International Affairs

WASHINGTON - For the first time since his inauguration, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Tuesday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, expressing concerns about the arrest of dissident Alexei Navalny, Moscow’s cyber-espionage campaign and bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, two senior Biden administration officials said.

NEW DELHI - In an unusual diplomatic initiative, India has donated millions of doses of the British-developed AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine being produced in the country to neighboring South Asian nations.

Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has told Asian Cooperation Dialog (ACD) countries that Sri Lanka opened its borders to tourists after much consultation and preparation, while following best practices, and called on them to enable more knowledge-sharing to facilitate a collective recovery from the pandemic.

The European Union (EU) yesterday called on the Sri Lankan Government to notify its import restrictions to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) stressing that open and fair trade requires a level playing field, something which has not been the case as a result of the limits in place since April 2020.

The world is on the verge of reaching 100 million COVID-19 infections, according to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center statistics. More than 2 million people have died from the virus.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer pointed out specific issues that the criminal justice system in Sri Lanka needs to address in ensuring the protection of human rights while countering-terrorism.

UN Human Rights experts yesterday urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, saying it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country, and could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence.

The government will present its response to the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Wednesday January, 27 Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage told the Sunday Observer yesterday. The report will be published along with the response as customary ahead of the upcoming sessions of the UN Human Rights Council late February.

LONDON - There is some evidence that a new coronavirus variant first identified in southeast England carries a higher risk of death than the original strain, the British government's chief scientific adviser said Friday — though he stressed that the data is uncertain.

The Sri Lankan Government confirmed its intent on revisiting the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with a view to making the appropriate amendments, a joint statement by the Sri Lanka-EU said.

The rescheduled Tokyo Games may have to be held behind closed doors if they are to go ahead in Japan this year, athletics chief Lord Coe has admitted.

WASHINGTON - The top U.S. intelligence officer for North Korea warned Friday the country sees diplomacy only as a means to advance its nuclear weapons development, even as the new Biden administration says it will look for ways to bring Pyongyang back to talks.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for massive and speedy COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in both developed and developing countries, urging rich nations to make their excess doses available to poorer ones.

A newly formed political party in India, launched by a film star, has promised salaries to housewives if voted to power. A prominent MP welcomed the idea, saying it will "monetise the services of women homemakers, enhance their power and autonomy" and create a near-universal basic income.

While saying that Sri Lanka and the US enjoy longstanding relations and a close friendship, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a congratulatory message to US President Joseph R. Biden said Sri Lanka is committed to further strengthen and consolidate the multifaceted partnership with the United States, grounded in mutual respect, shared values and common interests.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the world to come together to fight the coronavirus pandemic and warned against a “new Cold War” in a speech Monday at the World Economic Forum, held virtually this year because of the pandemic.

Cash strapped Sri Lanka government is receiving the Netherlands assistance to implement its ambitious rural infrastructure development programme of building roads and bridges in remote villagers.

The leading infectious disease expert in the United States says the country will participate in the global initiative to provide COVID-19 vaccines to poor countries.