World

Canberra, March 15 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday reiterated strong and steadfast support for Ukraine, stating that the country will stand for Ukraine as long as it takes as it is in their national interest. Albanese joined a 'Coalition of Willing' virtual meeting hosted by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders from Europe, Canada, and New Zealand.

Following the meeting, Albanese issued an official statement, asserting that the leaders agreed to continue working on delivering concrete actions to support Ukraine, now and into the future. He stated that Australia stands with Ukraine because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for the Indo-Pacific and vice versa. He referred to this as a struggle not just for Ukraine and its national sovereignty but for the international rule of law.

Australia further extended support towards all meaningful progress for a just and enduring peace in Ukraine and broader security in Europe. Albanese stated that pressure will need to be applied on Russia to engage in good faith. Australia is always open to considering any new proposals to support Ukraine based on Australia's capacity and comparative strengths, he said.

"Australia has committed 1.5 billion dollars to help Ukraine defend itself, including 1.3 billion dollars in military support and through vital equipment and training of Ukrainian forces. Australia is open to considering any requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort in support of just and lasting peace we all want for Ukraine. We have a proud tradition of supporting peace through eighty years of contribution to international peacekeeping missions. Of course, peacekeeping missions by definition require a precondition of peace," Albanese stated.

Albanese's signal of openness to support Ukraine has created a bipartisan fissure in the country. Addressing reporters on Friday, Opposition leader and Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections in Australia, Peter Dutton said that Australia should not be involved, accusing PM Albanese of "shooting from the hip".

"It just doesn't make any sense. Our job is to take care of our country and make sure we are safe in our region. We have supported Ukraine from day one. But not with troops on the ground. This was a thought bubble by the Prime Minister,” Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported Dutton as saying.

Recently, the Russian Embassy in Canberra had also warned of "grave consequences" if Australia joined a "coalition of the willing" proposed by the United Kingdom and France to guarantee Ukraine's security in the event of a peace deal. "Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers. To those inclined to construe the above as a threat: it is not; it is a warning. Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the special military operation," the Russian Embassy in Canberra stated.

--IANS

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Taipei, March 15 (IANS) Pledging to work towards upholding the free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday welcomed and appreciated the Group of 7 (G7) Foreign Ministers' communique that reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"Taiwan sincerely appreciates the G7 Foreign Ministers for reaffirming the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations. We stand ready to work with G7 and like-minded partners to uphold a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific," Taiwan's Foreign Affairs minister posted on X.

Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, met in Charlevoix, Quebec, from March 12 to 14.

The Joint Statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Charlevoix emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

"We encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and reiterated our opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. We also expressed support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in appropriate international organisations," read the statement.

The Foreign Ministers of G7 reiterated their commitment to upholding a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, fundamental freedoms and human rights. They also condemned China's "militarisation and coercion" and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in particular by force and coercion.

Commenting on the joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the G7 Foreign Ministers' declaration on maritime security and prosperity, the Chinese Embassy in Canada also issued a statement on Friday.

The spokesperson of the embassy stated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference. "The key to upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits lies in abiding by the one-China principle, and firmly opposing Taiwan independence. The Taiwan region's participation in the activities of international organisations must and can only be handled in line with the one-China principle," the spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, Taiwan’s President William Lai had labelled China a "foreign hostile force" and ramped up national security measures in the face of growing threats and a string of spying cases.

In recent years, Beijing has increased military exercises in the Taiwan Strait to intensify pressure on Taiwan. Beijing opposes any kind of patrolling in the Taiwan Strait and perceives it as a security threat. Meanwhile, the US and its allies consider the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway and routinely send warships through the strait, asserting their influence in the Indo-Pacific region and countering the growing influence of China.

--IANS

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Dhaka, March 15 (IANS) As many as eight student organisations - demanding removal of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor in the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, for prevailing lawlessness in the country - called off their planned march in Dhaka on Saturday amid threats and intimidation, local media reported.

Highlighting the prevailing lawlessness in the country, the student bodies had announced a "mass procession" for Saturday to demand justice for victims of murders, rapes and harassment.

However, they were called off amid threats and instead a brief rally was held.

"Every murder committed under this interim government must be accounted for. Our fight will intensify in the coming days," Bangladesh Students' Union President Mahir Shahriar Reza was quoted as saying by BDNews24.

