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Need effective mechanism to address global vaccine inequity: India in UNSC
World

Need effective mechanism to address global vaccine inequity: India in UNSC

India has said that there is a need for an effective mechanism to address global vaccine inequity. Addressing the UNSC on behalf of India, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti further said that a rapid and effective vaccination drive is needed to mitigate further mutation of the virus. Ambassador Tirumurti also said that India has offered to share its CoWin platform as “digital public good to the world”. He tweeted that in the Security Council consultations on COVID-19, he said, “need effective mechanism to address global #vaccine inequity; need #vaccination drive to address, interalia, further mutation; address public resistance through facts and India offers #COWIN as digital public good to the world.” https://twitter.com/ambtstirumurti/stat...
US and NATO promise to pay $4B a year until 2024 to Afghan forces
Asia, Featured

US and NATO promise to pay $4B a year until 2024 to Afghan forces

The U.S. and NATO have promised to pay $4 billion a year until 2024 to finance Afghanistan’s military and security forces, which are struggling to contain an advancing Taliban. Reports show that the U.S. has spent nearly $89 billion over the past 20 years to build, equip and train Afghan forces. Throughout the war, U.S. air support has been a crucial edge for Afghan forces on the battlefield. So building Afghan capabilities to carry out the role was vital, and the U.S. spent more than $8.5 billion to support and develop the Afghan Air Force and the Special Mission Wing. However, the Afghan air force risks being largely grounded once the coalition leaves. The Afghans’ fleet of fighter jets is serviced by U.S. contractors, who are leaving along with the troops. Afghan officials sa...
The Nord Stream-2: Russia to start Nord Stream-2 pipeline operations despite U.S. pressure
Europe, Featured, World

The Nord Stream-2: Russia to start Nord Stream-2 pipeline operations despite U.S. pressure

The Nord Stream-2 natural gas pipeline will soon become operational despite Washington's attempt to politicize the project, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said last week. Her response came after US President Joe Biden on 15 July had said: "My view on Nord Stream 2 has been known for some time. Good friends can disagree... Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon to coerce or threaten its neighbors." In a joint US-Germany statement released by Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on 21 July, Germany promised to implement the Minsk agreements via the Normandy format while condemning Russian 'aggression'. It reiterated how Germany would retaliate – both from the European and national level – if Russia weaponized energy to achieve its political a...
Several out of 19 US bases had nothing to do with situation in Afghanistan: Russian Envoy to Afghanistan
Asia, Featured

Several out of 19 US bases had nothing to do with situation in Afghanistan: Russian Envoy to Afghanistan

Russian Envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov has said that the US strategic bases deployed during its military presence in Afghanistan had nothing to do with the situation in the country. He also stressed that the US had no strategy in Afghanistan. He said this in an interview with Echo of Moscow radio. Kabulov, who is also Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department, said the US began to deploy bases for a strategic purpose but out of 19 bases that we know of, around seven or eight had nothing to do with Afghanistan and the situation there, he said. He also stressed that the US had no strategy in Afghanistan. "They have an aim. But they have no strategy which would lead correctly to the aim. They were starting things reactively there back then, when America...
Tokyo Olympics 2020 to kick off today with a scaled down Opening Ceremony
Featured, World

Tokyo Olympics 2020 to kick off today with a scaled down Opening Ceremony

Tokyo Olympics 2020 will kick off tomorrow with a highly anticipated Opening Ceremony from 4:30 P.M IST. However, the event to be held at the newly-built National Stadium in the Japanese capital, will be a scaled down and sobering affair in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan has announced that the participants will be competing in empty venues so as to minimize the health risks due to the pandemic. Only six officials from every country are allowed at the ceremony, although there is no cap on athletes. But fans will see a much smaller team parade taking place this time. India stands at serial number 21 in the march past, as per the Japanese alphabet. This time India has sent its largest-ever contingent to the Olympics. The 228-member strong contingent consists of 127 athletes h...
Britain to deploy two warships in East Asia permanently
Asia, Featured, World

Britain to deploy two warships in East Asia permanently

HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth pictured at sea Britain will be deploying two warships in East Asian water permanently. The deployment would likely happen after September when its aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth and escort ships sail to Japan through the South and East China Seas. China is engaged in a duel for influence with the United States and Japan in the South and East China Seas. The high-profile visit by the carrier strike group comes as London deepens security ties with Tokyo. Japan has expressed growing alarm in recent months over China’s territorial ambitions in the region, including Taiwan. “Following on from the strike group’s inaugural deployment, the United Kingdom will permanently assign two ships in the region from later this year,” Britain's Defense...
Unrest in South Africa: A Coordinated Strategy of Chaos
Africa, Analysis, Featured

Unrest in South Africa: A Coordinated Strategy of Chaos

Reasons for Unrest  There are two clear and opposing forces in the African National Congress. One is headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa (2018- Present), other, known as the RET faction, they are sympathetic and fiercely loyal to the Former president Jacob Zuma (2009-18). Jacob Zuma was the spymaster of the ANC for years after leaving office, and is believed to have maintained staunch allies in the intelligence services. The RET faction feels cornered by the momentum gained by the present President Ramaphosa faction. They wanted a change of guard urgently and hence stand to benefit if the current president is weakened.  The situation worsened when violence broke out after Former President Jacob Zuma began serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. He had refuse...
Pakistan air force providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas: Afghan Vice President
Asia, Featured

Pakistan air force providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas: Afghan Vice President

Afghan First Vice President Amrullah Saleh tweeted on Thursday that “Pakistan air force has issued an official warning to the Afghan Army and Air Force that any move to dislodge the Taliban from Spin Boldak area will be faced and repelled by the Pakistan Air Force.” He further claimed that 'Pak air force is now providing close air support to Taliban in certain areas". His claims were corroborated by news reports that an attack operation against Taliban targets by three Afghan Air Force (AAF) A29 aircraft in Spin Boldak, Kandahar was aborted on Thursday after “receiving warning” from the Pakistani military. https://twitter.com/AmrullahSaleh2/status/1415710708541673475 Afghan publication TOLO News reported that a ‘conversation copy’ sent to its offices by government sources s...
Cost of war in Afghanistan – Common Civilians have paid the Highest Price
Asia, Featured

Cost of war in Afghanistan – Common Civilians have paid the Highest Price

War in Afghanistan has destroyed lives in a circle of violence. Continuous war for decades has resulted in breakdown of public health, security, and infrastructure. Civilians have been killed by crossfire, IEDs, assassinations, bombings and raids. Statistics show that out of the 241,000 killed since 2001 in Afghanistan, more than 71,000 have been civilians. Unexploded ordnance, US cluster bombs continue to kill innocent civilians even to this day. Afghanistan citizens also further suffer due to diseases from lack of clean drinking water. Children and women suffer from malnutrition. Lack of Health care has worsened the lives of common citizens. Poverty, Malnutrition, Poor Sanitation, lack of access to Health care is rampant across the war torn country. Continues war has had...
China asks Pakistan to ensure safety of its projects after 9 Chinese killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Asia, Featured

China asks Pakistan to ensure safety of its projects after 9 Chinese killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A worried China has asked Pakistan to ensure safety of Chinese projects and its citizens in the country after Wednesday’s deadly shuttle bus blast in north Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed at least 13 including 9 Chinese. A further 28 Chinese nationals were among the 36 people injured, in the worst incident so far to befall the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the blast and urged the Pakistani authorities to get to the bottom of the incident. A joint investigation has been announced after China expressed shock and dismay. Pakistan has said on Wednesday that the blast occurred due to mechanical failure while Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately termed it as a bombing attack. Wang Yi met his Pakistani coun...