US calls for dialogue to end farmers protests; says farm reforms to improve efficiency
Modi government has held multiple rounds of talks with farmers representatives, but there has been no word on when talks would resume following the Republic Day violence
Reuters | February 4, 2021 | Updated 19:46 IST
Television images broadcast internationally of protesters occupying the ramparts of New Delhi s historic Red Fort
Largely restricted to the outskirts of New Delhi, the mostly peaceful protests were marred by violence on Jan 26., when some protesters entered the heart of the capital city after the Republic Day military parade and clashed with police.
Television images broadcast internationally of protesters occupying the ramparts of New Delhi s historic Red Fort and later clashing with police raised awareness of the confrontation between Modi s government and the farmers.
Celeb Tweets: Did The Government Overreact?
The best reaction would have been to ignore Rihanna’s tweet or allow the defenders of the government, including film stars and cricketers to respond. The entire issue would not have blown up as it now has. outlookindia.com 2021-02-04T22:21:41+05:30
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Not satisfied with making a mountain out of a mole hole by having India’s foreign ministry spokesman respond to tweets by pop icon Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg over their support for the on-going farmers protests, the government went one step further on Thursday. Delhi police filed an FIR against the Swedish teenager accusing her of “criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity on grounds of religion”.
Canada may seek U.S. payback via NAFTA after Biden cancels Keystone XL By Robert Tuttle on 2/4/2021
CALGARY (Bloomberg) The oil-rich Canadian province that was hit hard by Joe Bidenâs move to kill the Keystone XL pipeline is considering seeking compensation from the U.S. through an old free-trade rule thatâs still in place.
Alberta, which spent C$1.5 billion ($1.2 billion) to help jump start construction of the project, may resort to a North American Free Trade Agreement provision allowing compensation claims for lost investments, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said. While NAFTA was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement during the Trump administration, the rule remains in place during a phase-out period.
OTTAWA Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday insisted Ottawa would ensure airlines survived the COVID-19 pandemic even as industry advocates said that without a promised aid package many routes would die, crippling the economy. Air travel is critical for Canada, the second largest country by area and one which stretches across six time zones. For many communities, flights are the only reliable option. The government and major airlines such as Air Canada and WestJet have been in talks for months about an aid package but insiders say the negotiations are going slowly. Canada needs and will have a vibrant competitive airline industry after this is all done. That is one of our fundamental understandings, Trudeau told Reuters in a phone interview.
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Feb. 4, 2021
The Canadian government designated the Proud Boys group as a terrorist entity on Wednesday, noting they played a pivotal role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
The Proud Boys have faced increased scrutiny after seizing on the former Trump administration’s policies and was a major agitator during earlier protests and the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. The Proud Boys is a far-right, male chauvinist extremist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. Canada is the first country to designate them as a terrorist entity.
During a September presidential debate, Donald Trump had urged the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” when asked to condemn them by a moderator.