Tensions rose as an anti-Awami League activist called for turning the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) office in Dhaka into the "headquarters of the revolutionary student-people's uprising" as a counter to a mass rally organised by eight organisations.

The law enforcement agencies were later stationed around the CPB office amid threats.

The CPB leaders later gathered in front of the office to deliver speeches condemning rape and violence against women.

"The brutal abuse of the child in Magura has left a stain on the entire nation. Law and order has deteriorated to the point where the government cannot control it. Incidents are happening one after another," the Bangladeshi media outlet quoted CPB President Shah Alam as saying.

Several political parties and students are calling out the interim government for failing to curb gender-based violence as the protest against the death of Magura rape victim intensifies.

Earlier this week, several student organisations staged a torch procession at Dhaka University demanding justice for the growing incidents of rape across the country, the removal of the Home Affairs Advisor, and justice for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old child in Magura.

During the procession, protesters chanted slogans such as "We must fight to survive", "Stop killings, rapes, and harassment, rise up, Bangladesh", "Where there is murder and rape, there will be resistance", among others.

"Today an eight-year-old child has died after falling victim to rape. We will not betray her. We will not stop until we ensure the resignation of this Home Affairs Advisor. A Home Affairs Advisor who cannot provide security to the people of this country has no reason to remain in office," said a student leader.

Earlier, radical outfits and banned terrorist organisations have taken out rallies defying rules and regulation, spotlighting the panic that has gripped the country since Yunus-led interim government came to power in August 2024.

--IANS

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Ottawa, March 15 (IANS) Mark Carney was sworn in as the new Prime Minister here on Friday, formally replacing Justin Trudeau, the media reported.

Carney, who is also an economist, took the oath of the office in the presence of General Mary Simon, the personal representative of Canada's head of state, King Charles.

According to geopolitical analysts, the change of leadership assumes significance in the backdrop of a slide in relations with the US under the new Donald Trump-led administration.

The 59-year-old Carney is a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England.

According to reports, he took the oath in both English and French.

Carney has left behind others who were in the race to become leader of the ruling Liberal Party, despite not having enough political experience.

Carney's background, however, boasts of dealing with complex economic crises.

Analysts believe that his first major challenge will be addressing the strained US-Canada relations, which is believed to have hit an all-time low.

Carney reportedly plans to reshape his Cabinet, with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc shifting to the international trade portfolio and Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne taking over as Foreign Minister.

The move would aim to bolster Canada's alliances in Europe, particularly in London and Paris, where Carney is scheduled to visit next week.

Notably, Carney has replaced Justin Trudeau, who served as Canadian Prime Minister for more than nine years.

In a statement, Carney emphasised his commitment to defending Canadian sovereignty, saying he would only meet with Trump "when there is respect for Canadian sovereignty," according to reports.

Reports citing Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly suggested that efforts are currently underway to arrange a call between Trump and Carney.

--IANS

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Rawalpindi, March 14 (IANS) Pakistan has tightened security around an Afghan refugee detention centre in Rawalpindi even as the operation to detain Afghan refugees in the country continues. The Pakistani government has set a deadline of March 31 for Afghans with legal documents to voluntarily leave the country while the process of detaining Afghan refugees in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has been underway, local media reported.

The Afghans who are being detained in Rawalpindi are held at a camp near Golra Mor. The Rawalpindi Police have rounded up about 820 Afghan nationals from different parts of the garrison city over the past week and deported 114 so far. 140 Afghan nationals are still detained at the camp under tight security due to a lull in deportations. It has been learned that due to the closure of the border for the past few days, the process of deporting Afghans has also stopped, reported Pakistan's leading Newspaper Dawn on Friday, quoting sources.

The refugees have been asked to leave Pakistan before March 31, which has been set as the deadline to leave Pakistan voluntarily. In case if any illegal foreigner was found in the district, he/she would be rounded up and deported back to their home countries. "Yes, all Afghans who are legal will be relocated from Rawalpindi-Islamabad after the deadline," the newspaper quoted one official as saying.

