ENG-WORLD NEWS 2230 HRS 14.02.2021

NAMASKAR ! A warm welcome to ‘World News: an Indian perspective’, on All India Radio. This is PRASHANTH KUMAR SINHA and with me is GAURAV SHARMA bringing glimpses of major developments of the day from across the globe. Over the next half an hour, we shall bring you the latest from the world of politics, economy, sports, entertainment and more.

COVID OPENING

As the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic, we begin with a message of caution to stay safe and protected by following these three simple steps:

⦁ Wear a face mask.

⦁ Maintain social distancing.

⦁ Focus on hand and face hygiene.  

THE HEADLINES:

* Prime Minister Narendra Modi Says rightful interests of the Indian Fishermen will be protected; assures that no Indian Fisherman languishes in Sri Lankan Jails;

* 16 Indian Sailors on board MV Anastasia return to India after crew change in Japan.

*  US Senate acquits former President Donald Trump for a second time.

*  Crackdown against protestors intensifies as Myanmar Military amends consitution to arrogate sweeping powers unto itself

*   India key player in Asia and in multilateral fora says Poland’s Ambassador to India;

*   New Zealand’s largest city Auckland enters a three day lockdown.

In Cricket, on second day of Chennai Test, India tighten grip, extends lead to 249 runs.

*  In Tennis, Novak Djokovic advances in the Australian open after beating Milos Raonic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka win close battles to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

WN-PM-FISHERMEN

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has asserted that the Government will protect the rightful interests of the Indian Fishermen. Mr. Modi was speaking at the inauguration and foundation laying ceremony at Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister said that there were no fishermen in Sri Lankan prisons as of now. He said that 1600 fishermen were released and 313 boats in Sri Lankan custody were released after the efforts of the Central Government.

PM ON FISHERMAN

WN-ANASTASIA

The 16 Indian crew members of MV Anastasia returned to India on Sunday. The Ship reached Mumbai earlier in the day today after it managed to do a crew change in Japan on 10th february. India’s Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mansukh Mandavia had tweeted on 10th feb that the crew of Anastasia will be able to reunite with their families soon. Last month, Indian ship MV Jag Anand was allowed to do a crew change in Japan after being stuck in Chinese waters for more than 7 months. Lets take a look at this entire episode in this report from our Beijing Correspondent:

V/C – ANSHUMAN MISHRA

MV Anastasia and MV Jag Anand were transporting coal from Australia to China as they were stuck in the Chinese ports. Both the ships were refused permission by Chinese authorities to offload their cargo and leave, citing Covid-19-related restrictions. However, on 24 December, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that other ships, which arrived after these two, were allowed to offload cargo and leave, and the reasons for this were unclear. It created more confusion regarding the Chinese system. Around mid-December last year, China officially announced a ban on Australian coal imports as tensions between the two countries intensified, unofficial signs of which could be traced back to June 2020. The seafarers caught in the middle of a geopolitical feud between China and Australia faced great mental and physical sufferings. A spokesperson from Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd, which owns Jag Anand, told Prasar Bharati that they were mainly waiting for a go-ahead from the Chinese cargo owner for moving away from Chinese coast, without which they would have faced legal action. Given the grave humanitarian situation, Indian Ambassador in China Vikram Misri had personally taken up the issue of Jag Anand with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister. Indian Embassy in Beijing had been constantly trying to break this deadlock while Chinese foreign ministry put the onus on freight forwarder for not allowing the ships to leave the port, adding that they are in touch with Indian side. Anshuman Mishra, AIR News, Beijing

WN-TRUMP-IMPEACHMENT

The US Senate has acquitted former President Donald Trump for a second time blocking the Democrat’s attempt to punish him for the storming of the Capitol by his supporters. After a week of the impeachment trial, only 57 Senators, including seven Republicans voted to convict him last night.

The 57-43 tally fell 10 votes short of the two-third majority needed to convict him and to allow the Senate to move to disqualify him from holding future office. Mr Trump welcomed his second impeachment acquittal and said his movement has only just begun. He slammed the trial as yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of America.

The Republican leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer said that it was a vote of infamy in the history of the United States. Mr Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in January on the charge that he incited an insurrection when his supporters attacked the Capitol on January 6. The House accused him of inciting the riot in which his supporters entered the Senate chamber and offices of officials.

WN-BIDEN-ACQUITTAL REACTION

Meanwhile, the US President Joe Biden has said his predecessor Donald Trump’s acquittal for inciting mob violence is a reminder that democracy is fragile. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting to convict, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed to do so. Mr Biden said the charge, relating to Mr Trump’s role in the Capitol riot last month, was not in dispute, while seeking to move on from the process.

Mr Trump has welcomed his acquittal, calling his impeachment a witch hunt. In the Senate yesterday, the trial ended with a 57-43 vote in favour of conviction. The vote split largely along party lines, with the seven Republicans joining the Senate’s 48 Democrats and two independents in voting to convict.

WN-MYANMAR-CDM

In Myanmar, amid continuing protests the military government has stepped up efforts to control the movement by assuming vast powers for arrests and detention and show of strength by moving armoured vehicles on roads. Armoured vehicles were seen on the roads of Yangon on Sunday even as protests continued in the town. The American Embassy issued an advisory to its people asking them to stay at home as there are indications of military movement and possibility of telecom interruption between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. local time.  

