Delhi Records Less Than 2,000 Cases In 24 Hours

 

May 24,2021

New Delhi:  Delhi recorded 1,649 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest since March 30, and 189 fatalities on Sunday, while the positivity rate slipped to 2.42 per cent, even as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended the lockdown in the capital by another week. 

This is the second day on the trot that the number of deaths remained less than 200. 

This is also the lowest daily spike in cases recorded since March 30 (992) and the first time that the count has gone below the 2,000-mark since April 1, when 2,790 people tested positive for the infection. 

Meanwhile, India delayed the process of bulk-buying vaccines unlike several other nations and may now have few options available in the international market. "Aren't we a little late to the table on this one?" said Dr Gagandeep Kang, a top virologist who is also a member of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on medical oxygen. 

"The rest of the world has been buying vaccines at risk for a year, so what's the supply that is available in the market for us to go now and say we want to buy vaccines?" she said.

Don’t force me to use my constitutional powers: WB Governor to TMC Govt

 

Don’t force me to use my constitutional powers: WB Governor to TMC Govt

            KOLKATA:    WEST Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has warned the State’s newly-elected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government to “not force me to use my constitutional powers”, sparking a fresh artillery exchange with the ruling party. “He forgot his constitutional position by calling for a change in the State. His appeal was rejected, so old man is now obviously frustrated,” said Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, while reacting to the Governor’s warning. Governor Dhankhar has been touring ‘violence-hit areas’ since the Trinamool returned to power with a landslide.

His visit to Sitalkuchi in Northern Bengal provoked angry response from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who reminded Dhankhar of his constitutional obligations of working on the ‘aid and advice’ of the elected Government. The trip to Sitalkuchi, hit by poll-time violence where some voters were killed in firing by Central forces, was followed by Dhankhar’s visit to makeshift camps in Assam where ‘victims of political violence’ in West Bengal were sheltered.

His comment that this was a ‘blot on governance’ in West Bengal provoked accusations that Dhankhar was ‘less a Governor and more a BJP functionary.’ Dhankhar on Saturday said he was shocked at the condition of several families who were rendered homeless after they had allegedly faced atrocities at the hands of ruling TMC workers. He wondered whether the Chief Minister has heard the cries of women and children, who took refuge in camps after clashes. 

UN General Assembly To Consider Call For Myanmar Arms Embargo

 

UN General Assembly To Consider Call For Myanmar Arms Embargo

       United Nations, United States: The UN General Assembly on Tuesday is set to consider a draft non-binding resolution calling for "an immediate suspension" of the transfer of weapons to the military junta of Myanmar, a UN official said Sunday.

Unlike Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are non-binding but carry strong political significance.

If an approval by consensus cannot be reached then the full General Assembly  193 member states  will vote on the measure.

Introduced by Liechtenstein, with support from the European Union, Britain, and the United States, the measure will be considered at the plenary meeting set for Tuesday at 1900 GMT.

The draft resolution calls for "an immediate suspension of the direct and indirect supply, sale, or transfer of all weapons, munitions, and other military-related equipment to Myanmar."

"The meeting will be in person," a UN spokesman told AFP.

The draft, which has been under negotiation for weeks, is co-sponsored by 48 countries, with South Korea the sole Asian country.

It also calls on military to "end the state of emergency" and immediately stop "all violence against peaceful demonstrators," as well as "immediately and unconditionally release President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi" and everyone who has been "arbitrarily detained, charged or arrested" since the February 1 coup.

The draft adds a call to "swiftly implement" a five-point consensus reached with leaders from the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on April 24, to "facilitate the visit" of the special UN envoy to Myanmar, and to provide "safe and unimpeded humanitarian access."

Several NGOs have long been calling for an arms embargo on Myanmar.

Since February 1, the Security Council has unanimously adopted four statements on Myanmar, but each time, they have been watered down in negotiations, notably by Beijing. 

Barcelona routs Chelsea 4-0 to win Women’s Champions League final for 1st time

 

Barcelona routs Chelsea 4-0 to win Women’s Champions League final for 1st time

         Barcelona’s slow start two years ago doomed its European dream so this time it came out firing against Chelsea, scoring after just 32 seconds  route to a 4-0 victory and its first Women’s Champions League title on Sunday.

