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US expresses concern to Lanka over Chinese research ship's planned visit: Report
The US has expressed concern to Sri Lanka about the likely visit of a Chinese research ship next month that could also cause worries in India which in the past has raised security concerns over docking by China's spy vessels, according to a media report US Under Secretary Victoria Nuland, who met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, raised concerns about the upcoming visit of the Chinese research vessel 'SHI YAN 6', Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Monday. Minister Sabry briefed her that Sri Lanka, as a neutral country, had worked out the Standard Operating Procedure (SPO) to be followed by foreign ships and aircraft in carrying out any activity in Sri Lankan territory. The minister reportedly told her that Sri Lanka had been even-handed in this approach for all the countries and could not exclude China from the process as a result. Earlier, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said that the SPO had been worked out for foreign vessels. The Chinese research vessel is expected in Sri Lanka in October to carry out research along with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). Described as a Research/Survey Vessel with a carrying capacity of 1115 DWT, the current draught is reported to be 5.3 metres in length overall 90.6 metres and width 17 metres. Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry last month said it is currently processing a request by China to allow its research ship to dock in the country. "The Chinese embassy here has made an application and the ministry is currently looking at it," Priyanga Wickramasingha, the foreign ministry spokesperson, had said. No dates have been fixed yet for the visit, she said. China despatches its research/surveillance vessels to Sri Lanka on a regular basis. In August this year, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy warship HAI YANG 24 HAO arrived in the country on a two-day visit. It was reported that the arrival of the 129-metre-long ship was delayed due to concerns raised by India. In August last year, a similar visit by the Chinese ballistic missile and satellite tracking ship, 'Yuan Wang 5', which arrived in the southern Sri Lankan port of Hambantota elicited strong reactions from India. There were apprehensions in New Delhi about the possibility of the vessel's tracking systems attempting to snoop on Indian defence installations while being on its way to the Sri Lankan port. However, after a considerable delay, Sri Lanka allowed the ship to dock at the strategic southern port of Hambantota, being built by a Chinese company. Cash-strapped Sri Lanka considers both India and China equally important partners in its task to restructure its external debt. China is one of the top lenders to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka owes USD 7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, including USD 3 billion to China. The island nation was hit by an unprecedented financial crisis in 2022, the worst since its independence from Britain in 1948, due to a severe paucity of foreign exchange reserves. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 04:26 PM IST | New York | PTI
Canada issues updated travel advisory for India, urges vigilance amid tensions
In light of recent developments and growing tensions, the Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for its citizens in India, urging them to "remain vigilant and exercise caution". This decision comes as Canada faces calls for protests and encounters negative sentiment on social media, particularly related to India. The strained relations between India and Canada stem from allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who suggested Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India has vehemently denied these allegations, dismissing them as "absurd and motivated." Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed in Surrey, Canada, on June 18. According to a report in ANI, the revised travel advisory from the Canadian government emphasizes the need for caution, given the recent developments in both countries. It states, "In the context of recent developments in Canada and in India, there are calls for protests and some negative sentiment towards Canada on social media. Please remain vigilant and exercise caution." Last week, India issued a similar advisory for its nationals and students residing in Canada. It advised Indian citizens and students to be cautious and avoid areas and venues in Canada where anti-India activities have been on the rise. In response to these developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India issued a statement urging Indian nationals and students in Canada to exercise utmost caution. The MEA cited the growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada as reasons for concern. The statement also noted that threats had been directed at Indian diplomats and members of the Indian community who oppose anti-India agendas. As a result, Indian nationals and students in Canada were advised to steer clear of regions and potential venues where such incidents have occurred, the report stated. Additionally, Indian nationals and students in Canada were encouraged to register with the High Commission of India in Ottawa or the Consulates General of India in Toronto and Vancouver through the MADAD portal madad.gov.in. This registration would enable Indian diplomatic missions to maintain contact with Indian citizens in Canada in case of emergencies or untoward incidents. The MEA affirmed that Indian diplomatic missions in Canada would continue to collaborate with Canadian authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of the Indian community in the country.
