British officials on May 3 suggested the leaked reports were disinformation and sought to avoid linking a 400 million-pound ($550 million) historical debt to prerevolutionary Iran to Zaghari-Ratcliffe s case. It s incumbent on Iran unconditionally to release those who are held arbitrarily and, in our view, unlawfully, and the reports, I m afraid, are not yet accurate in terms of the suggestion of her imminent release, Raab said on May 3.
The U.S. State Department on May 2 rejected as not true unsourced Iranian reports claiming a deal on a prisoner swap and $7 billion in frozen Iranian assets had been agreed.
The Iranian reports suggested Iranian nationals jailed in the United States might also be part of a deal.
Reuters Reuters
3 May, 2021, 7:04 pm
Volunteers stand next to burning pyres of persons who died due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at a crematorium ground in Giddenahalli village on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, May 2, 2021. REUTERS/Samuel Rajkumar
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -A leading Indian industry body urged authorities to take the “strongest national steps” and to curtail economic activity to save lives on Sunday as the country battles surging coronavirus cases that have overwhelmed the healthcare system.
The rate of new infections dipped marginally but deaths kept climbing. Authorities reported 392,488 new cases in the previous 24 hours, pushing total cases to 19.56 million. Deaths jumped by a record 3,689, taking the overall toll to 215,542.
The Media Line Staff 05/03/2021
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described Iran’s treatment of imprisoned British aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe “amounts to torture.” He also said in an interview on Sunday with the BBC that it is difficult to argue with the characterization that Zaghari-Ratcliffe is being held state hostage by the Iranians. Raab also disputed the claim by an Iranian official that Britain would pay a debt of $553 million in order to secure her release.
Also on Sunday, the United States denied a report by Iran’s state-run broadcaster that a reupped nuclear deal would include a prisoner swap and the release of $7 billion frozen Iranian funds. Iran is known to be holding four Americans, and there are others missing in Iran.
G7 Ministers to meet for 1st time in 2 yrs
By IANS |
Published on
Mon, May 3 2021 15:33 IST |
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Address climate crisis with economic, health justice: G7 Speakers. Image Source: IANS News
London, May 3 : Ministers from the G7 countries will meet in person for the first time in two years on Monday in London, where they will discuss the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, a post-Brexit trade deal, Iran s nuclear programme and China.
Ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US are due to meet British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, reports dpa news agency.
Members of the European Union will also attend, and representatives from Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and the chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations have been invited as guests.
India Covid crisis: Industry body urges curbs to economic activity to save lives
Reuters/New Delhi
Modi said last month all efforts should be made be avoid a lockdown.
A leading Indian industry body urged authorities to take the “strongest national steps” and to curtail economic activity to save lives on Sunday as the country battles surging coronavirus cases that have overwhelmed the healthcare system.
The rate of new infections dipped marginally but deaths kept climbing. Authorities reported 392,488 new cases in the previous 24 hours, pushing total cases to 19.56 million. Deaths jumped by a record 3,689, taking the overall toll to 215,542.
Billionaire Uday Kotak, managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS), said a maximal response measure at the highest level is called for to cut the transmission links , as building healthcare infrastructure will take time.