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General Rawat in Russia to attend SCO peace mission exercise
International Desk, Rtv
23 Sep 2021, 19:30
Photo: Collected
India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is in Russia to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) peace mission exercise, the Indian embassy in Russia said on Wednesday.
The CDS would witness the activities of the respective armed forces taking part in the SCO peace mission drills being held in Russia. Indian Army and Air Force are also taking part in the exercise there.
The aim of the exercise is to foster close relations between SCO member states and to enhance the abilities of the military leaders to command multi-national military contingents.
This is the first foreign visit of General Rawat after taking over as the CDS.
Earlier this week, a senior defence official said, "There is a conference of the CDS-rank officers of the SCO member countries. China and Pakistan are also part of this grouping."
The CDS conference would be focusing on addressing the regional security issues and Afghanistan is also likely to come up for discussion, the official said.
Source: ANI
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Spain: Judge orders Telegram to be blocked nationwide
Media companies claim Telegram is allowing users to upload their content without permission. A Spanish court has now ordered for the platform to be suspended as a "precautionary measure."
The use of the messaging application Telegram in Spain will be temporarily suspended as of Monday, following a request from media companies.
The order was issued by judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audencia Nacional, a high court which handles sensitive cases.
Media companies, including Atresmedia, EGEDA, Mediaset, and Telefonica, complained that Telegram was allowing users to upload their content without permission.
While the claims are being investigated, Pedraz agreed to block Telegram's services in Spain. According to the court source, it will be the responsibility of mobile operators to block Telegram's services.
Why was the order issued?
The judge issued the order after officials in the Virgin Islands, where Telegram is registered, failed to respond to a court request from July 2023.
The court wanted information that would allow it to identify who was behind the accounts in question that were uploading apparently pirated content.
The lack of cooperation from the Virgin Islands led him to take this "precautionary measure," the judge said in Friday's order.
Consumer group slams ruling
Consumer advocacy group Facua criticized the ruling as disproportionate, warning that it would cause "enormous damage" to millions of the platform's users.
"It is as if they shut down the internet because there are websites that illegally host content protected by copyright," Facua's general secretary Ruben Sanchez said.
Telegram is the fourth most used messaging service in Spain, according to the competition watchdog CNMC. It was used by almost 19% of Spaniards surveyed by the CNMC.
Telegram claims to have 700 million monthly active users all over the world. The company has had to deal with blocking in a number of countries, from Brazil to Somalia.
More than 100 kidnapped schoolchildren rescued in Nigeria
The children had been kidnapped two weeks ago from their school in Kaduna. It comes as more and more criminal gangs in the area turn to abductions to seek out large ransoms.
Over 100 kidnapped schoolchildren were rescued in northern Nigeria on Sunday after they were abducted two weeks ago.
The mass kidnapping of 287 students in Kuriga, in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna, was the first mass abduction in the West African country since 2021.
Authorities said 137 students — 76 girls and 61 boys — were rescued in the neighboring Zamfara State.
"In the early hours of 24 March 2024, the military working with local authorities and government agencies across the country in a coordinated search and rescue operation rescued the hostages," army spokesperson Major General Edward Buba said.
This represented all the students who were in captivity. The reported numbers for mass abductions in Nigeria are often lowered after people who went missing while fleeing attacks return home.
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani said the children were unharmed.
Children released ahead of ransom deadline
The children were released days before a deadline to pay a $690,000 (€635,000) ransom.
Ransoms are commonly paid for kidnappings in Nigeria, but it is rare for officials to admit to payments.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had previously vowed to rescue the children "without paying a dime."
"This is indeed a day of joy," he added.
They will be escorted back to their home state for medical tests before being reunited with their families.
Philippines supply ships clash with Chinese coast guard
The Chinese Coast Guard used a water cannon against Philippines' ships attempting to deliver supplies to Filipino troops at an outpost in the South China Sea, according to Manila.
Philippine naval vessels were involved in a clash with the Chinese coast guard on Saturday while attempting to resupply troops at a contested outpost in the South China Sea.
