BEIJING, 29 April, 2021(TON): On Thursday, China launched the main module of its first permanent space station that will host astronauts long-term.

The Tianhe, or “Heavenly Harmony,” module blasted into space atop a Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Launch Center on the southern island province of Hainan.

The launch begins the first of 11 missions, necessary to construct and provision the station and send up a three-person crew by the end of next year.

The space program is a source of huge national pride, and Premier Li Keqiang and other top civilian and military leaders watched the launch live from the control center in Beijing.

The core module is the section of the station where astronauts will live for up to six months at a time. Another 10 launches will send up two more modules where crews will conduct experiments, four cargo supply shipments and four missions with crews.

However, China’s space program has also recently brought back the first new lunar samples in more than 40 years and expects to land a probe and rover on the surface of Mars later next month.

NEW DELHI, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland assured medical help to the government and its people facing heavy burden with the latest wave of infection.

Patricia said in a statement, “On behalf of the whole Commonwealth family, I want to express our deep concern and solidarity with the people and the government of India as your national agencies mobilize to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and as the latest wave of infection continues to spread so distressingly in your country."

She stated, "We are immensely grateful for the support provided by the government of India to small and vulnerable member countries of the Commonwealth earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was an immensely generous and practical response to this global emergency.”

"And as your country so compassionately acted to support others in their time of need your fellow Commonwealth nations and the institutions which serve them would wish to do all we can to reciprocate in that same spirit of mutual support."

"As such we stand ready to assist in any way that we can and have called a Commonwealth Secretariat rapid response meeting to consider what practical support the Commonwealth Secretariat and our member countries might offer together to be able to help you with your heavy burden,” she added.

However, as the world is facing havoc circumstances due to the pandemic, in terms of the death toll, India is fourth in the world, behind the US, Brazil and Mexico. The world is committed to support the Indian government and people of India in any way possible.

THIMPHU, 29 April, 2021 (TON): Vendors are likely to move out from 1 July this year, as the Centenary Farmers’ Market (CFM) board is submitting a proposal to decongest the area.

The agriculture ministry is planning to convert the CFM’s ground floor into an aggregation centre for local farm produce from the 20 dzongkhags.

The upper floor would be a zone market.

Agriculture Minister, Yeshey Penjor, said if the government approved the proposal before or after 1 July, CFM vendors had to move out.

He said, “Risk of local transmission at CFM is high. The market is also dominated by vendors and not farmers.”

Vendors questioned how they could move out without a formal notice and complained there was not enough space for them in vegetable markets in the zones.

The minister said, “From July 1, new fiscal year starts and if the proposal is approved, vendors will have to move out anytime we get budget during the fiscal year.”

However, a formal notice would be given to the vendors if the decision is formalized.

CFM is identified as a high-risk area during the pandemic. Moreover, with increasing urbanization, population density at the CFM increases the burden on the city’s infrastructure.

COLOMBO, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, a bilateral discussion between Sri Lanka and People’s Republic of China (PLA) on the sidelines of official visit of Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe was held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo.

Chinese Ambassador in Colombo, Qi Zhenhong, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage and Tri-Forces Commanders were also present at the respective sides of the discussion.

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) said, Sri Lankan delegation led by Defense Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) had a fruitful discussion with the visiting Chinese Delegation led by General Fenghe.

General Gunaratne said China had been a historical ally of Sri Lanka across a multitude of avenues including Buddhism, trade, infrastructure development and global connectivity.

General Fenghe while highlighting the existing military ties between two countries said, “We are looking forward to work together with Sri Lanka to enhance practical cooperation and to promote bilateral relations to a greater extent.”

Afterwards, General Fenghe launched the official website of the Chinese National Defense University Alumni Association of Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Defense Secretary and the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs and the Chairman and founding member of the Alumni Association Maj. Gen. Vijitha Ravipriya (Retd).

Nevertheless, fficial signing of Military Assistance Protocol was also held between two countries on the sidelines of official visit by High Ranking Chinese Defense Delegation.

WASHINGTON, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Turkey and all U.S. allies to refrain from making further purchases of Russian weaponry.

The U.S.-Turkey row starts from various issues, including Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems that was the target of U.S. sanctions, policy differences over Syria, human rights and a U.S. court case targeting Turkey’s Halkbank.

Blinken said at a virtual event, “It’s also very important going forward that Turkey, and for that matter all US allies and partners, avoid future purchases of Russian weaponry, including additional S-400s.”

While referring to the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act, he said, “Any significant transactions with Russian defense entities, again, could be subject to the law, to CAATSA, and that’s separate from and in addition to the sanctions that have already been imposed.”

However, he highlighted CAATSA is designed to dissuade countries from buying military equipment from the NATO foe.

BRUSSELS, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the European Union leaders, their British counterparts and European businesses expressed hope that the final ratification of the post-Brexit trade deal will open a new, positive era of cooperation.