In a ruthless offensive display, Barcelona’s attackers sliced through Chelsea’s defense and did all of their scoring inside 36 minutes, beginning with an own-goal.

Barca is the first team from Spain to win Europe’s top club competition, which had been dominated recently by seven-time champions Lyon.

In its only other appearance in the final, Barcelona lost 4-1 to Lyon in 2019 after conceding a goal after five minutes and falling behind 4-0 before halftime in Budapest.

“The idea is to keep dominating European football,” Barcelona coach Lluis Cortes said. “Winning this game is part of the journey and losing in Budapest was part of it, too.”

Making its first appearance in the final, Chelsea was under pressure immediately and went down 1-0 when a clearance ricocheted off Chelsea midfielder Melanie Leupolz and over goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger into the net.

Alexia Putellas scored from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Leupolz was adjudged to have fouled Jenni Hermoso in the box. Seven minutes later, Aitana Bonmati collected a pass from Putellas in front of goal, shot past Berger, and the rout was on for Cortes’ side.

Lieke Martens brilliantly set up the fourth goal, dribbling down the left side and crossing to Caroline Graham Hansen, who blasted it into the net from close range in the 36th minute at an empty Gamla Ullevi stadium.

The 34-year-old Cortes said his side played with confidence right from the start.

“The final is to be won, and that’s what we did,” he said, adding that it’s a victory for all of Spanish women’s soccer.

The championship is also a boost for a Barcelona club that is heavily in debt and with a men’s side that has stumbled lately. The club could also face sanctions for its support of the ill-fated European Super League.

Chelsea was the first English team to reach the final since 2007, when Arsenal won the competition.

“We didn’t have the start to the game that we wanted and in these types of games against these opponents, you can’t concede sloppy goals,“ Chelsea defender Millie Bright told BT Sport.

The loss ended Chelsea’s bid to match Arsenal’s quadruple from 14 years ago. The Blues have won the Women’s Super League title and League Cup this season and are still alive in the women’s FA Cup.

Chelsea threatened after the own-goal when Pernille Harder caught up to a cross but shot high.

Blues manager Emma Hayes cited inexperience and “naivety at times” by her side.

“Today was difficult because the game was over before it began,” she said. “To concede so early and then we had two good chances, then they got the second through a penalty. The damage was done.”

The Blues started the second half with more urgency but barely threatened.

This campaign, Barcelona eliminated Manchester City in the quarterfinals and Paris Saint-Germain in the semis. PSG had earlier beaten Lyon.

Over 200 dead, UN Security Council hears pleas to end Israel-Palestine violence, no action yet

 

Over 200 dead, UN Security Council hears pleas to end Israel-Palestine violence, no action yet

   Palestinian and Israeli leaders both appealed for support at a UN Security Council session Sunday but little action was in sight despite soaring violence, with China accusing the United States of obstructionism. 

After a delay pushed by the United States, Israel's critical ally, the Security Council held its first public meeting on nearly a week of violence that has claimed 200 lives. 

Opening the virtual session, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the violence "utterly appalling" and urged both Palestinian militants Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel and the Jewish state to stop its massive air campaign on the Gaza Strip. 

"Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately," Guterres said. 

"It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, but in the region as a whole," he said.

Pointing to the heavy toll on civilians, Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki accused Israel of "war crimes" and -- in a terminology angrily rejected by Israel -- "apartheid." 

"Act now to end the aggression and the assault on our people, our homes, our land. Act now so freedom can prevail, not apartheid," he said. 

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, began lobbing rockets after Israeli troops entered the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, sacred both to Muslims and Jews, following moves to expel Palestinians from their homes in the holy city. 

Maliki -- part of the Palestinian Authority that runs the West Bank, not rival Hamas -- said that Israel could not expect to "bear no consequences" for its actions as an "occupying colonial power."

"Israel always says, put yourselves in our shoes. But Israel is not wearing shoes. It is wearing military boots."

Speaking afterward, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, charged the tensions were "completely premeditated" by Hamas as part of an internal power play after the Palestinian Authority delayed long-awaited elections. 

 

"Do you really believe that this property dispute is what caused Hamas to launch these large-scale attacks on the people of Israel?" Erdan said. 

He urged the Security Council to condemn Hamas, insisting on a moral difference as he said Israel "makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties." 