Last week, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Refugees in Pakistan, an advocacy group based in Karachi and Islamabad working for the rights of Afghan Refugees, released a statement demanding an end to arrests, illegal detention, and harassment of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

JAC alleged that directions were made to police stations in Pakistan to arrest all refugees, despite the Pakistan Government’s deadline of March 31 and regardless of whether they possess a Proof of Registration (PoR), an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), or a valid visa. JAC for Refugees condemned this action as a gross violation of fundamental rights.

Earlier this month, a coalition of human rights organisations and refugee advocacy groups wrote an open letter to the Pakistani government asking it to immediately halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.

"The situation of Afghan refugees in host countries, especially Pakistan, is extremely concerning. The current Afghan government, the United Nations, and international aid organisations must address the conditions of Afghan refugees in these countries," said Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a refugee rights activist.

Several incidents have been reported in Afghan media earlier that highlight plight of the Afghan migrants, including hundreds of women and children, as they are being arrested by police in various Pakistani cities and forcibly deported. Fleeing from war and conflict in their country, migrants from Afghanistan have been taking refuge in Pakistan for decades now. Afghan media has reported that refugees who are either expelled or forcibly deported have faced severe abuse and harassment, especially in Pakistan.

--IANS

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Moscow, March 14 (IANS) The integration process between Belarus and Russia must become irreversible, visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Friday.

Lukashenko called the integration a "historic mission" that "will be accomplished with dignity" as he addressed the Russian Federation Council, the upper house of parliament.

He noted that Russia and Belarus could form a single parliament if both countries were prepared.

While discussing the possibility of Belarus becoming part of Russia, Lukashenko said such a move was "unlikely to happen in the near future."

"We must proceed calmly, step by step ... as we are doing now," he added, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, where they discussed bilateral ties and prospects for integration within the Union State, among other issues.

Earlier, Lukashenko had said that he supported the idea of building a plant to produce Russian drones in Belarus.

Visiting BelExpo National Exhibition Centre last week, where Russian UAVs for monitoring terrain and agriculture, and cargo drones were exhibited, Lukashenko praised Russian specialists for the results achieved in the development and production of drones.

The Belarusian leader said that Russia demonstrates good results in developing and producing UAVs.

At the exhibition, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of Russia, Maxim Oreshkin, said the Russian side is proposing that Belarus build an enterprise that could produce up to 100,000 drones annually.

In February, the Belarusian Central Election Commission had officially declared Lukashenko as the winner in the latest presidential elections with 86.82 per cent of the votes.

The presidential elections were held in Belarus on January 26. The turnout was 85.69 per cent.

Under Belarusian law, a presidential candidate who secures more than 50 per cent of the vote is declared the winner.

Lukashenko was first elected President of Belarus in 1994. He was later re-elected in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2015 and 2020.

--IANS

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Oslo, March 14 (IANS) Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen on Friday dismissed speculation that Greenland might become part of the United States, following remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting a potential US annexation of the island.

Speaking about the recent election in Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Rasmussen said that it would be incorrect to interpret the results as a sign of imminent independence or any intention to join the United States.

"If I read the Greenlandic election correctly, I believe that Greenland will remain part of the Danish Commonwealth for quite some time," Rasmussen said. "This is a Commonwealth that needs to be renewed and modernized, and I hope we will work together to strengthen the Greenlandic economy even further."

He also dismissed any suggestion that Greenlanders wished to abandon their ties with Denmark. "I do not see any indication from the Greenlandic election that there is a desire to leave the Commonwealth in favour of becoming American," he said.

Trump, speaking on Thursday during a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, claimed that he believed the United States would eventually annex Greenland, calling Denmark "very far away" from the territory despite its status as an autonomous region within the Danish Kingdom.

In response, Rutte distanced himself from the issue, stating that discussions regarding Greenland's status fell outside his purview and that NATO should not be involved, Xinhua news agency reported.

Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defence policy.

--IANS

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Jerusalem, March 14 (IANS) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will maintain its presence at five strategic locations in southern Lebanon "indefinitely," regardless of ongoing negotiations over 13 disputed border points.

During a security assessment on Thursday with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials, Katz emphasised that the IDF will continue to hold these five positions, which control the buffer zone in Lebanon, as a measure to safeguard northern Israeli communities.

"This decision is entirely independent of any future negotiations concerning disputed border points," his office stated in an announcement, adding that Katz has instructed the IDF to reinforce its positions at these strategic sites and prepare for an extended deployment.