26 September,2023 01:24 PM IST | Ottawa | mid-day online correspondent
EAM Jaishankar meets UN leadership, discusses India's G20 Presidency
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with the top UN leadership here and discussed India's G20 Presidency, regional issues and global challenges, sustainable development goals and Security Council reforms. A day before he addresses the General Debate at the ongoing high-level United Nations General Assembly session, Jaishankar met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and President of the 78th session of the General Assembly Dennis Francis on Monday at the headquarters of the world organisation. He also met with the United Nations Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner. Jaishankar said it was a "pleasure" to meet with Guterres and that he discussed "how India's G20 Presidency has contributed to strengthening" the UN's sustainable development agenda. "We have coordinated closely in this regard over the last year," Jaishankar said in a tweet, adding that he appreciated Guterres' strong commitment to reforming international financial institutions. In a readout of the meeting issued by the UN spokesperson's office, Guterres "expressed appreciation for India's cooperation with the UN and its leadership of the G20". Guterres and Jaishankar also "discussed the situations in Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other global challenges", according to the readout. The UN secretary-general attended the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10 held under India's Presidency of the grouping. Also read: MHA amends rules; NGOs registered under FCRA to give details of foreign funds Before his meeting with Guterres, Jaishankar met Francis and welcomed his appreciation of the outcomes of India's G20 Presidency. "Confident that it would contribute to the UN General Assembly's discourse and deliberations. Agreed on the importance of reforming multilateralism and giving the Global South its due on crucial issues of our times," Jaishankar said. In a post on 'X', Francis said he was "delighted" to meet Jaishankar and congratulated him on India's "successful G20 Chairmanship, especially on India's unwavering advocacy in support of the Global South". Francis added that he discussed priorities and key issues of the 78th UNGA session, including UNSC reforms and building on the outcomes of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit held during the high-level week ahead of the Summit of the Future to be held in 2024. Jaishankar also thanked Francis for his presence at the special 'India-UN for Global South: Delivering for Development' side event. The minister hosted the event in New York on Saturday. In his meeting with Steiner, Jaishankar appreciated the UNDP's engagement with India's G20 Presidency initiatives. "Can work together to scale up Indian success stories for global benefit," he said. Jaishankar also met with Foreign Minister of the UAE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in New York. "Always a pleasure to meet FM @ABZayed of UAE, this time in New York. Appreciate the rapid progress in our bilateral cooperation. Value our regular exchange of perspectives on regional and global issues," he posted on 'X' later. The external affairs minister said he had a "warm meeting with our SAGAR partner", Minister for Foreign Affairs of Madagascar Yvette Sylla. "Discussed development partnership, millets and rice production, digital delivery and defense cooperation," he tweeted. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 09:00 AM IST | United Nations | PTI
Khalistan supporters hold protest outside Indian Consulate in Vancouver
Dozens of Khalistan supporters outside the Indian Consulate in Vancouver held a protest against the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar amid Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government was behind his slaying. Protesters waved Khalistan flags, played music and shouted slogans. Some of them burnt India's flag in a garbage can outside the Indian Consulate. Similar protests were held in Toronto as well. Protesters called Nijjar's killing an "assassination" and called for a public inquiry into the case, Canada-based CTV News reported. The protest was one of several planned by Khalistan supporters in cities across Canada. The World Sikh Organization in advance issued a warning of the possibility of "incitement and interference" and called for vigilance, CTV News reported. In a statement, World Sikh Organization president Tejinder Singh Sidhu called for finding the killers of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. He further said, "If members of the community feel unsafe or see attempts to incite violence, we encourage them to immediately contact law enforcement," CTV News reported. Earlier, the Vancouver Police Department closed the road around the Indian Consulate in Vancouver ahead of a protest planned by Khalistan supporters. Barriers were placed blocking the entrance to the Indian Consulate in Vancouver's building on Howe Street, CTV News reported. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Vancouver Police stated, "#VanTraffic: Howe Street is closed to vehicle traffic between W Cordova and W Hastings Street. Please plan an alternate route until further notice." Also read: MHA amends rules; NGOs registered under FCRA to give details of foreign funds Later in the day, Vancouver Police in a post shared on X stated, "Howe Street is now open to all vehicle traffic." Ties between India and Canada have been strained after Justin Trudeau on September 18 alleged India's involvement in the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a Gurdwara in Canada's Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India, however, rejected the allegations, terming them "absurd" and "motivated". 'We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. "Allegations of Government of India's involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated," the MEA added in its statement. India also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a reciprocal move to Canada expelling a senior Indian diplomat in light of the claim of New Delhi's involvement in the killing of Nijjar. On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the allegations made by Canada regarding the "potential links" of India behind the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are 'politically driven'. "Yes, I do think there is a degree of prejudice here. They have made allegations and taken action against them. To us, it seems that these allegations by the government of Canada are primarily politically driven," Bagchi said while addressing a weekly presser. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 08:58 AM IST | Canada | ANI
Perpetrators must be brought to justice: US on Nijjar's case probe
The United States has said Canada's investigation into the murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar must proceed and the perpetrators brought to justice. Canada has alleged that Indian authorities were behind Nijjar's killing. New Delhi has strongly denied the allegations as baseless. "We are deeply concerned by the allegations referenced by (Canadian) Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau. We remain in close contact with our Canadian partners," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference. Also read: Russian strike damages port, grain infrastructure "We believe it's critical that Canada's investigation proceeds and that the perpetrators be brought to justice. And we have publicly ' and privately ' urged the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation," Miller said in response to a question. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 08:49 AM IST | Washington | PTI
Russian strike damages port, grain infrastructure
A Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged port infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person, as attacks on Ukraine killed four civilians and wounded 13 in the past day, Ukrainian officials said Monday. Ukraine’s air force reported downing all Russian drones overnight, but one of 12 Kalibr missiles and two P-800 Oniks cruise missiles apparently made it past air defenses the day after the war in Ukraine entered its 20th month. In the south, Russian forces dropped bombs and launched six heavy artillery strikes on Kherson, destroying a school and factory and damaging residential buildings. Two people were killed and two others were injured by bombs that hit the city of Beryslav. A man was killed in the neighboring village of Lvove. To the east of Donetsk region, Russians attacked residential areas of 10 cities and villages, killing two. Also read: Thousands of Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh 20No of months since Russia’s invasion This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 08:45 AM IST | Kyiv | Agencies
Thousands of Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh
Thousands of Armenians streamed out of Nagorno-Karabakh on Monday after the Azerbaijani military reclaimed full control of the breakaway region. The Azerbaijani military routed Armenian forces in a 24-hour blitz last week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to lay down weapons and start talks on Nagorno-Karabakh’s “reintegration” into Azerbaijan after three decades of rule. While Azerbaijan pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians in the region and restore supplies after a 10-month blockade, many feared reprisals and said they were planning to leave for Armenia. The Armenian government said that 4,850 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had fled to Armenia as of midday Monday. “It was a nightmare. There are no words to describe. The village was heavily shelled. Almost no one is left in the village,” said one of the evacuees who spoke to The Associated Press in the Armenian city of Kornidzor and refused to give her name for security reasons. Moscow said that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh were assisting the evacuation. Also read: Residents return home after one of deadliest US wildfires In an address to the nation Sunday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said his government was working with international partners to protect Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. “If these efforts do not produce concrete results, the government will welcome our sisters and brothers from Nagorno-Karabakh in the Republic of Armenia with every care,” he said. Meanwhile, demonstrators demanding Pashinyan’s resignation continued blocking the Armenian capital’s main avenues Monday, engaging in occasional clashes with police that sought to disperse the protests. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 08:43 AM IST | Yerevan | Agencies
Residents return home after one of deadliest US wildfires
Authorities will begin allowing the first residents and property owners to return to their properties in the burn zone, many for the first time since it was demolished nearly seven weeks ago, on August 8, by the deadliest US wildfire in more than a century. On Monday, officials are expected to begin lifting restrictions on entry to the burn zone in Lahaina. Officials said those returning will be provided water, shade, washing stations, portable toilets, medical and mental health care, and transportation assistance if needed. Nonprofit groups are also offering personal protective equipment, including masks and coveralls. Officials have warned ash could contain asbestos, lead, arsenic or other toxins. Also read: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar rules out return to NDA The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina, the historic capital of the former Hawaiian kingdom, and overcame people stuck in traffic trying to escape. Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and sheltered in the waves as hot black smoke blotted out the sun. The wildfire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. 97No of people killed in the fire This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
26 September,2023 08:41 AM IST | Honolulu | Agencies
Baloch HRC: Canadian govt's response in Karima Baloch killing inconsistent
The Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada (BHRC-Canada), on Monday, voiced deep apprehension over the Canadian Government's perceived inconsistencies in its response to the mysterious death of prominent Balochistan rights activist, Karima Baloch, in December 2020, in Toronto. The organization raises concerns about the government's handling of this case and its implications for justice and human rights. Karima Baloch's lifeless body was discovered near Lake Ontario on Toronto Island on December 22, 2020, a tragic event that sent shockwaves through the Baloch community. Despite the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, the Toronto Police concluded, within forty-eight hours of the discovery, that "no foul play was suspected." This swift conclusion puzzled many, especially considering that Baloch had received grave death threats from the ISI, a fact known to both the government of Canada and the Toronto Police. What further deepens the concern is the apparent contrast in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's response to this high-profile case compared to other instances. While he has made impassioned speeches in the House of Commons and garnered extensive international media coverage for cases like the shooting death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, his silence regarding Karima’s death has not gone unnoticed. BHRC-Canada raises questions about the government's consistency and fairness in addressing human rights violations in Balochistan by the Pakistan Army. “Prime Minister Mr Justin Trudeau's conspicuous silence regarding the high-profile, unexplained death of Ms. Karima Baloch a prominent Balochistan human rights defender-stands in stark contrast to his impassioned speeches in the House of Commons and extensive international media coverage concerning the shooting death of Mr Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. This discrepancy raises concerns about the Canadian Government's consistency and fairness, particularly with regard to its handling of Balochistan's ongoing human rights violations by the Pakistan Army,” the BHRC-Canada’s statement read. It further suggested that the Canadian Government's reluctance to impartially address Baloch's death may be influenced by electoral considerations. Their statement further read, “BHRC-Canada believes that the Canadian Government's apparent reluctance to address Ms Baloch's death impartially may be linked to electoral considerations. The Baloch community in Canada is relatively small and lacks the electoral influence to significantly impact the selection of representatives in Parliament. It is important to note that the Baloch community in Canada has consistently upheld and supported the secular, democratic values of Canadian society.” The organisation insists that PM Trudeau and his Liberal Party Government must provide a transparent and just response to the quest for justice in the case of Karima Baloch. ‘She dedicated her life to advocating for the rights and freedom of Balochistan from tyranny and Pakistani military occupation,’ they wrote. Despite past appeals and correspondence over the past two years, it appears that these concerns have gone unnoticed, possibly due to electoral considerations, they added. BHRC-Canada additionally underscored the importance of treating all individuals equally, irrespective of race, creed, or political contributions.
