Ukraine war: EU blames Russia for food crisis prompting walk-out
Russia's UN ambassador has stormed out of a UN Security Council meeting after the European Council president blamed Russia's invasion of Ukraine for causing a global food crisis, BBC reported.
Charles Michel said Russia was using food supplies as a "stealth missile" against the developing world, forcing people into poverty.
The Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia accused Mr Michel of spreading lies.
The war has left food stuck at Ukrainian ports.
Ukraine is a large exporter of cooking oil as well as cereals such as maize and wheat. Russia also exports vast amounts of grains as well as fertiliser. The lack of these exports has caused the price of alternatives to soar.
"Mr Ambassador of the Russian Federation, let's be honest, the Kremlin is using food supplies as a stealth missile against developing countries," Mr Michel said during the Security Council meeting in New York.
"The dramatic consequences of Russia's war are spilling over across the globe, and this is driving up food prices, pushing people into poverty, and destabilising entire regions.
"Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis."
He added that he had seen for himself the millions of tons of grain stuck in the Ukrainian port of Odesa because of a naval blockade enforced by Russia, according to BBC.
Mr Michel also accused Russia of stealing grain and preventing crop planting and harvesting in Ukraine because of its military activities there.
His comments led to Mr Nebenzia storming out. As he left, Mr Michel addressed him directly: "You may leave the room, maybe it's easier not to listen to the truth".
Mr Nebenzia told Reuters he couldn't stay because of "the lies that Charles Michel came here to distribute".
In a separate meeting, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said Russia was preventing Ukrainian grain exports from leaving the country and accused Russian forces of destroying Ukrainian agricultural infrastructure.
Speaking during a virtual roundtable with philanthropists, non-governmental organisations and private sector entities, Mr Blinken said: "There's somewhere around 20m tons of wheat that's trapped in silos near Odesa, and in ships literally filled with grain that are stuck in the Odesa port because of this Russian blockade."
Like Mr Michel, he said there were credible reports that Russia was "pilfering" Ukraine's grain to sell for its own profit, BBC reported.
Weakened UK leader Boris Johnson survives no-confidence vote
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote on Monday, securing enough support from his Conservative Party to remain in office despite a substantial rebellion that leaves him a weakened leader with an uncertain future, Associated Press reported.
Known for his ability to shrug off scandals, the charismatic leader has struggled to turn the page on revelations that he and his staff repeatedly held boozy parties that flouted the COVID-19 restrictions they imposed on others. Support among his fellow Conservative lawmakers has weakened as some see a leader renowned for his ability to connect with voters increasingly as a liability rather than an asset in elections.
Johnson won the backing of 211 out of 359 Conservative lawmakers in a secret ballot, more than the simple majority needed to remain in power, but still a significant rebellion of 148 MPs.
Johnson called it a “convincing” win and said the party should now “come together.”
“What it means is that as a government we can move on and focus on stuff that I think really matters to people,” he said.
With no clear front-runner to succeed him, most political observers had predicted Johnson would defeat the challenge. But the rebellion could still be a watershed moment for him — and is a sign of deep Conservative divisions, less than three years after he led the party to its biggest election victory in decades.
Johnson’s winning margin is less than that secured by his predecessor Theresa May in a similar vote in December 2018. She was forced to resign six months later, according to Associated Press.
Since replacing May as prime minister in 2019, Johnson has led Britain out of the European Union and through a pandemic, both of which have shaken the U.K. socially and economically. The vote comes as Johnson’s government is under intense pressure to ease the pain of skyrocketing energy and food bills.
But the main blow to his leadership has been revelations that he and his staff repeatedly held illegal parties during lockdowns. That caused anger in the country, and unease among many Conservatives.