As part of the continuing Civil Disobedience Movement, trains in parts of the country stopped running after staff refused to work, according to reports. Hundreds of Railway workers joined demonstrations in Yangon on Sunday, defying orders from the Army Chief Gen. Hlaing asking government employees to go back to work. In Kachin state army was deployed at power plants to control electricity supply which was opposed by workers leading to confrontation.

The Myanmar military Tatmadaw issued arrest warrants against seven well known artists and democracy activists accusing them of inciting people against the government and disturbing public peace.

The military government also announced a series of amendments to the constitution giving it sweeping powers to search houses and arrest people without warrant. The military government also notified another amendment on the official website on Sunday according to which the people will be required to report if any guest from other wards stays overnight at their homes. This law was abolished earlier under the government headed by deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

WN-NEW ZEALAND-LOCKDOWN

New Zealand on Sunday entered into a three-day lockdown in the country’s biggest city Auckland. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement on Sunday , after three new local COVID-19 cases were reported. Ms. Ardern said the level 3 restrictions, require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping and essential work.

WN-JAPAN-PFIZER

Japan  has officially approved Pfizer Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine to make it the first COVID vaccine to gain approval in the country. The Japanese Health Ministry announced the decision on Sunday. Japan is in the throes of a third wave of infections in the run-up to the Summer Olympic Games due to start on July 23rd.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said vaccinations will begin from the middle of next week, starting with some 10,000 health workers. The government is seeking to secure enough supplies for the entire population of around 126 million people  by the middle of 2021.

Much of Japan is still under a state of emergency after its third and most deadly wave of the virus hit late last year. Japan has so far recorded about 410,000 coronavirus cases nationally and 6,772 deaths.

WN-HOTSPOT

India and Poland share a long-standing friendly relationship, marked by high level political contacts, vibrant economic engagement and traditional cultural links.  In today’s HOTSPOT section, we have an exclusive interview with Ambassador of Poland to India, Adam Borkowski. Ambassador Borkowski shares his insights on India – Poland relations. He speaks about India’s importance in the multilateral fora as a key player in Asia. Saturday was celebrated as World Radio Day and Ambassador Borkowski also talks about his intimate connect with radio, lets take a listen.

WN-SPORTS

Moving onto sports,

In Gujarat, the world’s largest cricket stadium at Motera in Ahmedabad is all set to host the third and fourth test matches as well as five T 20 Internationals between India and England starting from 24th of this month. The bookings for the third day and night test match began today. In view of the Covid pandemic, the authorities have decided to allow 50% spectators of the stadium’s capacity during the test matches.

In Tennis, at the Australian Open,  35-year-old  Hsieh Su-wei has become the oldest first-time quarterfinalist in a Grand Slam.   Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei  stunned 19th seed Czech Marketa Vondrousova 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets on Sunday. In the other women’s singles, Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka beat 14th seeded Garbine Muguruza,  6-4, 4-6, 7-5 at the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

Third seed Dominic Thiem slumped out of the Australian Open after an emphatic defeat at the hands of Grigor Dimitrovin in the fourth round on Sunday.

Meanwhile, serbian Novak Djocovic’s quest for a 9th Australian Open title continues, advancing to the quarterfinals for the 12th time after beating Milos Raonic.

Elsewhere, Simona Halep advanced to the quarterfinals with her 100th Grand Slam win on Sunday. Halep will face Serena Williams next.

WN-AUS OPEN

In Football, Manchester City beat Tottenham 3 Nil in their Saturday night premier league encounter.

WN-FPR

Now let us take a look at the major developments around the world, as reported in the foreign press:

Wall Street Journal writes that the pandemic has forced  Europe’s banks to slash jobs, shut branches and force customers online.

UK based The Guardian cites a poll which finds that two-thirds of Britons do not want rich countries to have vaccine priority. The poll finds people in favour of western governments to share COVID vaccine formula with the rest of the world.

Reporting on the 7.2 magnitude which struck Japan on Saturday, the Gulf Times writes that Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Sunday morning said that there was no risk of a tsunami, and the nuclear power plants had not reported any problems.

The South China Morning Post cites a study which finds that Chinese minority languages are among those at risk of dying out, with no one left to speak them.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australia has suspended its quarantine-free travel arrangement with New Zealand following the emergence of three new cases of COVID-19 in Auckland at the weekend.

REPEAT HEADLINES

A QUICK LOOK AT THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

*  Prime Minister Narendra Modi Says rightful interests of the Indian Fishermen will be protected; assures that no Indian Fisherman languishes in Sri Lankan Jails;

* 16 Indian Sailors on board MV Anastasia return to India after crew change in Japan.

*  US Senate acquits former President Donald Trump for a second time.

*  Crackdown against protestors intensifies as Myanmar Military amends consitution to arrogate sweeping powers unto itself

*   India key player in Asia and in multilateral fora says Poland’s Ambassador to India;

*   New Zealand’s largest city Auckland enters a three day lockdown.

     In Cricket, on second day of Chennai Test, India tighten grip, extends lead to 249 runs.

*    In Tennis, Novak Djokovic advances in the Australian open after beating Milos Raonic, Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka win close battles to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

India is celebrating the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Before we end, let us listen to his favourite Bhajan VAISHNAV JAN, by artists from POLAND.

WN – VAISNAV JAN – POLAND

AND WITH THAT, WE END THIS BULLETIN. SEE YOU AT SAME TIME TOMORROW WITH THE NEXT EDITION OF WORLD NEWS.