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Putin shuts down Russia citing COVID pandemic

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Russian leader has warned coronavirus situation in the country is becoming complicated. Russia has registered over 8 million cases and more than 226,000 Covid fatalities.

Putin has signed a decree declaring paid non-working days from October 30 to November 7, according to the document posted on the Kremlin’s website on Wednesday.

At a meeting with members of the government earlier on Wednesday, Putin approved a corresponding proposal from the cabinet. According to him, it is now of paramount importance to curb the peak of the new epidemic wave.

“I order to declare non-working days with preservation of employees’ salaries from October 30 to November 7, 2021, in order to prevent the further spread of novel coronavirus infections,” the decree says.

Regional heads have the right to declare additional paid non-working days before October 30 and to extend them after November 7, taking into consideration the epidemiological situation and specific features of the spread of COVID-19 in their regions.

The Russian government has been instructed to determine how federal cultural and health institutions will be operating on the non-working days, while the heads of the subjects of the Russian Federation should do the same for corresponding regional institutions. The public authorities along with other bodies and agencies are instructed to determine the numbers of staff ensuring their functioning on the non-working days.

“At the expense of the corresponding funds of the budgetary system of the Russian Federation, the government and top officials of the subjects of the Russian Federation shall provide measures of support for small and medium businesses and socially oriented non-profit organizations operating in the sectors of the Russian economy, which are most affected by the worsening situation caused by the spread of COVID-19 and by the non-working days declared in October-November, 2021,” the decree adds.

The presidential decree comes into force on the day of its official publication.

The coronavirus situation in Russia is getting complicated, vaccination rates in the country remain low, Putin said.

“Really, the situation with coronavirus is getting complicated nationwide, recently vaccination rates increased significantly in many regions,” Putin stated on Wednesday at a meeting with members of the government. He added that unfortunately, the citizens’ vaccination rate remains low. 

According to Putin, the low vaccination rate “predetermines the rapid spread of infection in many ways.”

COVID infection rates in Russia are getting worse mostly because vaccination rates are too low and restrictive measures are often neglected. 

The anti-coronavirus crisis center said on Wednesday the number of coronavirus cases in Russia increased by 34,073 over the past day to 8,094,825 total cases. The number of COVID-19 fatalities in Russia over the past 24 hours has increased by 1,028 compared to 1,015 the day before. In all, 226,353 patients died of the infection. This is a new record high since the beginning of the pandemic.

Iran receives 29th shipment of Covid vaccine

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The shipment contains 6 million doses. 

The head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society said efforts at the Health and Foreign Ministries to import vaccine will continue. According to Karim Hemmati, as a result of the efforts, 36 million doses of Sinopharm jab have been delivered to Iran in only two weeks. 

He added the from mid-spring, Iran has imported 88 million and 390 thousand doses of Covid vaccine. He added that in the last month alone, 42 million shots arrived in Iran and 30 million more will be imported in the next two weeks. 

Meanwhile, the downward trend in Covid deaths, infections and hospitalizations has continued across Iran in the past weeks. The number of cities marked red, the highest level of risk from Covid, has fallen considerably. Authorities attribute this to the rising rate of vaccination across Iran. 

But officials keep warning people against relaxing health protocols. They say a sixth peak of the disease could be around the corner.

Report: Taliban Deputy PM, Iran Envoy Meet in Moscow

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Tasnim News Agency quoted Taliban Spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, as saying the two sides discussed bilateral relations and the necessity of seizing economic opportunities in the region.

They also committed themselves to holding talks in the near future about trade as well as water and electricity issues, added the spokesman.

The Wednesday meeting was held on the sidelines of an international summit on Afghanistan, hosted by Russia.

Philippines to investigate thousands of deaths during war on drugs

By
IFP Media Wire
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The Philippines will look into thousands of killings in Duterte’s war on drugs, its justice minister said on Wednesday, after a review of a sample of cases indicated foul play in dozens of deadly police operations.