25 September,2023 01:29 PM IST | Toronto | mid-day online correspondent
Canada's defence minister describes relationship with India 'important'
Terming the relationship with India as "important", Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair on Sunday said that his country will continue to pursue partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy while the investigation of the killing of a Sikh separatist leader continues. Tensions flared between India and Canada following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's explosive allegations of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, on his country's soil on June 18 in British Columbia. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020. India angrily rejected the allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa's expulsion of an Indian official over the case. Canada had been seeking deeper trade, defence and immigration ties with India before the 'credible intelligence,' as Trudeau called it, was first raised with Canadian officials, Global News reported. In an interview aired Sunday on The West Block, Blair suggested Canada will continue to pursue those partnerships while the investigation into allegations continues, calling the relationship with India 'important.' 'We understand that this can be, and has proven to be, a challenging issue with respect to our relationship with India,' he was quoted as saying by Global News. 'But at the same time, we have a responsibility to defend the law, defend our citizens, and at the same time make sure that we conduct a thorough investigation and get to the truth.' If the allegations are proven true, Blair said 'there is a very significant concern that Canada will have with respect to the violation of our sovereignty in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil.' Blair said the Indo-Pacific strategy was still a critical one for Canada and has led to an increased military presence in the region and commitments for further patrol capabilities. The strategy commits USD 492.9 million over five years toward those military priorities, out of a total of nearly USD 2.3 billion over the same period. On Thursday, India asked Canada to come down hard on terrorists and anti-India elements operating from its soil and suspended visa services for Canadians, as escalating tensions between the two nations over the killing of Nijjar pushed their ties to an all-time low. India also asked Canada to downsize its diplomatic staff in the country, arguing that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in the mutual diplomatic presence. The size of Canadian diplomatic staff in India is larger than what New Delhi has in Canada. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 September,2023 08:39 AM IST | Toronto | PTI
France to end military presence in Niger, bring back ambassador: Emmanuel Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced that Paris will end its military presence in Niger by the end of 2023, CNN reported. He also announced that he has decided to bring back the country's Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, to France. The development comes amid high tensions between the two nations since the military junta seized power in Niger in July. Macron said, "We are putting an end to our military cooperation with the de facto authorities of Niger because they don't want to fight terrorism anymore," CNN reported. The decision to end the "cooperation" has been taken "because we are not there to deal with internal politics and be hostages of putschists," the French President said while referring to the military group. He announced that the withdrawal would take place in the coming weeks. "They will come back in an orderly manner in the weeks and months to come, and for that, we will coordinate with the putschists because we want this to happen calmly," Macron said. Asked about the timeline of withdrawal, Macron said that there will not be any French soldiers in Niger by the end of 2023. Macron also announced that he has decided to bring back the country's Ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itte, to France. He said, "France has decided to bring back its ambassador," CNN reported. He further said, "In the coming hours, our ambassador along with several diplomats will return to France." His decision comes over a week after Macron said the French Ambassador was 'literally being held hostage at the French embassy." He further said that the 'food was prevented from being deliveredâ¿ to the embassy in Niger's Niamey. French troops have been stationed in Niger, many of whom were there to assist with counterterrorism missions, on the basis that Niger was a relatively stable democracy in a region that faces problems like political upheaval and terrorism, CNN has reported. Some 1500 French troops have been stationed in Niger. Notably, France has not recognized Niger's military authorities and stressed that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum remains the country's only legitimate authority. After the coup in July, Niger military junta has asked Sylvain Itte to leave the country. It later revoked his visa and ordered police to expel him. However, the diplomat continued to stay in Niger. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
25 September,2023 08:36 AM IST | Paris | ANI