Ukraine war: Hundreds arrested as Russian draft protests continue
Hundreds of people have been arrested by authorities as protests against Russia's new "partial mobilisation" continue across the country, an independent rights group has said, BBC reported.
OVD-Info said 724 people were detained across 32 different cities on Saturday.
Widespread demonstrations have broken out since President Vladimir Putin announced plans to draft 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine.
Unsanctioned rallies are banned under Russian law.
But Mr Putin's move to draft civilians into the military has sparked large scale protests in urban areas, with more than 1,000 people being detained at demonstrations earlier this week.
Nepal and Korea sign MoU for returnee worker reintegration, strengthening of Nepal Police Cyber Bureau
Nepal and the Republic of Korea today signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for two projects - Strengthening Stage-Wise Support System for the Stable Reintegration of Korea Returnee Migrants in Nepal and Establishment of Cyber Bureau with Capacity Building for Nepal Police. The MoU signing was held at the Ministry of Finance. For these two projects, the Government of Korea agrees to extend a total of USD 16 million (approximately NRs 2.00 billion) and USD 8 million each as grant assistance to Nepal, the Ministry of Finance said. The MoU to this effect were signed by Krishna Hari Pushkar, Finance Secretary and Chong-suk Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal. The projects will be implemented by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in close collaboration and coordination with respective line ministries and other government agencies. The Korea Returnee migrant support project aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of Nepal and increase employment through stable reintegration of Korea returnee migrants and enhancement of their entrepreneurship capacity. The project will also create a virtuous cycle and support system for Korea returnee migrants in Nepal for their enhanced information accessibility, and increased access to financial support through Agricultural Development Bank Limited (ADBL). Similarly, the main objective of the Cyber Bureau project is to strengthen the anti-cyber-crime capabilities of Nepal Police wherein, the main component of the project is to construct a state-of-art building of the Cyber Bureau, provide equipment related to cyber-crime investigation and digital forensic lab and capacity building of relevant human resources of Nepal Police. Finance Secretary Pushkar, in his brief remark, expressed the importance of these two projects in equipping and capacitating Cyber Bureau to control increasing cases of cyber-crime as well as reintegrating the returnee migrant workers from Korea to establish themselves in their society and to increase their employability in Nepal. During the event, Ambassador Park expressed his concerns on the rate of cybercrimes that is massively increasing worldwide and in Nepal as well and he hoped that the Cyber Crime Control Project shall be an important support to strengthen the capacity of Nepal Police to control cyber crimes in Nepal. Similarly, Park stated that through the Korea Returnee Migrants project the large number of Korea returnees can utilize their skills and establish enterprise, which can generate employment and contribute to the economic growth of the country. The government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciation to the government of the Republic of Korea for this financial support as well as other support extended to Nepal.
Ukraine war: Russians flee to border after military call-up
Russian men are attempting to leave the country, causing queues to form at border crossings, as they try to avoid a military call-up for the Ukraine war, BBC reported.
President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilisation on Wednesday, which could see 300,000 people summoned to serve in the war.
The Kremlin says reports of fighting-age men fleeing are exaggerated.
But on the border with Georgia, miles-long queues of vehicles have formed including men trying to escape the war.
One man, who did not want to be named, told the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie he had grabbed his passport and headed to the border, without packing anything else, immediately after President' Putin's announcement - because he fell into the group that could potentially be sent to the war.
Some witnesses estimated the queue of cars at the Upper Lars checkpoint to be some 5km (3 miles) long, while another group said it had taken seven hours to get across the border. Video from the scene showed some drivers leaving their cars or trucks temporarily in standstill traffic.
Other destinations reachable by air - such as Istanbul, Belgrade or Dubai - have seen ticket prices skyrocket immediately after the military call-up was announced, with some destinations sold out completely. Turkish media have reported a large spike in one-way ticket sales, while remaining flights to non-visa destinations can cost thousands of euros.
Germany's interior minister signalled on Thursday that Russians fleeing the draft would be welcome in her country, according to BBC.
Nancy Faeser said deserters threatened by "severe repression" would receive protection on a case-by-case basis, following security checks. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the Czech Republic struck a different tone, saying they would not offer fleeing Russians refuge.
China Council for Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Nepal inaugurated
The China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Nepal was inaugurated on Thursday in the Nepali capital, Xinhua reported. Jin Xiaodong, president of the Overseas Chinese Association of Nepal, said his association decided on such a move in response to the strong patriotism of overseas Chinese in Nepal. In her speech, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi said the inauguration of China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Nepal is a move taken by overseas Chinese in the country to conform to the trend of the times by confronting "Taiwan independence" and supporting and advancing the motherland's peaceful reunification. The ambassador voiced hope that the China council in Nepal shall lead the overseas Chinese in conducting various kinds of activities to advance reunification, oppose separatism and resist moves by the U.S.-led West to interfere and undermine the peace in the Taiwan Straits, so as to demonstrate the resolve and will of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, both at home and abroad, in facilitating the great cause of peaceful reunification and boosting the global just forces which have been confronting "Taiwan independence" and advocating reunification, according to Xinhua. Nearly 200 participants attended the inauguration ceremony.