Menardo Guevarra stated his Department of Justice (DOJ) would expand its review to the more than 6,000 killings during police operations, after which many officers were cleared of wrongdoing in internal police investigations.

“Time and resources permitting, the DOJ will review these thousands of other cases, too,” Guevarra told Reuters.

The decision indicates a shift from the Philippines’ vehement defence of the drugs war, which has seen the government scold critics and activists who alleged there were systematic executions of drug suspects by police.

The Philippines has come under pressure from the United Nations to hold a thorough probe and the International Criminal Court recently announced it would investigate the crackdown.

The government, however, has said it will not cooperate because the Philippine justice system is functioning.

Wednesday’s release of details of 52 drug war deaths marks a rare admission by the state that abuses may have taken place.

In several of those, victims had no traces of gunpowder on their hands, or did not have a gun at all.

The DOJ also announced police had used excessive force, shot suspects at close range and relevant medical and police records were missing.

The findings, which are subject to further case buildup and criminal charges, could challenge the government’s narrative of the war on drugs.

Duterte has for five years defended police and argued that all those killed were drug dealers who resisted arrest. He has publicly said police could kill if they believed they were in danger and he would pardon any who end up in prison.

Duterte’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Police chief Guillermo Eleazar vowed no cover up.

“We will make sure to hold accountable those who should be held accountable,” he said in a statement.

Carlos Conde, Senior Philippines Researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the war on drugs was about more than a few rogue police.

He criticised what he called light punishment being recommended by police internal affairs, which included suspension, demotion or dismissal.

“Based on these 52 cases alone, it is clear that the drug war is an illegal, murderous state policy being carried out by police force that has been commanded by the president himself to disregard due process,” Conde added.

One of the cases reviewed by the DOJ involved a suspect who was shot 15 times by police.

The DOJ said there was no crime scene report or autopsy, nor were ballistics or paraffin tests carried out to determine if the suspect was armed.

It added it was disclosing the findings so that families of victims could know deaths were being investigated, and to invite witnesses to come forward.

More than 6,000 people have been killed by police in the crackdown, but activists say many thousands more drug users and peddlers were shot dead by mysterious gunmen. Police have denied involvement in those.

South Pars CEO: investments in gas field close to $80bn.

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Hashemzadeh Farhang noted that the daily production of 560 million cubic meters of natural gas, 21,000 tons of liquefied natural gas, 760,000 barrels of gas condensate and 15,400 tons of ethane is the current capacity of Pars Complex.

Hashemzadeh Farhang said that South Pars is a common field with Qatar. According to him Qataris started exploiting this reservoir four years earlier than Iran in 1998. Qatar produced a maximum of 175.7 billion cubic meters in 2020, but Iran overtook the country in 2018, and from 2020, the Islamic Republic set a record by producing 202.3 billion cubic meters of gas from South Pars. 

He added that the share of gas in Iran’s fossil energy basket is 73.7%, of which 50% is allocated to the South Pars complex. 

Hashemzadeh Farhang however pointed out that the average share of natural gas in the energy basket of countries is 23%, but Iran is 71% dependent on gas. 

He added that currently, 17,000 people work in the South Pars Gas Complex.

Iran and Turkey determined to fight terrorism

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has held talks with his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Soylu in Tehran.

Vahidi said at the news briefing following his talks with Soylu that in the meeting, the development of relations between the two countries in all areas was discussed.

Vahidi added, “We discussed the fight against terrorism, international crime, arms trafficking, the development of cross-border activities, and the development of joint cooperation in all areas, including the issue of immigration.“

He added he and his Turkish counterpart also talked about more general issues such as the destructive role of the US and Zionist regime in the region and the many problems they have created for nations including Afghanistan and the conspiracies they have hatched in the region.

Vahidi noted that the determination of the two countries to develop strategic relations is firm.

He also said Iran and Turkey will not allow others to disrupt their relations.

Soylu also described his talks with Vahidi as important. He said Iran and Turkey cooperate in the fight against terrorist groups including the PKK and they are resolved to combat terror.

