World

Banks closed, ATMs shut down in Myanmar following military coup
2Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Market, World

Banks closed, ATMs shut down in Myanmar following military coup

Major disruptions of internet services following the military coup in Myanmar has led to the shutdown of banks now, according to media reports.According to media reports, banks under the Myanmar Banking Association have announced a unified closure from February 1. Besides, the ATM machines of major banks are also not operating in Yangon.A poor internet connection linked to the state of emergency also affected operations of construction sites in Yangon, and many supermarkets in the city decided to cut opening hours and called on residents to refrain from panic buying.Telecommunications in the capital city of Naypyitaw and some other regions and states have also been cut off.Earlier, the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency in the country for one year, following the coup, where Aun...
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Poland President signs off on legal cooperation pact with Taiwan
2Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Poland President signs off on legal cooperation pact with Taiwan

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday announced that with the signature of Polish President Andrzej Duda, an agreement between Taiwan and Poland on legal cooperation on criminal matters will soon take effect.“The agreement was approved unanimously by both houses of Poland's parliament, before being sent to the country's Presidential Office”, MOFA said in a press statement. "MOFA sincerely welcomes the signing of the important bilateral agreement by Poland President Andrzej Duda on Jan. 28", it added.The agreement covers five major areas -- criminal matters, extradition, prisoner transfer, exchange of legal and practical insights, and sharing of information for crime prevention, the ministry said adding that it will help strengthen the transnational anti-crime efforts and judicial ...
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Tibetan community in France protest against Tibetan monk’s brutal killing in Chinese prison
1Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Tibetan community in France protest against Tibetan monk’s brutal killing in Chinese prison

Condemning the horrific death of a monk in a Chinese prison, the Tibetan community held a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in Paris calling for the freedom of Tibet from Chinese rule.Tenzin Nyima, the 19-year-old monk died of injuries sustained from beatings and “torture” in a Chinese prison in Sichuan’s Kardze prefecture after being released in a comatose state by his jailers.The protest was organised by Students for Free Tibet on Saturday.The demonstrators called for freedom of Tibet from Chinese rule, stating that they would not be silenced due to oppression by China. They carried Tibetans’ flags and placards and raised slogans against the Xi Jinping government.Though local authorities in Paris had advised the organisers that they should adhere to the covid-19 guidelines and re...
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Taiwan court sentences Chinese national to 26 years in jail for killing pirates
1Feb mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

Taiwan court sentences Chinese national to 26 years in jail for killing pirates

A Chinese national has been given 26 years of imprisonment in Taiwan after he was found guilty of ordering the killing of four pirates at sea in 2012 while serving as the captain of a Taiwanese fishing vessel.Wang Fangyu, 43, was convicted of homicide and for breaching the controlling guns knives and ammunition acts.The incident took place in September 2012 and came to light in 2014 when a 10-minute video clip of the fatal shootings was circulated on the internet.Last week, the district court ruled that the killing of the unarmed men showed that he clearly had no respect for human life. Wang had asked two Pakistani mercenaries he hired as the acting captain of the Ping Shin to fire at and kill four suspected Somali pirates that day, the court said.Wang, a Zhejiang-native, was hired by a Ka...
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India supplies mobile harbor cranes to Iran for development of Chabahar port
31Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

India supplies mobile harbor cranes to Iran for development of Chabahar port

The first tranche of equipment consisting of two 140-ton mobile harbor cranes was shipped by India on Sunday for the development of phase 1 of Shahid Beheshti Port in Iran’s Chabahar.“J P Singh, JS(PAI) MEA India handed over two 140-ton mobile harbor cranes, the first shipment of equipment being supplied by India, for the development of phase-I of Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar,” India in Iran wrote in a tweet.According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, India had supplied a consignment of two mobile harbor cranes to Iran’s Chabahar port with a total contract value of over USD 25 million, under a contract agreement for the supply of six MHCs.The Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of India signed the bilateral contract on May 23 2016 with a total value of USD 85 mil...
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US airstrike in Iraq kills top ISIS leader
31Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

US airstrike in Iraq kills top ISIS leader

In Iraq, the top Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) leader, Jabbar Salman Ali Farhan al-Issawi, also known as Abu Yasser, was killed in an airstrike by a US-led military coalitionJabbar Salman Ali Farhan al-Issawi, 43 was killed in a joint mission of US and Iraqi forces, informed the coalition. He was believed to have coordinated ISIS’s operations in Iraq and relayed guidance to the group’s fighters across the country.The airstrike was conducted to check the resurging terror campaign after a double-suicide bombing in Baghdad in January.His “death is another significant blow to Daesh (ISIS) resurgence efforts in Iraq,” said coalition spokesman Wayne Marotto.Earlier, ISIS had claimed responsibility for the double-suicide bombing that killed 32 people in Baghdad last week, the deadliest s...
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US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China
30Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US State Secy, EU Representative discuss ‘strong cooperation’ on China

While discussing ways to further US-EU bilateral ties, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell agreed to continue 'strong cooperation' on issues related to China."Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell today to discuss ways to repair, revitalize, and raise the level of ambition in the US-EU relationship," the State Department said in a statement."The Secretary and the High Representative also agreed to continue strong US-EU cooperation on issues related to China," the statement said.Blinken thanked Borrel for the European Union's leadership in various areas and emphasized the United ...
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Nepalese businessmen protest against ‘undeclared blockade’ by China
30Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

Nepalese businessmen protest against ‘undeclared blockade’ by China

Suffering huge loses, local businessmen in Nepal have launched a protest in Rasuwa against China’s ‘undeclared blockade’ of cross-border trade.During the demonstration, businessmen gathered in front of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office holding placards with messages such as “ensure smooth movement of containers”, “ensure the safety of Nepalis living at the border”, “abide by international trade laws”, “abide by trade and transit agreements”, “take initiative for easy trade with China”, and “end undeclared blockade”.They said that importing Chinese goods through the crucial Rasuwagadhi border was very difficult. Nepali businessmen have also complained that they had to pay a hefty bribe to Chinese agents to import goods across the border.Earlier, locals had staged a protest against China at Tat...
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India aims to tackle terrorism, climate change with US under Biden’s administration: MEA
29Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

India aims to tackle terrorism, climate change with US under Biden’s administration: MEA

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the country will closely work with the United States on combating the scourge of terrorism, maritime security, cybersecurity, and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region under President Joe Biden’s administration.At a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that India-US will continue to remain engaged at all levels to further strengthen the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership.“PM had congratulated then-President-elect Biden on his election on November 8. They had a telephone call on November 17 where both leaders exchanged views on working together on shared priorities and global challenges,” said Srivastava.Srivastava recalled how Prime Minister Modi held a telephone conversation wi...
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India sends 6 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, Bahrain
29Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

India sends 6 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Sri Lanka, Bahrain

Under the “Vaccine Maitri” initiative, India on Thursday sent six lakh doses of its coronavirus vaccine, ‘Covishield’, to Sri Lanka and Bahrain.After receiving the vaccines, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa tweeted: “Received 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines provided by people of India at BIA today (28). Thank you! PM Shri Narendra Modi and people of India for the generosity shown towards People of Sri Lanka at this time in need.”This comes days after Sri Lanka’s drug regulatory body — National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA)–gave a go-ahead to Oxford Astrazeneca’s vaccine.Bahrain has received 1 lakh Covishield vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) as a gift from India.“Bahrain receives Made-in-India vaccines. A testimony to our long-standing fraternal ties,” tweete...
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