shared ones that are part of this story are very with Suman Kumar, and dialogues were The Screen Actors Guild’s field of ensemble on Instagram read, “We know you have different,” Almodóvar said in the casting penned were Sumit Arora and Suman nominees left out a pair of frontrunners in been eagerly waiting for the new season announcement. Kumar. The series features Manoj Bajpayee David Fincher’s golden-age Hollywood of The Family Man. We are truly grateful as Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class man drama “Mank” (which led the Globes with and humbled by all the love! We have an “As a storyteller, imperfect mothers inspire secretly working as an intelligence officer six nominations) and Chloe Zhao’s Western update for you. The Family Man Season 2 me most at this time. It is also a collaboration for the Threat Analysis and Surveillance road movie “Nomadland.” The stars of will premiere on Amazon Prime Video this with my beloved Julieta Serrano and Rossy Cell (TASC), a fictitious branch of the each — Gary Oldman in “Mank,” Frances summer! We have been working super hard de Palma. ‘Parallel Mothers’ will be an National Investigation Agency. It also stars McDormand in “Nomadland” — were both to get you a kickass season. And we are intense drama. Or so I hope,” he said/. Priyamani, Sharad Kelkar, Neeraj Madhav, nominated by the actors guild. According to reports the movie is set to start pretty sure you will love it. Can’t wait to Sharib Hashmi, Dalip Tahil, Sunny Hinduja production by the end of March in Spain. bring it to you!” and Shreya Dhanwanthary. Credit : Associated Press (AP)

India’s only International Newspaper www.NewDelhiTimes.com 24 8 - 14 February 2021

Think - Tanks NEW DELHI TIMES Bad counsel may cause us to fall into an abyss the dreams and confusions of infant life relatively happy life, you could ask a lovely towards these people for answers. But adult old lady in a remote temple, and she may ◆ By Dr. Pramila life is not the same; we exist in a world say something like, do not pursue worldly Srivastava that’s totally indifferent, we grow up and things, give up worldly pleasures and focus @PramilaBK are inducted to this harsh reality. A world on a life of the eternal and only take what is [email protected] of indifference to what we are, say, and do. necessary and meaningful, live a serious life So, we find ourselves endlessly turning right of spirituality. n this journey, we call life, as eternal or left seeking advice and answers to all our Everyone is trying to live the best one can I and fleeting as it may seem, we are problems and issues, desperately seeking while dealing with our infinite problems the faced with an ocean of difficult situations recurrence to our battered confidence and best way we can, we all need a helping hand and circumstances that often we cannot insecurities. We seek the guiding voice that and the voice of reassurance to put us back overcome on our own. We are weak or more tells us in a suiting voice that it’s going to on our feet. But we possibly cannot expect specifically we are incomplete. Incomplete be ok and point us in the direction where we others to say exactly what we need to hear in our wisdom, incomplete in our knowledge, need to go. We depend on the memory of our all the time, we’re all different and we are and incomplete in our capacity to understand infancy when all our doubts and questions facing common pains at different moments. and we are left feeling alone, powerless, or were met by a guiding voice. No matter how wise a person may seem to insecure to muster the courage to meet life