Soylu added Iran and Turkey also plan to form an action group for fighting terrorism and narco-trafficking.

Iranian, Turkish interior ministers meet in Tehran

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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The Turkish official was officially greeted by the Interior Ministry’s Security Deputy Hossein Zolfaghari.

Vahidi and Soylu are finalizing their review of the security memorandum between the two ministries.

Several other officials including the commander of the Turkish Gendarmerie are accompanying Soylu during his visit to Tehran.

Saint Petersburg welcomes Iran’s General Bagheri

By
IFP Editorial Staff
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Major General Bagheri arrived in the northern port city of St. Petersburg as he continued his trip to Russia to meet with naval officials and visit naval combat facilities. Admiral Vladimir Kasatonov, Commander of the North Sea Fleet and Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy, and a group of high-ranking Russian generals greeted Major General Bagheri at the Russian Navy headquarters. After the official welcoming ceremony, Major General Bagheri and Admiral Kasatunov inspected the ceremonial guards and then entered into talks with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Kazem Jalali and a group of deputies and high-ranking military officials of the two countries in attendance.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Commander of the North Sea Fleet and the Deputy Commander of the Russian Navy expressed his happiness over the presence of Major General Bagheri in St. Petersburg.

Kasatunov said the Iranian and Russian navies have held numerous naval exercises in recent years and will continue their cooperation.

The senior Russian official referred to the presence of the 75th Strategic Naval Fleet of the Iranian Army in the recent naval parade in St. Petersburg and called for the strengthening of military ties between Tehran and Moscow.

Major General Bagheri also said Iran-Russia relations are expanding as two important partners in the international arena. He added that the naval fleet of the Iranian Army entered the Gulf of Finland for the first time after crossing the Atlantic Ocean and participated in the Russian naval parade.

He said this shows the military and defense clout of Iran’s military and its interest in expanding defense cooperation with Russia.

Bagheri noted that ties, especially military and defense cooperation, have been on the rise in recent years, saying with the conclusion of arms contracts and their implementation in the near future, these relations will expand significantly.

Taliban: Afghan territory not to be used against others

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The Taliban movement remains committed to its pledge not to take aggressive action against other countries, he stated.

“We have practically proven with our actions that the soil of Afghanistan will not be used against anyone, and since the day we made our commitment in the Doha agreement, we have remained committed to that clause,” he noted speaking through an interpreter.

The Taliban movement launched a massive operation for establishing control of Afghanistan after the United States last spring declared its troop pullout. On August 15, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani left the country. The radicals entered Kabul without encountering any resistance. On September 6 the movement declared it had established control of the whole of the country’s territory and the next day, on September 7 it announced the composition of an interim government, whose legitimacy has not been recognized by any country yet.

In February 2020, US officials and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Doha. The Taliban pledged they would not use the territory of Afghanistan for actions posing a threat to the security of the United States or its allies.

The Taliban movement does not need military aid from abroad, but assistance in restoring the country is required, Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan’s interim government Abdul Salam Hanafi told journalists on the sidelines of the third session of the Moscow consultations on Wednesday.

“We do not need military assistance. We need support for peace in Afghanistan, in the restoration of Afghanistan,” he continued.

Iran Says Administered Over 1.1 Covid Jabs in 24 Hours

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-

The ministry’s public relations center said over 49 million Iranians have so far received the first dose of the vaccine. It said nearly 27 million people have also received a second dose. That makes total of more than 76 million doses of administered vaccines.

The ministry added that 11,770 new coronavirus infections were detected since Tuesday, including 1,798 people, who were hospitalized.
Over the same period, the ministry said, 162 patients lost their lives to the virus, raising the overall fatalities to 124,585 people since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.

The ministry added that 4,559 Covid patients are now in intensive care units due to the severity of their symptoms.

Currently, 9 Iranian cities are marked red, meaning they face a critical stage of Covid outbreak on a scale that lists cities as red, orange, yellow and blue.

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