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European Parliament Launches 'Friends of Tibet' to Campaign Tibetan Rights and Cultural Preservation
Rtv News
01 Feb 2025, 19:14
Photo: CTA
The European Parliament officially launched the Friends of Tibet group, spearheaded by MEP Professor Dainius Zalimas with support from over 20 lawmakers across major political groups in Brussels on Monday.
The launch ceremony saw participation from seven lawmakers and parliamentary assistants representing approximately twelve EU member states. Prof. Zalimas, a Lithuanian MEP and long-time Tibet supporter, outlined the group's mission, emphasising their dedication to highlighting Tibetan rights issues on the international stage.
"The establishment of the European Parliamentary Friends of Tibet marks a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to support the Tibetan cause," Prof. Zalimas declared during the launch. "We are united in our commitment to advocating for the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people and ensuring their voices are heard in the European Parliament."
The initiative builds upon the European Parliament’s robust history of engagement with Tibetan issues, including more than 50 Tibet-related resolutions passed over three decades. Most recently, in December 2023, the Parliament called on China to end its controversial boarding school system in Tibet.
The launch follows several significant advocacy events in 2024, including the EU4Tibet campaign, which secured pledges from over 100 European election candidates to support Tibetan causes facilitated by entities such as the Tibet Interest Group in the European Parliament, alongside the Offices of Tibet in Brussels, Geneva, and London, as well as the International Campaign for Tibet in Europe and the International Tibet Network. Additionally, a four-day advocacy program in September 2024, organised by the International Campaign for Tibet, brought together activists from six European countries who met with 15 MEPs to discuss Tibet-related policies.
In response to the launch, Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, expressed gratitude in a letter to Professor Zalimas. "This initiative marks a momentous step forward to serve as a strong and influential voice within the European Parliament," the Deputy Speaker wrote, highlighting the group’s potential role in advancing Tibet’s non-violent struggle through the Middle Way Policy.
The formation of this group builds upon the European Parliament’s history of Tibet advocacy, having passed more than 50 Tibet-related resolutions over three decades. Most recently, in December 2023, the Parliament called on China to terminate its boarding school system in Tibet.
The European Parliament’s engagement with Tibet dates back to 1988 when it became the first European parliament to host His Holiness the Dalai Lama for an address to its plenary session, during which he presented the Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet.
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Gold Prices Surge to Two-Week High, Reasons Revealed
Gold prices have climbed to their highest levels in two weeks, with spot gold rising 1% on Thursday, January 2, to $2,649.73 per ounce, the highest since December 18. US gold futures also advanced by 0.8% to $2,663.20 per ounce, according to reports from Khaleej Times.
Market experts attribute this rally to heightened demand for gold as a safe-haven investment amid declining US Treasury bond prices. The Federal Reserve's dovish stance on interest rates and concerns surrounding new tariff policies under President Donald Trump's administration have further supported the upward momentum.
The falling value of US 10-year Treasury bonds has enhanced gold’s appeal to investors, as gold, unlike bonds, does not yield interest income.
Economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions have also played a significant role in driving demand for the precious metal. In 2024, factors such as central bank gold purchases, reduced interest rates, and global tensions fueled a 27% annual surge in gold prices, reaching record highs.
Analysts predict that, after early-year profit-taking, gold prices will continue their upward trajectory, potentially reaching $3,000 per ounce by 2025.
Other precious metals have also experienced gains. Silver prices jumped 2.1% to $29.48 per ounce, while platinum and palladium rose 2.1% and 1.3%, trading at $922.85 and $922.40 per ounce, respectively.
The ongoing trend underscores the growing appeal of precious metals as reliable assets during times of financial and political uncertainty.
Thousands Evacuate over Volcanic Eruption Fears in Ethiopia
Authorities have begun to evacuate residents in northeastern Ethiopia after a volcano showed signs of potentially dangerous activity , officials said Friday.
Civilians from the Afar region were relocated to temporary shelters, according to the state-owned Fana Broadcasting, which quoted a regional administrator in the area.
Shiferaw Teklemariam, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission, said it was premature to describe the activity as an eruption, adding that authorities were exercising caution.
"The community; some are already leaving those areas. We are also preparing to do it in a well-organized manner. It [moving the community] will be done based on predictions," he told Reuters.
Officials warn of possible volcanic eruption
The Ethiopian Geological Institute shared a video on its Facebook page showing what appeared to be dust and smoke rising from the long-dormant volcano of Mount Dofen.
However, not all triggers of volcanic activity lead to full-blown eruptions.
Region prone to earthquakes and tremors
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake, which occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles), hit Ethiopia on Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey and the German Research Center for Geosciences.
The same area also saw a magnitude 5.5 quake on Friday, said the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center.