"Hamas targets civilians; Israel targets terrorists," Erdan said. 

Palestinians, including civilians, have borne the overwhelming brunt of the violence, with authorities in Gaza reporting that at least 55 children are among the 190 people who have died. Ten people have died in Israel.

CHINA REGRETS US STANCE

Erdan hailed the support of the United States, where President Joe Biden has repeatedly defended what he says is Israel's right to self-defense. 

China, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said the United States had blocked its efforts for "strong action" -- and invited Israelis and Palestinians to come negotiate in rising the Asian power. 

"Regrettably, simply because of the obstruction of one country, the Security Council hasn't been able to speak with one voice," Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. 

"We call upon the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities."

The Biden administration has insisted that it is working behind the scenes, including through a visit to the region by an envoy, and that a UN statement could backfire, according to diplomats.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, stopped short of insisting on an immediate ceasefire and said the Biden administration was in touch with all sides including Qatar, which has close ties with Hamas, and Egypt, which has a peace deal with Israel and borders Gaza.

"The United States has made clear that we are prepared to lend our support and good offices should the parties seek a ceasefire," she said. 

"We believe Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security."

One diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the US stance "a little strange" seeing as Biden came to office vowing a return to multilateral diplomacy. 

"We thought that they will be eager also to show that the Council is relevant in situations like this," the diplomat said.

 Biden defeated the staunch unilateralist Donald Trump who was also a zealous backer of Israel, with his Republican Party already accusing Biden of not doing enough for the Jewish state.

Myanmar beauty queen takes up arms against junta

 

Myanmar beauty queen takes up arms against junta

               Htar Htet Htet, who represented Myanmar in the first Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Thailand in 2013, has taken up arms against the southeast Asian country's military junta.  

Eight years after competing against 60 contenders in the beauty pageant, the 32-year-old gymnastics instructor has joined ethnic armed groups in Myanmar's border regions.  

On her Facebook page, she wrote: “The time has come to fight back. Whether you hold a weapon, pen, keyboard or donate money to the pro-democracy movement, everyone must do their bit for the revolution to succeed."

 

"I will fight back as much as I can. I am ready and prepared to give up everything. I am even ready to pay with my life," she wrote. 

“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall. (Che Guevara) We must Win,” tweeted Htar Htet Htet.  

The coup ended the country's decade-long experiment with democracy after half a century of military rule.  

This may be noted that Myanmar has been in chaos since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and seized power on February 1.  

"As of 10 May, at least 782 people have been killed as security forces used unnecessary, disproportionate and lethal force, to suppress demonstrations and other forms of public participation, since the military coup on 1 February," reported UN News.

 

While addressing a media briefing, UN rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Rupert Colville said, "The military authorities are showing no sign of letting up in their brutal crackdown on opponents in a bid to consolidate their hold on power."

 

"While much of the world's attention has been on the number of peaceful protesters and bystanders killed by the security forces, the authorities continue to commit other gross human rights violations against the people of Myanmar", added Colville.

 

In the wake of the unrest, thousands of people from urban parts of the country have fled to border regions.

 

Ethnic armed rebel groups have intensified attacks on the military and police in recent months.

Taliban declare three-day Afghan ceasefire for Eid holiday

 

Taliban declare three-day Afghan ceasefire for Eid holiday

                        The Taliban on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan to mark this week's Eid al-Fitr holiday, just two days after the government blamed the insurgents for bombs outside a school that killed more than 50 people, mostly young girls.

 "Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are instructed to halt all offensive operations against the enemy countrywide from the first till the third day of Eid," a statement released by the insurgents said.

 "But if the enemy conducts any assault or attack against you during these days, stand ready to robustly protect and defend yourselves and your territory," it added.

 Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, and the holiday begins according to the sighting of the new moon.

 The ceasefire comes after the government blamed the Taliban for the attack outside a girls' school in Dasht-e-Barchi, a suburb of the capital largely populated by the Shiite Hazara community, which is often targeted by extremist Sunni Islamist militants.

 The Taliban have denied they were involved in the attack, the deadliest in the country in more than a year.

Saturday's blasts came as the United States continues to pull out its last 2,500 troops from the violence-wracked country despite faltering peace efforts between the Taliban and Afghan government to end a decades-long war.