A Philippine civilian boat, escorted by two navy ships and two coast guard vessels, was on a monthly supply run to a small number of Filipino marines stationed on the "Sierra Madre" – a warship intentionally run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 in order to reinforce The Philippines' territorial claims in the area.
Manila says Chinese ships were 'irresponsible'
According to a statement from the Philippine coast guard, one of its ships was "impeded" and "encircled" by a Chinese coast guard vessel and two ships from the Chinese maritime militia.
Philippine authorities said one of its vessels had been damaged by a water canon during the "dangerous maneuvers" undertaken by the Chinese, who it said had showed a "disregard" for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS).
The statement accused he Chinese ships of "irresponsible and provocative behavior."
China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its territorial waters, has regularly deployed vessels to monitor and disrupt efforts to resupply the "Sierra Madre" and described Saturday's operation as "control measures."
In a similar incident in March, Manila claimed that four Filipino sailors had been injured and two boats damaged.
No injuries have been reported this time.
US, Japan support Philippines
The United States and Japan immediately expressed support for the Philippines and alarm at the aggression of Chinese forces off Second Thomas Shoal.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that Washington "stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns the dangerous actions by the People's Republic of China against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea."
Japan's ambassador-designate to Manila, Endo Kazuya, reiterated his country's "grave concern on the repeated dangerous actions by the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea, which resulted in Filipino injuries."
Meanwhile, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu said the Philippine vessels intruded into what he said was China's territorial waters despite repeated warnings.
Several countries compete for dominance in South China Sea.
China has even constructed artificial islands in the region and fortified them to underline its claims.
China promoting Mandarin in parts of Tibet: Report
The report added that Tibetans face restrictions not only on their right to freedom of assembly, but also on expressing opinions or criticism against the “repressive and unjust government policies, both online and offline”
“Even as China ended its draconian zero-Covid policy measures in 2023, Tibetans continue to face escalating crackdowns on freedom of expression, religion and belief,” the Dharamshala-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said in a report.
The annual report released on Wednesday stated that despite numerous calls from the international community to halt its forced assimilation policy, Chinese authorities imposed Chinese-medium education in Tibetan schools and amended local regulations in Tibetan areas to promote Mandarin Chinese.
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) is a registered non-profit human rights organisation based in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. The annual report was prepared by TCHRD’s trilingual research team, working in Tibetan, Chinese and English. The team compiled and analysed information from a wide variety of sources on the human rights situation in Tibet in 2023.
The report added that Tibetans face restrictions not only on their right to freedom of assembly, but also on expressing opinions or criticism against the “repressive and unjust government policies, both online and offline”. Under the guise of maintaining social stability, Chinese authorities exercise direct supervision and censorship over all online platforms.
“The right to freedom of religion and belief faced further restrictions as Chinese authorities introduced more repressive regulations to exercise total control over the establishment, management and activities of the religious activity sites. Despite the relaxation of zero-Covid restrictions, it made no difference to Tibetan Buddhists, who continued to face restrictions in undertaking religious pilgrimages,” the report further.
According to the report, Tibetan detainees continue to face a litany of human rights violations. Those arbitrarily, preventatively or forcefully detained underwent unjust sentencing and torture, resulting in custodial deaths. Incommunicado detention in undisclosed locations without due process also remained a regular practice, leading to lasting health issues and premature deaths among political prisoners upon release.
Tenzin Dawa, executive director of TCHRD, said, “In 2023, China was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council, the United Nation’s premier rights body responsible for protecting and promoting human rights globally. This re-election demonstrates how authoritarian states like China manipulate, obstruct and exploit the international human rights system by waging systematic campaigns to weaken and eviscerate the UN’s ability to enforce global compliance with international human rights standards.”
“The injustices and human rights violations in Tibet underscore the urgent need to address the human rights abuses in Tibet perpetrated by Chinese authorities. The Chinese government must release all Tibetans detained for merely exercising their human rights and political freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other areas of public life,” she said.