Since November 27, 2024, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon has been in effect, bringing an end to prolonged clashes between Hezbollah and Israel triggered by the Gaza war.

Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel has agreed to release five Lebanese nationals held in Israeli jails, following quadrilateral talks involving Israeli, Lebanese, French, and US officials.

The meeting took place on Tuesday in Naqoura, Lebanon.

Officials agreed to establish three joint working groups "aimed at stabilizing the region." The groups will discuss disputes over the Blue Line, the UN-recognised land border between Israel and Lebanon; disputes over five locations in Lebanon where Israeli troops remain despite a November 2024 ceasefire requiring a full withdrawal; and Lebanese detainees held by Israel.

No details were provided in the statement concerning the identities of the five detainees.

Israel's Army Radio reported that the five, who were held in Israel for several months, would be transferred to Lebanon via the Red Cross later on Tuesday, following US-mediated negotiations.

Lebanese media said that Israel will release four civilians and a Hezbollah member, while Lebanon has committed to negotiating with Israel regarding the 13 contested border locations.

--IANS

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Lahore, March 13 (IANS) Pakistan's flag carrier airline PIA (Pakistan International Airline) domestic flight landed in Lahore on Thursday without one of its wheels, leaving authorities shocked on what seemed like a major blunder on part of the flight management.

PIA flight PK306 had left from Karachi enroute to Lahore.

Upon landing at the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, it was discovered that the one of the tyres of the plane was missing.

"The issue was discovered during an inspection following the flight's landing at the airport," said a PIA spokesperson.

The interesting part of the whole episode is that despite the fact that more than 14 hours have passed since the flight landed in Lahore, there is no trace of the missing tyre as it has not been found yet.

Authorities at the Karachi International Airport have confirmed that the tyre was present when the plane took off from Karachi.

It was also maintained that the plane made a normal landing at the Lahore airport.

An investigation has been launched into the incident as authorities probe into how the tyre went missing.

Initial findings have revealed that the tyre shaft was found at the Karachi airport, after Lahore's Air Traffic Control (ATC) sent out a notification on the matter.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) maintains that preliminary observations indicate towards a possible external object strike on the plane's tyre at the runway of the Karachi airport.

"While the final report will reveal the cause of the incident, initial findings indicate that the wheel might have been impacted due to a fault on the runway of some other external factor," said the PIA spokesperson, adding that an immediate investigation has been launched by the PIA Safety Department and the CAA.

--IANS

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Tokyo, March 13 (IANS) Millions of people in Japan are reported to be addicted to online gambling, with the amount of money spent on illegal gambling reaching 1.2 trillion yen annually, a police survey revealed on Thursday.

According to the report of Japan's National Police Agency, about 3.37 million people in Japan are estimated to have used overseas online casinos despite the ban in the country. The findings of its first study are released following recent cases involving athletes and celebrities, amid a lack of public awareness about its illegality, local media reported

Some 40 per cent of the users were unaware online casinos are illegal, the survey by the National Police Agency showed. "There is a possibility that a lack of awareness about illegality encourages people to use online casinos," an NPA official said, leading Japanese daily, The Japan Times reported

The survey, commissioned by police and conducted by a research firm, covered around 27,145 people aged 15 to 79 nationwide between July and January. It found that 3.5 percent of respondents had gambled at virtual casinos. The 3.5 percent equates to about 3.37 million people nationwide, with an estimated 1.97 million still gambling online illegally, the survey said, Japanese media outlet Kyodo News reported

The average amount bet monthly by 500 people who gambled online was 52,000 yen, or about 350 dollars. The total amount bet annually by users nationwide was estimated to be about 1.24 trillion yen, or about 8.4 billion dollars.

A separate NPA survey of 40 overseas online casino sites believed to target Japanese users, conducted between August last year and January this year, showed that only two of them clearly state that participation from Japan is prohibited. Eight sites were available only in Japanese.

Among the 40 sites, the NPA found that for 20 sites, over 90 per cent of users accessing them were in Japan. "They are clearly targeting people in Japan," Japan Times quoted a senior NPA official as saying.

Japan is known for its workaholic people, but a section of the population is becoming addicted to gambling. In 2024, Japanese police accused 279 people of using online casinos, with many unaware that internet gambling is illegal.

--IANS

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