DAY 37 OF THE WAR
🇷🇺 WHAT: Russia has alleged that an air strike at an oil depot in Belgorod (35 kms inside Russian territory) was carried out by two Ukrainian military helicopters.
🇺🇦 UKRAINE SAYS it can “neither confirm nor reject the claim that Ukraine was involved”.
📌 FYI: If confirmed, this will be the first known attack by Ukraine on Russian soil since the war began in late February.
❗️IN MARIUPOL, Ukraine alleged that Russia was blocking evacuation buses trying to get trapped civilians out of the city and stopping aid workers from carrying aid into the city—a day after it said it would allow for a temporary ceasefire for evacuations.
🕊 PEACE?: After Russia said it would reduce military operations around Chernihiv and Kyiv a few days ago, it proceeded to bomb those two areas.
📄 In the last 24 hours, intelligence officials at NATO, US and UK have said Russia is not withdrawing but regrouping, and will likely to increase the force of attacks in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region in the days to come.
💻 Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to restart today by video.
TO TRADE OR NOT
📌 Russia’s Finance Minister Sergey Lavrov is in India to discuss a host of things, including its war on Ukraine and trade with India at a time when Kremlin has became an international pariah.
🇷🇺 “We do not fight anything and we appreciated that India is taking this situation in the entirety of effect and not just one-sided way…We are ready to supply whatever India wants to buy from Russia.”—Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
📌India is feeling the pressure for continuing to trade with Russia after it attacked Ukraine—often at heavily discounted prices.
🇮🇳 “When oil prices go up, I think it’s natural for countries to go out into the market and look for what are good deals for them. But I am pretty sure if we wait two or three months and actually look at who are the big buyers of Russian gas and oil, I suspect the list won’t be very different from what it used to be. And I suspect we won’t be at the top 10 of that list.”—India Foreign Minister S Jaishankar
🇺🇸 Among the many sanctions imposed on Russia by the US (and Europe), one is a ban on SWIFT, a payment system used globally by banks. Reports suggest India is considering opting in for an alternative built by Russia so business isn’t hit.
🇺🇸 “… Yes, there are consequences to countries that actively attempt to circumvent or backfill these sanctions…No one should kid themselves – Russia is going to be the junior partner in this relationship with China. And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India. I don’t think anyone would believe that if China once again breached the Line of Actual Control, Russia would come running in India’s defence.”—US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh on New Delhi
WINNING A DECADES-LONG FIGHT
✊🏽 ON THE RECORD: "This is a really good moment for an activist like me. I’m happy to see the mainland politicians in Parliament are willing to do something different. The decision to repeal* an outdated and colonial law AFSPA] seems a real sign of democracy to me... It’s a new beginning and a result of the decades-long fight."
*AFSPA has not been repealed, it's footprint reduced with the government's latest move
🥧 SAYS WHO: Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila, who ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act [AFSPA], to join politics in 2017, in an interview to Hindustan Times
📣 CONTEXT: The government has decided to reduce the number of 'disturbed' areas in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur under AFSPA starting April 1, 2022—after decades of the law reigning supreme in these states.
👉 WHAT NEXT: "The first step has been taken, and I want AFSPA to be abolished permanently from the entire North-East. The victims, who have lost their loved ones and those who have personally suffered because of this law, should be compensated...Without AFSPA, there will be no fear and life will be more normal and better."—Sharmila to HT
PUSHING BACK
👉 WHAT: The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution seeking the immediate transfer of Chandigarh to the state, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the Centre of trying to "upset the balance" in administering the Union Territory.
📣 WHY: Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah's announced that central service rules will now apply to all Chandigarh administration employees.
▪️ For instance, now, membership to the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) will be open to officers of all states and central government, whereas earlier they were traditionally filled up by officers from Punjab and Haryana.
❗️WHO: Except the BJP, all political parties in Punjab including the AAP, Congress, SAD and BSP are against this—and voted in favor of the resolution today.
🗯 CM Mann said the Centre's decision was against the spirit of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and that he would fight back for what is rightfully Punjab's.
🤝 WHAT NOW: Mann intends to meet the president, the prime minister and the home minister over this issue.
A PATTERN DOWN SOUTH
FIRST CAME THE HIJAB BAN, THEN...
🍗 Karnataka: In the last 48 hours, Bajrang Dal workers have assaulted and harassed a hotel workers, a hotelier, and a customer—demanding the sale of halal meat only. In Bengaluru, leaders have gone around distributing pamphlets, urging people not to buy halal meat.
🛕 Karnataka: Last week, temples across the state put restrictions on businessmen from the Muslim community, denying them permission to set up stalls on shrine premises or at temple fairs.
📿 Kerala: In the last week, two Bharatanatyam dancers have been barred from performing at the Koodalmanikayam Temple in Thrissur—on grounds that they did not identify as Hindus. Two other dancers set to perform have now quit in protest.
AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE SRI LANKAN CRISIS
🎥 Well-known Sri Lankan lawyer and activist Bhavani Fonseka spoke to us about the politics, policies and power dynamics that led to the current situation—the worst economic crisis in Sri Lanka's independent history with a critical shortage of everything from food to fuel. Watch the video on Youtube—it's insightful and 100% worthy of your attention.
#NEWSWORTHY SNIPPETS
The World Health Organization will release its estimates of excess deaths caused by Covid-19 in early April, and India is already jittery. Sources told Devex that India has criticised the WHO's estimate of deaths, which is reportedly four times the official figure. The Indian government also reportedly asked the WHO to publish the data “10 years later.”
Telangana has made it optional for citizens to wear a mask except for those aged above 60 years, a day after Delhi, Maharashtra and West Bengal also eased Covid-19 restrictions.
The BJP won one Rajya Sabha seat each in Assam, Tripura and Nagaland in the elections held yesterday. With this, the part has 100 members in upper house for the first time ever.
#ARTTHERAPY
A REMINDER TO NOT HUSTLE THE WEEKEND AWAY
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