Source: Hindustan Times
Nepal asks China to convert Pokhara airport loan into grant to ease financial burden
Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced on Tuesday that diplomatic efforts have been initiated with China to convert a loan for Pokhara International Airport to a grant as it failed to garner income, instead piled up more debt.
This came after opposition lawmaker Chanda Chaudhary raised questions about the increasing loss and piling debt, Nepal Prime Minister said that talks are underway to convert the loan into a grant.
"In order to operate the flights to and from the Pokhara International Airport, a committee has already been formed to study government-private sector cooperation. On the basis of the report prepared by the committee, necessary preparations would be made for the operation of the airport. The loan acquired for the construction of Pokhara International Airport, diplomatic talks are underway to convert it into a grant. Necessary coordination would be made for all the necessary financial management," PM Dahal said.
The Pokhara International Airport, opened on January 1, 2023, hasn't seen any frequent international flights except for chartered Chinese flights, which appear on rare occasions.
On March 21, 2016, Nepal and China reached a loan agreement stipulating a total loan amount of 1.37 billion Chinese yuan, out of which 355.9 million Chinese yuan were constituted as interest-free- loans. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aviation regulating body of the Himalayan nation, is responsible for paying the loan amount by the year 2036.
Earlier, Nepal PM Dahal, upon returning to Kathmandu last year after his visit to China, announced that Chinese flights would come to Pokhara, helping to cover the loss.
While no such flights have commenced, on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, referring to the visit, claimed, "During my recent visit to China (September 22,, 2023), a theoretical agreement was reached about commencing connecting flights from various cities of China to Pokhara, and I believe that international flights would land at Pokhara International Airport and help recover the loss."Days before the inauguration of the airport last year, the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal claimed in a tweet that the airport was a part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which was rejected by the Nepal Government.
But soon after the handover, the Pokhara airport exemplified the perils that came with importing China's infrastructure-at-any-cost development model, disproportionately benefiting Chinese firms at the expense of the borrowing nation.
China CAMC Engineering, the construction division of state-owned conglomerate Sinomach, played a pivotal role in the Pokhara airport project. It imported building materials and machinery from China, and the airport itself was brimming with Chinese-made security and industrial technology. Despite China's claims about the project's quality, an investigation by The New York Times revealed an unsettling narrative.
Multiple individuals involved in the project and a thorough examination of thousands of documents indicated that China CAMC Engineering had consistently dictated terms to maximise profits and protect its interests. Simultaneously, it systematically dismantled Nepali oversight.
As a consequence, Nepal found itself entangled in significant debt to Chinese creditors without the expected influx of passengers to repay the loans.
The Finance Ministry of the Himalayan nation had signed a memorandum of understanding supporting CAMC's proposal in 2011, even before an official bidding process had started. The Chinese loan agreement exclusively allowed Chinese firms to bid for the project.
CAMC initially submitted a bid for USD 305 million, nearly double Nepal's cost estimatefor the airport. This drew criticism from Nepali politicians, who accused the process of being rigged and the price inflated. Following the outcry, CAMC lowered its bid to USD 216 million, reducing the cost by approximately 30 per cent.
In 2016, China and Nepal formalised a 20-year agreement for the project, with a quarter of the funding provided as an interest-free loan. Nepal intended to borrow the remainder from China's Export-Import Bank at a 2 per cent interest rate.
As construction progressed, glaring issues came to light. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal was responsible for overseeing the Chinese contractor, but the lack of experienced personnel, combined with the inadequate allocation of funds for consultants, hampered the project.
Initially earmarked at USD 2.8 million, the budget for hiring consultants to ensure CAMC's compliance with international construction standards was eventually reduced to a mere USD 10,000, diverting funds elsewhere.
This lack of oversight allowed CAMC to initiate work before consultants were in place and perform construction work that did not meet international standards. Key components, such as soil density tests for the runway's foundation, were omitted, jeopardising the runway's future stability.
Other oversights included the airport's drainage system design, ignoring historical rainfall data and sloping topography, increasing the risk of flooding. The quality of Chinese-made building materials and the identity of vendors were inadequately documented, contravening the terms of CAMC's contract with Nepal, as reported by The New York Times.