We expect the process that guided us to be PC : Getty Images be they cannot provide all the answers we and all is trails. infinite and we so often trust these voices seek, what they say may be true, but may not We feel the need to rely on our friends without ever so questioning it, we put our be wrong. Our desperate need for answers be the right answer or advice for everyone and family and the archive of knowledge complete faith and trust in this advice and and in a conveniently short period makes us or may just be the right answer at the wrong and wisdom that has been left by the past, guidance without realizing that we have grown susceptible to exposing ourselves to advice time. great scholars, teachers, kings, and people infinitely more sophisticated in what we need that may not be ill intended but end up The wisdom we seek and hold true couldn’t we consider great and knowledgeable. We and what we need to be understood for. being misguided or harmful for our overall be more true and powerful, but they will also are not confident in our own capacity to wellbeing. We look for saviors in others to We now need more than the milk or the at the same time contradict each other. So, handle things so we find ourselves asking save us from drowning in our problems. hand to hold or the answer to why the birds in the end, we could say it is the wisdom to questions and seeking answers from anyone But all of us in one way or the other are the fly or the water in the puddle is dirty. We know the difference, that there is no general and anything that we deem superior or same, so how can we expect others to save need someone to tell us how to fix our or universal kind of wisdom or advice that knowledgeable or slightly more competent. us when they equally need saving. We seek adult problems, like our relationship that’s we can give to people that will solve all of wisdom from equally confused individuals Most of us grow around people that care for falling apart, our performance at our job to their problems, therefore we should know and expect them to point us in the direction us to an extraordinary extent, so we depend get a raise or promotion, or how to have a that everything has its limits, even the we are unaware of. from an early age of infancy on them to tell happy and fulfilled life and we expect these councils or suiting words of our most trusted us what to do, to explain how the world answers to be given to us immediately just Consulting words can be given to us from people. That it is, in the end, situational and works, what’s right or wrong. They mentor like that and not based on careful and slow different sources on the same topic or rarely general. Even the most competent or us and tell us what to do and what not to instruction and patient, playful disquisitions. answers we seek, and each couldn’t more helpful advice given at the wrong time or to do, how we ought to think, speak, or how We blindly assume that they are intelligent different. One may ask what the meaning the wrong person will amount to nothing or do dress, and so forth. We look up from enough and they care for us so they can never of life is or what we should do to have a worst. Malaysia launches 10-year Tourism strategy World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in its through targeted businesses. The third strategy the tourism industry’s contribution to the ◆ By International Institute for Non - Aligned Studies forecast said it will take between two and four calls embracing smart tourism. To achieve this, UNSDGs. Transformation strategy six calls years for the global tourism industry to recover. the DNP2020-2030 proposes four strategic for building human capital and create a @iinsNAM The government was also informed by the actions – optimising e-markets through smart service culture personifying the hospitality [email protected] National Economic Action Council (MTEN) partnership between the government and the and professionalism of the tourism industry. he COVID-19 pandemic has not only that it will take at least four years for us to tourism industry, embracing but regulating This will be done through enhancing T hit the health sector but also has led to a revive the industry. “Four years is a long period the sharing economy to encourage innovation, cooperation between public sector, private downward economic spiral. Tourism is one of which will certainly unfold major challenges advancing the use of big data analytics in sector and academician for streamlining the hardest hit sectors during the crisis due to to those directly and indirectly involved in the planning and development and consolidating human capital development, expanding the imposition of a global scale lockdown. One country’s tourism sector. “Apart from the on- the visitor economy to optimise the tourism use of digital technology in tourism and of the major economic challenges in a post going efforts to end the pandemic, there are value chain. hospitality programmes, developing new pandemic world will be to revive the tourism opportunities available for us to improve the skill sets for attracting youths as tourist sector, with a focus on building an inclusive quality of our delivery service. The fourth strategy of the DNP calls professionals and conducting specialised and sustainable tourism sector that is prepared for enhancing demand sophistication training programs. Muhyiddin urged all as well as resilient against future disasters. This can be achieved through optimizing by increasing the depth of the tourism parties to work closely with the Tourism, the use of technology such as video experience. This entails undertaken rigorous Arts and Culture Ministry to ensure that the On December 23, 2020, Malaysian Prime conferencing and non-physical contact tourisms analytics, catering to customised objectives outlined under the DPN2020- Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin launched (cashless) transaction as well as embracing travelling demands, branding Malaysia 2030 could be achieved. “It is our shared the National Tourism Policy 2020–2030 the new normal without affecting the as a premier ecotourism destination, and responsibility to ensure the tourism (DPN2020-2030), Malaysia’s dynamic potential of tourism industry,” he said. removing impediments that restricts high value product developments remain sustainable, and strategic plan to revive the tourism tourism. The fifth strategy calls for practising competitive and inclusive as indicated under industry in the country. “The policy will The six core strategies of DNP2020-2030 sustainable and responsible tourism and the DPN2020-2030.” he remarked. be implemented through six core strategies may now be examined in detail as stated in the aligning the tourism policy towards the United (in arrangement with namely governance transformation, policy document. Governance Transformation Nations Sustainable Development Goals News from Non-Aligned World) establishing inclusive tourism investment entails strengthening the governance and (UNSDG). Four strategic actions are identified www.iins.org zones, intensifying tourism digitalization, coordination of 40 agencies directly or for achieving this objective enriching the experience and satisfaction indirectly involved with tourism. This strategy – championing responsible among tourists, strengthening commitment calls for creating a National Tourism Council, tourism especially at Contact New Delhi Times towards building sustainable tourism establish a tourism academy for government environmentally fragile as well as increasing human resources officials involved in tourism and embrace areas, managing the For Complaints & Suggestions capacity within all tourism sub-sectors,” innovative governance models to facilitate development of tourism +91-9999331600 said Muhyiddin. Citing the projection participatory process and public-private islands in synergy with made by world tourism organisation and sector partnership. The second transformation conservation, practising A-2/59, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029 local economic body, Muhyiddin said the strategy of creating special tourism investment inclusive tourism to government was aware of the challenges zones calls for two strategic actions – include women, youth Visit us at : twitter@NewDelhiTimes ahead that the country has to navigate in order spearheading tourism innovation through PPP and disadvantaged facebook.com/newdelhitimes to revive its tourism sector. “United Nations and creating a pro investment environment groups and monitoring 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. 2 Editor : Dr. Ankit Srivastava www.NewDelhiTimes.com India’s only International Newspaper