United Nations, Aug 5,Aug 2021: UN Secretary-General welcomed the appointment by the ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs as Special Envoy on Myanmar, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the appointment of Mr. Erywan Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam as Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar,” Dujarric said on Wednesday. “The United Nations looks forward to continuing its cooperation with ASEAN on a coherent response to the crisis in Myanmar.”
Guterres renewed his call on Myanmar’s military to respect the will of people and refrain from violence and repression, Dujarric said.
The UN chief also called to ensure full and unimpeded access to those in need of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.
“The United Nations is focusing its efforts, in cooperation with international and regional partners, notably ASEAN, to provide humanitarian and life-saving assistance,” Dujarric added.
On February 1, Myanmar’s military overthrew the civilian government and declared a year-long state of emergency. The United Nations estimates that at least 930 civilians have been killed by the country’s security forces since the coup.
New Delhi , August3,2021: The present percentage of blending of biodiesel in diesel is less than 0.1 per cent, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday and noted that National Policy on Biofuels, 2018 prescribes as indicative target of 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030.
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Rameshwar Teli said in a written reply that the government has taken various steps towards achieving 20 per cent blending of ethanol in petrol.
These include allowing use of sugarcane and foodgrains (maize and surplus stocks of rice with Food Corporation of India) for conversion to ethanol, administered price mechanism for procurement of ethanol under EBP Programme including the enhanced ex-mill price of ethanol year-on-year from ethanol supply year 2017.
The measures also include lowering GST rate to 5 per cent on ethanol for EBP Programme, amending Industries (Development & Regulation) Act for free movement of ethanol, interest subvention scheme for enhancement and augmentation of ethanol production capacity in the country.
He said the average ethanol blending percentage in petrol for the ethanol supply year 2020-21 is eight per cent as on July 26 this year.
“The present percentage of blending of biodiesel in diesel is less than 0.1 per cent. The National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, prescribes as indicative target of 5 per cent blending of biodiesel in diesel by 2030,” he said.
The minister said that availability of biodiesel has been low in the last few years due to the increase of price and non-availability of feedstock for biodiesel.
Some biodiesel is also being marketed by agencies other than oil marketing companies.
“To increase the supply of biodiesel in the country, OMCs are regularly floating Expression of Interest (EoI) to encourage the production of biodiesel from used cooking oil,” he said.
Aug 2,2021: Tehran, Iran – The Iranian government has rejected claims by Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom that it was behind an attack on a ship off Oman earlier this week that killed two crew members.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh condemned the allegations during a virtual news conference on Sunday, saying this was not the first time Israel has made such claims.
“Wherever this regime has gone, it has brought with itself insecurity, terror and violence. Those responsible [for this attack] are the ones that allowed the Israeli regime to set foot in this region,” he said.
“Whoever sows wind will reap a storm,” Khatibzadeh said, adding that Iran will defend its national security wherever necessary.
Liberian-flagged oil tanker Mercer Street, managed by a company belonging to Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, was struck late on Thursday northeast of the Omani island of Masirah, in an apparent drone attack that killed a Romanian and a UK national.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, have alleged Iran was behind the hit but have yet to provide evidence.
“I just heard that Iran, in a cowardly manner, is trying to shirk responsibility for the event. They are denying this. I determine, with absolute certainty: Iran carried out the attack against the ship,” Bennett said at the cabinet meeting on Sunday, as posted on the Israeli PM’s Twitter account.
“The intelligence evidence for this exists and we expect the international community will make it clear to the Iranian regime that they have made a serious mistake. In any case, we know how to send a message to Iran in our own way.”
US State Secretary Anthony Blinken said on Sunday he was “confident” Iran conducted the attack using armed drones.
“There is no justification for this attack, which follows a pattern of attacks and other belligerent behaviour,” he said in a statement, adding that the US is consulting with governments in and beyond the region on an “appropriate response”.
In a statement published on Sunday, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was “highly likely” Iran attacked the tanker in international waters with one or more drones.
After the attack, US Navy vessels escorted the Mercer Street as it headed to a safe port.
Foes Iran and Israel have frequently accused each other over the years of attacks on interests, vessels and nuclear facilities. But their years-long enmity has intensified in recent months as world powers try to salvage Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal which, if successful, would lift harsh US sanctions on Iran.
The incident involving the Mercer Street took place days before Ebrahim Raisi is due to be inaugurated as Iran’s eighth president on Thursday. The hardline judge has promised to work to restore the accord, unilaterally abandoned by the US in 2018, but the fate of the deal is still unclear as several key issues remain unsolved.
A seventh and potentially final round of talks in Austria’s capital, Vienna, is expected to commence soon after Raisi assumes office.
Observers expect Iran and the US to be at odds over which sanctions should be lifted and how, and how Tehran needs to scale back its nuclear programme that has significantly expanded after the US abandonment of the nuclear deal.
Moscow, Aug 2,2021: Police have detained 21 people, including members of the military and law enforcement, as part of an investigation into the assassination attempt on Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, the country’s prosecutors say.
In July, Madagascar’s authorities announced that Rajoelina had survived an assassination attempt and that several foreigners, including two French nationals, as well as residents of Madagascar, were arrested.
On Sunday, Attorney General of Madagascar Bertin Razafiarivuni told reporters that a total of 21 individuals, including 12 gendarmes and active military personnel, have been detained as part of an investigation into the assassination attempt. Fourteen of those detained have been taken into custody.
According to Razafiarivuni, investigators found a document detailing a strategic plan to neutralize five political figures in Madagascar, including the president.
Moscow, Aug 2,2021:Tunisian Parliament Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, 80, who heads the Ennahda party, has been hospitalized, Mosaique FM reports.
Ghannouchi was taken to a military hospital on Sunday because his health deteriorated, the Tunisian radio station said without providing any further details.
Last week, Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed former national security adviser Ridha Gharsalloui as acting Interior Minister amid a political crisis in the country. The appointment came following mass anti-government protests that erupted in the capital of Tunis at the end of July.
Saied has already dismissed Prime Minister Hicham Mechichi and has frozen parliament for 30 days, suspending immunity for all lawmakers. The president said on July 25 that he was assuming executive authority with the assistance of a new prime minister, to be appointed later.
Last Monday, Ghannouchi’s moderate Islamist Ennahda party, the largest political party in the Tunisian parliament, said Saied’s move was unconstitutional and equal to a coup.