While consulting efforts were expected to oversee CAMC's work, the Chinese company managed to sidestep consultants and interact directly with Nepali officials, who had limited construction experience. Any efforts to seek additional information or documentation were often fruitless.
China's Export-Import Bank had commissioned China IPPR International Engineering, aconsulting firm, to ensure the quality, safety, and schedule of the project and to confirm Nepal's satisfaction with CAMC's work.
However, the situation grew murkier in 2019 when CAMC acquired IPPR, turning it from a sister company into a direct subsidiary.
IPPR's fees came from Nepal as part of its loan from the Chinese bank. Chinese engineers working on the project claimed that they were instructed not to scrutinise CAMC's work closely, with a focus on delivering an airport.
Furthermore, allegations surfaced that documents related to the qualifications of IPPR'sworkers in Pokhara had been falsified. In some cases, even employee credentials were manipulated. Such practices revealed a disconcerting disregard for transparency and accountability.
As Pokhara airport struggled to attract international flights, especially from Indian airlines, Nepal's aspirations for the airport were put in jeopardy. Buddha Air, Nepal's largest airline, had requested permits for flights to India but awaited approval from the Indian government.
A feasibility study commissioned by CAMC had projected passenger numbers that would enable the airport to repay its loans from profits, but as of now, no international flights have commenced.
Nepali officials have reportedly requested that China convert the loan into a grant due to the airport's financial challenges, a matter discussed during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's visit to Beijing in late September.
The joint statement issued by China and Nepal during the visit acknowledged the completion and operation of the Pokhara airport but made no mention of plans to waive the loan.
The construction of Nepal's Pokhara airport, primarily funded and executed by Chinesecompanies, has raised concerns about the quality of work, the manipulation of oversight, and the burden of debt on Nepal.
Additionally, the airport's association with China's Belt and Road Initiative has ignited diplomatic tensions with India, making it challenging for the airport to attract international flights.
The Pokhara airport serves as a stark example of the pitfalls associated with importing China's infrastructure development model, highlighting concerns about financial sustainability and transparency, all while fueling geopolitical rivalries in the region.
Source: Beijing Bulletin
Tibetan activists protest outside Chinese embassy against Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit
Police have clashed with Tibetan and Uyghur activists outside the Chinese embassy where the group was protesting against the visit of Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Federal police officers had to remove several protesters holding Tibetan and Uyghur flags and chanting anti-Chinese government slogans outside the embassy's compound.
Protest organiser Tsewang Thupten told the crowd it was important to send a strong message to the visiting Chinese dignitary about his country's appalling human rights record.
"We will never be silent! We will never be silent. We will have courage. We will have courage. We will never stop! We will never stop!" protesters chanted.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with Chinese counterpart Mr Wang earlier on Tuesday, told media that she pressed him about the suspended death sentence handed to Australian writer Yang Hengjun, and also on unwinding its remaining restrictions on Australian's goods.
Senator Wong and Mr Wang sat down for lengthy and wide-ranging discussions in Canberra on Wednesday morning.
Both ministers opened the meeting by acknowledging that their countries still have deep differences.
But Mr Wang said those differences shouldn't "define" the relationship, while Senator Wong stressed that dialogue was critical to keeping it on an even keel.
"A stable relationship between Australia and China doesn't just happen, it needs ongoing work," Senator Wong told journalists after the meeting.
Senator Wong said she again raised the government's deep concerns over the death sentence handed to Australian writer Yang Hengjun last month.
"I told the foreign minister Australians were shocked at the sentence imposed and I made clear to him the Australian government will continue to advocate on Dr Yang's behalf," she said.
But she wouldn't be drawn on whether Australia was pressing for China to release Dr Yang and allow him to return home, or simply wanted to ensure he was spared the death penalty.
Beijing has already signalled it will soon withdraw heavy tariffs on Australian wine, but Senator Wong said she'd pressed Mr Wang to also roll back barriers that remain on rock lobsters and some meatworks.