Discontent that has been building for months erupted after a 10-day parliamentary break that included a long weekend of celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. For many, the four-day holiday was a chance to relax — but there was no respite for Johnson, who was booed by some onlookers as he arrived for a service in the queen’s honor at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
Conservative Party official Graham Brady announced Monday that he had received letters calling for a no-confidence vote from at least 54 Tory legislators, enough to trigger the measure under party rules. Hours later, party lawmakers lined up by the dozen in a corridor at Parliament to cast their ballots in a wood-paneled room, handing over their phones as they entered to ensure secrecy, Associated Press reported.
Johnson addressed dozens of Conservative lawmakers in a House of Commons room before the vote as he tried to shore up support, vowing: “I will lead you to victory again.”
Johnson’s allies had insisted he would stay in office if he won by even a single vote.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said Johnson had won the vote “handsomely,” and urged the party to “draw a line under this now.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, one of the favorites to succeed Johnson if he is ousted, tweeted: “Pleased that colleagues have backed the Prime Minister. I support him 100%. Now’s the time to get on with the job.”
But previous prime ministers who survived no-confidence votes emerged severely weakened, according to Associated Press.
HoR agrees to consider bill to amend acts regarding criminal offence
A meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) today passed a proposal to seek considerations over a bill to amend some acts relating to the criminal offence and criminal procedure- 2079 BS.
The proposal presented by Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Govinda Prasad Sharma Koirala was unanimously passed by the meeting. Responding to queries raised by lawmakers during the discussions on the proposal, the Minister said the bill aimed to rise above the provision of compensation and to ensure repatriation to survivors.
As the Minister explained, internationally laws regarding criminal offences were being formulated through a new approach, the provision of reparation had been implemented and the government had tried to assimilate this trend.
He made it clear that just compensation was not enough to patch up damages and harms to survivor and the government was aware that its special attention was required not to let such incidents reoccur.
According to the Minister, the government has a policy of dealing with serious nature of crime and incidences of human rights violation seriously. He was hopeful of broader discussions on the issue during the clause-wise deliberations on the bill.
Prior to this, lawmaker Pushpa Bhusal Gautam demanded further clarifications on the act against acid for easy livelihood of survivors.
Binda Pandey apprised the House that woman was becoming the target of acid attack just for refusing to accept a love proposal. She demanded stricter measures in the production and supply of acid, stringent action against perpetrator(s) and proper justice to survivor(s).
Prakash Snehi voiced for controlling the acid market by a law while Shibamaya Tumbahangphe said the incumbent government coming up with the bill to recognise measures taken by the previous government through an ordinance was welcoming.
Durga Kumari BK, Dr Dila Sangroula Pant, and Prem Suwal sought the measures against the unchecked acid market and the guarantee of easier livelihood of survivor.
Govt committed to equal development of provinces: PM Deuba
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the government is committed to making necessary work plans to mainstream the provinces which are comparatively backward in terms of cooperation in the three tiers of government.
“The initiatives of and suggestions from the Sudurpaschim Concern Forum would be helpful to frame development policy and plan and carry out implementation in the federal and provincial governments,” he observed.
PM Deuba reminded that after passing SLC from Uchchakot School of Doti, he had to make a long journey to arrive in Kathmandu for higher study- the travel was sometimes on foot and sometimes by train and bus via the country and cross border. The travel up to Dhangadhi was all on foot, the border crossed to catch a train up to Raxaul.
“Comparatively, the far-western region has now witnessed much development. It is connected to the federal capital with transport facility. However, development as per expectation is awaited,” PM Deuba said, arguing that if the Paschim Seti project is made, this province will be developed more.
According to him, all sides’ contribution is imperative to aid the government’s efforts to wipe out poverty and inequality. He also shared that an agreement was made with India for the construction of the dry port. Foreign investment is necessary to ensure speedy development in Nepal, the PM emphasized.
The Sudurpaschim Concern Forum has been working for the development of far west Nepal for 16 years. Forum’s Chairperson Bishnu Prasad Khatri submitted a memorandum to the PM on the issues of concern in Sudurpaschim Province.