Dozens of earthquakes and tremors have been recorded in the area in recent months.
Gifted Flat Sparks Controversy: / Tulip Siddiq Under Scrutiny Over London Property
Tulip Siddiq, a minister in the UK’s ruling Labour Party, received a free flat in London from a businessman reportedly connected to individuals close to her aunt Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, in Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina is the ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
On Friday, January 3, Financial Times published a report based on information from UK land registration documents.
Tulip Siddiq currently serves as the Economic Secretary to the UK Treasury, tasked with combating corruption in the financial sector. She is the daughter of Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina, the president of Bangladesh’s Awami League.
According to the UK land registry, the flat in question is located near King’s Cross in London and was gifted to Siddiq in 2004. The property was purchased in 2001 for £195,000 (approximately 29.4 million Bangladeshi Taka at the current exchange rate). While the current value of the flat is not specified, a similar property in the same building sold for £650,000 (approximately 97.9 million Bangladeshi Taka) in August last year.
An individual familiar with the matter told Financial Times that the flat's owner, property businessman Abdul Motalef, gifted the property to Siddiq as a token of gratitude for financial support provided by her parents during his time of need.
Abdul Motalef now resides in southeast London. According to voter registration records, another individual named Mujibul Islam resides at Motalef’s address. Mujibul’s father served as a Member of Parliament for Bangladesh’s Awami League from 2014 to 2024.
Motalef admitted to Financial Times that he had purchased the King’s Cross flat but declined to comment on what happened to it afterward.
A spokesperson for Tulip Siddiq dismissed claims linking the Awami League to the flat as "false."
Previously, Tulip Siddiq was questioned by UK Cabinet Office officials over allegations that £400 million was embezzled from Bangladesh’s nuclear power project. Siddiq has denied these allegations.
India Strengthens Border Security, Establishes New Floating Outposts
India has unexpectedly heightened security along its international border with Bangladesh. Specifically, the Border Security Force (BSF) has set up new floating border outposts on rivers crossing the border, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and the Sundarbans.
This information was reported by the British English daily The Telegraph on Saturday, January 4.
According to the report, India reinforced border security following a threat by an advisor to Bangladesh's interim government to connect India's northeastern part with Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had issued a "strong protest" over this comment made in mid-December. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on December 20 that a formal protest was lodged with Dhaka regarding the issue.
During a weekly press briefing in Delhi, Randhir Jaiswal reminded Bangladeshi leaders of the importance of responsible remarks, stating, "New Delhi advises all concerned to be responsible when making public statements. We have expressed our strong protest to the Bangladeshi authorities on this matter. We have learned that the mentioned post has already been removed. However, we remind everyone that all parties should be more cautious when making public comments."
The Telegraph report mentioned that on Friday, the BSF established new floating border outposts on rivers crossing the border with Bangladesh, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and the Sundarbans.
Amid intense protests, Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh to India on August 5, fearing violence from disgruntled protesters in the capital. She left Dhaka on a military plane. Subsequently, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Bangladesh's Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Since the interim government took over, India has been alleging persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, leading to strained relations between the neighboring countries.
Last month, India's Foreign Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh claimed that until December 8, there had been 2,200 attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, compared to 302 incidents the previous year. However, Dr. Muhammad Yunus's press wing dismissed these figures as exaggerated, stating that only 138 incidents had occurred up to November.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Asif Mahmud, the interim government's advisor on local government, rural development, cooperatives, and youth and sports, commented, "People are angry that India has given refuge to Sheikh Hasina. Even the Indian government is providing state facilities to Hasina, who is accused of crimes against humanity. This is why Bangladeshis are angry with the Indian government's stance."
However, Asif Nazrul, legal advisor, suggested to The Telegraph that India should abandon its dream of re-establishing a puppet regime. He emphasized that India must respect Bangladesh's sovereignty and the people's will. He advocated for rebuilding friendly relations with Bangladesh through the July Revolution, based on equal dignity and rights.
India Faces Foreign Patient Shortage as It Limits Visas for Bangladeshis
Since the political shift on August 5, the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh has faced ongoing strain, with no resolution in sight for the visa complications affecting Bangladeshis traveling to India. The Indian embassy in Bangladesh is operating its visa services on a highly limited scale.
This visa restriction has placed Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment in Indian hospitals in a difficult position, while also causing a shortage of foreign patients in India’s healthcare sector. Statistics reveal that since August 5, 2024, India has lost over 50% of its foreign patients, according to Al Jazeera.
A report published by the news outlet on Saturday, January 4, stated that on average, around 2 million foreign patients receive treatment in various Indian hospitals annually, with 60% of them being Bangladeshis. However, since the recent political changes in Bangladesh, the number of Bangladeshi patients in Indian hospitals has dropped by 80%.