On Wednesday, Mr Wang appeared to link China's decision to unwind wine tariffs to Australia's decision to let tariffs on Chinese wind towers lapse, but Senator Wong insisted during her press conference that the two issues were not linked in any way.
"We'll continue to advocate for all trade impediments to be removed. We think it's in both countries' interests," she said.
Senator Wong also said that Australia and China would "expand dialogue in key areas such as the Pacific, climate and energy cooperation and to enhance understanding and transparency", although it's not clear right now what shape those talks will take.
The foreign minister told journalists she also expressed "serious concern" to Mr Wang about "unsafe conduct at sea" and highlighted Australia's "desire for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and in our region."
Australia has backed the Philippines in its dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, where Chinese coastguard vessels have been trying to force Philippine ships out of contested waters, despite an international ruling against its claims to the region.
"I reflected the view of our region as outlined again and underscored again at the recent ASEAN summit about the importance of the South China Sea being governed by law, particular UNCLOS," Senator Wong said.
She also said that plans for the Chinese premier to visit Australia later this year were "on track."
That visit is widely expected to happen around the middle of the year, although that hasn't yet been publicly confirmed by either country.
Earlier, Mr Wang used his opening remarks at the beginning of the meeting to declare that both China and Australia should "seek commonality or shelve differences" in the wake of several "twists and turns" in ties.
"Our two countries have different social systems, histories and cultures, there are many differences, but our common interests outweigh those differences," he said.
"So, we should also not only face differences and express them squarely but also manage and rise above those differences."
In a thinly veiled reference to the United States, he also stressed that Australia should maintain an "independent" foreign policy and that "third parties" should not try to "disrupt" ties between Canberra and Beijing.
Beijing has repeatedly accused the US of trying to corral Australia into a new military bloc with the aim of containing China, and has excoriated the federal government's plan to develop nuclear powered submarines under the AUKUS pact.
"The most valuable (thing) is to stay committed to independence," he said.
"I trust that independence is also a fundamental principle in Australia's foreign policy.
"The development of our relations does not target any third party and should not be disrupted or affected by any third party."
Source: ABC
Brazil: Hundreds of homes destroyed in deadly floods
A severe storm has triggered flooding and landslides in southeastern Brazil, with heavy rain forcing thousands to flee.
Heavy rains have brought destruction to Brazil, killing at least 25 people and forcing thousands more to flee as flooding and landslides destroy swaths of property in the country's mountainous southeast.
With more rain expected on Sunday, rescuers in the states of Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro raced to rescue trapped citizens.
Dozens of soldiers, firefighters and rescue dogs are currently carrying out search and rescue operations.
Authorities have described the scene as "chaotic."
What do we know so far?
So far, 15 deaths have been reported in Espirito Santo, 13 of them in the town of Mimoso do Sul. State authorities said more than 5,400 people had been evacuated from affected areas, where more than 270 homes were destroyed.
The casualties in Rio state include four people who lost their lives when a landslide hit the popular tourist destination of Petropolis, causing a house to collapse.
Rescue workers rescued more than 90 people across the state, according to officials.
Climate change turbocharging severe storms
The southern hemisphere's late summer season is often marked by periods of heavy rain. However, climate change has been singled out as an extreme weather accelerant.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva acknowledged that fact when expressing sympathy for victims on X, formerly Twitter.
Lula said this weekend's storm had left thousands homeless and pledged that his government would continue to work with state and local officials to "protect, prevent and repair flood damage."
The storm did not come unannounced, as meteorologists had predicted heavy rainfall and state authorities in Rio called a holiday, urging residents to stay inside. Even so, the sheer amount of rain has proven to be overwhelming to authorities managing the crisis.
Over 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of rain fell in Petropolis on Saturday alone, according to news agency Agencia Brasil. The area's monthly average for March is around 14 centimeters.
The storm comes on the heels of a massive heat wave that saw humidity drive the local heat index (the perceived sense of heat based on humidity and air temperature) above 62 degrees Celsius (143 degrees Fahrenheit).
