The Subcontinent: 13 March 2021
Quad Comes of Age
Sri Lanka to ban Burqa, Shut Islamic Schools
Pakistan: Ruling Alliance Wins Senate Chair Elections
Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans
Book: 'Raj & Norah'
1. Quad Comes of Age
The Quad, a hitherto informal alliance of democracies including Japan, Australia, USA, and India, held its first summit-level meeting with the four democracies' leaders holding a virtual meeting. A face-to-face meeting is likely before the end of this year. Each of the four leaders individually described the event as 'historic.'
1 Billion Vaccines
US and Japan will support producing 1 billion COVID vaccines by the end of 2022 that will be manufactured in India, with Australia providing the last mile delivery support, particularly in Southeast Asia (VOA).
3 Agenda Items
Quad Vaccine Alliance
Quad Climate Working Group
Quad Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group
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FactSheet released by the White House (Fact Sheet).
Joint Statement: "The Spirit of The Quad" (White House)
Remarks by the Four Leaders (White House)
2. Sri Lanka to Ban Burqa, Shut Islamic Schools
Sri Lanka will ban the burqa and shut down over a thousand Islamic schools, the Minister for public security has stated (The Times of India).
Previously, Sri Lanka had also banned burials of patients dying of COVID, a move that many allege was targeted towards the Muslim community. International pressure on Sri Lanka led to the country designating the island of Iranaitivu in the Gulf of Mannar (Northern province) as a burial place (The Subcontinent).
3. Pakistan: Ruling Alliance Wins Senate Chair Elections
The ruling alliance in Pakistan led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf won the Senate Chairpersons' election, despite being short of numbers. Three significant developments marked the election of Senate Chair Sadiq Sanjrani.
Establishment Candidate
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed quipped that Sanjrani was a Riyasati Candidate, a euphemism for being a military establishment candidate rather than being a candidate of the ruling alliance. His statement pitched the opposition candidate against the establishment rather than against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Spy Cameras
Six spy cameras were detected by the opposition at vantage points within the parliament building, which they alleged were meant to spy on their' secret votes' (BBC). A new senate security chief was appointed a day prior to the election, and that too without following the procedure (Daily Pakistan), raising eyebrows about his role.
Seven Contentious Votes Rejected
Seven votes were rejected since the vote was stamped on the name of the candidate rather than within a circle. The opposition stated that the stamp was within the prescribed rectangle, while the presiding chair insisted that the stamp should have been inside the circle within the rectangle. The opposition announced that they would challenge the decision in the courts, while the Government insists that it cannot be challenged (Dawn).
4. 2,800 instances of Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans in US
Hate crimes against Asian Americans are far more than what the numbers indicate. Stop AAPI Hate has received over 2,800 firsthand reports of anti-Asian hate between 19 March and 31 December 2020 (Press Release). Nearly 44 percent of incidents have come from California (NPR).
It Must Stop, says Joe Biden (CNN).
"Appalled": Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (NDTV)
Book: Raj & Norah
Raj & Norah is a love story between an Indian soldier and an English nurse set during World War II. Written by father-daughter duo Peter R. Kohli and Shaina Kohli Russo, it narrates the story of a 20-year old Rajendra Kohli, who is studying in England volunteers in the War to join the Punjab regiment. Injured during the War, he meets Norah Elizabeth Eggleton, a nurse with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service. “The book narrates an account of love that was found, lost and finally reclaimed in the middle of war and devastation” (The Indian Express).
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