India earns substantial revenue from foreign patients, significantly contributing to the country's economy. According to Al Jazeera, the medical tourism sector alone added approximately $9 billion (77,189 crore rupees) to India's economy in 2023.
Citing a source from the Indian visa center in Bangladesh, the report mentioned that before the fall of Sheikh Hasina, the five Indian visa centers in Bangladesh issued 7,000 online visa slots daily. This number has now been reduced to just 500.
The reduction in Bangladeshi patients has hit Kolkata hospitals the hardest. According to Indian media The Print, previously, the outpatient department of Kolkata’s 500-bed multi-specialty Peerless Hospital treated at least 150 Bangladeshi patients daily, but now, fewer than 30 Bangladeshi patients are visiting.
Alexander Thomas of India’s Healthcare Association commented that Bengaluru's Narayana Health, Chennai's Apollo, and Vellore's Christian Medical College (CMC) are also suffering due to the Indian government's visa restrictions.
Tibet Earthquake Kills at Least 30
Dozens of people have been killed after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck in the Himalayas on Tuesday morning, and dozens more injured.
Local Chinese media reported at least 32 fatalities in and around the city of Shigatse in Tibet, while tremors were felt in neighboring Nepal and India.
"A reporter learned from the Tibet Autonomous Region earthquake bureau that people have been killed," the Xinhua state news agency said, listing the Changsuo, Quluo and Cuoguo townships in Dingri County.
The report added that the earthquake, which struck at 9:05 a.m. local time, had an epicenter depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), but revised the magnitude down from an earlier estimation of 6.9.
The US Geological Survey reported the quake as magnitude 7.1.
By 10 a.m., "multiple aftershocks" had been recorded, the largest measuring 4.4 in magnitude, added Xinhua's reporter.
"Dingri county and its surrounding areas experienced very strong tremors, and many buildings near the epicentre have collapsed," state broadcaster CCTV said.
Video footage seen by the Reuters news agency showed damaged buildings and crumbled shop fronts in the larger towns of Xigaze and Lhatse, with debris spilling out onto roads.
A holy city, Xigaze is the seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the most important figures in Tibetan Buddhism, whose spiritual authority is second only to the Dalai Lama.
Tremors felt in Nepal, India
Tremors were felt in Nepal's capital Kathmandu some 400km (250 miles) away, where residents ran from their houses,
"We felt a very strong earthquake but so far we have not received any report of injuries or physical loss," said Anoj Raj Ghimire, chief district officer of Solukhumbu district in Nepal.
"We have mobilized police and other security forces as well as locals to collect information about the damage," he added.
Shudders were also felt in the northern Indian state of Bihar, but officials reported no signs of damage.
Earthquakes are common in the mountainous Himalayan region, but Tuesday's quake was the most powerful recorded within a 200-kilometer radius in the last five years, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
A 7.8-magnitude quake killed some 9,000 people and in Nepal in 2015.
Taiwan Says China Redoubling Efforts to Undermine Island with Disinformation
Taiwan's government says China is redoubling efforts to undermine confidence in the self-governing island’s democracy and close ties with the United States through the spread of disinformation, especially online.
The National Security Bureau said the number of pieces of false or biased information distributed by China increased 60 per cent last year, to 2.16 million from 1.33 million in 2023.
Much of the increase in disinformation focused on media outlets used predominantly by younger people, such as video channels, forums and X, formerly known as Twitter, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.
The brief National Security Bureau report issued on Friday (Jan 3) tallied "pieces of controversial information”, but did not further define the term.
Facebook and X were the main conduits for disinformation, along with platforms that explicitly target young people such as TikTok, the report said.
China created “inauthentic accounts” to distribute its propaganda on Youtube, used technology such as artificial intelligence to create fake videos and flooded comments sections with pro-China statements, the report added.
A total of 28,216 inauthentic accounts were identified in 2024, up 11,661 from 2023, the Central News Agency reported, adding that other tactics used include hacking Taiwanese accounts to impersonate Taiwanese people and military personnel.
Beijing already has considerable influence with Taiwanese newspapers and other traditional media through their owners' business interests in mainland China.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping renewing a declaration in his New Year's address that unification with Taiwan was inevitable and could not be blocked by outside forces, a likely reference to the US, Taiwan’s most important ally.
China regularly sends warplanes, ships and balloons into areas controlled by Taiwan and holds military drills to simulate a blockade or invasion of the island. Beijing has also been building up its navy and missile forces to hit key targets and fend off American military support.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te said in his own New Year's address that the island would continue to strengthen its defences in the face of escalating Chinese threats.
Taiwan, he said, was a crucial part of the global “line of defence of democracy” against authoritarian states such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
(Source: CNA)
