Category Archives: News

• Global freedom watchdog report downgrades India from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’ 4 March 2021 | Karishma Mehrotra 4 comments

  Washington-based noted think tank Freedom House has demoted India’s freedom score from “free” to “partly free”, saying rights and civil liberties “have been eroding since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014”. ...

• US-China tensions threaten global climate change efforts 4 March 2021 | Christina Larson and Ellen Knickmeyer no comments

  The world’s hopes for curbing climate change hinge on action by two giant nations whose relations are deteriorating: China and the United States. The two countries both say they are intent on retooling their economies to burn less coal, oil ...

• Coronavirus: Gyuto Monastery out of bounds after 150 monks test positive 4 March 2021 | Tibet Sun Online News 4 comments

  As many as 153 monks at Gyuto Monastery in Sidhbari near Dharamshala have tested positive for coronavirus since the last week of February. The outbreak started after Losar, the Tibetan New Year, on 13 February. ...

• Myanmar security forces kill at least 33 protesters 3 March 2021 no comments

  At least 33 protesters were killed by Myanmar security forces on Wednesday, the highest number since a 1 February military coup, according to a compilation of local reports, as authorities extended their lethal crackdown. ...

• China says door to Xinjiang ‘always open’, but UN rights boss should not prejudge 2 March 2021 | Stephanie Nebehay one comment

  China said on Tuesday that it was discussing a visit to its Xinjiang region by United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, but that she should not set out with the aim of condemning its policies. ...

• Indian PM Modi takes Covid-19 vaccine shot at AIIMS in Delhi 1 March 2021 no comments

  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was vaccinated against Covid-19 Monday, but a glitch in an online booking system meant thousands were turned away from hospitals across the country. ...

• Foreign journalists in China see rapid decline in media freedom 1 March 2021 | Reuters Staff one comment

  China used coronavirus prevention measures, intimidation and visa curbs to limit foreign reporting in 2020, ushering in a “rapid decline in media freedom,” the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China said on Monday. ...

• Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents charged with security crime 28 February 2021 | Jerome Taylor and Su Xinqi one comment

  Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents were charged with subversion on Sunday in the largest use yet of Beijing's sweeping new national security law, as authorities seek to cripple the finance hub's democracy movement. ...

• US House clears Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid plan, heads to Senate 27 February 2021 | Michael Mathes no comments

  The US House passed an enormous, $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package early Saturday, hailed by Democrats as a critical step in funneling new funding toward vaccinations, overburdened local governments, and millions of families. ...

• Myanmar police launch most extensive crackdown; hundreds arrested 27 February 2021 | Reuters Staff no comments

  Police in Myanmar launched their most sweeping crackdown in three weeks of nationwide protests against military rule on Saturday, arresting hundreds of people and shooting and wounding at least one person. ...