The Subcontinent: 12 February 2021
Modi, Trudeau Discuss Vaccines, Recent Protests
Bangladesh: Eight Sentenced to Death for Killing Publisher
Meet Nepal's Only Billionaire: Binod Chaudhary
Sri Lanka Allows Covid-19 Burials?
A Village Girl's Dance Video Enthrals Madhuri Dixit
1. Modi, Trudeau Discuss COVID Vaccine, Recent Protests
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Indian PM Narendra Modi, a call that led to different readouts being issued by the two governments.
Indian Position
The Indian readout spoke about Canada requiring vaccines, and India assuring them of doing their best.
PM Modi also referred to Trudeau as "my friend" in his tweet.
Indian Readout: Read it here.
Canadian Position
The Canadian readout did not mention that Canada had asked for vaccines but said: "The two leaders agreed to work together on access to vaccines."
Further, it spoke about the protests in India and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue: "The leaders discussed Canada and India's commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue."
Canadian Readout: Read it here.
Better Relations?
Relations between India and Canada have been frosty ever since Trudeau’s eight-day visit to India in February 2018.
Two years later, while discussing the telephone call, the Indian side focussed on vaccines, and left out talking about protests and the need for resolving them through dialogue.
Background
2018: The 2018 Trudeau trip to India was described as a disaster (Sydney Morning Herald). Since then, there has been a disconnect between the two countries.
2020: In November 2020, Trudeau spoke about "physical force being used by the Indian police against protesting farmers, many of them Sikhs," a remark that India termed as ill-informed and unwarranted (ANI).
Vaccines as Political Football
The 'vaccine issue' seems to be a political football.
India said it will 'do its best', but did not promise anything (Toronto Sun).
On the other hand, Outlook has a piece titled "Did Justin Trudeau Ask PM Modi For Covid-19 Vaccine? (Outlook India).
Canada Over Ordered Vaccines by 400%
Canada is one of the countries to have reserved four times the vaccines that it needs to inoculate its entire population (Bloomberg).
However, delays in arrival from both Pfizer and Moderna has meant that, so far, it has vaccinated only 3 percent of its population (Global News).
2. Bangladesh: 8 Sentenced to Death for Killing Publisher
Eight people have been sentenced to death for killing a publisher of books on secularism and atheism. Six of them are in custody, while two, including a retired army man, are at large (Washington Post).
The 2015 Killing
In October 2015, Faisal Abedin Dipon of the Jagriti Prokashoni publishing house was hacked to death. On the same day, another publisher, Ahmed Rashid Tutul, survived a near-simultaneous attack.
Both publishers had published Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-American writer, and blogger. Roy was also hacked to death in February 2015.
Who are the Killers?
The eight belong to a banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam. Two of the convicted - army major Syed Ziaul Haque Zia and another associate Akram Hossain alias Hasib are still on the run (Dhaka Tribune).
Avijit Roy
Avijit Roy was the creator of Mukto-Mona, a freethinkers website. He wrote on several topics often regarded as taboo in Bangladeshi society, including atheism and homosexuality. He was 42.
A four-member FBI team visited Dhaka in March 2015 to investigate Roy's killing (Daily Star).
3. Meet Nepal's Only Billionaire: Binod Chaudhary
Binod Chaudhary is Nepal's lone billionaire and member of the lower house of parliament. With a net worth of USD 1.5 billion, Chaudhary ranks 1513th on the global rich list. Khaleej Times has profiled him calling him Nepal's biggest export after Mt Everest (Khaleej Times).
Parental Origins in Rajasthan
A Marwari businessman, his grandfather hailed from Churi-Ajitgarh village in the Shekhawati region in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Noodle King
Known as the noodle king for producing Wai-Wai noodles, he reportedly stays away from tasting most of his products since he is a vegetarian (Business Insider).
4. Sri Lanka Allows COVID-19 Burials?
Sri Lanka has allowed the burial of people who die due to COVID-19. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse stated in the parliament that such burials would be permitted (Daily Mirror).
However
However, the Health Minister stated that the decision on "burial of remains of Covid 19 dead will be made by 'expert committee'" (Daily News), seemingly contradicting the statement of the Prime Minister.
Why No Burials?
In April 2020, Sri Lanka issued a gazette notification banning burials. All people, irrespective of faith, were cremated, causing considerable resentment among the Muslim community.
Outcry
UK Muslims complain to UN over Sri Lanka's cremation policy (Al Jazeera)
UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka told PM Rajapaksa that the decision was not backed by scientific evidence.
Maldives had offered to accord a burial to Sri Lankan Muslims who die of COVID-19 (Al Jazeera).
Human Rights Watch had described the practice as discriminatory, stating that it goes against public health guidance and discriminates against the Muslim community (HRW).
Sri Lanka's forced cremations spark anger among Muslims (DW).
Sri Lanka's baseless forced cremation policy inflicts trauma on Muslims (Washington Post).
5. A Village Girl's Dance Video Enthralls Madhuri Dixit
A video of a village girl dancing to the tune of a 1957 classic from the movie Mother India has enthralled Indian cinestar Mandhuri Dixit (The Times of India).
Who is The Girl?
Priyadarshini Tyagi, from Amroha (Uttar Pradesh, India).
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