KHARTOUM, 3 February 2020, TON: The United States on Sunday invited General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s sovereign council, to visit Washington. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that General al-Burhan will be visiting on his invitation. The development is part of bilateral ties since the army toppled President Omar al-Bashir last year. In December 2019, the two countries planned exchange of ambassadors after a gap of 23 year.

In 1993, the U.S. government added Sudan to its list of state sponsors of terrorism over allegations Bashir’s Islamist government was supporting terrorist groups, a designation that makes Sudan technically ineligible for debt relief and financing from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

DAR ES SALAAM, 3 February 2020, TON:  Pastor Boniface Mwamposa had been drawing huge crowds by promising prosperity and cures for diseases to worshippers who step in what he calls “blessed oil” during his services.

Pastor Boniface Mwamposa was arrested by Police when he was trying to flee the country.

Tanzania has seen a rise in the number of Christian missionaries in recent years, who promise to lift people out of poverty and perform what they call miracle cures.

BEIRUT, 2 February 2020, TON:  Tens and thousands of Muslim protesters took out to the streets of Beirut to protest against President Trump’s announced Middle East Peace. They chanted slogans against USA and Israel and declared that US dreams to establish Israeli Embassy at Jerusalem will never be allowed till one Muslim is alive.

Awkar Square witnessed speeches and display of slogans to remind the world regarding conspiracy against Muslim by depriving them of their sacred Holy places. 

Meanwhile, officials of US Embassy in Beirut have been restricted from entering the area of the demonstrations.

WASHINGTON, 2 February 2020, TON: US President Donald Trump issued travel ban for immigrants from six countries including Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzinia. Nigeria and Sudan are Muslim majority area where Islamic law (Shariat Law) is applicable while through demographic engineering the Muslim population of Tanzania has been show much less than the original size. Western nations intend to impose law in Muslim countries that grant citizenship nationals of other countries residing for a long time including refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2015, when President Trump was presidential candidate, he called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States of America.” 

The proclamation will take effect on 22 February has banned entry of nationals from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar. Officials of US Department of Homeland Security was quoted by reporters to have said, “US administration is not satisfied about pluralist reforms and sharing of data  regarding terrorism including details of their visit, bank accounts and passport entries.”

Iraqi President Barham Salih named Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi as new Iraqi Prime Minister on Saturday, however, protesters expressed their dissatisfaction and continued with their  protests.

If we recall, former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November 2018 due to mass anti-government unrest where hundreds of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets demanding the removal of Iraq's political elite due to corruption and mass killings of opponents. Human rights organizations have reported over 600 protesters and affiliated to opposition have been killed in a deadly crackdown by security forces. However, the number of killings could not be confirmed through independent sources.

Meanwhile, Shiite leadership in Baghdad, backed by the western nations deployed in  Iraq, have been challenged.  However, politicians have generated anti-American rallies and demanded withdrawal of US troops.

BRUSSELS, 1 February 2020, TON: Britain’s Union Jack was removed from row of 27 EU member state flags at the European Council and European Parliament buildings in Brussels on Friday evening ahead of the United Kingdom’s exit from the bloc at midnight (2300 GMT). Britain has become the first country to quit the European Union 

RAWALPINDI, 1 February 2020, TON; Bangladesh team toured Pakistan and played three-match Twenty20 International series at historical Gaddafi Stadium 24, 25 and 27 January 2020. Pakistan won the series. Bangladeshi team returned home and they will come again to Pakistan this month to play first Test in Rawalpindi from 7 to 11 February 2020 and then in the last phase, the Bangladeshi cricketers will again come to Pakistan in April after the completion of PSL-5. They will first play one off ODI on 3 April at National Stadium Karachi and then play second Test at the same venue from 5 to 9 April.  

Muhammad Ibrahim, a student of local college in Rawalpindi while speaking to The Orient News correspondent said, “It hardly matter if Pakistan or Bangladesh wins, we were brothers in the past but separated and will be one again.” Pakistan and Bangladesh are today two brotherly countries with same religion but the same ideology. Many Pakistanis consider Bangladeshis as their real brothers and sisters and strongly believe that one day all the misunderstandings would be removed and both countries would live like real brothers.

CHHATTISGARH, 1 February 2020, TON: In a combing operation by the joint Indian troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s 204th Commando Battalion and local police in the wee hours on Sunday, three Naxals were killed including a woman was killed in an operation. Police authorities later confirmed that the operation was carried iout in the area of Basaguda police station.

Police claimed that in the process of bussing Maoist hideout in the forest, one personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was injured.

Killing of Naxals has become a routine matter as last year 430 Naxals were killed in various encounters and combing operations. Indian Home Ministry has announced that India security forces have planned a new operation in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand which would conclude in April 2020. It is expected leadership of Communist Party of India and their affiliate in Indian political hierarchy including urban Naxals would be eliminated.

NEW DELHI, I February 2020, TON: The Indian government on Saturday allocated Rs 2826.92 Crore as sports budget for the next financial year, which is up by a mere Rs 50 Crore from the revised estimates of 2019-20. However, as far as incentives for sportspersons in the Olympic year are concerned, it has proposed to slash the amount from the Rs 111 Crore to Rs 70 Crore.

The government also decreased the allocation for Sports Authority of India from the revised Rs 615 Crore to Rs 500 Crore. The Sports Authority of India is the focal authority to manage nationals camps, provide infrastructure, equipment and other logistics to the country's sportspersons.

ISLAMABAD, 1 February 2020, TON: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Saturday that the country was preparing a draft agreement in collaboration with Turkey to grant dual nationality to the citizens of the two countries.

“The Turkish Ambassador called on the Interior Minister last week to discuss matters of mutual interest,” foreign office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told Arab News. “During the interaction, the question of dual nationality also came up for discussion.”

The decision to prepare the draft, she added, was taken to meet the longstanding demand of the Pakistani community in Turkey.

According to a recent statement by the Interior Ministry, Federal Minister for Interior Brigadier (Retired) Ijaz Ahmad Shah held a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Ihsan Mustafa Yurdakul and resolved to work together and strengthen bilateral ties.

The Turkish Ambassador on behalf of his government proposed the two countries to sign an agreement regarding the idea of giving dual nationality to the citizens, the statement added.

“In response to this, the interior minister said that the draft is under consideration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on board with us, we hope to reach a mutual conclusion soon,” said the statement.

The Turkish ambassador also expressed the hope that the process would be expedited to achieve the desired results.

According to the statement, the Turkish ambassador informed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was scheduled to visit Pakistan during the course of this month and would be accompanied by a large delegation.

He also told the Minister that the Turkish consulate in Karachi, which is still under construction, is the largest one his country had built anywhere in the world.

“It was heartening to know about the largest Turkish consulate in Karachi,” Minister Shah was quoted as saying, “and we will provide any assistance required from our end to ensure timely operation of the building.”