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Syria: US, Russia continue nursing interests amidst bloodshed

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Syria: US, Russia continue nursing interests amidst bloodshed

Amidst conflicting reports about developments in Eastern Ghouta, US and Russia were critical of each other’s policies and perceptions. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that his patience with militant attacks is not indefinite as terrorist groups stationed in the Damascus suburbs continue to shell the capital indiscriminately while the US representative at UN has accused Russia and Syrian of violating ceasefire.

Rusian President Vladimir Putin, while responding to a question posed by TASS news agency about situation in Eastern Ghouta, during joint press conference with Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebestian Kurz in Moscow on Wednesday said, “As is known – in any case, we in Russia know this well enough – some shells crash even on the territory of the Russian embassy and trade mission. Are we going to tolerate this indefinitely? Of course, not.”

Read Also:- UN Security Council passes resolution for ceasefire in Syria

Putin pointed out that in the region there were quite a few extremist forces and members of terrorist organisations that had been included in the corresponding UN lists and the latest resolution by the UNSC that the struggle against these organisations must go on. He was quoted saying, “Bombardments from there continue unabated. On some days missile and mortar strikes reach 50-60.”

Russian President recalled that in his latest conversations with Germany’s Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron it was agreed to open a humanitarian corridor to let children, injured and all those in need of assistance leave the conflict zone.

Read Also:- Russia-US conflicting perception on Syria cause more death

Meanwhile, US representative at UN Kelley Currie, while speaking at UNSC meeting on Wednesday, condemned the Syrian government’s continued aerial bombardment on Eastern Ghouta, that has been under opposition control since 2013.

She asserted, “Despite the unanimous call for a ceasefire, the regime’s attacks continued unabated. Hundreds of Syrians have been killed or injured since we passed the resolution on Saturday.”

She further said, “Such an attack demonstrates Syria’s complete and utter contempt for this council and the United Nations.”

Read Also:- Russia warns US to consider Moscow-Ankara-Tehran efforts on Syria

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to UN Vassily Nebenzia, has told UNSC that Russia is doing everything it can to ensure the effectiveness of the daily five-hour humanitarian pauses.

However, he blamed rebel forces for targeting the corridors designated for humanitarian operations with mortar shelling. “We trust that the opposition leaders have a serious-minded approach and that their words will be met with deeds,” he added.

Nebenzia further clarified, “We understand that terrorists remain a legitimate target for military operations and that there will be no ceremonial approach for them.”  He further said that efforts must be made to “effectively neutralise” the presence of the al-Qaeda offshoot in Eastern Ghouta, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, earlier known as Nusra Front.

On Monday, Russia had said that it will implement five-hour “humanitarian pauses” to allow for the evacuation of civilians and the entrance of aid convoys.

Aljazeera reports that despite the UNSC resolution, shelling and air strikes did not stop and have resulted in the deaths of at least four people. Residents of the enclave said government warplanes launched several attacks in early hours of Wednesday. A resident who wanted to remain unidentified, was quoted saying, “There have been no evacuations whatsoever- not medical, not humanitarian, nothing.”

Osama bin Javaid, Aljazeera correspondent stationed at Syria-Turkish border said “The second day of this so-called truce or pause went away without any major developments on the ground. No aid convoys went inside because the United Nations and other aid workers have been saying that this is too short of a window without any guarantees of whether they would be able to make it back.”

US representative at UN Currie described Russia’s five-hour “humanitarian pause” as “cynical, callous and in flagrant defiance of the demands of (UNSC resolution) 2401”.

Read Also:- UN: North Korea provides material for Syrian chemical weapons

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US reiterates its call for fair, transparent, legal process for Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, speaks on Congress frozen accounts

The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections.

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A day after India summoned an US diplomat over their remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case, the US reiterated its call for fair, transparent, timely legal processes on Wednesday.

Responding to questions on India summoning Gloria Berbena, the US Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that they will continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Notably, the meeting at the foreign ministry’s South Block office lasted nearly 40 minutes yesterday with India objecting strongly to the US remarks on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal.

Matthew Miller also responded to a question on the Congress party’s frozen bank accounts. The US spokesperson said that they are also aware of the Congress party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. He added that the US encourages fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of the issues.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested last week by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection to the Delhi liquor policy scam. Earlier, AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain and Sanjay Singh were arrested in the same case.

The External Affairs Ministry had earlier stated that states are expected to be respectful of the sovereignty and internal affairs of others, and this responsibility is even more so in case of fellow democracies, adding that it could otherwise end up setting unhealthy precedents.

The Ministry further emphasized that India’s legal processes are based on an independent judiciary which is committed to objective and timely outcomes. It mentioned that casting aspersions on India’s legal procedure is unwarranted.

The United State’s remarks followed days after Germany’s Foreign Office stressed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is entitled to a fair and impartial trial. The Indian government labelled their remark as blatant interference in internal matters.

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5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan

This is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

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Nearly five Chinese nationals were killed in an explosion during an attack on their convoy by a suicide bomber in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday. Reportedly, the suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers travelling from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Regional police chief Mohammad Ali Gandapur said that five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in the attack. As yet, none has claimed responsibility for the attack. Bisham Station House Officer (SHO) Bakht Zahir asserted that the incident was a suicide blast and the authorities concerned were collecting the evidence.

The Station House Officer further added that security arrangements were tightened at the spot and the bodies were being shifted to a hospital. He added that they will investigate from where and how the vehicle of a suicide bomber came and how it happened. Notably, this is the third major attack on Chinese interests in Pakistan within a week.

Previously, two attacks hit an airbase and a strategic port in the southwest province of Balochistan where China is investing billions in infrastructure projects. Several Chinese engineers and Pakistani construction workers have for multiple years been working on hydroelectric projects as part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in the western province of Khyber-Paktunkhwa.

Notably, Dasu is home to a significant dam project, has been a target of previous attacks. Earlier in 2021, the attack in Dasu resulted in the deaths of nine Chinese nationals, along with two Pakistani children. The incident occured when a bus carrying Chinese engineers and workers to the Dasu Hydropower Project site was targeted.

There was confusion surrounding the nature of the attack initially, with some reports suggesting it was a bus accident. Nonetheless, subsequent investigations revealed that it was indeed a terrorist attack. The bus was hit by a blast, leading it to plunge into a ravine.

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US bridge collapses after being hit by ship

The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

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Major portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US collapsed on early Tuesday morning after it was hit by a large container ship. The incident occurred at nearly 1.30 am (US local time). The Baltimore City Fire department said the collapse is a mass casualty incident.

According to reports many vehicles fell into the river below. The rescuers were searching for at least 7 people in the water. Some reports said upto 20 construction workers were there on the Baltimore Bridge at the time of the incident. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media showed the moment the 3 km long bridge collapsed.

It seems the vessel had hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in many places and plunge into the water. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, the registered owner of the ship, and the manager, Synergy Marine Group, said it is a Singapore flagged ship Dali which collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

He said the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined; the Dali has now mobilized its qualified individual Incident response service. It added that all crew members, including the 2 pilots who were aboard, have been accounted for and there are no reports of injuries.

The local traffic police said all lanes on both directions of the bridge have been closed and the traffic is being de-toured. Maryland Governor Wes Moore also declared a state of emergency after the collapse of the bridge. The bridge was opened in 1977, spans the Patapsco River, a vital artery that along with the Port of Baltimore is a hub for shipping on the East Coast. It is named after the writer of the Star Spangled Banner.  

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