U.K. Prime minister Boris Johnson said after the European lawmakers overwhelmingly ratified the agreement ensuring that free trade continues between the two sides without tariffs and quotas, that the vote marked the “final step in a long journey, providing stability to our new relationship with the EU as vital trading partners, close allies and sovereign equals."

Relations between the EU and the U.K. have been strained since a Brexit transition period ended on 1 January.

The two sides have argued so far this year over issues ranging from violations of the so-called Northern Ireland protocol, COVID-19 vaccine supplies to the full diplomatic recognition of the EU in Britain.

However, the EU lawmakers approved the final ratification of the deal nearly five years after Britain decided to leave the bloc. The deal, which was finalized on Christmas Eve, had already been ratified by the U.K. Parliament and conditionally came into force pending the European Parliament’s approval, which marks the final legal hurdle.

ISLAMABAD/BEIJING, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Chinese and Pakistani officials and businessmen discussed ways to advance business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking in textile industry.

During a webinar, Khashih ur Rehman, executive director general of Pakistan's Board of Investment (BOI), said that the event will help in advancing B2B ties under CPEC industrial cooperation.

He said, "To facilitate B2B matchmaking, the BOI is working on the development of an online B2B portal which will assist potential domestic and foreign investors and serve as a one-stop database of available public and private sector investment projects.”

The CPEC industrial cooperation textile B2B webinar was co-organized by BOI, China Council for International Investment Promotion (CCIIP) and China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC). It was attended by senior officials and textile entrepreneurs from Pakistan and China.

While appreciating the overwhelming support from the CNTAC and China's Ministry of Commerce, Secretary of BOI Fareena Mazhar called for enhanced B2B matchmaking between the Pakistani and Chinese textile enterprises.

However, the Project Director of the Project Management Unit of the BOI Asim Ayub viewed the B2B joint ventures as intrinsic to the success of CPEC and the special economic zones, saying, the BOI will extend full support to Chinese investors for successful materialization of their projects in Pakistan.

WASHINGTON, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cautioned Africa to beware of China's growing role as he vowed a greater U.S. commitment in talks with Nigeria and Kenya.

The top U.S. diplomat was holding talks with the two nations' leaders and "touring" sites including a U.S.-funded mobile hospital and renewable energy project.

The virtual meeting was in response to the Chinese foreign minister's five-nation visit of Africa at the start of the year. Wang Yi visited Nigeria, the DRC, Tanzania, Botswana, and Seychelles.

Responding to questions from young Africans who have studied in the United States, Blinken said he hoped that African nations approach all their relationships with your eyes wide open.

Blinken said, "We're not asking anyone to choose between the United States or China, but I would encourage you to ask those tough questions, to dig beneath the surface, to demand transparency and to make informed choices about what is best for you and your countries.”

However, the United States has increasingly had a competitive relationship with China, which has ramped up investment in Africa with a focus on natural resources and without any of the Western pretenses of advancing democratic values.

CAIRO, 28 April, 2021 (TON): The Egyptian archaeologists working on the Nile Delta have uncovered dozens of rare pre-dynastic tombs.

 The tombs are about 5,000 ago, dated to the period before Egypt’s Pharaonic kingdoms first emerged.
They also found tombs nearby from the later Hyksos period (1650 to 1500 B.C.), when Western Asian migrants took over the country.

The ecologists said, the findings in the Dakahlia province north of Cairo could shed light on two important transitional periods in ancient Egypt.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the tombs include 68 from the Buto period that began around 3300 B.C. and five from the Naqada III period, which was just before the emergence of Egypt’s first dynasty around 3100 B.C.

However, according to the official statement, the mission also found a group of ovens, stoves, remnants of mud brick foundations, pottery vessels and amulets, especially scarabs, some of which were made of semi-precious stones and jewelry such as earrings.

NAYPYITAW, 28 April, 2021 (TON): Myanmar’s pro-democracy unity government claims to withdraw the talks until the junta releases all political prisoners.

The unity government that includes members of parliament ousted by the military coup said it to the Southeast Asia's regional bloc.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been trying to find a path for Myanmar out of a bloody crisis triggered by the 1 February coup and has called for an end to violence and talks between all sides.

But the junta has already declined to accept proposals to resolve the crisis that emerged from an ASEAN summit last weekend that was attended by Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, but no-one from the civilian side.

"Before any constructive dialogue can take place, however, there must be an unconditional release of political prisoners including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," the NUG prime minister, Minister Mahn Winn Khaing Thann, said in a statement.

Win Myint and Suu Kyi have been detained since the coup, which the military launched as Suu Kyi's government was preparing for a second term after sweeping a November election.

However, the military said it had to seize power because its complaints of fraud in the election were not being addressed by an election commission that deemed the vote fair.