Page 2 - WEEK (7 JUNE)

YEAR-2021 JUNE

Coronavirus | WHO states agree to independent probe of Nepal Deputy PM stirs controversy with demand for
COVID-19 response ‘multi-nation state’

China has authorised the emergency use of CoronaVac, a COVID-19 vaccine Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister
manufactured by Chinese firm Sinovac, for children aged between 3 and 17 of Nepal Rajendra Mahato has kicked up a
years, Sinovac Chairman Yin Weidong said. controversy soon after taking over on
Saturday saying he is committed to
"But when the vaccine will be put into building a ‘multi-nation state’.
(emergency) use, and starting from what Mr. Mahato is one of the three Deputy
age in the group has yet to be decided," Prime Ministers (Raghuvir Mahaseth and
he was quoted as saying by the state-run Bishnu Prasad Paudel are the other two)
Global Times on Sunday. appointed by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma
Oli who reshuffled his Cabinet this weekend.
Sinovac has finished the Phrase I and II
clinical research stage, involving several “We remain committed to building an alternative power and will safeguard
hundred volunteers in this age group, identity and rights of our people. As long as we are in power, we will pursue good
which has proved that the vaccine is as safe and efficient as it is for adults, Yin governance. We will prepare for a nationwide movement to set up multi-nation
told China Central Television in an interview on Friday. state in Nepal,” said Mr. Mahato. He is one of the pioneers of the Madhesi
movement which has been demanding greater rights for the people of the plains.
The Wold Health Organisation (WHO) has granted approval on June 1 to
China's second COVID-19 vaccine, Sinovac, which was expected to strengthen The comment drew quick criticism on social media which accused Mr. Mahato of
China’s vaccine diplomacy. trying to play divisive politics. CPN-UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai urged Prime
Minister Oli to advise his ministerial colleagues to be restrained in public
Earlier, WHO granted a similar approval to China’s Sinopharm. Besides comments. A protest was organised on Saturday by the All Nepal National Free
administering the vaccines at home, China has been donating and exporting the Students Union (ANNFSU) that demanded Mr. Oli to step down over the
vaccines to number of countries as part of its vaccine diplomacy. comments.

China’s National Health Commission said on Sunday that over 763 million
doses of COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across China so far.

For its part, China has approved about five of its vaccines for emergency use.

SOURCE@THEHINDU SOURCE@THEHINDU

Israel’s Netanyahu alleges election fraud, accuses rival of Sri Lankan parliament passes controversial Bill on
duplicity China-backed Port City

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
said on Sunday a newly formed Israeli
coalition that is poised to unseat him was
the result of “the greatest election fraud”
in the history of democracy.

Hours after Netanyahu’s comments,
Naftali Bennett, a nationalist set to
replace him as prime minister, called on
Israel’s longest-serving leader not to
leave “scorched earth” behind and accept
that “people are allowed to establish a
government – even if you don’t head it”.
Netanyahu made his sweeping accusation at a time when Israel’s domestic The Sri Lankan Parliament on Thursday passed a controversial Bill on laws
security chief has warned publicly about the prospect of political violence. governing the China-backed Colombo Port city, with a majority of 149
“We are witnessing the greatest election fraud in the history of the country, in legislators – in the 225-member House – voting in its favour.
my opinion in the history of any democracy,” Netanyahu said in comments to The development comes after the Supreme Court suggested certain
legislators from his right-wing Likud party. amendments, following over a dozen petitions challenging the Bill that political
He focused his allegations on a broken campaign promise from Bennett, who opposition and civil society groups said “directly affected” Sri Lanka’s
had pledged not to partner with left-wing, centrist and Arab parties.On sovereignty.
Wednesday, Bennett announced with opposition leader Yair Lapid that they The government accepted the amendments, pre-empting the requirement for a
had formed a governing coalition with factions from across the political two-thirds majority or a referendum for passage of certain clauses, as per the
spectrum following an inconclusive March 23 election, Israel’s fourth in two Supreme Court’s determination.
years. The $1.4 billion-Colombo Port City, was launched in 2014 during the previous
Under a rotation deal, Bennett will serve first as prime minister, followed by term of the Rajapaksa government, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited
Lapid.No date has been set for a vote in parliament to approve the new the island nation. The mega infrastructure project is currently being built on
government. land reclaimed alongside Colombo’s iconic sea front, while environmentalists
and fisher folk opposed the move.

SOURCE@INDIANEXPRESS SOURCE@THEHINDU